A masked evening at Russell-Cotes

We were delighted to attend an intimate affair held at at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum - its first ever Victoriana themed masked salon. The atmospheric event was held to celebrate the return of Albert Moore’s Midsummer painting from its 2 year international tour and part of the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival.

Dimly lit by candles, with live pianists is each gallery room - guests arrived in their own individual interpretation on the dress code ; specified as evening, Black Tie, Masks and Fans, Victorian, Edwardian, Steam Punk and Burlesque - something for everyone to be inspired by!

Amidst the masks and cocktail murmurs - we were treated to a lesson in the art of the Victorian Language of Fans, and acts and musicians were introduced by the Master of Ceremonies, Bournemouth’s 2012 Slam Poetry Champion Steve Biddle.

{The Mayor of Bournemouth Councillor Phil Stanley-Watts}

Injecting some age old glamour to the evening was a burlesque show by dancer Lucy “Twinks” Burnett, dazzling the silhouetted crowd against the backdrop of the gallery artwork.

 

Images by Joseph Kent

Words Nicki Grainger

The Beatles in Bournemouth

{ Please see image credits at end of article}  

Almost fifty years ago, The Beatles performed live for the first time in Bournemouth, a few months before Beatlemania gripped the nation. A recent exhibition at the BIC showcased rare photographs of our town's connections with the Fab Four, as seen in Nick Churchill's recent publication, “Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Beatles & Bournemouth”. Joseph Kent spoke with the author to find out more.

It is a little known claim to fame that The Beatles played at the Bournemouth Gaumont more times than any other UK theatre outside of London. But whilst the theatre has since been converted into an Odeon cinema, photographs and memorabilia of the band's time in Bournemouth still remain.

Nick Churchill, a local writer and journalist, is responsible for having collated these documented moments from a special albeit near-forgotten chapter of Bournemouth's past.

“The photographs were taken by a guy called Harry Taylor, who was a freelance photographer and worked for the Bournemouth Times, the newspaper at the time,” says Nick. “A lot of the pictures haven't been seen for nearly fifty years – the paper printed a few of them, but most of them were held by his family. The photos came up at auction three or four years ago, which is how I came to hear about them, and the guy who bought them suggested to me at the time this could make a really good book.”

~~~~~~~

'Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Beatles & Bournemouth' was published last year and establishes a clear connection between the group and the seaside town. It was in August 1963 that the Fab Four first performed at the Gaumont, returning twice the following year. In between, The Beatles also played live in the Winter Gardens in November 1963, for which American TV giants ABC, CBS and NBC sent their London crews to cover the show.

“The footage that was filmed there was the first to be shown on American television,” says Nick. “CBS got the first news report, but it was broadcast on the morning of President Kennedy's assassination – it went out at breakfast, Kennedy was shot by lunchtime, and America went into two weeks of mourning. Walter Cronkite decided after that they needed a little bit of light relief, so he found this Beatles report and put it back on CBS in December. And that kicked in motion a chain of events, whereby when the Beatles finally went to America in February '64, their single 'I wanna hold your hand' was at number one.”

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Two weeks before The Beatles' performance at the Winter Gardens, the Daily Mirror had coined the phrase “Beatlemania”, in response to the frenzied fandom for the four musicians. Consequently, Bournemouth saw the The Beatles' evolution from a very popular - but not stratospherically so - group in the summer, to the pulsing heart of Beatlemania later that year - “In the eye of the storm, surrounded by screaming girls and all kinds of fan craziness,” Nick describes.

“The strange thing is there was tape made of the Beatles at the Gaumont back in August '63, and while the audience screamed in places, they weren't as vociferous as they subsequently became, so you could actually hear the group sing and play. They aren't often credited as being that good as a live band, because nobody heard them, but there is this nugget of evidence that they actually were as good as their records suggest.”

“The interesting thing with the book,” Nick continues, “is that since it was published, so many stories have come to light that aren't in the book. For me, the connections are fascinating, but the real meat of it lies in people's own memories. There is a real richness and warmth to some of those stories which is quite irresistible. So if we get more of those stories, then I would be very happy.”

Nick Churchill's book, 'Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Beatles & Bournemouth', is available for purchase at the box office or at www.beatlesandbournemouth.com.

You can also read more stories on Nick's blog  http://beatlesbournemouth.blogspot.co.uk/

{Interview by Joseph Kent}

{Images From L - R: The Beatles and support act Billy J Kramer / The Beatles on the balcony of the Palace Court Hotel, overlooking Westover Road in Bournemouth. Photo by Harry Taylor, copyright Dave Robinson / Bournemouth Times’ photographer Harry Taylor’s teenage daughter Sandie photographed with The Beatles in their dressing room at the Bournemouth Gaumont, August 1963 / Paul and Ringo have clearly made an impression on this fan in the lounge of the Palace Court Hotel, Bournemouth, August 1963 / Paul looks wistful wearing a hat as the rest of the group play around on the piano at the Palace Court Hotel, Bournemouth / John Lennon and Ringo Starr with Bournemouth Time reporter Tony Crawley and his then-wife the actress Jeanette Wild at an after show party at the Gaumont, August 1963 / Christine Banham, Marion and Tania Turner,  persuaded their baker father to make this cake for The Beatles ahead of their show at the Winter Gardens }

The Queens Jubilee - celebrating the vintage way

 In true British spirit, people across the country ignored the downpour and grey skies to hang up their bunting and salute our Queen in the best way we know how during the four day Diamond Jubilee celebrations last week.

Cake, cheering and champers.

Items for sale in Lil' Vintage

Tasty treats in the streets from Little Pickle Deli Cafe

Here in Pokesdown, Bournemouth’s Vintage HQ, bunting lined the streets as an Artisan Fayre buzzed on the green and vintage shops opened their doors to weekend shoppers.

Handstitched accessories by Love From Hetty & Dave

Independent shops displayed quirky Royal collectibles and patriotic antiques, window displays paid homage to the Queens impressive 60 year reign, and many found themselves reminiscing of days gone by as the nation partied.

Red, white and blue in Vintage Per Sempre

“It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere”   ~   HRH Queen Elizabeth

All things Royal at What Alice Found

Wherever you were, whatever you did, we hope you had a damn good time!

Jubilee fever at Bourne & Co Antiques

  Windows at Kaotic Handbag - The Geek Boutique

Rule Britannia xxx