Part 125, Young Snotty, the Cave Temples, the Monkeys, and Holding the Python

Part 125

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

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My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Cave Temples, the Monkeys, and Holding the Python




The My History Part

  It was November 2016, and we were still only a couple of days into our trip to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.
  The first trip we did outside of the city was to an Elephant Sanctuary. We had been to an Elephant Orphanage before in Sri Lanka. That one was extremely good. The elephants were often used in films, including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, they seemed very well looked after, and had plenty of room to roam freely.
  This Malaysian one seemed fine, but the elephants didn’t have anything like the freedom they seemed able to enjoy in Sri Lanka.
We had two other stops before reaching the Sanctuary. The first were the complex of caves known as the Batu Cave Temples, about 10 miles outside Kuala Lumpur.

Above, an opening in the limestone rocks of one of the Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  These huge limestone caves were used as shelter by early Malaysian tribes, but by the mid 1800s were being used by Hindus as a series of temples, the best known of which is the Murugan Temple.

Above, inside the Cave Temples, Batu, Malaysia, looking back towards the entrance. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  It was very hot, and there were many steps – 272 of them – to climb up to the entrance of the caves. We stopped to admire the views, and to talk to the many monkeys that roamed freely inside and outside of the caves. Although you are most likely to see many monkeys when visiting the caves, you may not see the many other creatures that live there. These include snakes, spiders, beetles, scorpions, bees, moths, frogs, lizards, birds, at least 21 species of bats, and hundreds of species of plants.

Above, a monkey, looking very much as though he knows how to pose for pictures, Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  When you are about to ascend the many steps, you will pass the 141 feet high statue of Murugan. This statue was unveiled in 2006, and is painted gold. When we were there, although it had only been there for 10 years, it was already going through some sort of restoration, possibly repainting it gold. This statue is one of the largest Murugan statues in the world, and the largest statue in Malaysia.

Above, Me, William and Penny, about to ascend the 272 steps up to the Batu Cave Temples,  with the 141 feet high statue of Murugan in the background, Malaysia, November 2016.

  Originally, visitors had to climb the limestone rocks to reach the caves, but in 1920 a set of wooden steps had been installed. By the 1930s these steps had become very worn, and in 1940 the concrete steps, which are still in use, were built.

Above, the view as you enter the Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

There are 20 known caves in Batu, but the Temple of Murugan is the largest of them. Believed to have been formed millions of years ago, rain has helped shape the caves we see today. There is a large and stunning opening in the ceiling of the enormous cave that forms the entrance to the temples, which is something it would be difficult not to stop, look up at, and watch to see the odd cloud travel slowly across the patch of blue sky revealed in the opening.

Above, the opening in the ceiling of the caves, revealing a patch of blue sky with just a touch of cloud, Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  By the time we had left the caves and had walked down the 272 steps, stopping to speak to monkeys on the way, we were quite hot. Our driver was waiting for us at the bottom, and he suggested we stop at the cafe near the caves to have a chilled coconut drink. This sounded good, and we agreed.

Above, Monkey and Baby Monkey, Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  We sat and watched as our driver arranged it with the cafe owner, and soon we saw him reach into a large fridge, take out three whole coconuts, chop the tops off, stick a straw in and bring them to our table.
  So simple, so natural, so fresh, and so refreshing, drinking straight from the chilled coconuts was just what we needed before heading further out of Kuala Lumpur, along jungle roads, and to our next stop.

Above, the fresh, chilled coconut, natural and refreshing, Batu Cave Temples, Malaysia. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  We passed several settlements near the road on the edge of the jungle, and then we reached the wildlife sanctuary which was our next stop.
  We fed some deer, and then some ostriches before heading off to see where injured lizards were being nursed back to health. We didn’t ask, but hoped and assumed that once these creatures were well again they would be released back into the wild.
  After the lizards we then came to the snakes. We spent a while looking at these, some of which were huge. When one of the staff saw us spending quite a while looking at one particular python, we were asked if we would like to hold her. Penny and William both seemed a little unsure but I replied that I would definitely like to hold her.

Above, William, Me holding the python, and Penny, Malaysia, November 2016.

  I was told to keep a gentle but firm grip on her, and then she was placed around my neck. She was very strong, and although trying to be gentle I could not have held her firmly enough to stop her going where she wanted. She stayed around my neck but moved through my grip with ease. It was easy to see how in the wild such a large snake can wrap itself around much larger animals.

Above, Me, holding the Python, Malaysia, November 2016.

  Our next stop was the Elephant Sanctuary. We were able to feed some of the elephants and then watched them being walked about, and some ridden. It seemed fine, but compared to the Elephant Orphanage we had visited in Sri Lanka years earlier, these Malaysian elephants seemed to have a lot less freedom than the Sri Lankan ones did. They seemed cared for, but I don’t like to see animals shut away, unable to roam freely, and think being in such a place should only be for conservation reasons or if the animal is unwell. Like the animals we saw in the Sanctuary on the way there, I hope that they and these elephants were all allowed to be released into the wild as soon as they were able to do so.
  We had quite a few days left in Malaysia, and would be going on more trips outside of the city.

  Where we went, and what we got up to next in Malaysia, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind Scenes Part

  In the last blog I talked about growing up in Cornwall and what it was like watching films at the cinema there in the 1970s. In 1982 we moved to London so I could attend Stage School. Although at first I didn’t go to the cinema except on a couple of school trips, by the mid 80s I started visiting the cinemas in Leicester Square.
  These were very big cinemas, and are where premieres did, and still do, take place. I think my first visit to a Leicester Square cinema was in 1979 to see the Bond film Moonraker. We were still living in Cornwall then so I must have been in London with my parents either for an audition or to visit my agent.
  The only other Bond film I have seen in the cinema was The Spy Who Loved Me. Watching Moonraker on the big screen was very good, but as well as being in a very large cinema the other two things I remember about it was that a man nearby sat eating very loudly throughout most of the film, and that the plot to Moonraker was very similar to that of The Spy Who Loved Me except for taking place in space instead of underwater.
  What tempted me to go to the cinema in 1985 was to see Back to the Future. I loved it, and although I never saw the sequels in the cinema I have seen them many times since on DVD.

Above, Christopher Lloyd, and Michael J Fox,  as Dr Emmett Brown, and Marty McFly, in the 1985 film Back to the Future.

When watching the film on the big screen in 1985 I didn’t know that in 2022, 37 years later, there would be a WestEnd Musical production of it. Penny and I went to see it in January 2022, and loved it. We saw it again in the Summer of 2022, and a third time in early 2023.

As well as being the year of Blackadder 3, I remember 1987 being a great year for cinema. That year I saw Lethal Weapon starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, The Witches of Eastwick starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeifer, and The Untouchables starring Kevin Costner,
Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith and Robert De Niro.

Above, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover, as Martin Riggs, and Roger Murtaugh, in the 1987 film Lethal Weapon.

  As I was working at the Palace Theatre at the time, I would go and see films in Leicester Square between shows. I loved all three of these films, and I still have the soundtrack albums on vinyl bought in 1987 of The Witches of Eastwick, and The Untouchables. The music of The Witches of Eastwick by the great John Williams is fantastic. It suits the plot, the characters and the setting so well.

Above, Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeifer, in the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick.

The amazing music of The Untouchables by Ennio Morricone adds so much to the film. The setting in Prohibition Era Chicago is created so well, and added to the music really takes the viewer to 1930s America.
I saw these three films twice each in Leicester Square cinemas in 1987, and we regularly watch them on DVD about once a year, including the Lethal Weapons sequals.

Above, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, and Charles Martin Smith, in the 1987 film The Untouchables.

In 1988 I saw Beetlejuice starring Michael Keeton,  Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder. With another great soundtrack, this time by Danny Elfman, this is another film we regularly watch.
  In 2024 a sequel was released titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Penny and I went to see it in the cinema – in Wales not in London – and thought it was great. Winona Ryder returns but is now the mother rather than the teenage daughter, and Catherine O’Hara – who recently passed away – returned to the role she played in the original film. Michael Keeton also returned to his role – it wouldn’t seem quite right if someone else were to play it – and Willem Dafoe joins the cast as does Jenna Ortega who is fantastic as the teenage daughter.

Above, Michael Keeton, in the 1988 film Beetlejuice.

  I saw films less in the 90s, and didn’t regularly attend the cinema until returning to Cornwall and meeting Penny in the late 1990s. We started going to the cinema together quite regularly, and the Cinema we went to was The Regal in Redruth, the town I was born in and where my cinema-going began.
  When we moved to Wales a few years later we stopped going to the cinema, and it wasn’t until 2015 with the release of the Star Wars sequel The Force Awakens that we started going again.
  We have seen many things in the cinema since but it has to be something that we really want to see. In 2023 we watched the 5th Indiana Jones film The Dial of Destiny which we loved and saw it twice just like I used to with films I liked in the 80s.

Above, Harrison Ford, as Indiana Jones, in the 2023 film The Dial of Destiny.

I am a huge Indiana Jones fan but this was the first Indiana Jones film I had seen in the cinema. In 2023 we visited Petra where the fantastic end scenes of the 1989 Indiana Jones film The Last Crusade were filmed.

Above, Harrison Ford, and Sean Connery, as Indiana Jones, and Henry Jones, in the 1989 film The Last Crusade.

  Since seeing it first on the small screen I thought ‘I want to go there one day’. Not only did we get to visit this wonderful historical site but we also got to arrive on foot and leave on horseback just as Indiana Jones does in the film.

Above, Penny leaving on Horseback, Petra, Jordan, March 2023.

  In March 2024, exactly a year to the day that we were in Petra, a nearby cinema was screening for one day only The Last Crusade, we had to attend. We watch all of the Indiana Jones films at least once a year but it was amazing seeing it on the big screen. We have tried to visit as many of the settings of the films as we can around the world, and later in 2024 we visited some of the British locations of the Dial of Destiny.

Above, Me, leaving on Horseback, Petra, Jordan, March 2023.

With streaming becoming so available, more accessible and easy, less people may go to the cinema than they used to. However, it is still a very different way to see a film, whether it is a new film or a classic being shown again for just that day. It is a wonderful experience, and I hope that cinema is still around to amaze and inspire for a very long time to come.

In the next Behind the Scenes Part, I will be talking about some of my favourite TV viewings in the late 1970s and early 1980s. What those TV shows were, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 1 will be aware of how great it must have been to live in a castle. Many of the castles in England had been around for hundreds of years by the time that Blackadder 1 was set in the late 1400s, but some new ones were still being built.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Prince Edmund, in Blackadder 1.

  In Wales, Raglan Castle was still quite new for a castle at the time of Blackadder 1. Built in the 1430s by William ap Thomas, it was greatly modified by his son William Herbert in the 1460s.
  Having fought in the Hundred Years War against France, William Herbert supported the Yorkists in the War of the Roses, and was thought by the Welsh at that time to be the man who would deliver Welsh Independence.

Above, Me, William, and Penny, about to enter Raglan Castle, Wales, July 2026.

  It is thought by some historians that the design of Raglan’s towers resemble those of Caernarfon Castle built by Edward I in the late 13th Century. Edward had the towers built to resemble the walls of Constantinople which he had seen whilst on Crusade, which has led some historians to believe that William Herbert was redesigning Raglan to resemble Caernarfon to promote himself as a man of power and influence, Caernarfon having been built by the powerful English King Edward I, and Caernarfon itself built to resemble the mighty walls of Constantinople.

Above, Part of the Great Tower from across the moat, with the Gate House in the background, Raglan Castle, Wales. Photo taken by me, July 2026.

  William Herbert was captured at the Battle of Edgecote Moor and was executed. His son, also called William Herbert, continued to add to Raglan in the 1470s.
  As his daughter Elizabeth married Charles Somerset, it was the Somerset family that inherited the castle.
  The Somerset family did well during the Tudor Period, and when the English Civil War broke out in 1642, Raglan became a stronghold for local Royalists. Eventually, Raglan was besieged and then captured by the Parliamentarians.
  The usual thing for the Parliamentarians to do when capturing a Royalist castle was to partly destroy it so it was indefensible to further attacks. This is known as Slighting a castle.

Above, Penny, and William, on the path around the moat, with the Great Tower and bridge in the background, Raglan Castle, Wales. Photo taken by me, July 2026.

Henry Herbert, a descendant of William ap Thomas who originally built Raglan, was ordered to not just slight but entirely destroy Raglan Castle. However, Raglan’s defences were so well built that it was found impossible to destroy the castle, which is why we can still enjoy and admire this mighty fortress, built by a Welshman, today.
  After the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Charles II restored Raglan to its owners. However, rather than spend money trying to restore the Medieval castle, it was thought better to concentrate on their more modern buildings, and Raglan was left as a ruin.
  Although considered a ruin, much of Raglan Castle is still intact. You can still admire the mighty defences of the gate house, and the imposing Great Tower reached by a bridge over a moat, whose winding stairways lead you to the top for views over the castle and the surrounding countryside. You can spend a lot of time exploring this wonderful castle, and I highly recommend doing so to anyone who gets the chance.

Above, Penny and Me, pretending to arrive in Medieval Style, Raglan Castle, Wales. Photo taken by William, July 2026.

So, many of the greatest castles in the UK, which are amongst the greatest in the World, are found in Wales. Most of the mightiest were built by the English, particularly Edward I, but Raglan reminds us that a Welshman can build a mighty fortress too, one that rivaled Edward’s imposing fortresses, stood up to those besieging it, and when it fell to the enemy, refused to be destroyed.

