Thanks to a few of you for the stories about William Holden and Barbara Stanwyck. Very touching! I keep meaning to check out some more of his films. Sunset Boulevard is just incredible.
You can find Bill's first film Golden Boy at Amazon, this was when
he met his lifelong friend Barbara. Their other film together was Executive Suite in 1954, a star studded film which included June Allyson, Fredric March, Shelley Winters, Walter Pidgeon, and Louis Calhern is also available.
Nicholas Parsons - Likes to be called 'Mister Parsons' by the crew when he does stage work. Takes great umbrage if they don't.
Michael Crawford - Notorious for trying to sack everyone who doesn't "come up to my standard". When he left Phantom of the Opera, the crew presented him with a fob watch. It wasn't until much later that he discovered they'd paid an engraver to etch the word 'C**T' in tiny, tiny letters on the side of the mechanism plate.
Jimmy Tarbuck - My mum waited outside a theatre in the 1960s for this 'cheeky Scouse chappie' to emerge. There was a group of autograph hunters. When Jimmy finally faced his public, he flicked a V-sign, told them to 'p*ss off' and was hastily driven away by his chauffeur.
I like to autograpgh hunt after /before performances that I go to see and Michael Crawford was lovely to us autograph hunters
I remember the TV dramatization of his life. Not sure how close to accuracy it was (it seemed so, being based on his own diaries) but it was incredibly sad and haunting. He had so many ongoing internal conflicts. I also have a feeling that he didn't want to outlive his mum and, along with his physical pain (plus fear of surgery) and depression, he realized that he was slowly losing her to dementia and couldn't face her inevitable decline.
In the name of all that is unholy and Terry Wogan, I bid this thread arise!
Just finished re-reading Kenneth Williams' diaries, and remembered this thread. It seems that Williams' greatest fear until pretty close to the end of his life was that he would die before his mother and she would have to go into a home, so I think he wanted to outlive her, dementia and all.
Or he realised that he wasn't going to be able to care for her for much longer and that despair contributed to his suicide.
Nicholas Parsons - Likes to be called 'Mister Parsons' by the crew when he does stage work. Takes great umbrage if they don't.
Michael Crawford - Notorious for trying to sack everyone who doesn't "come up to my standard". When he left Phantom of the Opera, the crew presented him with a fob watch. It wasn't until much later that he discovered they'd paid an engraver to etch the word 'C**T' in tiny, tiny letters on the side of the mechanism plate.
Jimmy Tarbuck - My mum waited outside a theatre in the 1960s for this 'cheeky Scouse chappie' to emerge. There was a group of autograph hunters. When Jimmy finally faced his public, he flicked a V-sign, told them to 'p*ss off' and was hastily driven away by his chauffeur.
Surprised at that. He always comes across as being okay when appearing on TV. Maybe he was having a bad day, but then again, it's out of order to stick your fingers up at the crowd who are fans of yours, and, tell them to p*** off as well. Fair enough, ignore them, but don't insult them though. Ignoring them isn't on either, but it's better than swearing at them. If this is true, he must be a right nasty pig!
Surprised at that. He always comes across as being okay when appearing on TV. Maybe he was having a bad day, but then again, it's out of order to stick your fingers up at the crowd who are fans of yours, and, tell them to p*** off as well. Fair enough, ignore them, but don't insult them though. Ignoring them isn't on either, but it's better than swearing at them. If this is true, he must be a right nasty pig!
But that was the 60's when he was young and with the arrogance of youth. He might be nicer now, but then again he's hardly in demand any more, so the fans will be less.
But that was the 60's when he was young and with the arrogance of youth. He might be nicer now, but then again he's hardly in demand any more, so the fans will be less.
In the name of all that is unholy and Terry Wogan, I bid this thread arise!
Just finished re-reading Kenneth Williams' diaries, and remembered this thread. It seems that Williams' greatest fear until pretty close to the end of his life was that he would die before his mother and she would have to go into a home, so I think he wanted to outlive her, dementia and all.
Or he realised that he wasn't going to be able to care for her for much longer and that despair contributed to his suicide.
Tragic.
Ach, that's interesting. I admit to only reading/ hearing excerpts from his diaries and hadn't read them from front to back when making my post. One thing that did seem to define him was his relationship with 'Louie'. Thanks for the extra detail
But that was the 60's when he was young and with the arrogance of youth. He might be nicer now, but then again he's hardly in demand any more, so the fans will be less.
