It was a rare treat in Gen X classrooms when the school TV on wheel coasters was rolled out by the school teacher, as it meant a break from having to do any work. More often it would be a terrifying safety video or a dated educational program. One such program contained a revolving ornate, antique box being accompanied by a haunting, eerie theme from some bygone era. This was the opening sequence to Picture Box (1965-1993), a ten minute educational series by Granada TV, which showcased short films from around the world.
Usually presented by actor Alan Rothwell — known for playing Ken Barlow's brother, David, on the sexagenarian British soap Coronation Street (1960 -) and heroin junkie Nicholas Black on Brookside (1982-2003) — none of the included short films were anywhere near as memorable as the utterly demented music in the intro. The theme was far more appropriate for some scary looking, abandoned sideshow carnival than a children's series.
The show's theme, known as Manège, was created with an instrument known as a baschet, a musical organ consisting of glass rods and played with wet hands, achieving its uniquely ethereal sounds. The instrument's creators, French experimental sound musicians the Baschet Brothers, would become part of the group Structures Sonores Lasry-Baschet specialising in this type of music. Manège would be the most widely recognised them from the group, thanks to its association with Picture Box.
Decades later, Manège lives on as an unwanted and haunting earworm for folks like me. It's the last piece of music one would want to hear before retiring for the night. It's been expanded further into even more sinister territory, thanks to its psychological effect and cultural significance upon Gen X.