 

 
 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Malaysia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia

For more on the Batu Cave Temples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Caves

For more on the 1979 Bond film Moonraker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonraker_(film)

For more in the 1985 film Back to the Future https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future

For more on the stage musical Back to the Future https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future:_The_Musical

For more on the 1987 film Lethal Weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_Weapon

For more on the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witches_of_Eastwick_(film)

For more on the 1987 film The Untouchables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untouchables_(film)

For more on the 1988 film Beetlejuice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetlejuice

For more on the 2024 film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetlejuice_Beetlejuice

For more on the 2015 film The Force Awakens  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Force_Awakens

For more on the 2023 film The Dial of Destiny https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Dial_of_Destiny

For more on the 1989 film The Last Crusade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade

For more on Petra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra

For more on Raglan Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raglan_Castle

For more on Caernarfon Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caernarfon_Castle

For more on Edward I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_I

Part 124, Young Snotty, the Warm Rain, and the Cinema

Part 124

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Warm Rain, and the Cinema



The My History Part

  It was November 2016. We had found flights to the Far East flying from Cardiff with KLM. They weren’t direct flights, but changing planes in Amsterdam was still easier than making our way to London where most long haul flights left from.
  We booked a taxi to take us to the airport which arrived on time. We were soon at Cardiff Airport and checked in to our early morning flight to Amsterdam. It was quite a short flight, and after an even shorter wait we were boarding our next KLM flight, this time to the Far East, to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
  I had stopped there twice in the mid 90s when flying to and from Australia, but didn’t leave the airport. I remember that while landing all that you could see for miles was rainforest, and that combined with the friendly staff and nice airport made me want to return to Kuala Lumpur for a proper look around. Now, 21 years later, I was finally returning, along with Penny and William.

Above, the twin Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur from below. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  The flight was long, but there were films and TV shows to choose from on our screens in front of our seats, and we did manage to sleep a bit. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur airport early the following morning. We easily arranged a private transfer to our hotel and were able to check in straight away even though it was still quite early.
  This first hotel we only booked for two nights. This was so that if the flights were cancelled we would only be charged for these two nights and would still have time to cancel the following seven nights we had booked in a larger and more expensive hotel nearby without being charged. Thankfully our flights left and arrived on time.
  We only rested for a short time and then headed out for a look around. We found that we were only a couple of minutes walk from the twin Petronas Towers, which were an amazing sight. We were booked on a tour to take us up to the top of the Towers on our last day, but for now we were very happy just to be seeing them from below.

Above, the twin Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, seen from below at night. Our first hotel was near enough to stroll to the Towers in a couple of minutes. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  Near our first hotel was a small shopping mall  with shops, and places to eat. Beneath the Petronas Towers was another shopping mall, much larger than the other one. It was in these malls that we would head to when wanting a break from the extreme heat when exploring the city.
  It was in the high 30s but very cloudy, and would often suddenly rain. The rain however didn’t cool you down as this too was warm. The air conditioning in the malls gave us the necessary breaks we needed, but we soon got used to the heat and warm rain.

Above, Penny and Me, in the park below the Petronas Towers, at night. It was so hot that at times even I was persuaded to wear a short sleeve shirt and no tie or waistcoat. Photo taken by William, November 2016.

  The larger mall had a huge dining level, which is where we ate most days. Surrounded by counters selling food from all over the world we were each able to order different things but eat together as the large seating area in the middle served all of the counters. We sometimes had pasta, but mostly I went for the spicy options of Asia.
  We slept well our first night in Kuala Lumpur. The next morning we went on a mini bus tour around the city. We saw the city streets, and the national monument celebrating Malaysian independence from Britain. We visited a pewter factory, and spent quite a while at the national museum.

Above, one of the displays in the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, with Penny in the background, and William to the left. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  The museum is large, and has exhibits charting the history of Malaysia. It is well worth a visit, and this tour was a very good way to get an introduction to the wonderful Malaysian capital.

Above, Me and Penny, in front of another display in the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur. Photo taken by William, November 2016.

  The next day we checked out of our small hotel and headed to the larger one where we had booked an apartment for the next seven nights. It was too near to book a taxi but felt far enough as we dragged our luggage along the hot streets.
  When we checked in and got to our apartment we were very pleased. As well as two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large lounge, it also had a large dining area and a kitchen where at least a couple of nights I could cook a Malaysian style dinner.
  The views over the city were great, and we could walk to the Petronas Towers through the large park just outside the hotel. Breakfast was included, and I took the opportunity to have curry and rice for breakfast most mornings – perhaps Every morning – of our stay.

Above, William emerging from the undergrowth, in the park that linked our hotel with the Petronas Towers. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  Everything seemed very high quality even though we were only paying a very small fraction of what a much less luxurious hotel would cost in Europe. Even the swimming pool – something I usually try to avoid – tempted us to take a dip.
  Outside, on one of the high up floors, surrounded by skyscrapers, with views of the moon and stars, the blue light illuminated swimming pool was a wonderful place to cool down at night. Even if it rained, it was still nice to be in this pool in the sky, high above the busy city streets below.

Above, the illuminated pool at our hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

  This first couple of days was only our introduction to Malaysia. We would be travelling far out of the city to visit temples, towns, islands, the rainforest, and being a Muslim majority country, enormous Mosques.

Above, Penny, with umbrella to shelter from the warm rain, in the park between our hotel and the Petronas Towers. The park was always patrolled by police, and always felt safe to walk through day and night. Photo taken by me, November 2016.

Where we went next, what we saw, and what we got up to in wonderful Malaysia, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  I was born in Redruth in Cornwall in 1970. The Regal Cinema and Theatre – which is still open –  was a regular place to visit. I have memories of visiting there many times before we moved from Redruth to Pendeen in 1977. Some visits were to see stage shows, where I may or may not have even ventured onto the stage during performances. However, most of my memories of visiting the Regal are when I went to see films.
  I must have seen quite a few films there. I think every time I passed it I would try to get whoever was taking me around town to take me in to see a film. I remember my Grandmother Ruby would sometimes use the excuse that the cinema was only showing the news that day, which meant I wouldn’t want to go in.
  One film I do remember watching there was the 1976 film At the Earth’s Core. Based on the 1914 novel of the same name by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it starred Peter Cushing, Doug McClure, and Caroline Munro.

Above, Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, and Doug McClure, as Abner Perry, Pricess Dia, and David Innes, in the 1976 film At the Earth’s Core.

  I remember really liking the story of two explorers attempting to tunnel through a mountain and somehow managing to tunnel their way into the centre of the Earth to find a land of people enslaved by a race of prehistoric creatures.
  Peter Cushing was excellent as the Victorian scientist, Doug McClure great as the hero type, and Caroline Munro was lovely as the enslaved Princess Dia. Little did I know then, watching this film in the cinema, aged six, that many years later I would be meeting Caroline Munro at a Talking Pictures TV event. I even have a signed photo of her from when she appeared as Margiana in the 1973 film The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. We have met her again since, and she is always lovely.

Above, John Phillip Law, and Caroline Munro, as Captain Sinbad, and Margiana, in the 1973 film The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.

I didn’t see the Golden Voyage of Sinbad in the cinema – although I have seen it many times since on DVD –  but I did see Caroline in the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me starring Roger Moore as Bond in the cinema. When we met Caroline for the second time it was our son William’s birthday. As a gift, Caroline gave William a signed photo of her in The Spy Who Loved Me.
  When we moved to Pendeen in West Cornwall when I was almost seven, the nearest cinema was the Savoy in Penzance, which like the Regal, is still open. The Regal in Redruth was within walking distance from where we lived, but the Savoy was a car journey away from Pendeen. My parents bought and ran a very successful restaurant in the village. This meant that any cinema visits were now with my Grandmother Ruby on the bus.
  The first film I remember seeing there was the 1977 Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Like The Golden Voyage we have seen this film many times on DVD, but what I remember most about seeing it in the cinema in Penzance was that every time Jane Seymour appeared on the screen all of the young men in the audience loudly stamped their feet. This I have never experienced before or since in any cinema.

Above, Jane Seymour, as Princess Farah, in the 1977 film Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.

The next film I remember seeing there was the 1979 film Star Trek. I have never been a huge fan of Star Trek but wanted to see it as I was a huge fan of Star Wars. Having missed Star Wars in the cinema in 1977 I still collected the toys – which I still have – and had the story of the film on a vinyl album.
  It must have been in 1980, as the other film being shown with Star Trek – cinemas still often showed two films per screening back then – was the 1980 Battlestar Galactica Conquest of the Earth. This was made up of parts of the second series of the Battlestar Galactica TV show.
  I didn’t like the Star Trek film at all, but I loved the Battlestar Galactica one. Living in Cornwall, the Battlestar Galactica series was never shown on TV there. However, it was shown in London, and when staying in London for my first TV role as the lead in Thames TV’s schools’ programme The Shadow Cage, I did manage to see one episode.

Above, Richard Hatch, and Dirk Benedict, as Apollo, and Starbuck, in the 1978 series Battlestar Galactica.

  It wasn’t until a few years ago that Penny bought me both series of Battlestar Galactica on DVD, and for the first time I was able to watch every episode.
  Also in 1980, the second Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back was released. Having missed the first Star Wars film this was something I definitely wanted to see.
  My Grandmother Ruby helped run my parent’s restaurant, and so it wasn’t always easy for her to be able to have time to take me to the cinema. However, for this occasion she managed to get one weekday evening off. This would be our only chance of seeing it in the cinema. We caught the bus into Penzance and made our way to the Savoy Cinema. Usually we would just walk straight in and buy a ticket, but on this occasion there was a very long line of people waiting to get in. We waited, the line moved slowly, and just when it was about to be our turn we were told ‘Sorry, sold out’.

Above, Carrie Fisher, as Princess Leia, in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.

  I would have to wait to see the first, second, and third Star Wars films when they came on TV years later. That didn’t stop me collecting the toys, but I had to rely on other people who had seen the films to tell me what happened or just make up my own stories with the toys.
  I never wanted to see the prequels, and still haven’t seen them, but when The Force Awakens was released in 2015 we booked tickets to see it in Cardiff as soon as it was released. We did the same with The Last Jedi in 2017, The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, and also the two later prequels Rogue One in 2016, and Solo in 2018.

Above, Carrie Fisher, as Princess Leia, in the 1977 film Star Wars.

  I don’t think they quite match the wonder of the original three films, but seeing the Millennium Falcon, X Wings and Tie Fighters on the big screen for the first time was wonderful. For me, the one film of them that stands out as coming anywhere near the original Star Wars trilogy is Rogue One. Set just before the first Star Wars film, and ending where the original film begins was extremely well done. It matches very well, the cast is great, and the film overall reminds me a little of the 1965 war film The Heroes of Telemark starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris.

Above, Kirk Douglas, and Richard Harris, as Rolf, and Knut in the 1965 film The Heroes of Telemark.

 
In 1982 we moved to London so that I could attend Stage School. This gave me much more opportunity to visit cinemas, usually those in and around Leicester Square. I saw many great films on the big screen in London in the 1980s. What those films were, and my memories of London cinemas in the 1980s, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

Those of you familiar with Blackadder 1 will be aware of the attempts to marry Prince Edmund to the Spanish Infanta to try and put England on better terms with Spain. However, throughout much of  history, the two countries have often been not on the best of terms.

Above, Tim McInnerny, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, and Miriam Margolyes, as Percy, Prince Edmund, Don Speekingleesh, and the Spanish Infanta, in Blackadder 1.

During the time of Blackadder 2, Spain sent four Armadas against England.  The Armada of 1588 was defeated by the better tactics of the much smaller English fleet and by the weather they encountered in the North Sea.

Above, Miranda Richardson, as Queenie – Queen Elizabeth I – in Blackadder 2.

  The second in 1596 was sent partly in retaliation to the burning of the Spanish port of Cadiz during a raid by an English and Dutch fleet commanded by Charles Howard and Robert Devereux in June of that year. By the end of 1596 an Armada had been assembled, however, before it could even leave Spanish waters it was partly destroyed by severe weather. The surviving ships were forced to turn back without even sailing against England.
  The third Armada was sent the following year, but this too was scattered and partly destroyed by the weather. This Armada also had to return to Spain without actually engaging the English.
  The fourth Armada was sent in 1601. The Spanish landed troops in Ireland to fight the English there. However, the combined Spanish and Irish force was defeated again by a combination of English tactics and the weather. The surviving Spanish surrendered, and were allowed to sail home to Spain.

Above, another picture of Miranda Richardson, as Queenie – Queen Elizabeth I – this time looking happy, in Blackadder 2.

  Britain – England, Wales, and Scotland united as Great Britain from 1707 – was at war with Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession from 1701 to 1714. In 1704, as part of this war, Britain seized Gibraltar from the Spanish.
  During the time of Blackadder 3, Britain was at war with Napoleon. France invaded Spain, and made his brother King. This meant Spanish rebels joined the side of Britain, but the Spanish navy was on the side of France. When the combined fleets of France and Spain were defeated by Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, this marked the decline of Napoleon’s fortunes, the decline of the Empire of Spain, and the rise of the British Empire.

Above, Russell Crowe, as Captain Jack Aubrey, in the 2003 film Master and Commander, set during the Napoleonic Wars.

  Even in World War II, although Spain was officially on neither side, Britain knew that the Spanish were gathering information for the Germans. This however was something that Britain could use to their advantage, and many false bits of information were fed to the Germans via Spanish agents throughout the war.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, and Miriam Margolyes, as Prince Edmund, Don Speekingleesh, and the Spanish Infanta,  in Blackadder 1.

  So, even though Prince Edmund didn’t end up marrying the Spanish Infanta, things between England and Spain were set to become a bit stormy anyway, as was the weather, seemingly every time the Spanish sent an Armada against the smaller, but better led, English fleet.