My dad loved many of the popular comedians of Tarby's day but he was one guy my dad just couldn't warm to. He said he was a name-dropping golfing greaser who had little talent of his own but got ahead by smarming up the coat tails of others.
I never took to him but think his daughter, Liza, is great and very underrated as an actress/ presenter. So he did produce one really good thing!
Len Goodman. I was having breakfast with my mum and I knew his son so I waved and we went over to talk to him and all my mum said was "How's breakfast Len?" And he grunted and just turned his head. However his son is a lovely man
Len Goodman. I was having breakfast with my mum and I knew his son so I waved and we went over to talk to him and all my mum said was "How's breakfast Len?" And he grunted and just turned his head. However his son is a lovely man
I'd be miffed if someone came over and tried to start a conversation whilst I was trying to eat a meal.
I'd be miffed if someone came over and tried to start a conversation whilst I was trying to eat a meal.
I don't think I would be if they knew the person I was eating with. I can understand why he would be if they didn't though.
My boss is an ex policeman who chaperoned the Spice Girls a couple of times back in their heyday. H said he'd always liked Mel B best but actually she was quite stand offish and rude, but Mel C was lovely.
This is only from a short meeting though, and I can imagine being a spice girl was pretty overwhelming if they needed police escorts, so I think it's understandable.
Len Goodman. I was having breakfast with my mum and I knew his son so I waved and we went over to talk to him and all my mum said was "How's breakfast Len?" And he grunted and just turned his head. However his son is a lovely man
Ach, that's interesting. I admit to only reading/ hearing excerpts from his diaries and hadn't read them from front to back when making my post. One thing that did seem to define him was his relationship with 'Louie'. Thanks for the extra detail
Do read them. They can be a bit depressing but well worth the effort. He is very honest about himself and others and - on topic - it goes into why well known people can be a little off with total strangers.
I work at a well known second hand electrical/dvd/gaming shop and the other day Dominic West came in, he seemed nice enough but you could tell he didnt want any fuss even though all the girls went weak at the knees! He also bought a DVD starring....Dominic West! You would think he would get one free wouldnt you!
My sister adores Jacqueline Wilson and at a booksigning she spent over ten mins chatting away to my sister and was apparently very lovely and sweet - she kept saying what a lovely and unusual name my sister had and sure enough in her next book one of the characters had the same name!
Nicholas Parsons - Likes to be called 'Mister Parsons' by the crew when he does stage work. Takes great umbrage if they don't.
Michael Crawford - Notorious for trying to sack everyone who doesn't "come up to my standard". When he left Phantom of the Opera, the crew presented him with a fob watch. It wasn't until much later that he discovered they'd paid an engraver to etch the word 'C**T' in tiny, tiny letters on the side of the mechanism plate.
Jimmy Tarbuck - My mum waited outside a theatre in the 1960s for this 'cheeky Scouse chappie' to emerge. There was a group of autograph hunters. When Jimmy finally faced his public, he flicked a V-sign, told them to 'p*ss off' and was hastily driven away by his chauffeur.
I havent seen him perform much apart from Phantom, Frank Spencer etc but that did make me laugh :D:D
Michael Ball is a better MT singer, IMO.
I have posted this before but in another thread but anyway it deserves a second airing. My son who is partially sighted and attended a mainstream junior school with a V.I unit (he now attends a senior school with a V.I. Unit as in visually impaired) was invited along with his teachers and other visually impaired classmates to a free matinee to a West End production.On arrival they were met by a guy who gave them a tour of the set and then took them into a room where armed with a guitar he got the kids and their teachers to shout out the names of family and particularly their pets and then made up funny songs with the names included and funny jokes. He then went on to perform in the show in one of the lead roles. When I collected my son he was raving about this guy and I was asking about the show but he was more excited about his experiences beforehand although he loved the show too. He didnt have a clue who the man was but I found out through his teachers (and more than a couple fell in love with him that day) that it was Phil Jupitus
Nicholas Parsons - Likes to be called 'Mister Parsons' by the crew when he does stage work. Takes great umbrage if they don't.
Have never met the man myself, but was in a taxi a few months ago and the driver told me that he had driven a couple of celebs earlier in the week, one of whom was Nicolas Parsons. The driver said he was one of the nicest people he'd had in his cab. He had driven him from Wales to NP's home somewhere in the Home Counties and not only had Parsons tipped him handsomely, he had invited him for tea and something to eat before he set off on his return journey. So maybe he does like to be called "MR" Parsons, but it appears he's still quite a nice man. My mum's of a similar generation to him and she doesn't like it when people call her by her first name either.
