Web Page 1132
24th March 2013

Top Picture : Michael Caine

Second Picture: Palmerton Road in 1952

What’s in a name?

Entertainers adopt new professional for different reasons maybe to abandon an embarrassing name given to them by their parents, like Marion Morrison who became John Wayne or Archibald Leach, Cary Grant. The fortunate are simply born with the right name, like Marlo Brando or Elvis Presley, others need the magic of a makeover. "Hello, my name is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite" somehow doesn’t sound as good as  "Hello, my name is Michael Caine ".

Name changes seem to be the only way that some folks can get on in the entertainment business but this is a universal situation so I shall only take a quick look at a few British artists’ and see how a name change has affected them and given them a career.

Foe example, in their 50^th Anniversary year, would you go and see a band whose line up included William Perks, Lewis Brian Hopkin-Jones and Michael Phillip Jagger. They are of course Bill Wyman, Brian Jones and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Likewise how does the name William Howard Ashton and the Dakotas sound? Not so good eh!

Some stars retained some of their names Donovan is actually Donovan Phillip Leitch, Eric Clapton is Eric Patrick Clapp (I think I understand why he changed that name). Manfred Mann was actually Manfred Lubowitz, Rod Stewart is Roderick David Stewart and Tom Jones’ full name is Thomas Jones Woodward and would you believe that Helen Mirren’s given name is - Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov.

But as we can see from above some stage names are totally different. Would Adam Faith have made it to the top as Terence Nelhams or Billy Fury as Ronald Wycherley.  Most of us know that Elton John was originally Reginald Kenneth Dwight but did you know that Georgie Fame was Clive Powell (Clive Powell and the Blue Flames does not sound right does it!) and Jonathan King was Kenneth King. but I doubt if many of you knew that James Marcus Smith actually made his name as PJ Proby. Mike Berry retained part of his real name Michael Bourne and Tommy Bruce kept the lot Thomas Charles Bruce. Acker Bilk is actually Bernard Stanley Bilk and Clinton Ford rejoices in the name Ian George Stampford Harrison. Tony Meehan from The Shadows was born Daniel Meehan and Matt Monro would never have made it as Terry Parsons. Naturally we must not forget Sir Harry Webb (oh! sorry Cliff Richard). Adam Ant was known as Stuart Leslie Goddard and David Bowie was David Robert Hayward-Jones. Just two more here (Sir) Sean Connery was born Thomas Connery and Michael Crawford was known as Michael Patrick Dumbell-Smith

The ladies also have succumbed to name changing too. I am sure that Dusty Springfield would not have been such a hit as Mary O'Brien or Lulu as Marie Lawrie or Cilla Black as Priscilla Marie Veronica White and Sandie Shaw using her given name Sandra Ann Goodrich. Even Julie Andrews was originally Julia Elizabeth Wells.

Groups were just the same did you know that The Detours became The Who and that the Drifters became The Shadows? Other well-known examples are The Silver Beatles to The Beatles and Dave Dee (who is really Dave Harman) and the Bostons to Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch. Even the Irish group The Batchelors were originally known as The Harmonichords.

Name changes applied to comics too. Now just who was Maurice James Christopher Cole?  Why Kenny Everett of course. Now try this one who is the sister of Basil, Baron Feldman of Frognal? The answer is Fenella Feldman known to us as Fenella Fielding (contrary to many popular rumours she is not Kenny Everett’s’ sister). Lastly in this comedy section and locally Benny Hill, was actually born Alfred Hawthorn Hill but his family (for a time I employed his cousin and she looked just like him when he was in ‘drag’) knew him as Alfie.

 

Finally now lads would you have found Brigette Bardot just as alluring under her real name of real name Camille Javal? Or Yana as Pamella Guard and most certainly not Diana Dors if she was still using he given name Diana Mary Fluck.

Stay in Touch

Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

You Write:

John Writes:

What about the Apron for woodwork and metalwork, My Nan made mine and my twin brother. it was a bit short.

News and Views:

It was announced on Tuesday March 12 that Bob Dylan has been selected for the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the first rock star to be chosen among the best in music, literature and visual arts by the society, founded in 1898. Memembership is limited to only 250 and new members are added only upon the passing of an old one.

On this day 24th March 1960-1965

On 24/03/1960 the number one single was Running Bear - Johnny Preston and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. Chuck Berry is jailed and fined in the U.S.A.

On 24/03/1961 the number one single was Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was The Dickie Henderson Show (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 24/03/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was French Algerian War ends

On 24/03/1964 the number one single was Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was 10 found guilty of Great Train Robbery.

On 26/03/1965 the number one single was The Last Time - Rolling Stones and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.