Sunday 21 April 2013

1968, Television: “Please Sir!”

"Please Sir!" premiered on 8 November 1968. The series produced by London Weekend Television (LWT) was created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey. Main actors were John Alderton, Deryck Guyler, Joan Sanderson, Noel Howlett, Erik Chitty, Richard Davies, Liz Gebhardt and Penny Spencer. The series ran for 55 episodes between 1968 and 1972.

Synopsis
The series tells the story of the fictional Fenn Street school and in particular class 5C and their young teacher fresh out of training college, Bernard Hedges played by John Alderton. A spin-off series, The Fenn Street Gang, followed the adventures of the former 5C pupils in the adult world after leaving school. It ran for 47 episodes between 1971 and 1973.
Please Sir! cast
Deryck Guyler as Norman Potter and Noel Howlett as Mr. Cromwell

John Alderton as Bernard Hedges and Penny Spencer as Sharon Eversleigh

Main Cast
  • John Alderton as Bernard Hedges
  • Deryck Guyler as Norman Potter
  • Noel Howlett as Mr. Cromwell
  • Joan Sanderson as Doris Ewell
  • Richard Davies as Mr. Price
  • Erik Chitty as Mr. Smith
  • David Barry as Frankie Abbott
  • Peter Denyer as Dennis Dunstable
  • Liz Gebhardt as Maureen Bullock
  • Malcolm McFee as Peter Craven
  • Penny Spencer as Sharon Eversleigh
  • Peter Cleall as Eric Duffy
Liz Gebhardt as Maureen Bullock and John Alderton as Bernard Hedges
Awards
BAFTA Tv Award for Best Light Entertainment: Mark Stuart (producer) (1970)

Please Sir! Opening Titles Season 1 (1968)



Please Sir! Opening Titles Season 2 (1969)

Please Sir! Opening Titles Season 3 (1969)

Saturday 13 April 2013

1967, Cars: Simca 1100

The Simca 1100 was first shown at the Paris Auto Show held at Versailles from October 5 until October 15 1967. The 1100 was advanced in design, featuring a hatchback with folding rear seats, disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, an independent front and rear suspension. I was the first Simca to wear the Chrysler Pentastar, replacing the Simca Swallow.

The range started with the 1100 LS, available as a hatchback and as an estate car. It was recognisable as the entry level model by its bumpers which had no over riders and by a lack of brightwork round the windows. Next up was the 1100 GL which had rubber faced over riders on the bumper and extra chrome trim. Top of the range was the 1100 GLS, with chrome strips round the wheel arches and full size chrome wheel trims.
Simca 1100 LS 1967
Simca 1100 GLS
The car was fitted with Simca Type 315 petrol OHV engines with 944, 1118, and 1294 cc variants, depending on year and market. A 1118 cc engine was introduced in 1971 to the UK market as the Simca 1204, it was also sold in the USA in limited quantities.
Simca 1100 Spécial 1970
Simca 1100 Ti 1973
The 1100 was very popular, by 1969, 44% of the Simca's made at the Poissy plant in Paris were the 1100, 26% were the 1000, and 30% were the 1301/1501. The 1100 became the best-selling Simca of all time. From 1967 to 1985 a total of 2.2 million cars were produced. The Simca 1100 was also the basis for the Matra (Simca) Rancho.
Simca 1100 Swiss Ad (1967)

Simca 1100 Spanish Ad (1970)

 
Simca 1100 French Ad (1974)
Simca 1100 LS Brochure (1970, Dutch)

Saturday 6 April 2013

1966, Fashion: Mary Quant receives OBE


In 1966 Mary Quant receives the O.B.E. (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her services to the fashion industry. She went to receive this honour from the Queen dressed in a mini-skirt.

Mary Quant is immortalised by the fashion world as the originator of the mini skirt. The London designer Mary Quant has an art-school background and has been designing and manufacturing her own clothes since the late 1950s. Convinced that fashion needs to be affordable and accessible to the young, she opens - aged 21 - her own retail boutique, “Bazaar”, on the Kings Road in 1955, introducing the 'mod' era and the 'Chelsea Look.'
Mary Quant with O.B.E.
Mary Quant Designs

Mary Quant for J.C. Penney (1966)
Mary Quant for J.C. Penney (1966)
Mary Quant boots
Mary Quant shoes
Patti Boyd (and The Rolling Stones) in a Mary Quant dress
Jean Shrimpton in a Mary Quant dress
 
Mary Quant fashion in 1966 (British Pathe)

Thursday 4 April 2013

1965, Film: “Le Corniaud”

On 24 March 1965 the French comedy film "Le Corniaud" (English: "The Sucker") is released in France. The film is a French, Italian and Spanish coproduction by Gérard Oury. The leading roles are played by Bourvil and Louis de Funès. "Le Corniaud" is a road movie and takes place in cities such as Paris, Rome, Naples, Pisa, Carcassonne and Bordeaux. Other important locations are Villa d'Este in Tivoli, and the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome.

The film is partly based on a true story. On 21 January 1962, Jacques Angelvin, presenter of the French television program "Paris Club", was arrested in the United States. In his Buick more than 50 pounds of heroin were found. Angelvin would get $ 10,000, he thought he could deceive the American customs because he was a French celebrity.
Bourvil as Antoine Maréchal
Louis de Funès as Léopold Saroyan and Bourvil as Antoine Maréchal
Louis de Funès as Léopold Saroyan and Bourvil as Antoine Maréchal
Synopsis
On his way to sunny Italy Antoine Maréchal's Citroën 2CV is totally wrecked by Léopold Saroyan's Bentley, the director of an import-export company. To compensate the loss of his car, Saroyan offers Maréchal to drive his best friend's Cadillac DeVille convertible from Naples to Bordeaux, all expenses paid...
Alida Chelli as Gina, Saro Urzì as Tagliella and Bourvil as Antoine Maréchal
Main Cast
  • Bourvil as Antoine Maréchal
  • Louis de Funès as Léopold Saroyan
  • Venantino Venantini as Mickey
  • Jacques Ferrière as Saroyan's driver
  • Alida Chelli as Gina
  • Beba Loncar as Ursula
  • Henri Génès as Martial
  • Lando Buzzanca as Lino
  • Saro Urzì as Tagliella
  • Pierre Roussel as Mario Costa
 
Trailer

Tuesday 2 April 2013

1964, Music: The Beatles occupy the five top positions on Billboard's Hot 100


On the Billboard Hot 100 of April 4, 1964, the Beatles made history as the only act ever to monopolise the chart's top five positions. In all they had 12 places on the US chart.
1: Can't Buy Me Love
2: Twist And Shout
3: She Loves You
4: I Want To Hold Your Hand
5: Please Please Me
31: Saw Her Standing There
41: From Me To You
46: Do You Want To Know A Secret
58: All My Loving
65: You Can't Do That
68: Roll Over Beethoven
79: Thank You Girl
Number 1: Can't Buy Me Love
Number 2: Twist And Shout
Number 3: She Loves You
Number 4: I Want To Hold Your Hand
Number 5: Please Please Me
The following week two more Beatles singles entered the chart: There's A Place (at 74) and Love Me Do (81).