 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Kuala Lumpur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur

For more on the Petronas Towers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_Towers

For more on the 1976 film At the Earth’s Core https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_the_Earth%27s_Core_(film)

For more on the 1973 film The Golden Voyage of Sinbad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Voyage_of_Sinbad

For more on the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spy_Who_Loved_Me_(film)

For more on the 1977 film Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinbad_and_the_Eye_of_the_Tiger

For more on the 1978 series Battlestar Galactica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica_(1978_TV_series)

For more on the 1980 series Battlestar Galactica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactica_1980

For more on the original Star Wars Trilogy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_original_trilogy

For more on the 2016 film Rogue One https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One

For more on the 1965 film The Heroes of Telemark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heroes_of_Telemark

For more on the Spanish Armada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada

For more on the War of the Spanish Succession https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Spanish_Succession

For more on the Battle of Trafalgar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar

For more on Admiral Lord Nelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson,_1st_Viscount_Nelson

For more on the 2003 film Master and Commander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_and_Commander:_The_Far_Side_of_the_World

Part 123, Young Snotty, the Degree, the Museum, and the Ceremony

Part 123

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Degree, the Museum, and the Ceremony


The My History Part

  It was March 2016. As I was nearing the end of studying for my History Degree I decided it was time to look for work where I could put those years of studying to good use.
  Museum work is generally extremely hard to get into, so I decided to look for volunteer work which may then lead to paid work. I found a museum which was situated underneath a prominent castle in Wales. As both Museum work and working in a castle interested me I applied and soon had an interview.
  The interview went well, and my studies, my time spent in the Territorial Army, and being an actor probably all added to me being offered a voluntary role at the military museum.
  After a visit to Cornwall I started my role as a volunteer. Almost all of the paid staff and other volunteers I got on well with. The director of the museum was great to work for, and the curator was easy to get along with. However, it turned out that there was one senior member of staff who I was not going to find it as easy to get along with.

Above, a photo taken of me in the castle grounds, at a later date, for an article for Wales Online where they describe how they discovered that a ‘Blackadder Star’ was working at the castle. The article was published in 2018.

Imagine if you were someone who worked in an office. There is often in such a place that you find that one member of staff that seems to spend more time walking around the office throwing their weight around and claiming they are working more than anyone else than the time they spend actually doing any work. It felt a little like this at times. It was difficult for me at first to understand why such a person would want to work in History and Heritage, but this was only a minor issue, and the only down side to the job. I soon learnt that most other people felt the same, and that this person was probably a major reason for the sometimes high turnover in staff.
  This would eventually lead to perhaps not the best of working conditions, but for now I was happy to be there, and the members of management who did like me outranked the person who didn’t. Most of the time it was an extremely enjoyable place to work, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I was given there.
  I had started working as a volunteer in mid March, by the end of April the museum director offered me a part time contract. I started my paid job at the museum in May, and only a matter of weeks later I was offered a full time contract. All was going well, for now.
  After a quick trip to Disneyland Paris, it was time to submit my final work for my degree. This was a long written piece on the adventurous individuals who helped shape empires. I did not need to do an exam this time as well, although Penny still had one for her studies.
  By July we got the news that Penny had passed her exam and I had been awarded a BA (hons) Degree in History.
  Work continued to go well at the museum – particularly if I could avoid that one member of staff – and I was soon put in charge of giving talks to the public on the historical use of swords within the British Army.
  Often I would also be found roaming the castle grounds in historic uniforms – a few other members of staff also did the same – and on certain days would stand guard outside the castle gates to attract visitors inside.

Above, Me dressed as a French WWI soldier, on guard outside the castle. It was decided to put me in a French uniform as although British soldiers were generally not allowed to have beards during WWI the French were allowed to.  October 2016.

  The museum itself was not large but was quite new, and had been laid out in an interesting, informative, and entertaining way. Spending long times underground did take a bit of getting used to, but the time spent giving talks – swords were not the only talks given, and other members of staff were in charge of some other talks – and time spent above ground in uniform often made the days go quickly.

Above, I still use a sword in some of my Talks. This is me dressed for one of my Highwaymen, Renegades and Rebels of the Georgian Era Talks, with replica flintlock and double-barrelled flintlock, and an actual Police Cutlass from the 1850s, July 2025.

  Being an actor I knew that talks needed to be entertaining as well as educational. Visitors to museums come to be entertained not lectured to, and this I encouraged others to remember. I even began referring to the talks as the ‘Shows’ to remind those giving them to add humour and stories to what they were telling people, and that they were ‘Performing’ their Shows rather than just ‘giving’ their talks.
  By October it was time for my Graduation Ceremony. This took place at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. This was our first visit there, but we have been many times since to see many shows there. Although modern, it is such a well designed and interesting building. It is a definite asset to Cardiff, to Wales, and to those who want to see World class performances without having to travel to London every time.

Above, part of the writing on the Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, at night, on a later visit. It is actually a quote by Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis which says in Welsh and English ‘In These Stones Horizons Sing’. The letters are actually windows which is why they appear to be lit up. Photo taken by me, November 2022.

  I hired the Graduation gown but bought the mortarboard cap which I still have. Penny and William were in the audience of relatives and friends of those graduating that day. I found my seat amongst the other History graduates, and waited my turn.

Above, Me, inside the Millennium Centre on my Graduation Day, in my Graduation Gown  – possibly not designed for wearing over a double-breasted wool suit –  and Mortarboard Cap held high. Photo taken by Penny, October 2016.

  A lot of the graduates had brought many friends and relatives to cheer them on as they made their way onto the Millennium Centre’s stage. When it came to my turn, and as my name was announced, I walked onto the stage. Although Penny and William were the only people I had there cheering for me, they were so loud and so effective that it sounded as though it was many people rather than only two. It was so loud that the university official handing me my scroll even commented to me on it. It was a very enjoyable day.

Above, the Writing Windows as seen from inside the Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, on a later visit. Photo taken by me, November 2022.

It was back to work at the museum a day or two later, but by November we were off on our travels again. This time it was the Far East we were heading to. Where we went, and what we got up to I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  Whilst in Malta in 2023, Penny and I would spend our evenings back at our hotel after long days out and about. Here we would watch TV, in particular a channel called Middle East Movies, at least I think that is what it was called.
  Despite the name, the films they showed appeared to all be English language films, mostly from the US. It was this channel that introduced us to a series of films that we had never thought we would want to watch but since seeing them in Malta we now watch them regularly, once a year, at about the same time of year we originally watched them in that hotel on the Mediterranean Coast.
  Those films were the four original Hunger Games films, adapted from the series of novels by Suzanne Collins. The channel showed the first two films –  The Hunger Games released in 2012, and Catching Fire released in 2013 – on one night and then the next night the other two films – Mockingjay Part 1 released in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 released in 2015. Despite our initial reluctance to see the films we began to watch the first one as at least it was in English. We loved it, and the others that followed, we were very surprised.

Above, Jennifer Lawrence, as Katniss Everdeen, in The Hunger Games, 2012.

  The films have a fantastic cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland.
  The stories are set in the future in a place called Panem, where food is in short supply for the many, while the few who live in the Capitol have almost all of the wealth and power. The Capitol is surrounded by 12 districts, each district having its separate function of providing the Capitol with its needs.
  In a supposed remembrance of a rebellion that took place against the Capitol, regular games are held, these are known as the Hunger Games. These games are a fight to the death where only one – or in some cases two – of those sent from one district survive and win. Each district sends two ‘Tributes’ to take part. These are chosen at random from all those aged between 12 and 18. It becomes quite clear for the viewer that these games are meant to keep the poorer districts in their place, to instil fear, and discourage any future rebellions against the oppression of the Capitol.

Above, Jennifer Lawrence, and Josh Hutcherson, as Katniss Everdeen, and Peeta Mellark, being forced to give a speech praising the Capitol, to an unconvinced crowd, in Catching Fire 2013.

  The lead character Katniss Everdeen – played by Jennifer Lawrence – volunteers to take her younger sister’s place when her name is chosen at random at the ‘Reaping’ – the choosing of the Tributes – and is sent to represent District 12 in the games along with fellow Tribute Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson.
  The role of the President of Panem – President Coriolanus Snow – was played by Donald Sutherland. Rather than being offered the role, Sutherland who had read the books wrote a very long impassioned letter to the director of the first film in the series Gary Ross. On reading the letter, Ross decided that Sutherland was the right actor for the role. Sutherland was a life long political activist. He believed that power was being taken from the people and held onto by the rich and powerful few. He believed that films like the Hunger Games could encourage people to become aware of the disappearance of their liberties, and act to regain and protect them.

Above, Donald Sutherland, as President Coriolanus Snow, The Hunger Games.

  We first watched these films in 2023. Since that year I believe the rights and freedoms of many people, including those in the West, have been deliberately and systematically stripped away by their governments. Many governments today, including those in the West, including those of the UK and the US, are more interested in serving the foreign powers and the billionaires who give them ‘donations’ than in serving their countries and their people. I believe that Donald Sutherland was right. It is easy to see which foreign power holds sway over our governments, even to the point of them being complicit in genocide. In this country even words are banned if the Prime Minister decides his own misinterpretation of them deems those words offensive. Those taking part in massive peaceful protests against genocide are labeled ‘Terrorists’, while those on the much smaller scale Far Right marches who openly call for violence against anyone who is not them is given protection. Even the behaviour of this country’s police has changed. It would be easy for someone to believe that the World is becoming more and more like living in the Hunger Games every day.

Above, Jennifer Lawrence, as Katniss Everdeen, in Mockingjay Part 1, 2014.

  In the Hunger Games series, Katniss Everdeen becomes a symbol of rebellion. People start to question and then refuse to obey the Capitol’s demands. The Mockingjay pin worn by Katniss has even become a real life symbol against oppression. If our Prime Minister finds out he will probably ban that too.
  Whether or not these films and the novels they came from reflect real life, encourage resistance, or are a warning about what the future of politics holds, these are very well written, directed, produced, and cast films. The locations are fantastic, and filming took place in various parts of the US, as well as France and Germany. The score by James Newton Howard is also excellent.

Above, Donald Sutherland, as Coriolanus Snow, in The Hunger Games.

  There are also two prequel films – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes released in 2020,  and Sunrise on the Reaping released in 2025. Although probably very good films, I have become less and less interested in prequels, and it has become less and less possible to visit a cinema and not see posters for prequels of some kind. I may well get around to seeing them at some point, but so far have not done so.  A live version of the Hunger Games has been performed at the purpose-built Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre in London since November 2025. It looks fantastic, but I can’t say much about it as I haven’t actually seen it yet. However, Penny and I are hoping to see it early next year – providing it is still running – and if we do then I will write about it in another Behind the Scenes Part.

Above, a poster for The Hunger Games live on stage, featuring the Mockingjay pin as worn by Katniss Everdeen, making it a symbol of resistance against oppression.

  I would highly recommend watching these films to anyone who has not done so, and if possible try and see the live version. Don’t be put off by the predominantly young cast of characters, there are plenty of older actors there too, and I would say that the films are not aimed at any particular age group. Also, if Donald Sutherland was right, and if the World is getting more and more like the Panem of the Hunger Games, then perhaps you should watch these films before you find yourself living in them.

In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about cinema visits of the past and about the films I managed to see and those I didn’t in the 1970s and 1980s. What those films were, and what those cinema visits were like, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 1 will be aware of the safety that living in a castle provides. However, castles in Medieval Britain were not always as safe as those inside thought they were.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Prince Edmund, in Blackadder 1.

  King Edward II was married to Isabella of France. Isabella was the daughter of the King of France, but she preferred the company of her friend Roger Mortimer to that of King Edward.
  Edward may not have minded too much as he preferred the company of his friend Hugh Despencer the Younger. Hugh Despencer gained Caerphilly Castle in Wales when he married Eleanor de Clare, Daughter of Gilbert de Clare in 1306. When Edward’s Wife Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer rebelled against the King, Edward decided to head to Caerphilly Castle to hide behind its large concentric walls – high defencive walls behind another set of high defence walls – and also to be with Hugh Despencer.

Above, inside the concentric walls of Caerphilly Castle, Wales. Photo taken by me, May 2026.

  Isabella and Mortimer wasted no time in tracking him down, and their army was soon marching towards Wales.
  Despite Caerphilly’s massive defences, Edward and Hugh Despencer decided to leave before Isabella and Mortimer’s army arrived. It is still debated why they should have wanted to leave the safety of such a well defended castle and also leave behind a great fortune rather than taking it with them.
  Edward and Despencer headed for Llantrisant Castle, but it wasn’t long before Isabella and Mortimer’s men captured them. They were captured near Llantrisant Castle on November 16, 1326  in a wood named Pant-y-Brad which means ‘The Hollow of Treason’ in Welsh.

Above, the story of Edward II and Hugh Despencer the Younger fleeing Caerphilly Castle is told inside the great hall, Caerphilly Castle. Photo taken by me, May 2026.

  Edward II and Isabella’s Son Edward III was crowned on the 1st of February 1327
Aged only 14, while Edward II was still alive but imprisoned. Later that year Edward II died, most likely murdered, and probably on the orders of Roger Mortimer. It is thought that Edward II was killed using a red hot poker, which meant that no bruises or wounds were easily visible, allowing Roger Mortimer to display the King’s body to show that as there were no visible wounds the King couldn’t possibly have been murdered by him.
As Edward III was so young, Isabella and Roger Mortimer acted as Regents. However, when Edward III turned 18 he decided it was time to rule on his own, and make his mother and Mortimer pay for what they had done to his father.

Above, another Regent, Hugh Laurie, as Prince George, in Blackadder 3.

  Isabella and Mortimer moved around from castle to castle, making it more difficult for Edward’s men to keep track of them. Isabella also insisted that she hold the keys of every castle they stayed in so that no one could enter unless she let them in.
On the 18th of October 1330, Edward’s men finally tracked them down to Nottingham Castle where they were spending the night. Although Isabella held the castle keys she didn’t know that there were hidden tunnels outside Nottingham Castle that led straight into the Castle itself.
Edward III’s men made their way through the tunnels – much like in a Robin Hood film –  and into Nottingham Castle, capturing both Isabella and Roger Mortimer.

