Norman Taylor, inventor of HOWLAROUND, has died
chuffnobbler
Posts: 10,771 Forum Member
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From Gallifreynewsbase:
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Norman Taylor was a BBC Technical Operations Manager on Crew 9 based at Lime Grove in London. He was the man who, while experimenting with a camera looking at a monitor showing its own picture, made the serendipitous discovery of "visual howlaround" - the effect that was subsequently used for Doctor Who's original title sequence.
I got the usual effect of diminishing images of the monitor disappearing into limbo, when suddenly some stray light hit the monitor screen and the whole picture went mobile with swirling patterns of black and white. Later I repeated the experiment but fed a black and white caption mixed with the camera output to the monitor, and very soon got the Dr Who effect.
The original titles for Doctor Who are believed to have been recorded in August 1963 in an empty TC5 at Television Centre. Bernard Lodge, who was credited for the sequence, was in the gallery and Norman Taylor lighting matches to trigger the howl-round. Hugh Sheppard was on the camera at the time.
Taylor was later given a Technical Suggestion award of £25.00 for his howl-round idea which featured in various forms in the title sequence until 1980, when it was replaced by the star-field effect.
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That "howlaround" effect still looks space age, 50yrs later, and is an essential part of what made Doctor Who unique in its earliest years.
Thanks, Mr Taylor.
<<<<<<<<<
Norman Taylor was a BBC Technical Operations Manager on Crew 9 based at Lime Grove in London. He was the man who, while experimenting with a camera looking at a monitor showing its own picture, made the serendipitous discovery of "visual howlaround" - the effect that was subsequently used for Doctor Who's original title sequence.
I got the usual effect of diminishing images of the monitor disappearing into limbo, when suddenly some stray light hit the monitor screen and the whole picture went mobile with swirling patterns of black and white. Later I repeated the experiment but fed a black and white caption mixed with the camera output to the monitor, and very soon got the Dr Who effect.
The original titles for Doctor Who are believed to have been recorded in August 1963 in an empty TC5 at Television Centre. Bernard Lodge, who was credited for the sequence, was in the gallery and Norman Taylor lighting matches to trigger the howl-round. Hugh Sheppard was on the camera at the time.
Taylor was later given a Technical Suggestion award of £25.00 for his howl-round idea which featured in various forms in the title sequence until 1980, when it was replaced by the star-field effect.
>>>>>>>
That "howlaround" effect still looks space age, 50yrs later, and is an essential part of what made Doctor Who unique in its earliest years.
Thanks, Mr Taylor.
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Comments
Kudos to anyone, like Taylor, who can creatively harness an otherwise unexplored effect of a technology. You've really got to be on top of your game for that sort of thing.
Thank you once again for all your tributes they are a huge source of comfort to us.
Very sorry for your loss. You're father was clearly a technically gifted man :-)
The news about your father was indeed sad, but you are right to feel so proud of him and his achievements.
I am glad you and your family are able to take comfort from the messages on this forum.
TEDR's comment is very astute: anyone who can seize something that is seen every day, can play around with it, and can turn it into something unique, really is someone very farsighted and very special.
I am so glad the Taylor family have found this thread.
I'm sorry for your loss, his discovery is as important as Delia Derbyshire's composition imo. It is sad that, only now, we find out his name.
I'm very sorry for your loss. He created something that had never been seen before and you should be proud.
It would seem the opening post answers this question :rolleyes:
Bernard Lodge is still alive and kicking, and I am chuffed to have got his autograph a little while ago.
All three of these gents are unsung heroes.
Hear, hear.