1968, Music: Eurovision Song Contest

The 13th Eurovision Song Contest was held on 6 April 1968 at the "Royal Albert Hall”, London, UK. Katie Boyle presented the festival and of the 17 participants Massiel won for Spain with "La La La".

Originally Spain entered Joan Manuel Serrat to sing "La La La", but after his demand to sing in Catalan Serrat was withdrawn and replaced by Massiel, who sang the same song in Spanish. It was the first time that the Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast in colour. Katie Boyle hosted the contest for a third time.

First Place, Massiel with "La La La"

Second Place, Cliff richard with "Congratulations"

Draw	Country	Artist	Song	Place	Points
01	Portugal	Carlos Mendes	"Verão"	11	5
02	Netherlands	Ronnie Tober	"Morgen"	16	1
03	Belgium	Claude Lombard	"Quand tu reviendras"	7	8
04	Austria	Karel Gott	"Tausend Fenster"	13	2
05	Luxembourg	Chris Baldo & Sophie Garel	"Nous vivrons d'amour"	11	5
06	Switzerland	Gianni Mascolo	"Guardando il sole"	13	2
07	Monaco	Line & Willy	"À chacun sa chanson"	7	8
08	Sweden	Claes-Göran Hederström	"Det börjar verka kärlek, banne mej"	5	15
09	Finland	Kristina Hautala	"Kun kello käy"	16	1
10	France	Isabelle Aubret	"La source"	3	20
11	Italy	Sergio Endrigo	"Marianne"	10	7
12	United Kingdom	Cliff Richard	"Congratulations"	2	28
13	Norway	Odd Børre	"Stress"	13	2
14	Ireland	Pat McGeegan	"Chance of a Lifetime"	4	18
15	Spain	Massiel	"La, la, la"	1	29
16	Germany	Wencke Myhre	"Ein Hoch der Liebe"	6	11
17	Yugoslavia	Dubrovački trubaduri	"Jedan dan"	7	8

1967, Film: "Two for the Road"

The British comedy drama "Two for the Road" premièred on September 20, 1967. The film was directed by Stanley Donen and the main stars are Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn. It was written by Frederic Raphael and tells the story of an architect and his wife on a road trip to Southern France. At the time the film was considered experimental because the story is told in a non-linear way, with scenes from the present combined with those an earlier time. Audrey Hepburn was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress and Henry Mancini was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

Synopsis

The successful and wealthy architect Mark Wallace (Albert Finney) and his wife Joanna (Jo) Wallace (Audrey Hepburn) are on their way to Saint-Tropez in their white roadster. The tension between the two is evident, and on their journey they both remember and discuss several past journeys along the same road...

Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn

Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn

Main Cast

• Audrey Hepburn as Joanna 'Jo' Wallace
• Albert Finney as Mark Wallace
• Eleanor Bron as Cathy Maxwell-Manchester
• William Daniels as Howard 'Howie' Maxwell-Manchester
• Gabrielle Middleton as Ruth 'Ruthie' Maxwell-Manchester
• Claude Dauphin as Maurice Dalbret
• Nadia Gray as Françoise Dalbret
• Georges Descrières as David
• Jacqueline Bisset as Jackie
• Judy Cornwell as Pat

Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn

Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn

Trailer

1966, Cars: Ford Cortina Mk II

The second generation of the Cortina was launched on 18 October 1966. The new car was designed by Roy Haynes. It was shorter than the first generation but the extra width and curved side panels provided more interior space. Other improvements included a smaller turning circle, softer suspension and self-adjusting brakes. Engine-wise customers could choose between a new 1300 cc engine, a 1500 engine from the Cortina Mk I and a stripped-out 1200 cc version from the Ford Anglia Super. A Lotus version was produced but the most admired was the 1600E. The Cortina 1600E was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1967. It combined the lowered Lotus Cortina's suspension with the high-tuned GT 1600 Kent engine and luxury trim featuring a walnut dashboard and door cappings, bucket seating, sports steering wheel, and full instrumentation inside, while a black grille, tail panel, front fog lights and plated Rostyle wheels featured outside.

Ford Cortina 1300

Ford Cortina Estate

Two-door and four-door saloons were offered with base, Deluxe, Super, GT and, later, 1600E trims. A few months after the introduction of the saloon versions, a four-door estate was launched, released on the UK market on 15 February 1967.

Ford Lotus Cortina

From 1966 to 1970 a total of 1,159,389 units were produced, the Mk II was succeeded by the Mk III Cortina in 1970 (Mk III Cortina = TC1 = Taunus Cortina 1).

Ford Cortina 1600E

Ford Cortina 1600E

 Brochure 1967 (Belgium)

1965, Television: “I Spy”

"I Spy", an American television series, premièred on September 15, 1965. It ran for three seasons from 1965 to 1968 with a total of 82 episodes. The show was written by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Together with cinematographer Fouad Said they formed "Three F Productions". The main characters were played by Robert Culp as international tennis player Kelly Robinson and Bill Cosby as his trainer, Alexander Scott. In reality they are top agents for the Pentagon.

