Web Page  No 2332

31st December 2016

Top Picture: Earl portrait of Marilyn

 Second Picture: That white dress!

Third Picture: Singing to the President

Forth Picture: The last photo 1961 St. Monica beach

Happy New Year to you all

Marilyn Munroe 1955

One of the biggest stars of 1955 was Marilyn Monroe and to look at her wishes for New Year that year might reveal a few surprises.

She stated that she didn't want a better figure or skin — she just wanted to become a better actress

The iconic starlet's 1955 New Year's resolution surfaced online a short time ago and they give us a glimpse into the then 29-year-old's thinking as she sought to move away from her blond bimbo model persona and to become a recognised actress.

 If you’re like most people, now is the time of year when you’ve taken a hard look at yourself and tried to determine what, if anything, could improve your life. Whether those resolutions come in the shape of a formal list or not, they’re usually populated by the same handful of vague promises. But in 1955 Marilyn Monroe, already a rising star had a very specific and detailed idea of how she could improve her life and it all had to do with honing her craft.

Though she  sometimes gets unfairly pegged as merely a Hollywood sex symbol, any amount of digging reveals a young woman very determined to be taken seriously in her chosen profession. That’s why, despite her high-profile 1954 celebrity marriage to Joe DiMaggio she pursued Lee Strasberg at the esteemed Actor’s Studio in March of 1955. It would be the beginning of a relationship that would heavily influence her for the rest of her too-short life and looking at the list of resolutions she wrote in her address book at the time, you can see why. Here are the resolutions she wrote for herself

By this time she had already appeared in the films  "All About Eve," "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" and "The Seven Year Itch," and had been accepted into the Actors Studio that year, and her to-do list for the year largely focused on honing what she called "her instrument”.

Yet within this document there are also glimpses into the actress' troubled side, as she refers to working on "problems and phobias" that have arisen, as she put it,  "out of my past." And the list ends on a particularly grim note, with her vowing "to enjoy myself when I can - I'll be miserable enough as it is."

As it turns out, 1956 ended up being a landmark year for the actress. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in "Bus Stop" and married playwright Arthur Miller in June.

Marilyn Monroe's 1955 New Year's Resolutions were as follows:-                  

Go to acting classes - my own always and without fail

Go as often as possible to observe Strassberg's (he was her teacher) other private classes.                                                                                                    To never miss actor's studio sessions.                                                          To work whenever possible - on acting class assignments - and always keep working on the acting exercises

Start attending Harold Clurman’s lectures (he was a lecturer in acting and theatre technique) - also Lee Strassberg's directors lectures at theatre wing – I must enquire about both

Keep looking around me - only much more so - observing but not only myself but others and everything - take things for what they are worth.

I must make a stronger effort to work on my current problems and phobias that have risen out of my past – I must make much much much more more more more more effort in my analysis. And be there always on time - no excuses for being ever late.

If possible - take at least one class at university in literature

Follow RCA thing through, RCA critisied her as not being a rounded actress

I must try to find someone to teach me creative dancing.

I must take care of my instrument - personally & bodily this must involve more exercise.

I must try to enjoy myself when I can after all I'll be miserable enough as it is.

Keep in touch

Peter

gsseditor@gmail.com

On this Day 31st  December 1960-1965

On this Day 31^st December 1960-1965

On 31/01/1960 the number one single was Starry Eyed - Michael Holliday and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Boeing 707s to be tested by UK pilots.

On 31/12/1961 the number one single was I Love You - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Russ Conway Show (ATV) 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.The big news story of the day was Millionth Morris Minor produced.

On 31/12/1962 the number one single was Moon River - Danny Williams and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. 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 day was Pope ex-communicates Castro.

On 31/12/1963 the number one single was The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 31/12/1964 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles 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.

On 31/12/1965 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. 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.

Extra Page

Christmas 2016

Top Picture: 1960s fairy lights

Second Picture: Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree

Third Picture: 1960s Christmas Tree

Hi all,

Not exactly a normal blog page but just a chance to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and to thank you for your support as you can see the ‘hits’ total is now over the quarter of a million so I must be doing something right. Here’s to 2017.

Peter

But let us also remember those stars we remember from our youth who died this year.

Taking that our average age is 70 I have divided the list into two, older than us and younger than us.

Older

Paul Daniels 77

Mohamed Ali 75

George Martin 90

Ronnie Corbet 85

Peter Vaughan 87

Gene Wilder 83

Terry Wogan

Leonard Cohen 82

Harper Lee 90

Arnold Palmer 87

Andrew Sachs 86

Keith Emerson 71

Adrienne Corri 85

Bobby Vee 73

Kay Starr 94

John Glenn 90

And more worryingly younger

Victoria Wood 62

David Bowie 68

Greg Lake 69

Prince 51

Caroline Aherne 57

Frank Kelly 67

We thank them all for their contribution into our lives as we progress into 2017

Web Page  No 2330

24th December 2016

Top Picture: Christmas was not Christmas without David Nixon.

