Bruce Lee - Martial Arts Legend.

It is hard to believe but on Saturday July 20^th, it will be 40 years to the day since martial arts movie star and popular culture icon Bruce Lee died in Hong Kong.

Lee Jun-fan was born in Chinatown, San Francisco in November 1940 to parents originating from Hong Kong.

Raised in Kowloon, he was introduced to the movie industry by his father and appeared in numerous films in his early years. 

At the age of 18 he returned to the USA in order further his education and at that time began to teach martial arts. Initially going back to the San Francisco area, he soon moved on to Seattle in 1959, completing High School a year later.

In 1961 he enrolled at the University of Washington, majoring in drama, but also studying philosophy and psychology amongst other subjects. In 1964 he married fellow student Linda Emery and they went on to have 2 children.

 

Statue of the movie star Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars of Hong Kong

Best remembered for his 5 major feature films, namely The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973) and The Game of Death (1973), Lee became an iconic figure throughout the world but predominantly to the Chinese as he portrayed Chinese Nationalism in his work. 

His films sparked a surge of Chinese martial arts popularity throughout the world during the 70s and beyond.

At the height of his popularity, Lee collapsed in May 1973 whilst working on Enter the Dragon at Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studios. Suffering from seizures and severe headaches, he was rushed to hospital where he received a diagnosis of cerebral edema.

Six weeks later, he was due to have dinner with former James Bond star George Lazenby (remember him?) to discuss a future movie role, when being struck again with another headache. He was given a painkiller and went to lie down and rest at about 7.30 in the evening.

But when not arriving for dinner, film producer Raymond Chow went to his apartment to check on him, but was unable to raise the star. A doctor was summoned who also tried unsuccessfully to revive him and Lee was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Many conspiracy theories still exist surrounding the death of Bruce Lee, including supposed murder by the Triads and curses placed on his family, but at the time it was ruled as “death by misadventure.”

 

Laid to rest at Lakeside, now joined alongside by his son Brandon

Laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery in his adopted home city of Seattle, the pallbearers at his funeral included Steve McQueen, James Coburn and the aforementioned George Lazenby.

Bruce Lee was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people of the 20^th century and as recently as April 2013, he posthumously received the prestigious Founders Award at the Asian Awards.

Sister Sledge - and I Held Joni's Hand!

Watching footage from Glastonbury this past weekend got me reminiscing back to the days in the 70's, 80's and early 90's when I used to be a regular concertgoer in and around the London area.

I cannot begin to think of some of the artists I've had the pleasure (and displeasure in some cases) to see, along with the many antics I got up to revolved around these concert visits.

One of my favourite concerts and best memories was from around the early 1980's when Sister Sledge played the Fairfield Halls in Croydon.

Sister Sledge

The Sledge sisters from Philadelphia, could certainly go down as one of the original girl groups and they ran up a string of hits around that time including "We are Family", "He's the Greatest Dancer", the appalling "Frankie" (even Blues and Soul magazine refused to make mention of it, claiming it was a sell-out money making attempt at the top 40) and of course my own personal favourite "Lost In Music"

I arrived at the arena along with my friend at the time Baz, ready for what we hoped would be a first class night's entertainment.

Fairfield Halls Croydon

Now, before I go any further, I often wonder whatever became of Baz? He was always something of a "dodgy geezer" and the last I heard of him was that he was being prosecuted for theft of money from numerous car park machines. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that he ended up doing a stretch in the Scrubs or some other penal institution somewhat nearer his Merseyside origins, but who knows?

Anyway, back to the concert. We arrived ready for a good night, me bedecked in my Blues and Soul T-Shirt which in truth had seen better days. Baz was dressed up to the nines, obviously believing that this was to be his night and that he was going to pull some time during the evening.

We took our seats and soon enough, Kim, Debbie, Joni and Kathy aka the wondrous Sledge sisters, took to the stage. 

There were early problems though. Everyone was having a great time dancing in front of their seats, but when anyone tried to move into the aisles or to the front of the arena, the rather large security operatives who suddenly appeared from nowhere, were making a point of roughly pushing everyone back to their own seat row while warning them not to venture out again.

It got to such a state that the girls on stage became somewhat displeased with the way the fans were being treated and soon they became involved in heated exchanges with the security staff, insisting that the audience were allowed to move around the auditorium and enjoy themselves.

Eventually the heavy handed treatment relented and I made my way down to the front of the stage, desperate to get closer to the girls and especially the gorgeous (in my opinion) Joni. 
 

Joni Sledge

After what seemed like an eternity of holding my hand out, it was taken by one of the band and upon looking up, I could see it was the aforementioned Joni Sledge. I was in heaven, but sadly it ended all too quickly and she let go, moving on to another part of the stage.

The concert came to an end and I was still on Cloud 9, insisting I was never going to wash my hand again. 

What a night! We'd seen Sister Sledge, I'd got to hold Joni's hand, albeit for only a few seconds, and Baz was as jealous as hell!