"I Spy" was the first American television series to feature an African-American actor (Bill Cosby) in a lead role. The success of the show is attributed to the chemistry between Culp and Cosby. The two actors quickly developed a close friendship that mirrored their on-screen characters, a friendship that would last until Culp's death in 2010.

Robert Culp and Bill Cosby

Synopsis

Kelly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (Bill Cosby) travel around the world in their profession as agents for the United States government. As their cover, Robinson travels the professional tennis circuit with Scott as his trainer...

Robert Culp and Bill Cosby

Opening Titles

1964, News: Martin Luther King Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

The 1964 Nobel Peace prize was given to Martin Luther King, Jr., who was, after Ralph Bunche, the second black American to win the award. Chairman Jahn of the Nobel committee said, “the first person in the Western world to have shown us that a struggle can be waged without violence. He is the first to make the message of brotherly love a reality in the course of his struggle, and he has brought this message to all men, to all nations and races”.

In an interview King said: “I do not consider this merely an honour to me personally, but a tribute to the disciplined, wise restraint and majestic courage of gallant Negro and white persons of goodwill who have followed a non-violent course in seeking to establish a reign of justice and a rule of love across this nation of ours”.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta meet Ralph Bunche
at the United Nations in New York City, December 4, 1964

King was a Baptist minister who rose to prominence as a civil rights leader in 1955, when he was chosen to lead the a boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system in support of Rosa Parks. He was a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which led non-violent protests in support of desegregation and black voting rights. In 1963 he gave his most famous speech at Washington’s National Mall, declaring, “I have a dream, that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident — that all men are created equal.’”

Martin Luther King, Jr.with his wife Coretta

Video

1963, Film: “Hud”

"Hud", an American western film, premiered on May 28, 1963. The title refers to an embittered and selfish modern-day cowboy Hud Bannon. The screenplay was written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank, Jr., based on Larry McMurtry's 1961 novel "Horseman, Pass By", it was directed by Martin Ritt. The main stars are Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal and Brandon deWilde.
 

Synopsis

Hud Bannon (Paul Newman), a ruthless young man who tarnishes everything and everyone he touches, represents the perfect embodiment of alienated youth, out for kicks with no regard for the consequences. There's a bitter conflict between the callous Hud and his stern and highly principled father, Homer (Melvyn Douglas)...

Melvyn Douglas and Paul Newman

Melvyn Douglas, Brandon deWilde and Patricia Neal

Main Cast

• Paul Newman as Hud Bannon
• Melvyn Douglas as Homer Bannon
• Patricia Neal as Alma Brown
• Brandon deWilde as Lon "Lonnie" Bannon
• John Ashley as Hermy
• Whit Bissell as Burris

Brandon deWilde, Melvyn Douglas and Paul Newman

Brandon deWilde and Paul Newman

Awards

• National Board of Review award for best actress: Patricia Neal (1963)
• National Board of Review award for best supporting actor: Melvyn Douglas (1963)
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for best actress: Patricia Neal (1963)
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for best screenplay: Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. (1963)
• Venice Film Festival, OCIC award for Martin Ritt (1963)
• Writers Guild of America Award for best written American drama: Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch (1964)
• Academy Awards, Oscar for best actor in a supporting role: Melvyn Douglas (1964)
• Academy Awards, Oscar for best actress in a leading role: Patricia Neal (1964)
• Academy Awards, Oscar for best cinematography, black-and-white: James Wong Howe (1964)
• BAFTA Film Award for best foreign actress: Patricia Neal (1964)
• Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top female dramatic performance: Patricia Neal (1964)
• Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top male dramatic performance: Paul Newman (1964)
• Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top male supporting performance: Melvyn Douglas (1964)

Patricia Neal

Trailer

1962, Cars: Renault 8

The Renault 8 (model R1130) was released in June 1962. The new car was based on the Renault Dauphine with which it shared its basic architecture and wheelbase. The design looks similar to the Alfa Romeo prototype tipo 103 (1960). Alfa Romeo and Renault had a business relationship in the 1950s and 1960s.
 
The Renault 8 was powered by an all new 956 cc engine developing 32 kW. A distinctive innovation on the French produced cars was the fitting of four-wheel disc brakes, a first for a saloon/sedan car of this size.

Renault 8 1962

Alfa Romeo prototype tipo 103

Renault 8 Major

Renault 8 Gordini

The more powerful Renault 8 Major (model R1132) was released in 1964. It had a 1108 cc engine developing 37 kW. Also in 1964 the Renault 8 Gordini (model R1134) was released with a tuned engine of the same capacity but developing 66 kW.

Renault 8 Gordini

Dacia 1100

Renault 8 German Advert

Production:

• 1962–1973 (France)
• 1965–1976 (Spain)
• 1966–1970 (Bulgaria, as Bulgarrenault 8)
• 1968–1971 (Romania, as Dacia 1100)



1974, Music: Lena Zavaroni

Today it would have been Lena Zavaroni's 49the birthday. The Lena Zavaroni story is one of the saddest in showbiz.