Second Picture: Christmas matches

 Third Picture: Christmas at Woolworths

Forth Picture: The Queen’s Christmas speech 1960

This from Maureen:

To all the year of '62' and those whose paths have crossed then or since, Congratulations, we have made another year and a very good reason to celebrate our Three Score years and ten.  We have got to an age when reflecting is easier than living in the present and we have to thank Peter for all the nudges he has given us over the years to keep the memories alive. Thanks Peter with all good wishes to you, your family and your extended family of followers. Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

First of all a very Happy Christmas to you all and a Prosperous New Year, but as you all know it is Christmas time which means it is time for the Christmas Quiz.

Here we go

1. What year was Prince Charles invested as Prince Of Wales?

2. Which Pop Group’s original name was Pete Novak and the Heartbeats??

3. By what name did Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore become known in 1963?

4. Which model was voted the face of 1966?

5. Which country singer was killed in a plane crash in 1964?

6. Benjamin Britten’s war Requiem was first performed at the consecration of which Cathedral in 1962?

7. Which Lord led the inquiry into the 1963 Profumo affair?

8. On 23rd April 1964, who became the first commoner to appear on a Royal Mail presentation stamp pack?

9. What year did the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion by US-backed troops take place?

10. Which brand of toothpaste was advertised on television as having a ring of confidence?

11. Who defeated Richard Nixon to become US president in 1960?

12. In what year did Marilyn Monroe die?

13. Who became leader of the Labour Party in 1963?

14. Which model was know as The Shrimp??

15. What type of animal was Goldie who made the headlines by escaping from London Zoo?

16. Ian Smith declared independence for which country in the sixties?

17. Who led The Family in the Sharon Tate murder?

18. Which politician was involved in a famous road accident at Chappaquidick?

19. Who became the first Woman Prime Minister of Israel?

20. In which country did soviet tanks crush the Dubchek reforms in the Sixties?

21. What book, written in the 1920s was the subject of an obscenity trial when finally published in 1960?

22. The largest liner was launched in 1960 what was its name?

23. How did spurs player John White die in 1963?

24. Which UK channel started broadcasting in 1964?

25. Who first walked the streets in 1960?

26. What city was Martin Luther King killed in?

27. How die Rocky Marciano die in 1969?

28. Which London landmark was cleaned in 1968 for the first time since 1864?

29. What became Britain's tallest building in October 1965?

30. Who became Governor of California in 1966?

ANSWERS  

1. 1969

2. Herman’s Hermits

3. Malaysia

4. Twiggy

5. Jim Reeves

6. Coventry

7. Lord Denning

8. William Shakespeare

9. 1961

10. Colgate

11. John F Kennedy

12. 1962

13. Harold Wilson

14. Jean Shrimpton

15. Eagle

16. Rhodesia

17. Charles Manson

18. Edward Kennedy

19. Golda Meir

20. Chezoslovakia

21. Lady Chatterley's Lover

22. SS France (Norway)

23. Struck by lightning

24. BBC2

25. Traffic Wardens

26. Memphis

27. Plane Crash

28. Nelson's Column

29. The Post Office Tower

30. Ronald Reagan

Keep in touch

Peter

gsseditor@gmail.com

Instead of the On this Day section take a look at these which must be some of the  oddest Christmas hits... ever!

Spike Jones and His City Slickers All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) (RCA Victor, 1948)

One of the first recorded odd Christmas songs. This was an obscure 1940s tune until Spike and his boys played it, adding bells, whistles and sound effects. The song has been covered by everyone from Nat King Cole to Dread Zeppelin, a 1990s rock band fronted by an Elvis impersonator. Mystifyingly, it hasn't been revisited by Christmas hitmaker Shane MacGowan, who has been minus his front teeth for some time.

Gayla Peevey  I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas  (Columbia, 1953) 

Possibly the strangest and most charming Christmas single title ever. Gayla Peevey was an American child star from Oklahoma, and this song (written in 1950 by John Fox) had very serious intentions. It had been brought to Miss Peevey's attention that the city zoo had no hippopotamus and so someone at Columbia records had the bright idea of putting together a campaign aimed at "buying Gayla" a hippo for Christmas. The song was recorded to accompany the campaign and after raising several thousand dollars, a baby hippo was bought and presented by Miss Peevey to the zoo.

The Singing Dogs Jingle Bells (RCA Victor, 1955) 

The famous tune was recorded using an entire choir of real-life "singing" - or, to be precise, barking - dogs. These were the days before samplers and fancy modern technology, so the studio process involved recording hundreds of hours of dogs, feeding the barks through a variable frequency oscillator, then editing them together to fit a backing track. The modern era has seen the Singing Dogs concept revived with albums by the likes of Jingle Dogs (Christmas Unleashed).

