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Arena Episodes

  1. Buddy Holly

    Documentary looking at the short but brilliant career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly.

  3. Billie Holliday: The Long Night of Lady Day

    A film portrait of one of the greatest of all the jazz singers, Billie Holliday

  4. The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience

    Film about the Everly Brothers, among the most revered of the early rock 'n' roll giants.

  5. Jerry Lee Lewis: Live in Bristol 1984

    Arena presents a concert by legend of rock 'n' roll Jerry Lee Lewis.

  6. The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert

    1983 Royal Albert Hall concert by the Everly Brothers following their ten-year split.

  7. Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano

    Documentary about Bette Davis, including an interview with the Hollywood star herself.

  8. A Genius Like Us

    Portrait of playwright Joe Orton, murdered by his lover Kenneth Halliwell in 1967.

  9. Mike Leigh: Making Plays

    Mike Leigh talks about his work and his dramatic processes.

  11. Desert Island Discs

    A celebration of Roy Plomley's radio favourite with some celebrity castaways' help.

  12. The Private Life of the Ford Cortina

    This programme looks at the history of the Ford Cortina.

  13. A Tall Story - How Salman Rushdie Pickled All of India

    Salman Rushdie talks about India and Midnight's Children's autobiographical elements.

  14. The Art of Radio Times and The Eye of the "Eye"

    A contrast in visual style: the art of Radio Times and the jaundiced eye of Private Eye.

  15. Have You Seen the Mona Lisa...?

    There's only one Mona Lisa, but she's everywhere. Arena looks behind the Gioconda smile.

  16. The Comic Strip Hero

    A look at the legend of 'Superman' and its portrayal in comic books and films.

  17. Edward Hopper

    Documentary about the great American realist painter and printmaker Edward Hopper.

  18. Today Carshalton Beeches... Tomorrow Croydon

    A look at the roles in the rock world of John Peel and John Walters, his producer.

  19. Chelsea Hotel

    Chelsea Hotel in New York, a haven for some of the 20th Century's greatest talent. (1981)

  20. Dire Straits

    蜜芽传媒 cameras record the return of Dire Straits from their triumphant 1980 world tour.

  21. Andrea Dunbar and Victoria Wood

    Programme from 1980 profiling writer/performer Victoria Wood and playwright Andrea Dunbar.

  22. Rudies Come Back: The Rise and Rise of 2 Tone

    Adrian Thrills investigates 2 Tone and its unique blend of ska, reggae, new wave and punk.

  23. Six Days in September

    Profile of John Hoyland, seen by many as England's finest abstract painter. (1979)

  24. My Way

    An investigation of the appeal and power of the popular song My Way, written by Paul Anka. (R)

  25. Who Is Poly Styrene?

    1979 film portrait of the late New Wave singer-songwriter, Poly Styrene.

  26. Theatre: Taking Our Time

    The making and performance of a play about the Industrial Revolution.

  27. Henry Moore Meets Leonardo

    Henry Moore discusses Da Vinci's drawings. George Melly visits a Dada & Surrealism exhibition.

  28. Peter Shaffer

    Writer Peter Shaffer talks about his plays, his life and the theatre.

  29. Theatre - Arena

    The first episode of Arena, from 1975.

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