Historia de la frivolidad (transl. History of frivolity) is a 1967 Spanish television special by Televisión Española, directed by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, written by himself and Jaime de Armiñán, with music by Augusto Algueró and drawings by Mingote. It first aired on February 9, 1967. It relates, through a series of humorous sketches, the history of eroticism, and the efforts of the censors of all ages to conceal it.^[1]

Plot

The president of the Women's League against Frivolity delivers a speech to would-be censors, and shows the History of eroticism, through a series of sketches, from Adam and Eve to the near future, praising the efforts to conceal any glimpse of impudence.

Production

Jesús Aparicio-Bernal, Director-General of RTVE back then, Adolfo Suárez, Director of Programmes of Televisión Española, and Juan José Rosón, had the idea of improving the very poor impression that Francoist Spain had abroad, showing the image of a modern and tolerant Spain. They commissioned the task of creating a special intended to participate in the most important international television festivals at the time to Narciso Ibáñez Serrador. He created, along with Jaime de Armiñán, what was to be named Historia de la censura (transl. History of censorship) a television special with an ironic subtle sense of humor evidencing the censorship in Francoist Spain. But they suffered the censorship themselves and had to change the name to Historia de la frivolidad.^[2]

The special was sent to the Monte-Carlo Television Festival whose organization demanded that, to participate in the competition, the special had to have been broadcast. So, it was broadcast on February 9, 1967, without promotion, almost at midnight and after the National Anthem that marked the end of the channel's daily broadcast.^[3]

Cast

Legacy

In popular culture

The ladies of the Women's League against Frivolity were the precursors of the characters from Tacañón del Todo, the negative part at Ibáñez Serrador game show Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez.^[4]

Accolades