David Seville and the Chipmunks  The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (Liberty, 1959) 

Californian Ross Bagdasarian (who sensibly changed his name to David Seville) was fooling around with tapes when he accidentally played one at the wrong speed. The result was that the speeded-up vocals sounded just like "chipmunks". Fired by this discovery, he made various records, including this Christmas one that spawned many soundalikes. The Chipmunks paved the way for some of pop's most famous sonic experiments, from the Beatles' use of backwards tapes to the Bee Gees' very high voices. In 2000, satirist Bob Rivers tapped into the growing wave of anti-Chipmunk feeling with the hardly festive-spirited Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire.

The Singing Nun Dominique (Phillips, 1963) 

Jeanine Deckers was a Belgian Dominican nun. In December 1963 she became one of the unlikeliest pop stars in history when Dominique - a song originally recorded as a present for her Mother Superior - topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite the royalties being donated to the holy order, the sisterhood was uncomfortable with her success. She left the order and her life went into a tailspin after she recorded songs praising God for birth control. She was pursued by the Belgian government for tax evasion, had problems with drugs and died in 1985 in a suicide pact with her ex-nun female lover.

The Staple Singers  Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas?
(Stax, 1970)

As none of us should ever forget, Christmas can be a lonely, depressing time for the less fortunate. Countless pop records have tapped into the darker side of festive cheer, remember Mud's Lonely This Christmas. This Staple Singers had a long career in gospel, the band had just started to dabble in pop-soul and were perhaps suffering from guilt. The song uses thumping church-style singing over an inappropriately funky backdrop to moan about the loss of Christmas's true meaning.

George Harrison Ding Dong, Ding Dong  (Apple, 1974) 

When George Harrison passed on none of the obituaries mentioned this obscure Christmas record.

Elmo and Pats Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (Stiff, 1980) 

In 1979, a San Francisco veterinarian called Elmo Shropshire was moonlighting in a bluegrass band when he came across a song written by his friend Randy Brooks. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer tells the tale of festive excess that any drink-driving campaign would be proud of. It details how Grandma falls over in the snow after too much eggnog and is found with "hoof-prints on her forehead."

Web Page  No 2328

17^th December 2016

Top Picture: Subterranean air raid shelter

Second Picture: Ginger Beer plant

Third Picture: Pickled Eggs

The Bounty of the Garden

I was lucky in the house I lived in as a child, we had a long garden and in it we have a vast variety of fruit trees and bushes which were all planted many years earlier by a previous owner. Near the house we had a very large cherry tree and I remember a young friend, who later emigrated to Canada, of my father volunteering to go out to pick some cherries for my mother and about half an hour later we discovered him sat on the back step with a tree saw and a large branch he had sawn off because ‘the cherries were easier to pick that way’.

We also had apple trees (cookers and eaters), a pear tree, plum and damson trees and towards the end of the garden a whole row of hazel nut trees. Beyond this the garden had deteriorated into a bit of a wilderness, which was wonderful for playing in, but it still contained soft fruit with gooseberry, black current, red currant and white current bushes flourishing.

My father also had a vegetable patch for green and root vegetables and potatoes but the bounty of the garden had to preserved in some way, this meant bottling, pickling and stacking.

Come the season the kitchen would be awash with Kilner Jars, rubber sealing rings and various pickling spices, luckily we never did keep chicken or ducks so luckily there were no pickled or preserved eggs!

The shelves in the back of the larder, by the end of summer, would be stacked high with bottled apples, rhubarb, plums and soft fruit. I can remember that my folks only preserved one form of vegetable ie pickled onions never beans or courgettes! At this particular time of year I was told that I had to move my ginger beer plant from the shelf onto the floor to make room for the preserved products.

However the exciting thing for me at least was the preservation of whole apples and pears. Our next door neighbour, Harold, had an old solid air raid shelter sunk halfway down the garden. This was not an old Anderson Shelter but a professionally built semi subterranean building complete with solid fuel heater and blast wall. After the end of the war Harold, who also had a lot of fruit trees in his garden, built a lot of wooden racks around the walls of the shelter to store his surplus fruit. There were so many racks that he allowed my parents to store their spare apples and pears in there as well.

There was a gateway between the two gardens and I can remember walking down the concrete steps, opening the wooden door into this dark shelter which smelt of concrete dust and the ‘breathe’ of the fruit individually laid out on the slatted shelves and on newspaper. Every so often we had to go down into the shelter and turn the fruit so it kept in as near perfect condition as possible.

Obviously the fruit did not last for ever and some perished and rotted but we could normally guarantee on having home produced fruit well into the following year.    

This was well before the introduction of frozen and dried food and meals out of packets, we were lucky at home to have the ability to feed ourselves with fresh food.

Keep in touch

Peter

gsseditor@gmail.com

On this Day 17^th  December 1960-1965

On 17/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Tottenham Hotspur. The top rated TV show was The Army Game (Granada) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68.The big news story of the day was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada).

On 17/12/1961 the number one single was Tower of Strength - Frankie Vaughan and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 17/12/1962 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. 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 Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 17/12/1963 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles 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 The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 17/12/1964 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - 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 Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 17/12/1965 the number one single was Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out - The Beatles and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. 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 Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.