Above, Sean Connery, as Robin Hood, in the 1976 film Robin and Marion.

These tunnels have since then been known as Mortimer’s Passage, which may or may not refer to what Roger Mortimer did to Edward II with the red hot poker.
Mortimer was executed, but Isabella was held captive and lived well in various castles in the style one would imagine the mother of a King to live. Edward still visited her and asked her advice on political decisions up until her death in 1358.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Prince Edmund, in Blackadder 1.

  So, when people are after you but you are safely behind the high walls of a castle, perhaps it is better to stay put, but remember, some castles may be easily accessible, and the people you want to keep out might just know a very convenient way in.


 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on the Wales Millennium Centre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_Millennium_Centre

For more on The Hunger Games film series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games_(franchise)

For more on The Hunger Games novels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games

For more on Jennifer Lawrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Lawrence

For more on Josh Hutcherson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hutcherson

For more on Donald Sutherland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Sutherland

For more on The Hunger Games live on stage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games:_On_Stage

For more on Edward II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_II

For more on Isabella of France https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_France

For more on Edward III https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_III

For more on Caerphilly Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caerphilly_Castle

Part 122, Young Snotty, Delays, Hotels, Closures, and the Bells of Whitechapel

Part 122

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, Delays, Hotels, Closures, and the Bells of Whitechapel

The My History Part

  It was June 2015. After three years of having to travel to West Wales to take exams for my History Degree, this year I had to write a long analysis on Renaissance Art. Our recent trip to Ghent helped with this, and I was able to visit, and photograph, paintings in the National Gallery in London as well. We still needed to make a visit to West Wales as although my analysis was submitted online – I remember the submitting of it was almost as difficult as the writing of it – Penny was taking an exam there.
  I am happy to say that we both passed, and awaited the start of the next courses in September. We spent the Summer working in the Church, which as always, gave us somewhere to go when our particularly debased neighbours were at their worst.
  After a visit to Cornwall in October, in November we headed to London. From here we would be heading to Paris and Disneyland Paris. We had used our Eurostar vouchers that we were given due to our delayed return from Ghent earlier in the year, but little did we know that this journey would be even more disrupted.

Above, William, Me and Penny on the Cliffs at Pendeen, Cornwall, on a later visit, March 2026.

  Our train from Cardiff left on time, but became delayed somewhere between the English border and London. We had booked tickets for the newly opened Shrek’s Adventure near Westminster Bridge. We were slightly concerned that as these were timed tickets we may not make it in time.
  We arrived in London, quite late, and headed straight for our hotel in King’s Cross to drop off our luggage. We then headed for Westminster. As we crossed Westminster Bridge, within sight of the Old County Hall Building where Shrek’s Adventure now was, we knew that we had arrived just in time to be allowed entrance.

Above, Old County Hall, London, at night. As well as two hotels, this building also houses attractions, including Shrek’s Adventure. London Eye is also situated here, as can be seen in this picture from a later visit. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  Shrek’s Adventure was extremely well done. Based on the Dreamworks films, the experience has a bit of a Disneyland type feel about it but is much more character based as most of the characters interact with the visitors. The actors were all well cast, the interaction was funny, the special effects were extremely good, and at the end as you get to pose for photos with Shrek himself you can also see exhibits from other Dreamworks films. To anyone who hasn’t done so, I definitely recommend visiting Shrek’s Adventure if you are a fan of the films.

Above, a poster for the 2001 Dreamworks film Shrek.

  We headed back to our hotel for a rest. Later, we went out to dinner. After that, we decided to stay in the hotel, knowing that we would have an early start the next day.
  We had just got our first smartphone. We didn’t know just how necessary it would be on this trip. We were watching TV when suddenly we began getting messages asking if we were already in Paris. We were then asked if we had seen the news. We hadn’t, but changed channels to see it.
  There had been two armed attacks in Paris that evening, both not far from where we were booked to stay the following night. There were reports of many people killed. It was a terrible attack, and on the sort of scale not usually expected in Western Europe.
  We tried to follow what was happening but as often happens we just kept hearing the same bits of news over and over again. Whilst wondering how and why such attacks happened, and thinking of those who lost their lives, I also began thinking of what we were to do next.
  Using our new smartphone I could see that Eurostar were offering to transfer people to different departure days. That seemed the best thing to do. The next morning, we walked the short distance from our hotel to St Pancras International Train Station and straight to the Eurostar office. We were able to change our departure to two days later. Staff told us that many things were closed in Paris, as was Disneyland Paris.

Above, the outside of St Pancras International Train Station, on a later visit. Photo taken by me, January 2022.

We hoped things may get back to normal, and the attackers would be apprehended by the time we reached Paris, but first we needed to find affordable accommodation for two extra nights in London.
  Using the smartphone we found a hotel in Covent Garden for that night. Between us checking out of the hotel we were in and checking in to the Covent Garden hotel I spent most of the time on the phone on hold whilst trying to speak to someone from Disney who could tell us what was happening. After hours on hold, it was time to get to our next hotel.

Above, Penny doing her best ‘Eliza Doolittle’ from My Fair Lady, outside the Actors’ Church Covent Garden, on a later visit. Photo taken by me, January 2023.

  We checked in, and I tried Disney again. It was still no use, and we decided to go out. We walked around Covent Garden where the Sylvia Young Theatre School had first been. It moved to a different location after I had been there for a couple of terms but I still knew the area a bit.
  We then walked around the outside of St Paul’s Cathedral, crossed the Millennium Bridge, spent some time sitting near Shakespeare’s Globe, and watched boats on the Thames.

Above, Me doing my best ‘Professor Higgins’ from My Fair Lady, outside the Actors’ Church Covent Garden, on a later visit. Photo taken by Penny, January 2023.

  When we returned to the hotel I was back on the phone to Disney. After some more time on hold I eventually got through to someone in Florida. I asked what the situation was in Disneyland Paris. I was told it was closed, they didn’t know when it would be reopening, and there would be no refund as the hotels and the shops and restaurants in the village were still open. This was not particularly satisfactory, but given the situation, and the loss of lives in Paris it was difficult to argue at the time.
  The next day we checked out of the hotel in Covent Garden and headed back to our original hotel in King’s Cross. After some more time spent walking around London we spent the evening in the hotel room again. The next day we headed for the Eurostar.
  I had managed to cancel the hotel in Paris without being charged. I had also arranged our taxi to pick us up from the train station in Paris and take us straight to Disneyland.
  It was strange being driven through Paris. Police were controlling the heavy traffic. Vans with the names of various news channels were parked all around. Once we left the city the roads were a lot clearer.
  When we arrived at Disneyland Paris we were met by Disney characters, doing their best to try and put a smile on the faces of visitors arriving to what they knew was a closed Disneyland. It was a strange feeling. It was nice to be there, you couldn’t help but smile at the characters, but you also couldn’t forget what had happened a couple of nights previously not that far away from where we now were.

Above, a poster advertising the Wild West themed Hotel Cheyenne. This was one of our regular hotels on our Disneyland Paris visits, and where we stayed in November, 2015.

  The Disney Village was open, and it was also quiet. That afternoon we walked around the shops, and ate dinner in a restaurant that on other visits was always too busy to go in. The next day we took the specially laid on transport to a nearby shopping centre, then in the evening it was back to the Village.
  As we were eating dinner, we noticed more and more visitors arriving. There were more police as well. Soon, the police were joined by soldiers. Something was definitely happening.
  When we got back to the hotel we were told that the parks would open the next day, and that the police and army were there as added security.

Above, a poster advertising Disney Village, Disneyland Paris. The closure of the parks for the first part of our visit in November 2015 did give us the opportunity to have a more detailed look around this area.

  It later turned out that although the French had closed all the borders straight after the attacks, the attackers had managed to go straight past the police, into Belgium, and then onto the Middle East. Isis had claimed the attack. This was an unusual attack for Isis. Almost all of the group’s previous victims had been Muslims. So much so that it has since been discussed many times whether Isis was an Islamist group at all. I have read reports claiming how an Isis commander captured in Tunisia was actually an Israeli Secret Service officer, and that Isis was thought up by them and the American Secret Service. We know that the anti government demonstrations earlier this year in Iran were orchestrated by Israel and the US, and that what even the Israeli government appear to claim and what I can only describe as the genocide being committed by Israel on the Palestinians and now also the Lebanese was made possible with US support and UK support. Therefore, it is not impossible to see why claims are made about Isis, a supposedly Islamist group whose victims are almost entirely Muslims is actually an Israeli and American invention. Whether this is true or not, and I am not saying that I know either way, the victims of those attacks in Paris in 2015 were those civilians just out and about on that evening, and the Muslims that live in Paris that were then subjected to suspicion, harassment, and extremely heavy policing in the days that followed.
  Disneyland Paris did open the next day. I don’t need to cover our time in Disneyland Paris in this blog as I have written about our visits there before.

Above, the outside of St Pancras International Train Station, at night, on a later visit. Photo taken by me, January 2022.

We arrived back in London, and from there back to Wales. After a day or two I sent an email to Disney. I told them that I understand why Disneyland had been closed, but that I didn’t feel it was right to be charged the same amount for a park that was only open half the time we were there. I also told them that as someone who had studied Walt Disney I was sure that Walt would also not think this was right. I received a reply a couple of days later where I was informed we would be refunded the amount for the days that the park was closed, and we were also offered a voucher for our next trip.
  Twice that year we had visited Disneyland, and both times – January and November – there had been armed attacks in Paris a day or two before our arrival. Eurostar handled things very well, and eventually, after sending an email, Disney handled it very well too.

  The next year would bring new travels, the end of my studying for my Degree, and a new role working in History. How studying went, what this new role was, and where we went, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  As most of you will know, London is used as a location for many films, and has been for a very long time. In more recent times, Dublin has sometimes been used for films set in Victorian London, and Cardiff sometimes stands in for films and TV series set in London in modern times. There are, however, some London landmarks where only the real thing will do. One such site is the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
  Often known to most people as Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament is actually called the Elizabeth Tower, named after Elizabeth II, while Big Ben actually refers to the great bell – one of five bells – inside the tower. The four smaller bells sound every 15 minutes, while Big Ben chimes the hour.

Above, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, at night. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  The clock tower features in many films, including the 1953 Disney animation Peter Pan. Another Disney film, this time a live-action, also features an important Big Ben scene. The 2018 Mary Poppins Returns – a sequel to the 1964 Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke – has a scene with a group of Leeries – Lamp Lighters – climbing the clock tower to alter the time.
  The scene includes Jack – played by Lin-Manuel Miranda – hanging off the clock face. Although many real locations were used around the city some London scenes were filmed at Shepperton Studios. This includes the Big Ben scenes where an exact copy of the clock face was built in the studios.

Above, Lin-Manuel Miranda, as Jack, in the 2018 film Mary Poppins Returns,  in a scene set on the clock face of Big Ben, filmed in Shepperton Studios.

  Another film that has a similar scene is the 2003 film Shanghai Knights, a sequel to the 2000 film Shanghai Noon, both films starring Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan.
  Both are very enjoyable action comedy films, but anyone who knows much history will probably be able to pick out the many historical inaccuracies in Shanghai Knights. Set in 1887, the film has Jack the Ripper making an appearance only to be killed straight away. In real life Jack the Ripper didn’t start committing his murders until 1888,  at least that is what Scotland Yard thought at the time, and certainly did not appear in newspaper headlines until 1888, but in Shanghai Knights a newspaper seller is heard to shout ‘Jack the Ripper strikes again’ a year before he was even heard of.
  Another inaccuracy is the character of Charlie Chaplin. Played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chaplin is depicted as being a young boy in 1887, while the real Charlie Chaplin wasn’t born until 1889.

Above, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as Charlie Chaplin as a child, in the 2003 film Shanghai Knights. The film is set in 1887, but the real Charlie Chaplin wasn’t born until 1889.

I will only mention one more of these inaccuracies, but others may find more. The detective from Scotland Yard who plays a major part in the film is named Arthur Conan Doyle. Played by Tom Fisher, Arthur gets the idea for writing stories featuring his famous creation Sherlock Holmes during the film. In reality, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was not a Scotland Yard detective but a doctor. However, the first Sherlock Holmes story – A Study in Scarlet – was first published in 1887, the year when the film was set.

Above, Tom Fisher, as Arthur Conan Doyle, in the 2003 film Shanghai Knights.

  The first time I remember a film where the ending action scene took place with someone hanging off the clock face of Big Ben was in the 1978 adaptation of John Buchan’s 1915 novel The 39 Steps.
  Here, the main character Richard Hannay – played by Robert Powell – is left hanging on to the hands of the clock whilst battling German agents inside the clock tower. These scenes were again filmed inside a studio, this time in Pinewood. I remember watching these scenes as a child, and have seen the film many times since.

Above, Robert Powell, as Richard Hannay, in the 1978 film The 39 Steps. These Big Ben scenes were shot in Pinewood Studios, but Powell still had to hang off the hands of the clock at quite a height.

There is also a shot almost right at the end of the film where Big Ben is shown in the background with the statue of Boudicca and her daughters in the foreground. This has been for quite a long time one of my favourite statues in London. I can’t say for sure, but it is quite possible that this is at least partly due to watching the 39 Steps as a child, and we still try and visit the statue every time we are in London.

