It's the girl that makes the thing that holds the oil, that oils the ring, that makes the

thingamabob that's going to win the war.

Barbara Gordon and Basil Thomas, the thingamabob that's going to win the war.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music Episode 385. The Thingmab That's Going to Win the War.

As of the 1st of September, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland,

there were regularly scheduled television broadcasts in the United Kingdom, the United States, and in Germany.

In the United States and Germany, these continued through the war, but not in the UK.

At 12.05 p.m. that Friday afternoon, the BBC broadcast to the 1933 animated short

film, Mickey's Gala Premier, starring Mickey Mouse, and produced by Walt Disney. After the film

came some test patterns, then an announcer explained that the BBC television service

was shutting down. No further explanation was given, but in light of what was happening in

Poland, it was easy to guess this was in preparation for war. There were only 20,000 or so televisions in the UK, a similar number in the United States, and

fewer than that in Germany.

TV sets were expensive and complex devices, and their manufacturer required materials

that would be needed for the war effort.

Since the production of new TV sets would come to a halt in all three countries anyway,

the end of TV broadcasts in Britain didn't affect many people.

Television broadcasting would resume in Britain in 1946.

There is a story, which is not true, but is too good not to mention, that when BBC television resumed, the announcer began his broadcast with, as I was saying, before we

were so rudely interrupted. This, I say again for emphasis, is not true.

The actual announcer, who was a she, opened with the words,

...