(Found) A TV play UK circa 1970 multi generation colony ship worshipped the voyage symbol called "Tree"

[Astro Pen]

A TV play UK circa 1970 multi generation space faring colony ship. I think the passengers had forgotten their original mission and worshipped the voyage symbol called "Tree". There was a computer/oracle that gave enigmatic replies like, "I have no way of knowing". May have had a young Sylvestra Le Tousel, Judy Bowker or similar actress voicing the oracle as a big close-up.

 

[tachyon]

Possibly "The Starlost" ?

The Starlost - Wikipedia

 

[Astro Pen]

Very similar tachyon. Good find.
The same basic plot but definitely British TV with far more 'theatre' style production values rather than North American TV.

 

[AuntDaisy]

Could it be a lost "Out of the Unknown" episode "Target Generation" from 1969? "Out of the Unknown" Target Generation (TV Episode 1969) - IMDb
It was based on Clifford D. Simak's "Target Generation" and has a Tree on the Hoff's Holy Picture.

I have the Kaleidoscope "Out of the Unknown" book, but it's still boxed from after we moved...

There's a photo on the IMDB webpage of David Buck (Jon Hoff) examining punched paper tape - does it look familiar?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTQwZjIzNjItOWNhZS00Yjk2LWE2YmItZmI1OTBlYzIzMjg1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk0MjQ3Nzk@.jpg

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

There was a book where the colony ship contained two separated villages. The idea was they would live in blissfull ignorance of what was going on until they were finally allowed to "intermingle" whereupon their collective genes would produce super intelligent people. They would then work out what to do to land the ship. Needless to say it alll went pear shaped and they continued for far more generations than it was supposed to until two teenagers broke the rules.

 

[AuntDaisy]

There's more information about surviving audio clips & some photos from "Target Generation" on this extensive webpage:

Out of the Unknown - Clips guide

Story Context:
A multi-generational spaceship is nearing its final destination after 900 years of travel. The inhabitants of the ship have long since forgotten the meaning and purpose of their existence, but they know that the ‘end’ will come when they feel the “tremor” (caused by the ship’s engines slowing down). Only one man in this puritanical, superstitious community – Jon Hoff (David Buck) – knows that when the tremor occurs he is to read a set of instructions bequeathed to him by his dying father. These lead Jon to a sealed and long-forgotten control deck, where he will come to understand the true nature of the ship and it’s inhabitants...

 

[Astro Pen]

Well done team. I think we have it! "Target Generation" indeed. No mention of the talking oracle but the Tree symbol cinches it

So good detecting and a bronze and silver to the two near misses.
The half memory had been bugging me for some time.

So sad that the BBC destroyed so much early material including some Hartnell Dr Who

 

[BAYLOR]

Could it be a lost "Out of the Unknown" episode "Target Generation" from 1969? "Out of the Unknown" Target Generation (TV Episode 1969) - IMDb
It was based on Clifford D. Simak's "Target Generation" and has a Tree on the Hoff's Holy Picture.

I have the Kaleidoscope "Out of the Unknown" book, but it's still boxed from after we moved...

There's a photo on the IMDB webpage of David Buck (Jon Hoff) examining punched paper tape - does it look familiar?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTQwZjIzNjItOWNhZS00Yjk2LWE2YmItZmI1OTBlYzIzMjg1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk0MjQ3Nzk@.jpg

Out the Unknown . Ive seen two posies of that show

13 to Centauris
Level 7.

Both terrific episodes. They even did adaptations of Asimov's The Naked Sun and The Dead Past
Also an adaptation of C m Cornbulth's. Little Black Bag . which was also done by Rod Serling's Night Gallery

It's unfortunate that about the half the episodes are missing .

 

[Astro Pen]

Apropos missing I came across The Keys of Marinus which has been blocked by the BBC on youtube.
Here's episode 1 notable for the budget special effects and the perils of live acting

 

[BAYLOR]

Apropos missing I came across The Keys of Marinus which has been blocked by the BBC on youtube.
Here's episode 1 notable for the budget special effects and the perils of live acting

Yes Dr Who did have some Clunker episodes but, for the most part, the show was well written, well produced and well acted . For many years it was by far the best science fiction show on television.