the real tarzan of the apes and gerald the gorilla

Tarzan of the apes, looking a bit camper and longer haired than the best known Johnny Weissmuller portrayals.
Brothers and sisters, I present to you the largely forgotten Elmo Lincoln (Otto Elmo Linkenhelt), the first movie Tarzan from the 1918 -1921 versions (unless you count Gordon Griffith, who played the young Tarzan).
This was a time when even wild men of the jungle weren't afraid of their feminine side, and who also looked as though they had a more than 'special' relationship with the apes.
Lincoln also made fleeting appearances in a couple of the 1940's Tarzan films, then starring Weissmuller (Tarzan'e New York Adventure) and Lex Barker (Tarzan's Magic Fountain), but was uncredited.
Fame can be so fleeting.

And thinking of special relationships....Gerald The Gorilla, from Not The Nine O'Clock News, featuring the recently departed Mel Smith, with Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson as Gerald.
Wild...l was absolutely livid!



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the darlington monthly magazine (slight return)

After my brief piece about The Darlington Monthly magazine the other day, oh joy of joys, l actually found a paper copy when visiting someone in Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Sadly l couldn't find the article l was originally searching for, but l have found out the cover star is Mick Copeland, the business development manager from Frank's Factory Flooring.
I can now rest in peace.

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mr jet black from the stranglers

You'd think that not having to have a proper job and being in a punk band that have quite a following would make you happy.  Mr Jet Black (Brian John Duffy) from The Stranglers begs to differ.  Mind you, he is now 75 years old, so no wonder he is looking pissed off.

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the nude / topless photograph of marilyn monroe

Most people are aware that Marilyn Monroe was a playmate in the first copy of Playboy magazine in 1953, with some old snaps that were taken before she was famous, and these can easily be googled if you wish to see them.

However, there is also a picture being sold around the web that shows Marilyn topless and holding a flower, which l came across (fnarr fnarr - stop snickering at the back) by accident while searching for something else. Don't get me wrong, l wasn't displeased by the find, but it does bear a remarkable similarity to another shot of Marilyn holding a flower, only this time she has a dress on.
Now l would never accuse anyone of downright fraud (as though l can cast stones and aspersions), but l certainly wouldn't have thought licenses have been granted and permission obtained from the original photographer, but who knows, maybe there were two more or less identical photo shoots (but l very much doubt it). Either way, she looks great with or without the dress.
Now how do l work photoshop, there's some pictures l want to doctor.

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the hildyard arms

There was a bit of a mix up last night, as l thought it was the last night of The Hildyard Arms pub in Colburn before it gets refurbished. I blame Col Moore myself, but me and a tasty crew of Rocker, Ritchie, Pon, Lammy and Powlie decided to head down there for a few ales to say goodbye to the old place, as we used to drink there years ago when Graham ran it.  We all met in The Wine Bar at White Shops because we forgot the Hildyard wasn't open until 7pm, and then when we did get down there, it wasn't the last night after all, there was only about 4 people in it, and it was still crap. We headed straight back to White shops after one drink.  It was still a good time though, as plenty of ale was consumed, the arguments and tales all kicked off, and myself and Lammy ended up being the last ones kicked out of JT's.
Hic.
Back to work today, but it's my last shift for nearly 3 weeks, and l'm off out in Middlesbrough at the weekend (and probably the weekend after). Hurrah!!!!

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the gravity film release schedule

The Gravity film is coming out soon, but l have noticed on its webpage that it is to be released in Thailand and Hong Kong on the 3rd of October, and not in the UK until the 8th of November.  What a splendid idea, releasing it over a month early in the market that provides a lot of the pirated DVDs, that will no doubt also be uploading it onto the net before its UK release. Prats.

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bleeding london - geoff nicholson

A Sheffield man goes to London to exact revenge on six men who raped his partner.  In the meantime, Stuart decides to walk the London A to Z and then kill himself, and a half Japanese women gets involved with both of them.  There's plenty of asides about the history of London, and lots of sex and violence, but l don't know if it's just me becoming an old square, but l thought there were too many sexual scenes, which l felt were unbelievable, and distracted from the main story.  I don't know if Geoff Nicholson is just another posh git adding saucy elements to sell the story (or get some kicks from it), but Bleeding London would have been a lot better with them toned down a bit.
Bah! Humbug!
Now where are my slippers, it's time for some Ovaltine.

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the james bulger walk

I know it's a years old news story, but l only realised the other day how far Jon Venables and  Robert Thompson walked with James Bulger from The New Strand shopping centre in Bootle.  For some reason, l had always assumed that when the press were talking about the body being found on railway lines, l thought they meant the ones behind The Strand.  As it turned out, they walked James quite a distance, nearly all the way to Everton's ground at the top of Stanley Park.  That really brings it home how on another day, with slightly different circumstances, somebody might have intervened, or they may have got bored, and James would still be alive.
On a related note, Venables has just been released from prison (again).

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the poems of nasty nick

A couple of poems by 'Nasty' Nick (D.C Nicholson), 'The Woods At Rollencourt' and 'Dole'. He's a fellow l have known for a few years in the pub, and trust me - he's the last person you would expect to be writing poems. However, l got to talking to him about poetry ages ago (as you do) and he gave me some of his that l said l would put up on my blog at some stage.  It's only taken me about two years to get around to it, and there are more to follow, which l will try not to leave so long before sticking them up.

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magician cartoon

I like it.

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some chanting to make up for the football - and screengrabs!

Watched the Manchester United v Liverpool game earlier, and although l am biased, l thought United deserved a draw, so l am pissed off they never got one.

Here's two videos to take the edge away.

PLUS!!

After all these years, l've just learnt how to do screen grabs (rather than screen capture).  I'm impressed.

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waiting for the footie - some bootle pictures

 The Broadway shops in Bootle with the toy shop on the corner

 

Two aeroplane photographs of Bootle, with our house marked where the black mark is.

Houses in Marsh lane, just like my grannies (before they were pulled down)

What Bootle was like when l was a kid

While killing time anticipating (and drooling over) the Manchester United versus Liverpool game, l found these photographs on the net, which reminded me of when l was a nipper in Bootle. It was bleak in those days (and not much better now), but l loved it.

Because l am originally from Liverpool but support United, these are the most important games of the season to me.  I can't wait, have been up since the crack of dawn, and l have taken the day off work for the occasion, so let's hope it turns out to be worth it (or someone will suffer).

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the book of revelation - rupert thomson

'The Book Of Revelation' (by Rupert Thomson) started out as a strange tale of sexual shenanigans, but then moved on to with dealing with what had happened, and trust me, it's not too cheerful a tale.
A male dancer in Amsterdam is kidnapped by three hooded women, held hostage in a white room, abused and raped, and suddenly let free. He then tries to get on with his life, doesn't confess what has happened to anyone (apart form his long term girlfriend), and tries to find the captors, who he only knows through their bodies and actions, as they kept their faces hidden throughout the ordeal.  At first l was not so keen on the tale as it struck me as another posh git writing porn trash either to make money or to shock and show how 'street' he is (similar to the feelings l kind of harboured about Jonny Glynn's 'The Seven Days of Peter Crumb) book, but l gave that one the benefit of the doubt (and l don't know Glynn's background).  Maybe that is more to do with my own preconceptions and attitudes, because the 'Revelation' book progressed as l didn't expect it to, it was well written, and l can' t really have any complaints about the motives of it, as it was so entertaining, and left you wanting more.  I shall purchase more of his tales, but in second hand form only, as l still have my principles (and fucked up attitudes), unless l find out in the meantime that he is a fine upstanding fellow, because let's face it, people can't help their backgrounds.

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some valiant comics l've uploaded

Some of the many comic pages (from The Valiant) that l have uploaded on another site.
I really need to get a life.

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the darlington monthly magazine

Hold yourselves back ladies! I assume he's married, but this is the sight that awaited me when l was trying to find an article in the Darlington monthly magazine about a film an acquaintance of mine is producing. I couldn't get the magazine to open up online, and with that cover, it may have been for the best, as l dread to think what delights were lurking within. I'd have Operation Yewtree banging on my door in no time (or should that be breaking in my back door?).

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some george best books

When not at work, l have been keeping myself out of mischief (alongside trips to the pub) and devouring some books about George Best, with varying results.  'Loving George' (by Alex Best)  is her tale about their relationship, and it's often not very easy reading.  Despite the fact l loved George Best for his football skills and cheeky charm, there is no disputing the fact he could be a nasty drunk and violent to women, and this is one of the main themes of the later part of the book.  In my humble opinion, Alex should have left him earlier, and despite her claims not to be interested in the fame and money, l still find it hard to believe she would have stuck with 'Bestie' as long as she did (or even married him in the first place) without the trappings of fame that went along with it.  I know lots of women do so without the celebrity attachments, but they often expect no better because of their background, or put up with it for financial security (and often, for the children). Either way, there are no winners in that kind of situation.

'A Life In The News' (edited by Richard Williams) features reproduced newspaper reports about Best's matches, interviews and viewpoints by journalists. As you can imagine, it starts off full of praise, and get's more depressing as it goes on, as Best stumbles drunkenly on from one escapade and relationship to another.  It was still worth the effort, as it was good to read the match reports from an earlier and more innocent time, when Best was at his peak, and the future was uncertain.

'Best and Edwards - football fame and oblivion' by Gordon Burn was the best of them all (no pun intended), albeit also depressing in it's own way.  It covered Duncan Edwards and George Best (as you would expect from the cover), but also Munich, Bobby Charlton, statue makers, Matt Busby, and the eroding respect shown in all walks of life as the years pass by. Times are a changin' (as Bob Dylan so eloquently stated) but it's not always for the advancement of mankind. An excellent read which l would wholeheartedly recommend to anybody, not just Manchester United fans, but it left even a  miserable cynic like myself pining for the olden days.

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the house is going to ruin

I can't believe it! The FPO only moved down south a day ago and the house is already falling apart!  The onion in the fridge has seen better days and looks like it's been grasping for some life (like us all), and a bleeding slug appeared in the bath, much to my disgust.  They were both thrown away, but l spared the slug the salt treatment out of pity.  Mind you, he did still go down the toilet, so that was probably a fate worse than death (or salt).

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dazzer is now airport

The Motors were a bunch of ugly bastards who could have had more success if they were pretty boys, but to me, from now on they shall always be associated with Dazzer (my brother in law's) new nickname - Airport.

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the waterboys - under the skin, fanzines and following them around

Ah, The Waterboys and my 'Under The Skin' Waterboys magazine.  Between about 1985 and 1990 l thought they might have been the best band in the world, with only U2 giving them a run for their money.  Don't get me wrong, l liked lots of other music of the time (The Alarm, Prince. Springsteen, The Mission, The Cure, REM, Spear of Destiny, Echo And The Bunnymen), but from 'A Pagan Place' until 'Room to Roam' l absolutely adored them, and saw them on numerous occasions.  My favourite gig was probably at The Riverside in Newcastle in 1986 when Karl Wallenger was still in the band, as it was a very small venue, the show was great, it was one of the first times l had seen them, and the set was very, very long (and available on t'net).   Because of my love for them, l put together a magazine of stuff l would have liked to have been available to me as a fan (old cuttings, reviews and photos) as they didn't have programmes in those far flung days.  l thought l could flog them at their gigs, therefore paying for me to follow them around and enabling me to see them on tour.  As l couldn't drive, l had to hire a mate (hello Rocker!) as a driver, and we went all over Ireland and the UK flogging the magazines (I did a second one after the first Fisherman's Blues tour out of stubbornness!).  Beforehand, I had written to Mike Scott asking for permission to sell them at their gigs, but he declined and wished me luck.  He then put myself and my driver on the guest list of the Ireland 1988 tour when we turned up and met him before the opening concert in Cork (although he wasn't too happy at first about the old articles being reprinted). However, after a few dates, he took us off the list, as he probably thought we were raking it in (Hah!) and people may have thought it was the (non existent) programme for the tour. I nearly got into a fight with Mike after one of the early Irish shows about the magazine and how we weren't taking the piss (he obviously thought we were), but we were then taken off the guest list, and had many obstacles put in our way as regards selling them, despite other fanzine sellers (and pirate t-shirt sellers) being allowed lots more access and getting no grief.  I had no problems with the other fanzine or shirt sellers, bought their products, and got on with them, drinking with them and having a laugh.  To me, Saints and Angles was far and above the other fanzines as far as quality was concerned, but l enjoyed all of them and what they had to offer, as l appreciated their labours of love, and their wares appealed to me as a fan myself. Eventually, even the pirate t-shirt sellers were amazed at the treatment we were getting, as they made their wonga outside the venues while the Waterboys lackeys moved myself and my friend away from the gigs (whenever they saw us).  Because of our pitiful situation compared to the other sellers, we were actually given dodgy access all areas passes by the swag guys, so were able to see most of the shows (which was the whole reason for doing the magazine in the first place).  It was still a great experience because of the travelling around, seeing the band, and meeting people, but it was tarnished by the treatment we received.  Obviously Mike had his viewpoint and reasons, and l had my own, but it left a biter taste for a long time. I gave away a batch of left over magazines outside a Liverpool show a few years ago (I'm originally from there) and have seen the band since the Fisherman's Blues era and still adore their music, but it was definitely a 50/50 love /hate experience.  Love on my side, hate on theirs.  Hate is probably too strong a word, but who knows?
The good side was l met a lot of genuinely lovely and interesting people, The Saw Doctors stayed at my girlfriends place in Newcastle, The Hothouse Flowers were some of the nicest people you could imagine (as was The Edge and his brother), and I travelled around of the UK, without the experience putting me of the Waterboys music (Room to Roam did that at the time). One of the people we met (and gave a lift to) even ran off with and married my girlfriend (hello Graham and Dianne!), but luckily we remained friends. Rocker (the driver) said it was the best time he has had in his life, and who am l to disagree with him.  Drinks all round!!

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