in 1962, farson made a documentary for associated-rediffusion about pub entertainment in the east end of london where he lived, called "time gentlemen please" (this led directly to the company's later series "stars and garters", with which farson was not, however, personally involved). soon after this he bought a pub, "the waterman's arms", in the east end with the explicit intent of reviving old-time music hall, but this failed and the money he lost would have bought a row of houses at the time (1963).