Pearly Kings & Queens
The Pearly Kings and Queens are so much a part of London that we tend to take them for granted, happy that they are there. If you look at their history , you ill see that they are 130 years old, started by a man brought up in an orphanage and determined to help those less fortunate. These days, you still see them about, working tirelessly for charity.
Larger Than Life
This huge, spangly shoe certainly grabs your attention, it is advertising the musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert. While it is popular and no doubt entertaining, it’s one of those shows lower on my list to visit, given there is so much on the London stage at the moment.
Authors Guild: ‘To RIAA or Not to RIAA’
There’s equal reason to support or object to the proposed Google Books settlement.
Creating a digital catalog of the worlds’ words might be the Holy Grail of intellectual empowerment.
Yet building that library in the clouds would be allowed without the rights-holders’ consent — which the Justice Department and others contend is a complete and fundamental alteration [...]
(more…)
London Loses Another Jazz Legend
Sir John Dankworth, one of the base notes of the London jazz scene, has gone to the great jazz club in the sky. ‘Johnny’ was ever a Londoner: He was born in Walthamstow, and in spite of an international career spanning over fifty years, he kept things London-centric. He even (reputedly) met his wife, the lovely Cleo Laine, on the stage of a newly opened Royal Festival Hall. Not only was he a great sax player and band leader, but he composed and arranged some of the most iconic theme tunes of the 60s and 70s. A concert at The Stables, the venue that the couple founded forty years ago within the grounds of their home, went ahead as a tribute last night. He leaves a strong legacy, but one can’t help worrying and wondering about the future of London jazz…
Image by Tony the Misfit under the Flickr Creative Commons Licence.
Co-Starring London: A Hard Day’s Night
Films with London in the title aren’t the only films about London – there are also loads of films that feature London, almost as a co-star. In this series, we’ll take a look at those films – both the good and the very, very bad.
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Wilfred Brambell
This film is a classic, and beloved by Beatles fans. And it also features the fab four running around London, being wacky, so it clearly appeals to us as well. This is the earliest film we’ve featured that shows the actual London, not a studio built to look like London. London’s changed a lot in the last 46 years, so there wasn’t a whole lot we recognised though. We’re perhaps not best suited to judge the London accuracy of that time, as we weren’t born yet, but it’s always fun to see the London of yesteryear.
The first thing that jumps out in this film is that John, Paul, George and Ringo are not actors. Adorable? Yes. Charming? Yes. Actors? Oh my, no. The plot of the film, such as it is, features the boys travelling from Liverpool to London to perform for a TV broadcast. Paul’s grandfather (Brambell) tags along for the ride and gets into all sorts of mischief. Oh, and those pesky female fans keep chasing the guys, and all they want is a quiet moment to … meet some girls. We guess it’s hard to have a meaningful relationship with someone who’s screaming at you.
Paul’s grandfather keeps running away, and gets the guys into all sorts of trouble. He runs up a gambling tab at Le Cirque, using Ringo’s invite to get in, and the guys spend a lot of the film searching for him. Poor Ringo is punchline of most of the jokes in the film. (Grandfather: “It’s your nose, you know. Fans are funny that way, they take a dislike to things.”) He develops a complex about this and runs away. That’s actually when we see the most recognisable bits of London: he heads to Notting Hill, and runs along the Thames. But never you fear! The guys all get back in time to perform, and everything works out in the end.
The plot is completely not the point of this film though. The appeal lies in seeing the four Beatles being outrageously wacky, and clearly having so much fun. They all seem to be having a great time, and seem to like each other so much. And they’re so young! The guys are all between 21 and 24 – practically babies! It’s really charming. We have a renewed fondness for them all. Ah, bless.
It may not be overly London-y, but it’s a good watch. And we like 1960s London. It looks like fun.
Time Spent In London: The first 15 minutes of the film are on the train to London, then it’s all London, all the time.
London Icons Spotted: The Thames, Marylebone Station, Notting Hill
Glaring London Errors: We weren’t alive in 1964, so we can’t really judge, but it seemed pretty good. Oh, but the footage at Liverpool station? That’s really Marylebone. More of a Liverpool error, though.
Things They Got Right: We liked the 60s dance halls and theatres. Good fun.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Previously on Co-Starring London:
28 Days Later
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
The Bourne Ultimatum
Children of Men
A Fish Called Wanda
Happy Go Lucky
Sliding Doors
Spice World
Weekend Round-Up
Here’s what we’ve learned this weekend whilst you’ve been supporting your team:
- There’s been a serious fire in Green Lanes.
- A London heroin addict has been diagnosed with anthrax.
- So another silly arse put his party on Facebook…
- The Mersey Ferry is sinking…in the Thames.
- Caveat emptor: dodgy car sales hit a new low as a man is stabbed in the leg.
- Jolly japes: an Ealing vicar is job swapping with a local publican.
Twickers, by Kenchie via the Londonist pool.
Week Around The -Ists
Londonist is one of thirteen in the worldwide Gothamist network. Once a week, the editors of each site – from SFist to Shanghaiist – compile some of their most interesting posts into a neat digest. Check out what’s been going on elsewhere in the ist-a-verse:
- DCist is busy digging out of the great Snowmaggedon of 2010.
- Londonist discovered an alpine ski lodge, some abstract art, a treasure-trove of antiques and several tube-carriage offices, all in the unlikely setting of East London’s rooftops and alleyways.
- Gothamist was amazed when a Best Buy shopper was arrested for using valid gift cards. Oh, and when a 12-year-old was arrested for doodling on her desk. Oh, and when a 9-year-old was almost suspended for a Lego-sized toy gun. Oh, and when ?uestlove wondered about NBC’s Black History Month cafeteria menu.
- Phillyist reported from the Miss’d America pageant in Atlantic City, former home of the Miss America pageant.
- Torontoist has been interviewing the members of the Kids in the Hall one by one by one, now that the much-loved comedy troupe is back on TV with a new mini-series, Death Comes to Town.
- Shanghaiist got shoved into overcrowded subways by new professional subway shovers.
- Bostonist toyed around with a naked Scott Brown action figure.
- LAist was exited to announce that a light rail line and route connecting Santa Monica to Downtown had finally been approved.
- Chicagoist followed PETA’s battle to get the controversial “Lobster Zone” game removed from a local bar (PETA won).
- Seattlest checked out the strange case of a photographer sued for taking a picture of Seattle public art.
- SFist recoiled at senate candidate Carly Fiorina new campaign attack ad, which features swine, sheep and furries.
- Houstonist focused a spotlight on the local music scene.