Above, the statue of Boudicca and her daughters, Westminster Bridge, London, at night. One of my favourite statues in London. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  As I have already mentioned, the name Big Ben actually refers to the great bell inside the tower rather than to the tower itself. This bell was made at Whitechapel Foundry in London’s East End in 1858, ringing in Westminster for the first time on the 31st of May 1859.
  Whitechapel Foundry was operating as a business from at least 1570. It remained operating until its closure in 2017, and had been until then the oldest continually operating business in the UK. It has remained empty since being sold when it closed, but a campaign is underway to have it reopened and working as a bell foundry again.
  It was at Whitechapel Foundry that the Liberty Bell was cast in 1752. This bell famously cracked in the 1800s. Big Ben also cracked, this time only after two months of use. The Big Ben crack was thought to be due to the striking hammer being twice the size recommended for the size of bell.

Above, Whitechapel Foundry, London. Photo taken by me, January, 2026.

  So, sometimes only the real thing will do when wanting to feature London landmarks in a film, but when it comes to close up action then sometimes it is easier and safer to reconstruct things in a studio. Disney’s Peter Pan is a classic animation and still loved today, while Disney’s much more recent live-action Mary Poppins Returns is an extremely good match for the first Mary Poppins film of 1964. The setting works very well, the cast is extremely good, and the songs composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Scott Wittman fit very well with those written by the Sherman brothers for the 1964 film.
Shanghai Knights is a good action comedy film, as is Shanghai Noon. With at least as much comedy as there is action, it is easy to overlook the historic inaccuracies and just enjoy the film.
  There are a few big screen adaptations of the 39 Steps and at least one comedy stage play. The stage play is wonderful, and takes a lot of inspiration from the 1935 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Robert Donat, which is definitely worth watching. The 1959 film starring Kenneth More is also excellent, and the 2008 made for TV film starring Rupert-Penry Jones is also worth watching, as is the wonderful 1978 film starring Robert Powell.

Above, Robert Powell, as Richard Hannay, on the run in Scotland, in the 1978 film The 39 Steps. We used to live in Scotland in the areas where much of the action in the novel takes place.

  All of these adaptations are very different, and none are exactly the same as the novel, but all have something about them that makes them extremely good to watch, and one thing they all have is scenes set in some of London’s greatest sites.

In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about a series of books that became a series of films and has recently become a live stage production. What the books, films and live production are, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 3 will be aware of the lavish surroundings of the residence of Prince George. At the time of the Regency this would have been Carlton House. This building no longer exists as it was pulled down shortly after Prince George became King George IV. However, many buildings that were around during the Regency Era still stand in that part of London today.

Above, Hugh Laurie, Tony Robinson, and Rowan Atkinson, as Prince George, Baldrick, and Blackadder,  in Blackadder 3.

  What is now Buckingham Palace started as Buckingham House. This was built for the Duke of Buckingham. It was changed into the residence of Queen Charlotte by George III, and became known as Queen’s House. It was added to over the years, but when George IV’s brother William became King William IV he decided to live in Clarence House.
  When the UK Parliament burnt down in 1834 William even offered Buckingham Palace to become the new Houses of Parliament. The offer was declined, and the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt between the 1840s and 1850s. Therefore, Buckingham Palace existed during the Regency Period but not as the official residence of the Monarch, and the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt during the Victorian Era.

Above, the Houses of Parliament, at night, from across Westminster Bridge. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  Some shops that would have been familiar to those living in the Regency Era are still there today. Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly has been a Royal favourite since it opened in 1707, and the King and Queen still shop there.
  Just around the corner from there is Lock and Co Hatters. This company has been providing hats to Royals, politicians, and those who know a high end quality hat when they see it since 1676. Lock and Co has been selling hats from their shop in 6 St James’s Street since 1765. Before that their shop was just across the road from their current location, while 6 St James’s Street was a coffee shop which also sold chocolate. This was owned by George Lock, whose grandson James Lock later married the daughter of Robert Davies, a hatter. It was when James inherited the hatter business from his wife’s father that the business became Lock and Co Hatters, which later moved into the family coffee shop where it still is today.

Above, Me wearing my Lock and Co flatcap, Tantallon Castle, Scotland, September 2025.

  Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly was opened in 1819. Although too late to be of the Regency Era it is still old enough to be Georgian. It is considered to be the World’s first modern shopping mall, and is very much still in use today.
  Across the road from Burlington Arcade is Piccadilly Arcade. This arcade, which even has a statue of Regency Dandy Beau Brummell standing at the Jermyn Street entrance, also appears Georgian. However, although Beau Brummell lived nearby, and would have shopped in Piccadilly for attire suited to his well-known look, Piccadilly Arcade only opened in 1909.

Above, inside Piccadilly Arcade, London. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

Therefore, although many buildings from the Regency Era and before may no longer be standing in Piccadilly, many, including churches, still are, and some of the shops are still there too.

Above, Me and Penny, in a wet Piccadilly, January 2026.

So, if you want to shop like a Royal or a Regency Dandy then you can still do so. Even if you only want to look, a visit to Fortnum and Mason, or the excellent Lock and Co are well worth doing, as is a walk along Burlington Arcade, then cross the road to Piccadilly Arcade, and say hello to the statue of Beau Brummell.

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Shrek’s Adventure, London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DreamWorks_Tours:_Shrek%27s_Adventure!

For more on the 2001 Dreamworks film Shrek https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek

For more on the 1953 Disney animation film Peter Pan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_(1953_film)

For more on the 2018 Disney film Mary Poppins Returns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Poppins_Returns

For more on the 2003 film  Shanghai Knights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Knights

For more on Charlie Chaplin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

For more on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle

For more on the stage play The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(play)

For more on the 1935 film The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(1935_film)

For more on the 1959 film The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(1959_film)

For more on the 1978 film The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thirty_Nine_Steps_(1978_film)

For more on the 2008 TV film The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(2008_film)

For more on the 1915 novel The 39 Steps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thirty-Nine_Steps

For more on Whitechapel Bell Foundry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_Bell_Foundry

For more on Carlton House https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_House

For more on Fortnum and Mason https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortnum_%26_Mason

For more on Lock and Co Hatters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lock_%26_Co.

For more on Burlington Arcade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_Arcade

For more on Piccadilly Arcade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Arcade

For more on Beau Brummell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Brummell

Part 121, Young Snotty, the Castle, the Writer, and the City

Part 121

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Castle, the Writer, and the City


The My History Part

It was May 2015. We had enjoyed our visit to Ypres, and now we were on our way to another Belgian city.
  We pulled our luggage along the Medieval looking streets of Ypres to the train station, and after a short wait our train arrived. We got on, found seats, and soon we were travelling along on our way to Ghent.
  Like Ypres, Ghent is also in Flanders, and also like Ypres, the larger city of Ghent also has a largely Medieval feel to it. It is also the capital of East Flanders, and is Belgium’s third largest city.

Above, Penny and Me, in the city of Ghent. Photo taken by William, May 2015.

  One reason for visiting was to see the artwork in the cathedral. This was due to me studying Renaissance Art as part of my Degree. However, we were also there to experience the city, its parks, its canals, and not surprisingly its fantastic castle.

Above, the walls of Gravensteen Castle, Ghent. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  By the 14th Century, Ghent was an important and wealthy city. The cloth trade relied largely on the importing of wool from England and Scotland. This became difficult during the times when England and France were at war. By the 16th Century, Ghent had become less important for trade. However, this meant that much of the city remained untouched, and today the city centre still has its Medieval style buildings.

Above, a view of some of the buildings in the city of Ghent. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  We spent a lot of time walking around the city. The journey from our hotel to the centre of Ghent was a nice stroll, at first through parkland and then along the canals. Although our hotel was not that far from the city centre and the train station we didn’t realise that the window was left open in our room for the first couple of nights we were there, but we were not disturbed by any noise.
  As well as viewing the Renaissance Artwork in the cathedral and exploring the city on foot, we also had a cruise along some of the canals and the River Lys. This is quite a relaxing way to see the city, especially the busier parts of the city centre.

Above, a tour boat on the river, Ghent. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  The castle of Gravensteen, also known as the Castle of the Counts, is also found beside the waters of the Lys. This impressive fortress was built in the 12th Century, and for anyone like us who love castles, then a visit to Gravensteen is a must if you find yourself in Ghent.

Above, William, and Me, in the city of Ghent. Photo taken by Penny, May 2015.

  Originally fortified in around the year 1000, the first fortifications burnt down sometime in the 1170s. The current castle was built in 1180 by Count Philip. It is thought that the castle’s impressive design was inspired by the Crusader castles that the count saw whilst taking part in the Second Crusade in the Holy Land. As well as protecting the Count and the city, the castle was also built to intimidate any of the population who had any ideas about rebellion.

Above, the walls of Gravensteen Castle, as seen from the River Lys, Ghent. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  Later, when Gravensteen ceased to be the home to Counts, it was used as a court and a prison. In the 19th Century, when Ghent became an important site of manufacturing, the castle was even converted into a mill. It was even decided upon to demolish the magnificent fortress, but fortunately the city Council were able to acquire the site by purchasing bits at a time. They then set about restoring it to how it would have looked in the late 12th Century. The restoration took place between 1883 and 1907, and although some of the way parts of the castle look were only how the architects at the time imagined a Medieval castle would look, today Gravensteen still appears much as it must have done when Count Philip first built it.

Above, a doorway in Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, leading to the battlements. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  This was not the last time the castle would be used as a fortress though. In 1949, what became known as the ‘Battle of Gravensteen’ took place. 138 students stormed the castle, captured the one man guarding it, and locked him up in a cupboard. They then lowered the portcullis and took possession of the fortress.
  This was not an attempt at revolution but a protest at the new tax placed on the sale of beer. The students placed banners along the castle walls and refused to leave until the tax was revoked.
  When police arrived, the students kept them back by throwing rotten fruit at them. However, the rotten fruit couldn’t keep the police away for long, and soon they gained access to the castle and arrested all of the students.
  However, the public were on the side of the students, and pressure was put on the authorities to let them go. This resulted in none of the students being charged, but the tax on beer was still to remain.
  Ghent is a great place to visit. There are quiet parts such as the parks, but even the busier parts along the rivers and canals are great to walk around. A cruise along the river and canals is well worth doing for anyone who has the time, and a visit to Gravensteen Castle is a must. To anyone who hasn’t visited this part of Flanders I would highly recommend doing so if you get the chance.

Above, William, Penny and Me, in Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, May 2015.

  After three nights in Ghent it was back on the train to Brussels, and from there back on the Eurostar to London. I think this was one of the occasions where the Eurostar was delayed. This time, I think, it was due to British tourists buying souvenirs at a market. Farmers in this part of Belgium are often digging up things from the First World War. Some of these things are explosives, and may even still be active. What looks like a harmless relic of a long past war may turn out to be extremely dangerous. Once the ‘Souvenirs’ had been checked – and probably confiscated – the tourists were allowed to board and we were on our way.
  We arrived back in London just late enough to be offered a voucher for a free journey on the Eurostar at a later date. This was one Eurostar journey that we were quite happy to be delayed, and we used our vouchers later in the year, not that the next journey quite turned out the way we had expected.

What happened on our next trip in the November of 2015, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  One of the reasons for us visiting Edinburgh on our trip to Scotland a few months ago was to visit the Writers’ Museum. Scotland has produced some fantastic writers, and a definite favourite of mine is Robert Louis Stevenson, who was born in Edinburgh.
  Stevenson was born in 1850, and from 1857 the Stevenson family were living at 7 Heriot Row, where Robert lived until 1879.
  His parents were Thomas and Margaret Stevenson. Thomas was a lighthouse engineer, who came from a family of lighthouse engineers. Robert’s mother’s maiden name was Balfour, and this name would feature in one of his best known novels.

Above, Me, with the busts of  writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson, in the Writers Museum, Edinburgh. Photo taken by William, September 2025.

  Robert was often ill as a child, and by his early twenties he had decided against following his father to work on lighthouses, and informed his parents he intended to become a writer.

Above, Me, William, and Penny, outside Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home 7 Heriot Row, Edinburgh, September 2025.

  I knew of Stevenson’s novels many years before reading any of them. There have been so many adaptations of one of his best known novels Treasure Island – including the Muppet Treasure Island in 1996 – and the 1971 film Kidnapped starring Michael Caine and Lawrence Douglas has been a favourite of mine since I was a child.

Above, Kermit the Frog, as Captain Smollett, in the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island.

  Treasure Island is a wonderful adventure story, and a lot of what people think of when thinking what pirates were like is likely to be from what they know of this 1883 novel, even if they have only seen it on screen and have not actually read the book.
  I had read a collection of Robert Louis Stevenson’s short stories before, but Treasure Island was the first of his novels that I read. Much more recently, Penny gave me a copy of Stevenson’s 1886 novel Kidnapped. Here, the main character is named David Balfour, Stevenson using his mother’s maiden name for the character.

Above, Lawrence Douglas, and Michael Caine, as David Balfour, and Alan Breck, in the 1971 film Kidnapped.

  Any fan of the 1971 film of Kidnapped may have noticed that it states it is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novels Kidnapped and Catriona. I have to say that anyone who has seen the film before reading the book will feel that the book doesn’t tell the whole story, and therefore, a reading of Catriona is also necessary for the story to feel complete. I am happy to say that Penny has now given me a very old copy of Catriona which I will be starting very soon.

Above, my copy of Kidnapped, and my 1894 copy of Catriona, both given to me by Penny. Photo taken by me, March 2026.

  Catriona was published in 1893, and my copy is from 1894, which is also the year that Robert Louis Stevenson died. Born in Edinburgh, often sick as a child, Robert travelled as a young adult. He found the slightly warmer climate of Southern England better for his health, and Kidnapped was written while he was in Bournemouth.
  He also tried the warmer parts of Southern Europe, and America. When in France in 1877, he met an American woman named Fanny Osbourne – different spelling to mine, and therefore probably not a relative – who had a son and a daughter named Lloyd and Isobel  but was no longer with her husband.
  Fanny returned to America the following year, and Stevenson remained in Europe to do more writing. Fanny was always in his thoughts, and in 1879 he travelled as a second class passenger – partly to save money and partly for the experience – on a ship across the Atlantic. Arriving in New York, Stevenson then set about making his way across the country. Whilst doing so, his health became worse and worse, and he was very ill by the time he reached California.
  Fanny, now divorced, came and nursed Robert back to health. The following year they were married.
  The couple moved back to Britain. This was partly to be near Stevenson’s parents. Robert’s health again worsened, and when his father died in 1887, Robert moved his family – now including his widowed mother – back to America.

