Conrad "William Tell" Phillips dies aged 90

[PaulR]

A part of many of our members' childhoods, actor Conrad Phillips has died at the age of 90.

He became famous as action hero William Tell in the fifties on TV. Phillips had to retire from acting relatively early in his career due to crippling pain.

RIP Conrad

Conrad Phillips obituary

 

[sonnetpete]

RIP Conrad.....

 

[Llew]

Blimey, William Tell takes me back. Used to rush home to see that on the old B/W TV in the 50's

R.I.P Conrad

 

[Topper]

Well R.I.P Conrad, I used to love William Tell and yes it was also a B/W TV

 

[PaulR]

yes it was also a B/W TV

Wouldn't have mattered if it was a colour one as the series was made in B&W!

 

[Llew]

Wouldn't have mattered if it was a colour one as the series was made in B&W!

It's interesting that many people not of that time consider the 50's and earlier as a B&W world. When I think of the colourful fashions etc. that followed in the 60's, I've a mind to think that myself, until I remember something like the spectacle of the Coronation in 1953, with the brilliant flags and banners outside the houses.

Still B&W on the TV though

 

[Archive4]

One of the first tellies I can remember in our house had a switch on the bottom right hand side, 425 or 705 lines, I think, but cannot be too sure, I was very young then. Perhaps someone could enlighten me on that.

RIP Conrad ( I saw the re-runs)

Edit, now I think about it, 605 lines not 705 lines. It was a Baird tv, if that helps

 

[Channel Hopper]

Or even 625 lines.

 

[Llew]

Or even 405 lines.

 

[Archive4]

Well, I´m glad all the senior members of the forum helped me clear that one up?

Edit. Thanks, have found the answer now

405-line television system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

( Did state I was very young at the time )

 

[sonnetpete]

Dual standard televisions (switching 405/625 lines) didn't come in until about 1967 (I was an apprentice TV engineer at the time). The Americans ran on 525 lines I think.

 

[rolfw]

Dual standard televisions (switching 405/625 lines) didn't come in until about 1967 (I was an apprentice TV engineer at the time). The Americans ran on 525 lines I think.

Dual standard was 1964, we had one very early on, my dad was a TV engineer, didn't have a cabinet though initially, just a chassis.


RIP Conrad, still remember the William Tell series and your arch enemy Gessler.

 

[sonnetpete]

Dual standard was 1964

Ah, didn't begin my apprenticeship till Autumn of 67 and seemed to spend the first six months, cleaning out filthy old 405 lines sets....