I have posted this before but in another thread but anyway it deserves a second airing. My son who is partially sighted and attended a mainstream junior school with a V.I unit (he now attends a senior school with a V.I. Unit as in visually impaired) was invited along with his teachers and other visually impaired classmates to a free matinee to a West End production.On arrival they were met by a guy who gave them a tour of the set and then took them into a room where armed with a guitar he got the kids and their teachers to shout out the names of family and particularly their pets and then made up funny songs with the names included and funny jokes. He then went on to perform in the show in one of the lead roles. When I collected my son he was raving about this guy and I was asking about the show but he was more excited about his experiences beforehand although he loved the show too. He didnt have a clue who the man was but I found out through his teachers (and more than a couple fell in love with him that day) that it was Phil Jupitus
I met Phil Jupitus at a Skatalites gig once... a very nice man
I do however feel really sorry for celebs, just cause their on the tv making their money why should they have every second of their privates lifes bombarded with "Can i have your autograph please have a pic taken with me"
it depends on the circumstances obviously, but when you can see someone just going about their normal daily business why should they be stopped every 5 minutes by people expecting them to talk to them as if they know them?
I saw a very popular soapstar at Christmas with his son, it didnt even occur to me to go running up to him asking for him to sign a bit of paper, he was out with his child with things to do, i find it both intrusive and rude on the fans behalf. Im sure many will disagree with me but thats my feelings on it. Sure enough if they are just hanging around passing the time of day and enjoy talking to strangers no problem, but when you can visibly see they are rushing about and have things to do then no i dont think their been rude.
Have never met the man myself, but was in a taxi a few months ago and the driver told me that he had driven a couple of celebs earlier in the week, one of whom was Nicolas Parsons. The driver said he was one of the nicest people he'd had in his cab. He had driven him from Wales to NP's home somewhere in the Home Counties and not only had Parsons tipped him handsomely, he had invited him for tea and something to eat before he set off on his return journey. So maybe he does like to be called "MR" Parsons, but it appears he's still quite a nice man. My mum's of a similar generation to him and she doesn't like it when people call her by her first name either.
I know people who have met him through Cult TV interests and they say he is a lovely man. Really pleasant and warm.
Have never met the man myself, but was in a taxi a few months ago and the driver told me that he had driven a couple of celebs earlier in the week, one of whom was Nicolas Parsons. The driver said he was one of the nicest people he'd had in his cab. He had driven him from Wales to NP's home somewhere in the Home Counties and not only had Parsons tipped him handsomely, he had invited him for tea and something to eat before he set off on his return journey. So maybe he does like to be called "MR" Parsons, but it appears he's still quite a nice man. My mum's of a similar generation to him and she doesn't like it when people call her by her first name either.
That`s a good point. It sounds like a generational thing.
Jodie Kidd. She has/had this fun-loving, down-to-earth persona going on, but when I saw her in person, she was being a complete diva. I wasn't even bothering her for an autograph, and neither was anyone else. This was just me witnessing her having a tantrum that someone tried to take a photo of her.
Someone taking a picture of a model? At a public event she is scheduled to appear at? Whatever next?
I do however feel really sorry for celebs, just cause their on the tv making their money why should they have every second of their privates lifes bombarded with "Can i have your autograph please have a pic taken with me"
it depends on the circumstances obviously, but when you can see someone just going about their normal daily business why should they be stopped every 5 minutes by people expecting them to talk to them as if they know them?
I saw a very popular soapstar at Christmas with his son, it didnt even occur to me to go running up to him asking for him to sign a bit of paper, he was out with his child with things to do, i find it both intrusive and rude on the fans behalf. Im sure many will disagree with me but thats my feelings on it. Sure enough if they are just hanging around passing the time of day and enjoy talking to strangers no problem, but when you can visibly see they are rushing about and have things to do then no i dont think their been rude.
Good point.
Not quite the same thing but what about BBC premises similiar to the Mailbox in Birmingham, where there is a 'Public Space'.
I saw Ed Doolan from BBC WM, on the one occasion I was there having a bag of crisps & Diet Coke, but I didn't bother him for an autograph.
If he had looked in my direction, I would've said something, but until then.....
Comments
You can find Bill's first film Golden Boy at Amazon, this was when
he met his lifelong friend Barbara. Their other film together was Executive Suite in 1954, a star studded film which included June Allyson, Fredric March, Shelley Winters, Walter Pidgeon, and Louis Calhern is also available.
I like to autograpgh hunt after /before performances that I go to see and Michael Crawford was lovely to us autograph hunters
In the name of all that is unholy and Terry Wogan, I bid this thread arise!
