Blackpool 1967

No, not the trams, but a couple of Kodachrome slides taken at the airport on 18 September by the late Lyndon Rowe, who had just landed from Ronaldsway on the Isle of Man. First up is the plane that he may have flown in on, British United Douglas DC-3 G-AKNB of 1942-vintage, a plane that survives in the USA as N59NA.

Below is Handley Page Herald G-ASKK, also of British United. New in 1962, this is also still around, preserved at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum.

Bargain Buy

I occasionally collect old film cameras, mainly from car boot or jumble sales. Charity shops can also throw up the odd bargain, such as this irresistible 1970s Pentax SP1000 with 50mm f2 lens. It is in excellent condition and well worth the ten pond note I exchanged for it at the local British Heart Foundation shop. I used several of these cameras throughout the 1970s and beyond and although I still own them all, they were decidedly knocked about over the years and none work properly any more. I had intended to put a film through over the Christmas holidays, but the weather has been too bad.

The Pentax Spotmatic family of cameras was introduced in 1964, being superseded by the K-series in the mid-1970s, these fitted with bayonet mount lenses. This advert is from Amateur Photographer, issue dated 18 January 1967.

Lulu

Pop singer Lulu as photographed by Victor Blackman; from Amateur Photographer, issue dated 17 May 1967. The Daily Express press-man's favourite 'jumping for joy' pose was employed here, but as he commented, with Lulu wearing a mini-skirt, he had to take a number of different shots in order to get one or two that were in good taste. What happened to those that were not, I wonder!

Frank's Girl

Nancy Sinatra was born to Frank and Nancy Barbato on 8 June 1940. I knew of her pop songs, These Boots are made for Walkin' being the most famous, along with Somethin' Stupid, which she performed with her father, both records reaching number 1 in the UK in February 1966 and April 1967 respectively. The first song was a favourite of my dad, although the vision of Nancy wearing go-go boots and a mini skirt may have had something to do with it.....

She also did some modelling in the 1960s, this little selection being from the pages of King magazine, issue dated September 1967. King ran from 1964 until taken over by Mayfair in 1968.

My dad was right!

Nearly thirty years later, Nancy appeared in Playboy, still lookin' good........

Inn Signs

Two useful little books published by The Raleigh Press (in association with David & Charles) in 1966 and 1967. Their author was E R Delderfield, more famous for such novels as God is an Englishman and To Serve Them All My Days.

Bloody Mary

Illustration by Alberto Vargas (1896-1982), from Playboy magazine, March 1967.

Frankie & Benny

Twenty years ago, in April 1992, British comedy lost both Frankie Howerd and Benny Hill. Although they died on consecutive days, 19/20th, Benny was not found until two days later, such was the reclusive life that he was leading by then. Although they were very different in their approach to comedy, Howerd's more hesitant delivery contrasting to Hill's more slick and saucy style, both learned their trade in the West End, radio and then film and television. Benny Hill was also a singer, with a number of  comedy records to his name

By the 1980s, The Benny Hill Show was suffering falling ratings and was becoming increasingly more expensive to make and changing attitudes saw much criticism of the perceived sexism in his comedy. The cancellation of his Thames series in 1989 appeared to be the beginning of the end for him.

Frankie Howerd however, was making something of a comeback during his later years, touring with his one-man show and becoming an unlikely hit with university audiences. I personally love the work of both, Up Pompeii in particular for Howerd, with his little asides to the audience and Benny Hill was probably at his best in the 1970s; trawling through DVDs of The Benny Hill Show for this period has been a delight. Despite the bashing he got in this country in his later years, he remained popular abroad; I have a Hungarian DVD featuring mainly his slapstick routines, brought back by my son off holiday a few years ago. May they both rest in peace and their influence live on.

Frankie Howerd (1917-1992)

The Ladykillers (1955)
With Katie Johnson

The Fast Lady (1962)

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966)
With Reg Varney and others

Carry On Doctor (1967)
With Anita Harris, Hattie Jacques and June Jago

Up Pompeii (1971)

Up The Front (1975)
From Star Turns, by Barry Took

Benny Hill (1924-1992)

An early publicity shot
From Star Turns, by Barry Took

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
With Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes

The Italian Job (1969)

Benny Hill sings Ernie (1971)

The Benny Hill Show (1976)
With Henry McGee

The Benny Hill Show (1976)
With Jack Wright and Jenny Lee Wright

The Benny Hill Show (1976)
With Moira Foot