Above, Wonderful writer Robert Louis Stevenson.

  In 1888, Stevenson chartered a boat, and sailed around the Pacific Islands including the Hawaiian Islands where he became a friend of the King of Hawaii, and then onto Tahiti and Samoa. This voyage was partly due to Stevenson seeking warmer climates and sea air for his health, and also for the adventure.
  After also visiting Australia, Stevenson sailed to the Samoan port of Apia in 1889. By 1890, the Stevensons had set up a permanent home – named Vailima – in Samoa.
  He was well liked by the native Polynesians he lived amongst, and was known to them as Tusitala, meaning the Teller of Tales. It was Stevenson that the islanders went to when they needed someone to advise them on local disputes. Stevenson could also see the influence that rival foreign powers were having on the islands. British, German, and American battleships were often visible from the shore, and these same powers would back varying tribes in order to encourage fighting amongst the islanders.
The tribal system of Samoa reminded Robert of the clan system of Scotland. He began to deeply resent the outside influence on the Polynesians which was only in the interests of the foreign powers doing the influencing. As well as writing novels whilst living at Vailima, including The Master of Ballantrae and Catriona, Stevenson also wrote short stories based on things the natives had told him. He also began to campaign against the damage that foreign influence was having on the lives of the natives.
  On the 3rd of December 1894, whilst talking to Fanny in Vailima, Robert Louis Stevenson suddenly collapsed. A few hours later, Stevenson was dead.
  So loved by the Samoans, Stevenson’s body was surrounded and watched over through the night, guarded by islanders. The next morning his body was carried to Mount Vaea to a piece of land overlooking the ocean. It was here that Stevenson’s body was buried and where his remains still lie today.
  To anyone who loves tales of adventure I would highly recommend the novels of Robert Louis Stevenson, and I would also recommend the many screen adaptations of his novels, including the wonderful comedy The Wrong Box which has an amazing cast including Michael Caine, John Mills, Ralph Richardson, Nannette Newman, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Wilfred Lawson, Peter Sellers, and Tony Hancock. It is based on the novel of the same name co written by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne.

Above, Nannette Newman – who I once met –  and Michael Caine, as Julia Finsbury, and Michael Finsbury, in the wonderful 1966 comedy film The Wong Box.

  My favourite adventure story of Stevenson’s still most likely remains Kidnapped, and most likely will be Catriona as well once I have read it. The 1971 film always makes me feel like I want to be a Jacobite, clad in tartan, sword in hand, running through the heather of the Scottish Highlands, staying always at least one step ahead of the pursuing government redcoats. Whether or not it was the intention of the novel or even the film, it has always managed to inspire me to side with those who rebel, and siding with rebels is something that in modern times has become easier and easier to do when you see what we have governing us.

Above, Michael Caine, as Alan Breck, in the 1971 film Kidnapped.

  The writing of Robert Louis Stevenson is wonderful. His best known novels are most likely his wonderful adventures but he also wrote short stories, travelogues, and comedies. Weakened from a child by ill health, he still managed many real life adventures of his own. These travels took him from Scotland, across Europe, America, and finally to Samoa where his remains still lie.

Above, Fantastic writer, Robert Louis Stevenson.

  In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about a certain landmark in London that has featured in the closing scenes of several films. What that landmark is, what those films are, and some of the landmark’s history, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 1 will most likely be aware that as well as being a Prince, Edmund was also the Duke of Edinburgh. Well, Blackadder 1 is set in the late 1400s, and the first Duke of Edinburgh wasn’t around until 1726.
  Edinburgh was made the official capital of Scotland in the 1460s, a couple of decades before Blackadder 1 was set. However, the history of Edinburgh goes back much further.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Prince Edmund, in Blackadder 1.

  There was a Roman fort built within what is now Edinburgh, and evidence of settlements have been discovered that go back thousands of years before that. Another fortress was later built on Castle Rock, where Edinburgh Castle now stands. The native inhabitants were defeated by the Northumbrians, and from the 7th to the 10th Centuries it was ruled as part of the Kingdom of Northumbria.
  From the late 900s Edinburgh came under the control of the Scottish King, later coming under English control in the 1300s. By the 1400s, the city was once again under the control of the King of Scotland, and was where King James II, of Scotland not England, moved his Court in 1437. It was Scottish King James III who formally made Edinburgh the capital of Scotland in the 1460s.

Above, a view from above Princes Street Gardens, looking towards the Old City area of Edinburgh. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

  In 1603 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, he moved his court to London, but the city of Edinburgh still remained the capital of Scotland. In 1707 when the Act of Union came into force, the English and Scottish Parliaments became one. This new united Parliament only sat in London, and Scotland had no separate independent government again until 1999.
  Edinburgh today is known for its two main areas, the Old Town and New Town. The New Town is itself Georgian but the Old Town dates back to the Medieval Era. The New Town is wonderful to visit. It is where Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home at 7 Heriot Row is found, and there is also a statue of Pitt the Younger not far away.

Above, Me, with the statue of Pitt the Younger in the background,  Edinburgh, September 2025.

  The Old Town is magnificent. The many long sets of steps leading up towards Castle Hill are well worth the effort to climb.

Above, some of the steps leading up to Edinburgh’s Old Town. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

When you reach the top you are rewarded with views of the New Town, and the main street of the Old Town, the Royal Mile, is lined with historic buildings – many of them now shops – which lead the visitor all the way up to the impressive fortress that is Edinburgh Castle. Here a cannon is fired every day at 1PM, the sound of which can be heard echoing around the historic buildings of the city. A good place to hear the cannon being fired is in Princes Street Gardens, where you can also sit and rest after climbing up and down the steps to and from the Old Town.

Above, a view of Edinburgh Castle. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

  One of my favourite things about the Old Town is the many Closes, which are tunnel-like enclosed passages, Wynds which are narrow winding streets, and Courts, which are entrances to courtyards.

Above, one of the tunnel-like passageways in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

Walking in and out of these – some of which date back to Medieval Times – makes you feel as though you are on a film set, while you are actually walking on the same historic streets, climbing the same historic steps, and finding your way through the same Wynds, Closes, and Courts that people have done for hundreds of years. I even like to think when in Edinburgh that I may be walking the same areas that Alan Breck – real name Allan Breck Stewart – may have walked, hiding in the Closes and Wynds of the Old Town whilst evading being captured by redcoats.

Above, William, Me and Penny, with Edinburgh Castle in the background, September 2025.

  So if you visit Edinburgh, and walk around its wonderful streets, you may come across the statue of a quite fantastic Prime Minister from the era of Blackadder 3, and though there wasn’t actually a Duke of Edinburgh during the era of Blackadder 1, you will still be walking around a city whose history goes back much further than the time when Prince Edmund first became the Blackadder.


 
 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Ghent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent

For more on Gravensteen Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravensteen

For more on the Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writers%27_Museum

For more on Robert Louis Stevenson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevenson

For more on the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppet_Treasure_Island

For more on the 1971 film Kidnapped https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapped_(1971_film)

For more on Allan Breck Stewart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Breck_Stewart

For more on the 1966 film The Wrong Box https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrong_Box

For more on Edinburgh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh

Part 120, Young Snotty, On the Front Line, with the Producers, and the Dandy

Part 120

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, On the Front Line

The My History Part

  It was May, 2015, and following our quick visit to London we caught the Eurostar to Belgium. We had very much enjoyed our previous trip on the train to Bruges and Brussels, and this time we were visiting two other Belgian towns. First was Ypres – Ieper in Flemmish –  known to most British soldiers during WWI as Wipers.
  Ypres spent most of the Great War in the front line. There were five major battles near the town during WWI, and most of the buildings were at least partly destroyed during the fighting.

Above, the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  Today, anyone visiting Ypres would hardly be aware of any damage. The town was entirely rebuilt after the war to look as it had before the fighting, and today still resembles the Medieval town as it had done previously.
  Our hotel was right opposite the Cloth Hall, one of the major buildings of Ypres that had to be rebuilt. When we were there the town was getting ready for the Kattenstoet Parade. This parade commemorates the Medieval practice of the people of Ypres of throwing live cats from the top of the Cloth Hall tower, in the belief that the screams of the cats would frighten away demons. Thankfully, this modern commemoration only involves toy cats being thrown from the tower. Seating was going up in the square, and cat toys were on sale to tourists, but we were visiting a few days before the Kattenstoet, and didn’t have to take part in the commemoration of, what I couldn’t help thinking, was the Medieval animal cruelty of Ypres.

Above, the rebuilt but still Medieval looking Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  Most of the people visiting when we were there were British, and I expect for most of those the main reason for visiting Ypres was its connection to the Great War. As well as the great museum dedicated to WWI in the town, the main focus for commemorating those who lost their lives in the fighting is the Menin Gate.
The gate was opened in 1927, and carved into it are the names of over 54,000 British Empire troops whose remains were never identified. Every evening at 8PM the buglers of the local Fire Brigade perform the Last Post ceremony in memory of these men who died defending Ypres and were never found. This has happened every evening since 1928, except for the few years during WWII that Ypres was under Nazi occupation.
  We were in Ypres for two nights. The first night we watched the Last Post ceremony from a distance, but the second night we got there early, and were right in amongst the crowds.

Above, the busy crowds attending the evening ceremony performed by the buglers of the local Fire Brigade, the Menin Gate,Ypres, Belgium. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  Around the outside of the town walls there are peaceful walks. Whilst walking around you often come to statues and memorials to those who fought in the Great War. The large war cemeteries are some way outside of Ypres, but there are also some small war cemeteries on the edge of the town.

Above, the peaceful looking water just outside of Ypres, near the Menin Gate. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  We visited one of these smaller cemeteries, in a peaceful setting overlooking the water. Even in this small cemetery there were graves of people from all over the world who, as part of the British Empire, came to fight in defence of Ypres. Some of the war graves in Ypres contain the remains of Muslim soldiers. These are at a different angle to most of the graves as these graves of Muslim soldiers – mostly from what was then British India – are facing towards Mecca.

Above, the peaceful setting on the way to one of the small War Cemeteries on the edge of Ypres. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  British soldiers in Ypres had, for a time, something that probably helped them cope with life in the trenches. This was The Wipers Times, a newspaper first produced in 1916 in a print shop that had been partly destroyed during the fighting. The man who came up with the idea was Fred Roberts, a captain in the British Army.
  The paper was mostly filled with trench humour, and included fake advertisements, and poetry. As the soldiers who printed the paper were sent to different parts of the front the paper changed its name to where they were at the time. In 2013 the story of The Wipers Times was told in a made for TV film, and later was adapted as a stage play.        Even though for me, as far as World War I history goes, I have a greater interest in what took place in the Middle East at that time than I do in the fighting in Europe, I still do have an interest in places like Ypres, and anyone interested in the history of the Great War would very much like visiting this part of Flanders.
  Although most people visiting Ypres are most likely there for the WWI connection,  it is also a lovely town to visit anyway. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful, and as well as the large Flanders Great War Museum there are smaller ones within the town’s walls. It is also worth visiting for the Medieval feeling the town has, even though most of Ypres had to be rebuilt after WWI.

Above, some of the interesting buildings in the town of Ypres. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  For those with more time there are also many other WWI sites not far outside of Ypres. These include the larger War Cemeteries, battle sites, and trenches. As we were only in Ypres for two nights we kept our visit to the town itself, but even this is very much worth doing. The centre of the town is easily reached on foot if arriving by train, and the nightly ceremony at the Menin Gate is definitely worth seeing, and I would say it is something that is perhaps necessary to see if visiting Ypres.
  When our visit to Ypres had come to an end it was back on the train and on to the next Belgian town, this next one was larger and busier than Ypres but still with so much to see.

What that town was, and what we got up to there, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  I think I was first introduced to the 1967 film The Producers  – written and directed by Mel Brooks – in 1982. I had just started Stage School – the Sylvia Young Theatre School – near Covent Garden. One day when one of the teachers wasn’t there for some reason, the Geography teacher was asked to take their class. I can’t remember what the lesson was supposed to be about, but I do remember that the Geography teacher made it about the 1967 comedy film.
  The plot was explained to us, and then we were shown scenes from the film on the school’s video player. I think I was quite impressed with the idea of the film, and definitely wanted to see the entire thing.
  I am not always a fan of everything that Mel Brooks has done, but The Producers is definitely one of those times when he gets everything exactly right. When eventually I did get to see the entire film I thought it was fantastic.

Above, Gene Wilder, and Zero Mostel, as Leopold Bloom, and Max Bialystock, in the 1967 film The Producers.

  The main characters are a theatre producer named Max Bialystock and an accountant named Leopold Bloom. Max used to have Broadway hits but in more recent times the shows he has produced are not successes. When Leopold comes to check his books he mentions that a Broadway disaster could make more money than a hit. This would be done by fooling lots of investors to all fully fund the show, then when the show closes you keep all the money, each investor not realising that the show has been fully funded many times by many different investors. Leopold Bloom just mentions this in passing, but Max Bialystock thinks it is a wonderful idea, and persuades Bloom to become a producer with him. The two then go about finding the worst show they can, followed by the worst cast they can find and the worst director. However, things don’t quite turn out the way they expected.

Above, Zero Mostel, and Gene Wilder, as Max Bialystock, and Leopold Bloom, in the 1967 film The Producers.

  In 2001, Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan adapted The Producers into a stage musical. This too was a success, and in 2005 a film version was released. Max Bialystock who in the 1967 film had been played by Zero Mostel was played by Nathan Lane on stage, and Leopold Bloom who was played by Gene Wilder in the 1967 film was played by Matthew Broderick. Lane and Broderick also played the same roles in the 2005 film.

Above, Nathan Lane, and Matthew Broderick, as Max Bialystock, and Leopold Bloom, in the 2005 film musical The Producers.

  Having seen the original film quite a few times over the years, and then also seeing the film musical a few times, Penny and I recently got to see it on stage at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End.

Above, Our view of the stage from the Circle of the Garrick Theatre, London, waiting for the show to start. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  Here Max was played by Andy Nyman, and Leopold was played by Marc Antolin. They were both fantastic, as was the rest of the cast, and I think I should particularly mention Trevor Ashley who played Roger DeBris – also played wonderfully by Christopher Hewitt in the 1967 and Gary Beach in the 2005 films – who Bialystock and Bloom find to direct their show.

Above, Gary Beach, Roger Bart, Nathan Lane, and Matthew Broderick, as Roger DeBris, Carmen Ghia, Max Bialystock, and Leopold Bloom, in the 2005 film musical The Producers. Roger Bart is excellent in the role of Roger DeBris’ assistant Carmen. Penny and I saw Roger Bart three times on stage  as Doc Brown in the stage musical of Back to the Future.

  Watching the 1967 film many times from the age of 12, I always thought of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder as being perfect in their roles. When watching the 2005 film musical I was extremely pleased with the casting of Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, who then became for me the ideal people to play those roles in the musical.
  It is not an easy thing for any performer to follow such great performances as these. However, the cast we saw in  the West End were just right for this live show.

Above, Me and Penny, waiting for the show to start, the Garrick Theatre, London, January 2026.

  I think for humour the 1967 original film is probably the best, but the 2005 film musical isn’t far behind, and the songs are excellent. The stage musical is a very good match for the film, and I would highly recommend seeing it to anyone who is a fan of the work of Mel Brooks, the original film, or the 2005 film musical. It may mean even more to people that have been involved in the Theatre World but it is a fantastic show to see for anyone.

Above, a poster for the stage musical The Producers, Leicester Square, London. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  I am very grateful to that Geography teacher who stood in on that day in 1982, who decided that day’s lesson would be on the 1967 Mel Brooks comedy film. It introduced me to this wonderful comedy at a time when I was just starting out at stage school, and I thought it was wonderful. It is something that has stayed with me all these years, and it probably also taught me something about the workings of the theatre. I think I can say that despite what I say about Geography teachers as William Pitt the Younger, this is definitely a Geography teacher on which I wouldn’t impose ‘tougher sentences’.

In the next Behind the Scenes Part, I will be talking about the life of one of my favourite authors, who has written some of my favourite novels, some of which have been turned into films, including one of my favourite films set in Scotland. Who that author is, and how his life was just as adventurous as some of his novels, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 3 will be aware that William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister at a young age. He was actually 24 years old, so older than I was when I did Blackadder. When Pitt was in his third year of being Prime Minister, there was someone else well-known from the Georgian Era who was then starting school. That person was George Bryan Brummell, better known to most as Beau Brummell.

Above, Me, as William Pitt the Younger, in Blackadder 3.

Although in Blackadder I talk about standing ‘in the big, cold schoolroom, a hot crumpet burning my cheeks with shame’, Pitt the Younger was mostly schooled at home. This wasn’t the case for Beau Brummell who began his schooling at Eton at the age of seven.
  Many of the boys at Eton would have been King’s Scholars. These would have been from not so wealthy backgrounds, and were accommodated in the school building in one enormous dormitory. For others, like Beau, they were accommodated in private boarding houses.

Above, George Bryan Brummell,  known to most as Beau Brummell, in the early 19th Century.

  These boys from wealthier families – some of the boys had already inherited titles whilst still at school – were able to run up bills of credit with the many shops – and in some cases, public houses – of Eton and Windsor.
  Although we don’t know just how much Beau, who was often known as Buck Brummell to his friends at Eton, spent in these shops, we do have some idea of how much one of his Eton friends spent.
  A boy with the somewhat unusual name of Scrope Davies left some documents with his bank when he left England as an adult never to return. These documents were left sitting in the bank unlooked at until someone finally opened them in 1976, one hundred and fifty six years after Scrope Davies had left the country.
  Amongst these documents were some bills that had been run up at cloth merchants, tailors, and hatters while Scrope Davies was at Eton with Beau Brummell. They showed that in just one term at Eton, Scrope Davies spent what today would be the equivalent of around £5,000. This was mostly spent on clothes.
  We can see from this that not only did Eton school its boys in Latin, Greek, and the Classics, but also gave them free time to create their own distinctive wardrobes, at least for those whose parents could afford the large bills from the tailors and merchants.
  As we know, Beau Brummell grew up to become what was known as a Dandy, as did his friend Scrope Davies. Not only did both of these men create looks that others – including the Prince Regent – wanted to follow, they also both ended up leaving the country when the bills from tailors and merchants became a little too much to pay.

Above, Piccadilly, London. It is this area in which Beau Brummell lived, and also where the best of high end British tailors and hatters were based, and in some cases still are. Photo taken by me, January 2026.

  Beau Brummell was so influential in his fashion that his ideas of how a gentleman should dress are still an influence today. It could even be said that most well-dressed British gentlemen of today – there are still a few – still follow many of the wardrobe rules and looks that Beau Brummell and his Dandy friends made so fashionable during the Regency Era.

Above, Me, as William Pitt the Younger, in Blackadder 3.

So, not every Georgian schoolboy from a wealthy family ended up with ‘Crumpets burning’ his ‘cheeks with shame’, but some ended up having to leave the country when their tastes in fashion meant their tailors’ bills became too much for them to pay.

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Ypres https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypres

For more on Mel Brooks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks

For more on the 1967 film The Producers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(1967_film)

For more on Zero Mostel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Mostel

For more on Gene Wilder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Wilder

For more on the stage musical The Producers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(musical)

For more on Nathan Lane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

For more on Matthew Broderick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Broderick

For more in the 2005 film musical The Producers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_(2005_film)

For more on Roger Bart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Bart

For more on Beau Brummell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Brummell

For more on Scrope Davies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrope_Berdmore_Davies

Part 119, Young Snotty, Bad Neighbours, and Good Warhorses

Part 119

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, Bad Neighbours, and Good Warhorses

The My History Part

  It was January 2015. We had been in London for a couple of days, and were now about to head to Paris on the Eurostar. This was to visit both Paris and Disneyland Paris, but as I have covered both in several previous My History Parts I will just talk very briefly about Security.

Above, the outside of Sir John Soane’s House, London. One of the places we visited in London in January 2015 before heading to Paris. We only visited the outside in 2015, but this picture is from a later visit in 2022, when we actually did go inside. I had visited the inside of the house when I started school in London in 1982. This visit in 2022 was the first time I had returned since that first visit. Photo taken by me, June 2022.

  There had been an armed attack in Paris while we were in London. By the time we reached France it was all over. However, one might still expect a little more visible security to be put into place.
  In Disneyland this was definitely the case, with armed police at the park entrances and more placed at points around the outside of Disneyland. When leaving Paris on the Eurostar a few days later this was not the case.
  We had spent a couple of nights in the city after visiting Disneyland, and we turned up early to catch the Eurostar as we expected French Customs to conduct more stringent checks on luggage.
  Standing in line took no longer than usual, and when we reached the luggage scanner we could see why. The French Customs officers on duty paid no attention to the suitcases and bags being scanned at all. It seemed to us that they looked at each other while talking and laughing with not even a glance at what the scanner was showing. This is not at all what we expected, and this was not the only armed attack to take place in Paris that year, but that will be covered in a later blog.
  After a night in London we arrived back in Wales. It was now back to working in the Church, and to studying.
  Working in the Church also gave us an escape from our awful neighbours. It is seldom quiet in the valleys – if indeed it ever is – but our neighbours were just about as loud and as selfish as it would be possible to be.

Above, It would have been much nicer, quieter, and safer living next door to these characters than it was living next to our neighbours in the Valleys. Ade Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan, and Rik Mayall, as Vyvyan, Neil, Mike, and Rick, in the 1980s BBC sitcom The Young Ones.

  We had grown used to them having many visitors and taking up the entire street with their cars, most of which arrived and left blasting out music. We had also expected the many parties throughout the year when music was so loud the walls of our house would shake. We had also come to expect vomit outside the house as their intoxicated friends staggered away in the night, beer bottles left on our windowsill, rubbish thrown over the wall into our garden, and being stared at blankly by the open-mouthed and empty that frequented their house, but in the Easter of 2015 there was a new noise to contend with.
  It was the Easter weekend, and as we were sitting after breakfast we were suddenly aware of the entire house shaking, and a noise so loud it was not possible to be heard above it even if you were shouting.
  On venturing outside we could see why. To copy the neighbours on the other side, our awful neighbours had decided to have the front of their house made to match theirs. This included a man drilling into the front wall of the house to remove the old pointing.
  In doing this, the awful neighbours had tried to persuade the man to drill into our wall, presumably to try and make their house look bigger. After telling him, and then our neighbours that we would not allow this, the man drilling moved away from our wall, but this did not stop hours of drilling for several days afterwards, along with the huge amount of dust and mess that went with it.
  We couldn’t spend all that time in the Church, so we did have days out, which we enjoyed, even though we felt we were forced out of our own house on these days.
  Years later, we were eventually forced to leave the house altogether as the neighbours became even louder, even more selfish and empty, and eventually violent, but that is for a later blog to cover.
  Before the exams of the Summer, we decided to head off again on the Eurostar, this time to Belgium. The trip would begin in Ypres.

Above, a view of the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

As the town of Ypres is so linked to the First World War we decided that on our one night in London before catching the train to Belgium we would go and see the show Warhorse.

Above, a poster for the stage play Warhorse.

  Warhorse was first performed in 2007. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 book, Warhorse is described as a play, but it also has a lot of music in the performance. We had already seen the 2011 film directed and produced by Stephen Spielberg, which I didn’t think quite lived up to what people were saying about the stage show. Therefore, we were hoping for something quite special when we took our seats in the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s Drury Lane. We were not disappointed.

Above, the outside of the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane, London, advertising Warhorse. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  The life-size horse puppets made by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa were so realistic to look at, and so expertly moved around the stage by their puppeteers that you soon forgot that these weren’t real horses you were watching on stage.

Above, another poster for the play Warhorse, this one showing one of the life-size horse puppets.

  The cast were great, the music was excellent, the horses were fantastic to watch, and the entire show was inspiring and emotional.

Above, Me and Penny, outside the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane, London, about to go in and see the play Warhorse. Photo taken by William, May 2015.

  We are all aware of the hardships and loss of life of humans during wars, but Warhorse reminds us of the suffering of animals too, both in the historic sense and in the present as animals still suffer and die alongside humans in the many conflicts of today.

Above, a working donkey amongst the rubble, Palestine, 2025, with a poster advertising the charity Safe Haven 4 Donkeys which helps sick and injured animals. Photo from Safe Haven 4 Donkeys.

The film is fine, but doesn’t come anywhere near matching the experience of seeing the stage show.

Above, a view of the Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium, at night. Photo taken by me, May 2015.

  The next day it was on the Eurostar and off to Belgium. What we got up to at our first destination there, and what we saw, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  Penny and I have many favourite Turkish TV series. I could have chosen to write about Magnificent Century – Muhtesem Yuzyil – starring Halit Ergenc as Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and Meryem Uzerli as Hurem Sultan, Abdulhamid starring Bulent Inal as Sultan Abdulhamid II, or Saladin starring Uger Gunes in the title role, but by far our favourite Turkish TV series is Dirilis Ertugrul starring Engin Altan Duzyatan, and produced by Mehmet Bozdag.

Above, Halit Ergenc, and Meryem Uzerli, as Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and Hurem Sultan in Turkish TV series Magnificent Century, 2011 to 2014.

  We were fortunate enough to visit the set of Dirilis Ertugrul at Bozdag Studios in Turkiye for a behind the scenes look at the sets, and that visit is what I shall be talking about in this Behind the Scenes Part.

Above, Bulent Inal, as Sultan Abdulhamid II, in Turkish TV series Abdulhamid, 2017 to 2021.

  Dirilis Ertugrul finished filming in 2019, but as the same sets were also used for Kurulus Osman telling the story of Ertugrul’s son, and still in use for Kurulus Orhan focusing on Osman’s son almost all of the sets were still in place.

Above, Uger Gunes, as a young Saladin – Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub – in the Turkish and Pakistani TV series Saladin, 2023 to 2025.

  Ertugrul, Osman and Orhan are all real historical characters of great importance in the history of Turkiye. It was Ertugrul who united the Turkish tribes, Osman who led what would become the Ottoman Empire – which is why he is known as Sultan Osman I – and Orhan who expanded and strengthened the Empire.

Above, Engin Altan Duzyatan, as Ertugrul Bey, in the Turkish TV series Dirilis Ertugrul, 2014 to 2019.

  It was an interesting journey from Istanbul to the studios on the edge of the Black Sea on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, but the site of the huge sets of these three major Turkish TV series as we entered the site was amazing.

Above, Penny and Me, amongst the tents of Ertugrul’s Kayi Tribe, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye, 2025.

It covers such a vast area, and includes the tribal tents of the three series as well as Byzantine castles and towns, and a palace that in Dirilis Ertugrul was used as the home of the Seljuk Turkish Sultans and has now been transformed into part of the set of a new series of The Arabian Nights.