The Theatre by the River (Yvonne Arnaud 1890 -1958)

Guildford Guildhall

I’m sure I must have mentioned previously in passing that I had the pleasure of growing up in the fine Surrey town of Guildford.

My home town is famous for its cathedral, the crumbling old castle, the Spectrum Leisure Centre, the Royal Grammar school in the Upper High Street and, well not a lot else really.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre frontage

But down by the River Wey, lurking alongside the Debenham’s department store, sits the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. The auditorium was built in the middle 1960’s and will soon celebrate its 50^th anniversary.

 I have to admit to vaguely remembering it being built, although I was only knee high to a grasshopper at that particular time (honest I was guv!).

But until recently I never gave much of a thought as to who it was named after, or inspired by. This is a sad reflection from someone who actually worked in the building for a short period about 20 years ago.

So the question now has to be asked, who was Yvonne Arnaud and exactly what relationship did she hold to this fairly nondescript Surrey market town?

Yvonne Arnaud

Germaine Yvonne Arnaud was a French born actress, pianist and singer (b. December 20^th, 1890). Born in Bordeaux, she was raised in Paris and at the age of 9 entered the Conservatoire de Paris.

Regarded as something of a child protégée, she started her career as a child concert pianist, touring and performing with many leading orchestras throughout Europe and the USA.

In her early 20’s, she moved on to musical comedy and then, after an operation on her larynx affected her singing voice, into non-musical comedy and drama around the time of the early 1920’s.

She married the actor Hugh McLellan in 1920 and lived in Effingham near Guildford for many years, hence her continual connection to the town.

She appeared on stage and in numerous British films in the 30’s and 40’s, going on to playing a maid in Jacques Tati’s “Mon Oncle” (1958 - her final performance). This production was in fact the first of Tati’s films to be released in colour.

Not that she ever gave up “tinkling the ivories” occasionally returning to perform as a pianist in her later career (e.g. with the Halle Orchestra in 1948 and at the 1956 Hoffnung Festival).

Memorial stone

She died in Guildford aged of 67, after an operation on a cerebral haemorrhage.and her ashes were scattered in St Martha’s churchyard* where there is a memorial dedicated to her. 

7 years after her death, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was opened.

* The area in and around St Martha’s has a local reputation for the odd haunting and “strange” event taking place. In my late teens, myself and a few school friends spent a night up there around the sandpits “ghost hunting.” 

We never witnessed anything, but with the amount of red wine that was consumed on that rather damp evening, it is a wonder we knew what day it was let alone anything else!

Whatever Happened to Nicholas Bond-Owen?

Cast your mind back to the late 1970s and you may remember a spin-off TV sitcom, emanating from characters from the hit ITV show "Man About The House"

Again written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke, "George and Mildred" starred Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy as the Ropers, an ill-matched married couple who upped sticks and moved to the posher London suburb of Hampton Wick. 

Their arrival horrified the next door neighbour Jeffrey Fourmile (played by Norman Eshley), convincing him that their presence would not only lower the tone of the neighbourhood, but also drop the value of local property.

Fourmile's wife Ann was played by Sheila Fearn, best remembered for being Terry Collier's sister in "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" and Ronnie Corbett's girlfriend in the BBC's "Sorry"

The main cast list was made up with the Fourmile's young son Tristram, who was played by Nicholas Bond-Owen and when I was recently researching another article, I came across this piece written by Simon Stabler from the Peterborough Community website that sheds some light as to what became of Nick. 

Click HERE to be taken to the article.

At the height of its popularity, "George and Mildred" came to an abrupt end in 1980 when Yootha Joyce suddenly died aged only 53. Plans were afoot for a 6th series to be made and  the successful movie spin-off of the show was dedicated in her memory (released after her passing). 

It later came to light that she had an alcohol dependency problem, consuming upwards of a half bottle of brandy every day.

An idea for Brian Murphy to star in a show as George, coping as a widower never materialised, but soon after her death he did appear in another Mortimer and Cooke written show, along with Roy Kinnear (who also made regular appearances in "George and Mildred"), entitled "The Incredible Mr Tanner"

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Katharine Hepburn 1907-2003

On 29th June 2013 it will be 10 years since the Academy award winning film, stage and television actress Katharine Hepburn died.

Born on 12th May 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, Katharine Houghton Hepburn was raised in a well-to-do family, her father being a doctor, whilst her mother was a suffragette.

The young Katharine was very much a tomboy and was encouraged by her parents to always speak her mind. In years to come, she became globally famous, not only for her successful acting career, but also for her headstrong independence and somewhat spirited personality.

Winning a record 4 Academy awards for Best Actress, the "First Lady of Cinema" decided to make her career as an actor whilst studying at Bryn Mawr College close to Philadelphia, where she appeared in many productions.

In "Rooster Cogburn"

Soon after graduation, she started gaining small parts on Broadway and after getting regularly noticed, these soon became roles in movies, signing a contract with RKO in 1932.


