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The Balancing Bluebottle

Tim Boon tells the story of Percy Smith, natural history film pioneer, who made movies in his back garden in the 1920s.

Percy Smith was the greatest pioneer of the natural history film-making - tackling subjects from flies to slime mould.

During the 1920s in his principal studio, the back garden of his home in north London, he developed innovative microscope - and time-lapse photography which still looks impressive today.

Tim Boon of London's Science Museum talks to historians and Sir David Attenborough.

Producer: Tim Dee

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in April 2009.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Mar 2022 02:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

Credit

Producer Tim Dee

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Apr 2009 11:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 5 Jun 2011 13:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Sat 17 Aug 2013 07:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 06:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 13:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 20:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 6 Jun 2018 01:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 18 Mar 2022 14:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 19 Mar 2022 02:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra