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Tales From Europe

'Tales From Europe' were on BBC1 on Thursdays at 5.25pm or 5.30pm after Blue Peter and before the 6pm news. They were dubbed and narrated, and introduced by Peggy Miller. Some of the stories have been repeated after the 60s, often in colour, but not as part of 'Tales From Europe' which had ended. The information comes from old copies of the Radio Times at Westminster Reference library.

To see information about the stories in alphabetical order of their countries of origin go here.

1 October 1964 The Tinderbox part 1 Germany
8 October 1964 The Tinderbox part 2 Germany
15 October 1964 The Tinderbox part 3 Germany
22 October 1964 Heidi part 1 Switzerland
29 October 1964 Heidi part 2 Switzerland
5 November 1964 Heidi part 3 Switzerland
12 November 1964 Heidi part 4 Switzerland
19 November 1964 The Singing Ringing Tree part 1 Germany
26 November 1964 The Singing Ringing Tree part 2 Germany
3 December 1964 The Singing Ringing Tree part 3 Germany
10 December 1964 The Boy and the Pelican part 1 Russia
17 December 1964 The Boy and the Pelican part 2 Russia

Tales From Europe took a break but 'The Yellow Slippers' was shown on 24 December. From Poland, it was later shown as part of 'Tales From Europe'. On 29 December 'Snow White' was shown, another DEFA film from East Germany, like 'The Tinderbox' and 'The Singing Ringing Tree'. I think that this 'Snow White' is the same as the 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' shown later as part of 'Tales From Europe'.

31 December 1964 The Boy Who Loved Horses part 1 Denmark
7 January 1965 The Boy Who Loved Horses part 2 Denmark
14 January 1965 The Boy Who Loved Horses part 3 Denmark
21 January 1965 Paw part 1 Denmark
28 January 1965 Paw part 2 Denmark
4 February 1965 Paw part 3 Denmark
11 February 1965 Paw part 4 Denmark
18 February 1965 The Daughter of The Sun - Russia

Tales From Europe took a break and was replaced by Tales From Overseas which had an Australian story 'The Stranger' in five parts.

8 April 1965 White Feather - Poland
15 April 1965 The Scouts and the Motor Car part 1 Poland
22 April 1965 The Scouts and the Motor Car part 2 Poland
29 April 1965 The Last Passenger part 1 Netherlands
6 May 1965 The Last Passenger part 2 Netherlands
13 May 1965 The Last Passenger part 3 Netherlands

Tales From Europe took a break and was replaced by 'The Adventures of Tintin', a four part story. Although European, it did not go under the 'Tales From Europe' heading. When Tintin finished it was replaced by 'Noggin and the Omruds', a two part story, which although British did go under the 'Tales From Europe' heading.

1 July 1965 Pan - Holland
8 July 1965 The Yellow Slippers part 1 Poland
15 July 1965 The Yellow Slippers part 2 Poland

'Tales From Europe' took a break and was replaced by Clapperboard, a compendium of various children's programmes.

23 September 1965 White Feather (rpt) - Poland
30 September 1965 We Want a Dog part 1 Czechoslovakia
7 October 1965 We Want a Dog part 2 Czechoslovakia
14 October 1965 We Want a Dog part 3 Czechoslovakia
21 October 1965 The Boys Who Stole the Moon part 1 Poland
28 October 1965 The Boys Who Stole the Moon part 2 Poland
4 November 1965 The Boys Who Stole the Moon part 3 Poland
11 November 1965 Adventure in Golden Creek part 1 Czechoslovakia
18 November 1965 Adventure in Golden Creek part 2 Czechoslovakia
25 November 1965 They've Stolen the Sea - France
2 December 1965 Snow White and the Seven Dwarves part 1 Germany
9 December 1965 Snow White and the Seven Dwarves part 2 Germany
16 December 1965 The Proud Princess part 1 Czechoslovakia
23 December 1965 The Proud Princess part 2 Czechoslovakia
30 December 1965 The Proud Princess part 3 Czechoslovakia
6 January 1966 Heidi (rpt) part 1 Switzerland
13 January 1966 Heidi part 2 Switzerland
20 January 1966 Heidi part 3 Switzerland
27 January 1966 Heidi part 4 Switzerland
3 February 1966 The Princess with the Golden Star part 1 Czechoslovakia
10 February 1966 The Princess with the Golden Star part 2 Czechoslovakia
17 February 1966 The Limping Boy part 1 Hungary
24 February 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull part 1 Yugoslavia
3 March 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull part 2 Yugoslavia
10 March 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull part 3 Yugoslavia
17 March 1966 The Singing Ringing Tree (rpt) part 1 Germany
24 March 1966 The Singing Ringing Tree part 2 Germany
31 March 1966 The Singing Ringing Tree part 3 Germany
7 April 1966 Crook's Island part 1 Poland
14 April 1966 Crook's Island part 2 Poland
21 April 1966 Crook's Island part 3 Poland
28 April 1966 The Tinderbox (rpt) part 1 Germany
5 May 1966 The Tinderbox part 2 Germany
12 May 1966 The Tinderbox part 3 Germany
19 May 1966 The Boy and the Pelican part 1 Russia
26 May 1966 The Boy and the Pelican part 2 Russia
2 June 1966 We Want a Dog (rpt) part 1 Czechoslovakia
9 June 1966 We Want a Dog part 2 Czechoslovakia
16 June 1966 We Want a Dog part 3 Czechoslovakia
23 June 1966 The Scouts and the Motor Car part 1 Poland
30 June 1966 The Scouts and the Motor Car part 2 Poland
7 July 1966 The Last Passenger part 1 Netherlands
14 July 1966 The Last Passenger part 2 Netherlands
21 July 1966 The Last Passenger part 3 Netherlands