She won her first Academy award in 1934 for "Morning Glory" when starring opposite Douglas Fairbanks Jnr,
but soon became known for her haughty behaviour where she refused to pose for pictures or to give interviews. 

It wasn't long before her lack of popularity with the press soon rubbed off on movie and theatre goers causing her fame to plummet.

But after returning to Broadway to star in "The Philadelphia Story" she bought the movie rights to the production and was rewarded with a Hollywood smash hit.

Poster for "Woman of the Year"

For her next film in 1942 ("Woman of the Year""), she starred alongside Spencer Tracy with whom she went on to star in eight more films over a 25 year + span and conducted a long term off screen romance, (even though he remained married throughout this time).

Her 2nd Academy success came in her final film with Tracy which was completed just a few weeks before his death. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" which also featured Sidney Poitier, also brought BAFTA awards for both leading actors (posthumously in Tracy's case).

Starring in "Love Affair"

Her 3rd Best Actress accolade came just a year later for "The Lion in Winter" starring alongside Peter O'Toole and Anthony Hopkins - a movie that gains an impressive 8 out of 10 IMDB rating (and happens to be Tatty's favourite film of hers).

The 4th and record breaking Oscar came in 1982 when starring in "On Golden Pond" with Henry Fonda and his daughter Jane.

Her last feature film came in 1994 when starring with Warren Beattie and Annette Bening in "Love Affair" (see image) although later in that same year she did appear in a made-for-TV movie "One Christmas" with Henry Winkler and Swoosie Kurtz.

Soon after, as her health declined, she retired from public life and eventually passed away at the age of 96 in her beloved Connecticut on 29th June 2003. 

A week after her death, as a tribute, the lights of Broadway were dimmed for an hour in her honour.

The "Great Kate" will always be remembered for her feisty outlook, not only in her career but throughout her life in general. 

Being very much of a show-off and with her distinctive way of speaking, angular features and her outspoken personality, Katharine Hepburn was one of the brightest and it has to be said, more fascinating actors of her generation. 

So what was your favourite Katharine Hepburn movie? 
Please feel free to comment.....

TV Comedian Eric Sykes

Recently I have been enjoying the re-runs of the BBC TV sitcom Sykes from the 1970s which have been airing on Satellite/Cable channel UKTV Gold.

The TV shows, written and starring comedy legend Eric Sykes, ably assisted by another greatly loved comedy actress Hattie Jacques (who regularly appeared on TV with the Lancastrian), ran from 1972 until 1979, clocking up seven full series and a Christmas special in their wake.

Much of the show was based on previous similar TV comedies for the comic, indeed many of the episodes were colour remakes of previous black and white shows made in the sixties.

 
The show revolved around the antics of unmarried twins Eric and Hattie (Hat) who lived together in the London suburb of East Acton. Eric's character is somewhat childish and often manages to get himself into varying degrees of trouble. Meanwhile Hattie is the calming influence, trying her utmost to keep Sykes on the straight and narrow.

Other well known actors to regularly grace the programme included the likes of Deryck Guyler, Richard Wattis and Joan Simms, most of which had been associated with the TV comedian for many years.


The show finally came to the end of its run in 1979, although the BBC were fully intending to continue on with it. The untimely death of co-star Hattie Jacques from heart failure in 1980 bringing a premature conclusion.

I must admit to never thinking a great deal of the programme when it was aired in the 70s, but with maybe a more mature outlook, it is abundantly clear what a genius Sykes was, with an immaculate comedic delivery and his writing of varied content.

With a performing career spanning in excess of 50 years, Sykes is remembered for becoming profoundly deaf as an adult. The spectacles that he wore contained no lenses, they were used as a bone conducting hearing aid and as he got older he was also registered as blind and suffered a stroke and heart problems.

Eric died in July 2012 at the age 89 after a short illness, surrounded by his family.

Cyril Fletcher - "Pin Back Your Lugholes"

Cyril Fletcher

Tuesday 25th June 2013 will be the 100 year anniversary of the birth of British comedian Cyril Fletcher. 

Fondly remembered for his appearances on the BBC panel show "What's My Line" and latterly on the lamented consumer magazine programme "That's Life" with Esther Rantzen, Fletcher is best remembered for his "Odd Odes" and for his "Pin back your lugholes" catchphrase.

The Odd odes were not a new innovation for the television series however, he originally started performing them back in 1937 when short of material for a radio show. 

Their inauguration gave rise to him receiving a regular programme on Radio Luxembourg, which in turn brought him national recognition.

On the "That's Life" TV set

Born the son of a solicitor in Watford, Hertfordshire, he graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 


His 70 year career covered theatre, radio and television with him being a regular contributor to the BBC radio show "Does The Team Think" throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s. In later years he presented a gardening programme for Channel TV.

Described as a very droll, whimsical and artistic man, he passed away peacefully in his sleep in January 2005, at his home in Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Excerpt from his Channel TV gardening programme