ITV's seminal arts programme, Tempo ran for eight years through a decade which saw a creative explosion within all aspects of the performing arts. Its fluid style of presentation allowed an almost open-ended remit, enabling it to cover subjects as diverse as cinema, music, dance, photography, writing – and much more besides. At a time when television was being criticised for dumbing down, Tempo – more than any other series – showed that ITV could indeed go highbrow whilst still remaining populist – a philosophy and outlook that was to continue into the 1970s and beyond with its successors Aquarius and The South Bank Show.
Tempo (Season 4)
Mods and Rockers (Episode 1)
Air date: 1964-03-08
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Mods and Rockers is a dance created by Peter Darrell for the Western Theatre Ballet based on the music of the Beatles.
A Dialogue of Actors (Episode 2)
Air date: 1964-03-22
Runtime: 30 min
Postscript to the Ballet (Episode 3)
Air date: 1964-04-05
Runtime: 30 min
A Wind of Change: The Art of Franco Zeffirelli (Episode 4)
Air date: 1964-04-12
Runtime: 30 min
A Vision of England (Episode 5)
Air date: 1964-05-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The Great Shakespeare Exhibition at Stratford-upon-Avon takes you back to 23 April 1564, the day of the poet's birth.
The Mime of Jacques Lecoq (Episode 6)
Air date: 1964-05-24
Runtime: 30 min
The Christopher Marlowe Murder Mystery (Episode 7)
Air date: 1964-05-31
Runtime: 30 min
Crime to Remember (Episode 8)
Air date: 1946-06-14
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Songs, recitations, and Victorian melodrama are used for a series of vignettes on aspects of crime. From the righteous to the romantic and ultimately, the repellent.
Ice Shows (Episode 9)
Air date: 1964-07-12
Runtime: 30 min
Odetta (Episode 10)
Air date: 1964-07-19
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: A profile of the American blues singer Odetta.
Some of These Days (Episode 11)
Air date: 1964-08-16
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: A profile on Russian-American singer Sophie Tucker.
Two-Handers (Episode 12)
Air date: 1964-08-23
Runtime: 30 min
A Star of India (Episode 13)
Air date: 1964-08-30
Runtime: 30 min
The Prince Maker (Episode 14)
Air date: 1964-09-13
Runtime: 30 min
More Minim (Episode 15)
Air date: 1964-09-20
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The South African cast of the 'Wait a Minim' theatre show bring their sparkle and zest for life to the small screen.
The Making of a Musical (Episode 16)
Air date: 1964-10-10
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: A behind the scenes look at a production of the musical Maggie May.
The Music Ladder (Episode 17)
Air date: 1964-11-14
Runtime: 30 min
A Man of Runnymede (Episode 18)
Air date: 1963-11-22
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Looking back on the past year since John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The Blues Came Walkin': Part 1 (Episode 19)
Air date: 1964-12-06
Runtime: 30 min
The Blues Came Walkin': Part 2 (Episode 20)
Air date: 1964-12-13
Runtime: 30 min
Seasons
Episodes 2
Episodes 10
Episodes 8
Episodes 20
Episodes 14
Episodes 13
Episodes 16