Just finished re-reading Kenneth Williams' diaries, and remembered this thread. It seems that Williams' greatest fear until pretty close to the end of his life was that he would die before his mother and she would have to go into a home, so I think he wanted to outlive her, dementia and all.
Or he realised that he wasn't going to be able to care for her for much longer and that despair contributed to his suicide.
Tragic.
Surprised at that. He always comes across as being okay when appearing on TV. Maybe he was having a bad day, but then again, it's out of order to stick your fingers up at the crowd who are fans of yours, and, tell them to p*** off as well. Fair enough, ignore them, but don't insult them though. Ignoring them isn't on either, but it's better than swearing at them. If this is true, he must be a right nasty pig!
But that was the 60's when he was young and with the arrogance of youth. He might be nicer now, but then again he's hardly in demand any more, so the fans will be less.
If he's not like that any more, fair enough.
Ach, that's interesting. I admit to only reading/ hearing excerpts from his diaries and hadn't read them from front to back when making my post. One thing that did seem to define him was his relationship with 'Louie'. Thanks for the extra detail
My dad loved many of the popular comedians of Tarby's day but he was one guy my dad just couldn't warm to. He said he was a name-dropping golfing greaser who had little talent of his own but got ahead by smarming up the coat tails of others.
I never took to him but think his daughter, Liza, is great and very underrated as an actress/ presenter. So he did produce one really good thing!
I'd be miffed if someone came over and tried to start a conversation whilst I was trying to eat a meal.
I don't think I would be if they knew the person I was eating with. I can understand why he would be if they didn't though.
My boss is an ex policeman who chaperoned the Spice Girls a couple of times back in their heyday. H said he'd always liked Mel B best but actually she was quite stand offish and rude, but Mel C was lovely.
This is only from a short meeting though, and I can imagine being a spice girl was pretty overwhelming if they needed police escorts, so I think it's understandable.
Obviously not a nice breakfast then...
Do read them. They can be a bit depressing but well worth the effort. He is very honest about himself and others and - on topic - it goes into why well known people can be a little off with total strangers.
My sister adores Jacqueline Wilson and at a booksigning she spent over ten mins chatting away to my sister and was apparently very lovely and sweet - she kept saying what a lovely and unusual name my sister had and sure enough in her next book one of the characters had the same name!
I havent seen him perform much apart from Phantom, Frank Spencer etc but that did make me laugh
Michael Ball is a better MT singer, IMO.
That is awesome
Have never met the man myself, but was in a taxi a few months ago and the driver told me that he had driven a couple of celebs earlier in the week, one of whom was Nicolas Parsons. The driver said he was one of the nicest people he'd had in his cab. He had driven him from Wales to NP's home somewhere in the Home Counties and not only had Parsons tipped him handsomely, he had invited him for tea and something to eat before he set off on his return journey. So maybe he does like to be called "MR" Parsons, but it appears he's still quite a nice man. My mum's of a similar generation to him and she doesn't like it when people call her by her first name either.
Yeah, she has the reputation of being an absolute b*tch to the "lower" people around her. How she treated her husbands ex was horrible.
I met Phil Jupitus at a Skatalites gig once... a very nice man
I do however feel really sorry for celebs, just cause their on the tv making their money why should they have every second of their privates lifes bombarded with "Can i have your autograph please have a pic taken with me"
it depends on the circumstances obviously, but when you can see someone just going about their normal daily business why should they be stopped every 5 minutes by people expecting them to talk to them as if they know them?
I saw a very popular soapstar at Christmas with his son, it didnt even occur to me to go running up to him asking for him to sign a bit of paper, he was out with his child with things to do, i find it both intrusive and rude on the fans behalf. Im sure many will disagree with me but thats my feelings on it. Sure enough if they are just hanging around passing the time of day and enjoy talking to strangers no problem, but when you can visibly see they are rushing about and have things to do then no i dont think their been rude.
I know people who have met him through Cult TV interests and they say he is a lovely man. Really pleasant and warm.
That`s a good point. It sounds like a generational thing.
Someone taking a picture of a model? At a public event she is scheduled to appear at? Whatever next?
Good point.
Not quite the same thing but what about BBC premises similiar to the Mailbox in Birmingham, where there is a 'Public Space'.
I saw Ed Doolan from BBC WM, on the one occasion I was there having a bag of crisps & Diet Coke, but I didn't bother him for an autograph.
If he had looked in my direction, I would've said something, but until then.....