Clothes-Line
| Clothes-Line | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary, Fashion |
| Created by | Mary Adams |
| Presented by | James Laver and Pearl Binder |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Mary Adams |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC |
| Original release | 30 September – 9 December 1937 |
Clothes-Line was an early BBC television programme broadcast live in six parts between 30 September and 3 December 1937. It is notable for being the first television programme dedicated to the history of fashion. It was produced by Mary Adams, and co-presented by the fashion historian James Laver and Pearl "Polly" Binder.
Episode 4 was broadcast on the Tuesday that week rather than the Thursday due to Remembrance Day falling that Thursday.
Clothes-Line illustrated the development of fashion history through live models in original costumes from C. Willett Cunnington's collection. Laver provided verse commentary on the garments, while Binder drew lightning sketches and illustrations at an easel. After the first episode was broadcast, The Listener commented: "we were left wondering quite what it was we had just seen and heard — a poetry-reading, a lightning-artist display, a mannequin parade, or what?" As they went on to acknowledge, Clothes-Line in fact used features of all three to create a new type of television programme.
In addition to being the first television programme to deal with fashion history, Clothes-Line may well have been the first television programme to feature a heavily pregnant woman. Binder had been pregnant with her first child when discussions for the programme first began, and a conscious decision was made to have her as a presenter. As she got closer to her due date, and had to stand further back from her easel, the noticeability of Binder's condition caused consternation amongst the BBC. Binder's daughter Josephine was not born until 6 January 1938, almost a month after the last episode aired on 9 December 1937.
The show's last episode, Grandmamma Looks Back, aired 9 December 1937 caused an unexpected national scandal. Micheline Patton, the actress playing the granddaughter to Nesta Sawyer's grandmother, appeared in a fashionable backless evening dress which was filmed from behind, giving the illusion of nudity. Binder recollected in her diary that outraged viewers wrote in to complain.
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