The Good Old Days was a popular BBC television light entertainment television program(me) which ran from 1953 to 1983.

It was recorded live at the Leeds City Varieties and recreated an authentic atmosphere of the Victorian–Edwardian music hall with songs and sketches of the era performed by present-day performers in the style of the original artistes.

The audience dressed in period costume and joined in the singing, especially the singing of Down at the Old Bull and Bush which closed the show. The show was compered by Leonard Sachs who introduced the acts. In the course of its run it featured about 2000 artists.

The show was first broadcast on July 20 1953.

The Good Old Days was inspired by the success of the "Ridgeway's Late Joys" at the Players' Theatre Club in London: a private members' club that ran fortnightly program(me)s of variety acts in London's West End.

External links

• '1950's British TV Milestones', Whirligig (2003). Retrieved June 1 2005.
• 'History Of The Players' Theatre Club', The Players' Theatre (2004). Retrieved June 1 2005.

BBC television programmes