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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 91福利社 Radio 4 in April 2009.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 May 2026 00:30
91福利社 Radio 4 Extra

Credit

Producer Tim Dee

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Apr 2009 11:30
    91福利社 Radio 4
  • Sun 5 Jun 2011 13:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 FM
  • Sat 17 Aug 2013 07:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 06:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 13:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 5 Jun 2018 20:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 6 Jun 2018 01:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 18 Mar 2022 14:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 19 Mar 2022 02:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 30 Apr 2026 10:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 30 Apr 2026 16:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 1 May 2026 00:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra