Tweet
With the sad news of the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh my thoughts go back many, many, years to 1952 when the present Queen's father died, George VI.
On 7 January 1952 just after my 17th birthday I started work as a trainee projectionist at the Odeon Cinema here in Bristol. One month later on 6th February the King died. The management gave instructions that no fancy or coloured lighting was to be used in the auditorium, only the plain house lights. Also, only sombre music was to be played in the intervals.
The latter instruction brought the Chief Projectionist into a flap. We only had "sweet" dance (no vocals) music on our 78s. However, there was a record shop quite nearby so he gave me a ten shilling note (£0.50) to go out and buy a "sombre" record.
The staff were not accustomed to such a request so they called the manager from his office. He was very helpful, soon I left the shop with a 12" record of Handel's Largo.
The record really set the mood.
HANDEL - LARGO - ORGAN OF ALBION CHURCH - JONATHAN SCOTT - YouTube
On 7 January 1952 just after my 17th birthday I started work as a trainee projectionist at the Odeon Cinema here in Bristol. One month later on 6th February the King died. The management gave instructions that no fancy or coloured lighting was to be used in the auditorium, only the plain house lights. Also, only sombre music was to be played in the intervals.
The latter instruction brought the Chief Projectionist into a flap. We only had "sweet" dance (no vocals) music on our 78s. However, there was a record shop quite nearby so he gave me a ten shilling note (£0.50) to go out and buy a "sombre" record.
The staff were not accustomed to such a request so they called the manager from his office. He was very helpful, soon I left the shop with a 12" record of Handel's Largo.
The record really set the mood.
HANDEL - LARGO - ORGAN OF ALBION CHURCH - JONATHAN SCOTT - YouTube
Comment