'Tales From Europe' took a break and was replaced by 'The Great Adventure' which was American.

22 September 1966 Glamador part 1 France
29 September 1966 Glamador part 2 France
6 October 1966 Adventure in Golden Creek (rpt) part 1 Czechoslovakia
13 October 1966 Adventure in Golden Creek part 2 Czechoslovakia
20 October 1966 Summer at Salty Creek part 1 Sweden
27 October 1966 Summer at Salty Creek part 2 Sweden
3 November 1966 Summer at Salty Creek part 3 Sweden
10 November 1966 The Golden Goose part 1 Germany
17 November 1966 The Golden Goose part 2 Germany
24 November 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull (rpt) part 1 Yugoslavia
1 December 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull part 2 Yugoslavia
8 December 1966 The Secret of the Grey Gull part 3 Yugoslavia
15 December 1966 Rumpelstiltskin part 1 Germany
22 December 1966 Rumpelstiltskin part 2 Germany
29 December 1966 Two Boys and a Pidgeon - Norway
5 January 1967 The Princess with the Golden Star (rpt) part 1 Czechoslovakia
12 January 1967 The Princess with the Golden Star part 2 Czechoslovakia
19 January 1967 Maximka part 1 Russia
26 January 1967 Maximka part 2 Russia
2 February 1967 Maximka part 3 Russia
9 February 1967 Paw (rpt) part 1 Denmark
16 February 1967 Paw part 2 Denmark
23 February 1967 Paw part 3 Denmark
2 March 1967 Paw part 4 Denmark
9 March 1967 The City of Craftsmen part 1 Russia
16 March 1967 The City of Craftsmen part 2 Russia
23 March 1967 The City of Craftsmen part 3 Russia
30 March 1967 They've Stolen the Sea (rpt) - France
6 April 1967 Glamador (rpt) part 1 France
13 April 1967 Glamador part 2 France
20 April 1967 The Musical Powder Box part 1 Czechoslovakia
27 April 1967 The Musical Powder Box part 2 Czechoslovakia
4 May 1967 The Musical Powder Box part 3 Czechoslovakia
11 May 1967 The Golden Goose (rpt) part 1 Germany
18 May 1967 The Golden Goose part 2 Germany

'Tales From Europe' took a break for one week for football.