Lena was born in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland on November 4, 1963. She grew up in the small town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute with musical parents. Her father Victor Zavaroni played the guitar and her mother Hilda sang. Her name came from her immigrant Italian grandfather.

In 1973 she was discovered by record producer Tommy Scott who was on holiday in Rothesay and heard her singing with her family in a band. Scott contacted impresario Phil Solomon which led to his partner Dorothy Solomon becoming Zavaroni's manager. In 1974 she appeared on “Opportunity Knocks” and won the show for a record breaking 5 weeks. This was followed with the her first album “Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me” which reached number 8 in the UK album chart. At the age of 10 Lena Zavaroni is still the youngest person to have an album in the top ten and was also the youngest person to appear on the BBC's Top of the Pops.

Lena Zavaroni in "Opportunity Knocks" (1974)

Lena Zavaroni in 1974

In 1974 Zavaroni sang at a Hollywood charity show with Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. She toured the world, including Japan and the USA, where she sang for US President Gerald Ford at the White House. At the age of 12, she was the youngest-ever performer at a Royal Variety Performance (1976), in front of Queen Elizabeth II.

Lena Zavaroni in Japan (1974)

Lena Zavaroni with Frank Sinatra (1974)

She followed lessons at the Italia Conti Academy stage school, and by the age of 14, she had her own BBC television show “Lena Zavaroni and Music” (1979 - 1982), which featured singing and dancing.

Lena Zavaroni with Bonnie Langford (left) (1978)

From the age of 13 Zavaroni suffered from anorexia nervosa and whilst at stage school her weight dropped to 25 kg. Zavaroni blamed this on the pressure placed upon her to fit into costumes whilst at the same time she was "developing as a woman". She continued to suffer from Anorexia throughout the 1980's and in 1989 she married computer consultant Peter Wiltshire, but they separated 18 months later. Also in 1989 Zavaroni's mother, Hilda, died of a tranquilliser overdose and a fire destroyed all of her showbiz mementos.

Lena Zavaroni at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Gala performance (1977, King’s Theatre, Glasgow)
Other stars (from back to front): Frankie Howerd, Shari Lewis, David Soul, Dolly Parton, Sydney Devine and Allan Stewart.

After the divorce she moved to Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. By this time she was living off state benefits and in 1999 she was accused of stealing a packet of jelly, although the charges were later dropped. Zavaroni had several drug treatments and received electro-convulsive therapy to beat her anorexia. None of these proved to be successful in the long term. She also suffered from depression and begged doctors to operate on her to relieve her depression.

Lena Zavaroni on the "Des O'Connor Show" (1984)

In September 1999 Zavaroni was admitted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for a psycho-surgical operation. After the operation she appeared to be in a satisfactory condition. After a week she was "making telephone calls, cheerful and engaging in conversation", however, three weeks after the operation, she developed a chest infection and died from pneumonia on 1 October 1999. She weighed less than 32 kg.

Lena Zavaroni performing the Neil Sedaka song "Going Nowhere"

on her television show "Lena Zavaroni and Music" in 1981
"The Real Lena Zavaroni" Channel 4 Documentary (2000)

 

Eating Disorders useful sites:

UK: Anorexia and BulimiaCare / b-eat

US: Anad (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Canada: NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre)

France: AFDAS-TCA

Germany: Magersucht-Online

The Netherlands: SABN (Stichting Anorexia Boulimia Nervosa)

Belgium: AN-BN / Eetexpert

1961, Film: "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone”

"The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" premièred on December 28, 1961. This British film made by Seven Arts-Warner Bros was directed by José Quintero and produced by Louis De Rochemont. The screenplay was written by Gavin Lambert and Jan Read, it was based on the novel with the same name by Tennessee Williams. The main characters were played by Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty, Lotte Lenya, Jill St. John and Coral Browne. Lotte Lenya was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1962.

Synopsis

The actress Karen Stone (Vivien Leigh) and her businessman husband are off on holiday to Rome. On the plane her husband suffers a fatal heart attack. Karen stays in Italy and rents a luxury apartment in Rome. The Contessa Magda Terribili-Gonzales (Lotte Lenya) introduces her to a young Italian man, Paolo (Warren Beatty). Karen and Paolo embark on a passionate affair, with disastrous consequences...

Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty

Vivien Leigh

Main Cast

• Vivien Leigh as Karen Stone
• Warren Beatty as Paolo di Leo
• Lotte Lenya as Contessa Magda Terribili-Gonzales
• Coral Browne as Meg
• Jill St. John as Barbara
• Jeremy Spenser as Young man
• Stella Bonheur as Mrs. Jamison-Walker
• Peter Dyneley as Lloyd Greener
• Carl Jaffe as Baron Waldheim
• Harold Kasket as Tailor
• Viola Keats as Julia McIlheny
• Cleo Laine as Singer
• Bessie Love as Bunny
• Elspeth March as Mrs. Barrow
• Henry McCarty as Campbell Kennedy
• Warren Mitchell as Giorgio

Lotte Lenya and Warren Beatty

 
1961 Trailer