"Crossroads" (1964) TV series 1964-1988

User Rating:

3.1/10   

Creators:

Hazel Adair
Peter Ling

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

2 November 1964 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The four or five times a week adventures of a motel owner, son, daughter and her staff. Drama was never far away from the ringing of the reception bell.

Plot Keywords:

Wobbly Sets | Sergeant | Soap

Cast

Elsie Kelly	...	Mrs. Tardebigge / ... (327 episodes, 1968-1988)
Noele Gordon	...	Meg Mortimer / ... (219 episodes, 1964-1981)
Susan Hanson	...	Diane Parker / ... (201 episodes, 1966-1987)
Ronald Allen	...	David Hunter (196 episodes, 1966-1985)
Paul Henry	...	Benny / ... (168 episodes, 1975-1988)
Roger Tonge	...	Sandy Richardson / ... (151 episodes, 1964-1981)

Also Known As:

The Midland Road (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (4510 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

Trivia:

Occasionally, at cliffhangers of great impact, Wings' cover of the theme tune (the closing track on their 1975 album "Venus and Mars") would end the programme instead of the usual arrangement.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'We Are the Boys...': Arnold Ridley (2005) (V)

Verging On Pantomime But Strangely Enjoyable

We've all criticized Crossroads at times. We've all commented on the wooden sets, the intentionally bad acting and the lack of guests at Crossroads Motel. However, it was addictive in some way and was on air from 1964-1988.

Meg Richardson was in charge of the Crossroads Motel for awhile. That woman had one long bad life and everyone else in the show did as well. It seemed odd that people could live such eventful lives but that is soap for you.

One of the shows favourite characters was Benny Hawkins played by Paul Henry. Benny was the motel idiot but we liked him all the same. He was an odd character with his woolly hat but even odder, he once went AWOL from the show for several months without any explanation. The actor who played Benny opened up a pub in Birmingham. I last visited it in 1994 but I'm not sure if it is still there.

There were some rather odd stories on the show which perhaps ensured it's enduring popularity. Bizarre is the only word to describe some of the plots at times but hey, it was a lot better than Brookside ever was.

All in all, Crossroads will always have a place in my heart even if it was never clear whether it was a soap or comedy. It made a comeback in the 21st century but I haven't watched the new show. I don't have the time or inclination (at least currently) to watch the new version but I am sure nothing could ever compare to the original.

I wonder if, in the pilot episode of the new version, they still said, "Crossroads Motel, may I help you?"