1 June 1967 Katya and the Crocodile part 1 Czechoslovakia
8 June 1967 Katya and the Crocodile part 2 Czechoslovakia
15 June 1967 Katya and the Crocodile part 3 Czechoslovakia
22 June 1967 Summer at Salty Creek part 1 Sweden
29 June 1967 Summer at Salty Creek part 2 Sweden
6 July 1967 Summer at Salty Creek part 3 Sweden
13 July 1967 The Limping Boy (rpt) - Hungary
20 July 1967 The Proud Princess part 1 Czechoslovakia
27 July 1967 The Proud Princess part 2 Czechoslovakia
3 August 1967 The Proud Princess part 3 Czechoslovakia
10 August 1967 The Ark part 1 Sweden
17 August 1967 The Ark part 2 Sweden
24 August 1967 The Ark part 3 Sweden
31 August 1967 The Ark part 4 Sweden
7 September 1967 Rumpelstiltskin (rpt) part 1 Germany
14 September 1967 Rumpelstiltskin part 2 Germany
21 September 1967 The Golden Tent part 1 Mongolian
28 September 1967 The Golden Tent part 2 Mongolian
5 October 1967 The Golden Tent part 3 Mongolian
12 October 1967 The Musical Powder Box (rpt) part 1 Czechoslovakia
19 October 1967 The Musical Powder Box part 2 Czechoslovakia
26 October 1967 The Musical Powder Box part 3 Czechoslovakia
2 November 1967 The Millionaire part 1 Poland
9 November 1967 The Millionaire part 2 Poland
16 November 1967 Maximka (rpt) part 1 Russia
23 November 1967 Maximka part 2 Russia
30 November 1967 Maximka part 3 Russia
7 December 1967 Two Boys and a Pidgeon (rpt) - Norway
14 December 1967 Almost a Fairytale part 1 Sovexport
21 December 1967 Almost a Fairytale part 2 Sovexport
28 December 1967 Almost a Fairytale part 3 Sovexport
4 January 1968 On the Twelfth Day - A ballet on film
11 January 1968 The Adventures of Barbara part 1 Poland
18 January 1968 The Adventures of Barbara part 2 Poland
25 January 1968 The Adventures of Barbara part 3 Poland
1 February 1968 The Adventures of Barbara part 4 Poland
8 February 1968 The City of Craftsmen (rpt) part 1 Russia
15 February 1968 The City of Craftsmen part 2 Russia
22 February 1968 The City of Craftsmen part 3 Russia
29 February 1968 Here comes Peter part 1 Sweden
7 March 1968 Here comes Peter part 2 Sweden
14 March 1968 Here comes Peter part 3 Sweden
21 March 1968 The Boys Who Stole the Moon (rpt) part 1 Poland
28 March 1968 The Boys Who Stole the Moon part 2 Poland
4 April 1968 The Boys Who Stole the Moon part 3 Poland
11 April 1968 Here comes Peter (sequel) - Sweden
18 April 1968 Here comes Peter - Sweden
25 April 1968 Here comes Peter - Sweden
2 May 1968 Mario part 1 Austria
9 May 1968 Mario part 2 Austria
16 May 1968 Mario part 3 Austria
23 May 1968 Mario part 4 Austria

The next week's story went under the 'Tales From Overseas' heading and not 'Tales From Europe'. It seems that the BBC thought that they could avoid indicating programmes as repeats by doing this. The story for the next three weeks was 'The Golden Tent' which was shown previously under 'Tales From Europe', although it was a Mongolian tale (although probably not made in Mongolia).

20 June 1968 Here Comes Peter - Sweden
27 June 1968 The Ark (rpt) part 1 Sweden
4 July 1968 The Ark part 2 Sweden
11 July 1968 The Ark part 3 Sweden
18 July 1968 The Ark part 4 Sweden

'Tales From Europe' took a break and was replaced by 'Daktari'.

26 September 1968 The Windmill part 1 Bulgaria
3 October 1968 The Windmill part 2 Bulgaria
10 October 1968 The Windmill part 3 Bulgaria

'Tales From Europe' took a break for one week for sport.

24 October 1968 Katya and the Crocodile (rpt) part 1 Czechoslovakia
31 October 1968 Katya and the Crocodile part 2 Czechoslovakia
7 November 1968 Katya and the Crocodile part 3 Czechoslovakia
14 November 1968 Mario (sequel) part 1 Austria
21 November 1968 Mario part 2 Austria
28 November 1968 Mario part 3 Austria
5 December 1968 The Snow Queen part 1 Russia
12 December 1968 The Snow Queen part 2 Russia
19 December 1968 The Snow Queen part 3 Russia

There was no story for the 26th of December, and in January the story of Mario continued, not under the 'Tales From Europe' heading but 'Tales From Overseas'. From now on these two titles were used inexplicably and apparently at random. Why stories 1, 2 and 3 of Mario should go under 'Tales From Europe' and stories 4, 5 and 6 should go under 'Tales From Overseas' I cannot explain. The next story went under 'Tales From Europe' but apparently was not European. I was called 'The Windsor Box' and had just one part. Then there was a 3 part Russian story called 'The Lost Summer' which was 'Tales From Overseas'.

20 February 1969 The Happy Age part 1 France
27 February 1969 The Happy Age part 2 France
6 March 1969 The Happy Age part 3 France
13 March 1969 The Happy Age part 4 France

Under the title 'Tales From Overseas' came an American tale in 2 parts called 'The World of Stuart Little'.

3 April 1969 The Village Matadors part 1 Russia
10 April 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 1 Sweden
17 April 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 2 Sweden
24 April 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 3 Sweden
1 May 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 4 Sweden
8 May 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 5 Sweden
15 May 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 6 Sweden
22 May 1969 The Mystery of the Cave part 7 Sweden

There then followed two tales from Europe with no title, 'The Motorbike Ride' (2 parts) and 'Dog in Orbit' (3 parts). 'Tales From Europe' had finished. It was now the end of the decade, and the 1970s were a big change for children's TV. European tales continued to be shown, often on Wednesday afternoons, but not under the 'Tales From Europe' banner. Some repeats of stories shown under 'Tales From Europe' and some new ones, both shown in colour for the first time. There was a new Doctor Who: the programme changed in character and was now in color. We didn't see the Daleks for a long time and the stories were Earth-based. It was the end of an era.