Above, the realistic looking walls of the set of  a Byzantine castle, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  Walking around the Ertugrul set was definitely a highlight of the visit, but seeing the Osman set was also fantastic. Orhan was very new, and was still in production. One of the sets was being kept secret and we weren’t allowed to see it from the front. We did however get a good look at it from behind. We were told that there was a  surprise in the scene that first shows this set, and no one who is not working on that episode is allowed to see it until it has been aired. That night when we returned to our hotel in Istanbul we turned on the TV to find episode one of Orhan was being aired, and that set was shown in one of the scenes.

Above, the side that is not seen on screen of a castle set used in the Turkish TV series Kurulus Orhan, Bozdag Studios. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  The tribal tents are about as real as could be, but we had expected that the castle sets wouldn’t look real when up close. This is not the case. If you knock on the stones of the buildings you can just about tell they are not real stone, but the structures are strong enough to walk on, climb on, and for many of the actors in many of the scenes, also fight on.

Above, inside the realistic looking set of a Byzantine castle, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  They are most likely the most real looking sets I have ever had the fortune to step onto.
  One of the larger tribal tents which was last used in Kurulus Osman has now been turned into a small museum. This museum displays the costumes, weapons, and props used by the main cast in the series, which you walk around looking at as the main title music is being played, making you feel very much a part of it all.

Above, the set of tents, last used as a set for Kurulus Osman, now turned into a studio museum. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  There is also a very good restaurant on site that serves traditional Turkish dishes. This we had, and enjoyed, including the traditional sherbet drink.
There is even a theatre tent where at times shows are put on displaying some of the horse riding skills of the stunt performers in the series. This was definitely worth seeing, and again was accompanied with music from the series.

Above, one of the entrances to one of the Kayi Tribe tents, used in Kurulus Osman. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  Something we were surprised to find was that at the furthest point of the Ertugrul tribal set were two tents that were used as the studio Mosques, one for women – which I almost walked into – and one for men. This was something unexpected, but as a person of Faith, I was very pleased to find that the studios had thought of providing these spaces.

Above, inside one of the Kayi Tribe tents, on the set of Dirilis Ertugrul, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye. The inside of the Mosque tents were a little different to this one. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  Turkiye is a very special place to Penny and I, and these series are something we watch a lot. As I have said – probably many times – before, I have a love of the Middle East, and of the history of this part of the World. I have had a long interest in Ottoman History, but it wasn’t until watching Dirilis Ertugrul that I was really aware of the early origins of what would become the Ottoman Empire.

Above, Penny on a bridge used in Kurulus Osman, leading to the Kayi Tribe set, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye. Photo taken by me, 2025.

  Turkish film and TV has in recent years become amongst the best – I would say ‘The’ best – that any country has to offer. This is particularly true in their historical series, of which there are many. The writing, casting, acting, direction, and production are all excellent, and I even love the music from these series. Having visited the sets at Bozdag Studios I also have to say what a fantastic job the set designers and those who build the sets have done. From realistic tribal villages that you can walk around to castles and palaces that,  even when inside them, seem so real it is almost impossible to remember that they aren’t really centuries old. It was truly wonderful to set foot on, walk around, and take a behind the scenes look at these amazing sets of these fantastic series at Bozdag Studios.

Above, Me, sitting on a Byzantine throne, on the set of Kurulus Osman, Bozdag Studios, Turkiye, 2025.

  If anyone who is interested in historically set series with plenty of action, then I would highly recommend watching any of the series I have mentioned in this Behind the Scenes Part to anyone who gets the chance.

  In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about a comedy film from the 1960s, that later became a stage and film musical. What that film is and what it was like recently watching the stage musical, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 4 will be aware of how much of World War I in Europe meant fighting against the Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a huge part of which was done in the trenches.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Captain Blackadder, in Blackadder 4.

In the Middle East, it was the Ottoman Empire that Britain was fighting. When the Ottoman Empire surrendered, then much of the former Ottoman territory came under control of the British and French.
  If we go back to the times of Blackadder 3, Britain’s links with the Ottomans was mostly about trade, but also supporting the Ottomans against Russian ideas of encroaching on Ottoman territories, and keeping French influence out of Ottoman politics.

Above, Hugh Laurie, as Prince George, in Blackadder 3.

  If we go back even further to the times of Blackadder 2, Elizabeth I – Queenie – made very strong links with the Ottomans. She saw not only the value in trading with the Ottomans but also offering military assistance if it should ever be required. This was largely due to both Protestant England and the Muslim Ottoman Empire seeing Catholic Spain as a threat. Elizabeth I even wrote letters to Sultan Murad III where she signed herself as Sultana rather than Queen.
  Catholic countries were forbidden from trading with the Islamic Ottomans, but Protestant England could trade with whoever they wanted. Elizabethan England supplied the Ottomans with materials for use in war. In return, the Ottomans traded luxury goods, and sent Queenie lavish gifts.

Above, Miranda Richardson, as Queenie  – Elizabeth I – in Blackadder 2.

  From this time and right up to the Edwardian Era, Britain had very strong links with the Ottomans. However, as British policy became less like a friend helping the Ottoman Empire and more like someone taking over parts of Ottoman Territory – such as Egypt and Sudan – the influence of Germany became an important part of Ottoman foreign relations.
  This led to the Ottoman Empire joining World War I on the side of Germany, which meant the Ottoman and British Empires were fighting each other.
  T E Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia – thought that he was helping fight for Arab independence, but when the Ottomans surrendered, rather than independence, control of much of its territories went to Britain and France, and policies were put into place which are still costing lives today.

Above, T E Lawrence  – Lawrence of Arabia – in Arab dress, during his time in the Middle East where he believed he was fighting for Arab independence. Lawrence had no idea of the plans that British and French politicians had made regarding the future of the Middle East. If he had, I believe he would have opposed those plans.

When most of the Middle East was run by the Ottoman Empire, that part of the World was stable, secure, and mostly peaceful. Since we went and ‘helped’ after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, much of the Middle East has hardly seen any peace, security, or political stability. It could be said that it is similar to the ‘help’ that the UK and the US gave Iraq and Afghanistan in the early part of this century. If asked the question ‘and are those places better off for it?’ I think even Baldrick might be able to work out that the right answer is most likely ‘probably not’.

Above, Tony Robinson, as Baldrick, in Blackadder 4.

If only more politicians could look at what effect their short term policies will have later on, and if more of them would do what is right for their countries and for the World instead of gaining personal wealth and clinging to power, then not just the Middle East, but the World would be a much safer, and peaceful place.


 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more about Sir John Soane’s House https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane’s_Museum

For more about the 1980s BBC sitcom The Young Ones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_Ones_(TV_series)

For more about the 2011 film Warhorse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Horse_(film)

For more about the stage play Warhorse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Horse_(play)

For more about Ypres https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypres

For more on the charity Safe Haven 4 Donkeys https://www.safehaven4donkeys.org/about-us/?_gl=1*sw70zs*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA7LzLBhAgEiwAjMWzCPM2VARSKvDePAmr0D4cDUh_muEiKWQzlQdsc_8Yc_qAWueZJui8lRoCsvwQAvD_BwE

For more on Turkish TV series Magnificent Century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhte%C5%9Fem_Y%C3%BCzy%C4%B1l

For more on Turkish TV series Abdulhamid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payitaht:_Abd%C3%BClhamid

For more on Turkish and Pakistani TV series Saladin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kud%C3%BCs_Fatihi_Selahaddin_Eyyubi

For more on Turkish TV series Dirilis Ertugrul  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirili%C5%9F:_Ertu%C4%9Frul

For more on Turkish TV series Kurulus Osman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurulu%C5%9F:_Osman

For more on Turkish TV series Kurulus Orhan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurulu%C5%9F:_Orhan

For more on T E Lawrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence

Part 118, Young Snotty, Foundlings, Holmes, the Theatre, and the Author’s House

Part 118

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Please visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for more details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, Foundlings, Holmes, the Theatre, and the Author’s House

The My History Part

  It was January 2015. We were due to be visiting Disneyland Paris, but had a few nights in London on the way.
  It was quite cold, but we decided to do as much of London on foot as possible. This was partly to save money by using the Underground less and partly to see more of London by staying above ground.
  One of our first stops was the Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square. The museum is housed in a building dating from the 1930s on the site where the Foundling Hospital once stood, opened by Thomas Coram in 1739, after years of campaigning to help poor children.

Above, one of the displays inside the Foundling Museum, London. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  The original building was torn down in the 1920s when the hospital moved further out of London, but the newer building – built in the 1930s – which now stands in its place does include some of the original building’s features, and it has much more of a Georgian feel to it than a 1930s constructed building.
  It is a large museum with many displays. One extremely memorable display is the one showing the small objects left by the mothers of the children who were being handed over to the hospital – or left on the steps to be found, which is why they were known as Foundlings – when they found themselves unable to look after them. These were left so that the hospital could identify the mother and reunite her with her child should she ever return to collect them. However, for so many of these Foundling children, the small things left with them by their mothers were the only thing they knew about them.
  The hospital had many well-known people supporting it, including composer George Frideric Handel, and artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. Examples of the work of both of these men – and other supporters – are displayed throughout the museum. For anyone interested in Georgian History, I would highly recommend a visit to the Foundling Museum if you get the opportunity. Not only is it a wonderful building with excellent collections, but you would also be supporting the work of the museum and helping it continue to tell the story of this important piece of Georgian history.

Above, one of the rooms inside the Foundling Museum, London. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  Our next stop was the Museum of London. This was a wonderful museum to visit, and one that we have visited a few times. I say ‘was’ as it has moved from its original building and reopened somewhere else, and although I am sure it is still just as good, we have not visited it since it has moved locations.
  We usually visited to see the excellent displays charting the history of London from pre Roman times to the modern day, but this time we were there to visit one of its temporary exhibitions.
  This was dedicated to Sherlock Holmes, and the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As quite a Sherlock Holmes fan, and fan of the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – as are Penny and William – this was an exhibition we really didn’t want to miss as we happened to be in London at the same time it was on.
  It told the story of London at the time the books were set, of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and much of the stories in the books themselves. The displays were extremely good, and very worth seeing.
  Next it was past St Paul’s Cathedral, over the Thames, and into the Globe Theatre. We had visited the outside before of the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s theatre, but this time, we were having a tour of the inside.

Above, one of the displays of costumes, Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  The original Globe Theatre was built in 1599, burnt down in 1613, and was rebuilt in 1614.
  It was closed down – along with all other theatres – by the Puritans in 1642. When Charles II came to the throne in 1660 and theatres were once again allowed to open it was too late for the Globe which had been pulled down sometime after closing.

Above, another of the displays showing costumes, Shakespeare’s Globe, London. These show women’s costumes, but in performances in the Elizabethan Era the roles of women were supposed to be played by male actors. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  This new Globe Theatre – or Shakespeare’s Globe as it is known – was opened in the 1990s, largely due to the campaigning of actor Sam Wanamaker who fought for over 20 years for the reconstruction of the original 1599 theatre to be built. Sadly, Sam Wanamaker died a few years before the opening of Shakespeare’s Globe, but the theatre he fought to have built still puts on performances and attracts many visitors throughout the year.

Above, a view of the seating area, Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  Going inside the Globe it did feel as though you were in an Elizabethan structure rather than a late 20th Century building. I think Sam Wanamaker would be very pleased to see how it all turned out, and if anyone gets the chance to visit Shakespeare’s Globe then I would highly recommend doing so, and whether it is to see a play being performed or on a guided tour, while you look around and think back to the days of William Shakespeare, you should also remember Sam Wanamaker, whose perseverance made the building of this reconstruction possible.

Above, a view of the stage, Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Photo taken by me, January 2015.

  Another stop was the Charles Dickens Museum which is in his former home in Doughty Street. This was our first visit, but in more recent years, Penny and I have visited this particular museum more regularly. This is due to our being members of the Dickens Fellowship, which gives us free access to this wonderful place.

Above, Me and Penny, inside the Dickens Museum, London, January 2025.

  I have written about the Dickens Museum in previous blogs, so I won’t say too much about it this time other than it is a wonderful place to visit. It is set up as near as possible to how it must have looked when Charles Dickens lived there, and many of the artifacts and pieces of furniture on display are those once used by Dickens himself.

Above, Me, with Dickens’ reading table he designed himself for use during his public readings, the Dickens Museum, London. Photo taken by Penny, January 2025.

During  November and December I usually end up talking about Dickens quite a lot. This is due to most of my Talks at this time of year usually being my Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Talks.

Above, Me performing one of my recent Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Talks. Photo taken by Penny, December 2025.

It is fantastic to be able to regularly visit the museum, walk around his former home, and see things like the writing desk he actually used, the table he designed to take with him when performing public readings of his novels, and the things associated with his life and his work. For any fan of Dickens, the Charles Dickens Museum in Doughty Street is definitely worth a visit, and remember, if you become a member of the Dickens Fellowship then entry is free.
  Whilst visiting London, we were aware of things happening in France, especially as we would soon be heading to Paris. What these events were that were taking place, and where we headed next in 2015, I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  This Behind the Scenes Part will be a little different from most others as this time I will be talking about something that happens at a well-known Palace at this time of year. That palace is Blenheim, and Penny and I have visited there regularly for the past few years.
  Built between 1705 and 1722, Blenheim Palace is home to the Duke of Marlborough, and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
  Blenheim, which is open to the public, has for a few years now been decorating a part of its vast grounds with spectacular light trails for Christmas. The palace itself has also been decorated, with a different theme each year, from November up to the New Year.

Above, Me and Penny, arriving for the first time at Blenheim Palace, November 2022.

  We have also visited Blenheim at other times but it is the Christmas decorations and light trails we have mostly been to. Our first visit was in the November of 2022, the theme that year being The Kingdom of the Snow Queen.
  It was wonderful seeing the palace so highly decorated and themed but still able to see the real palace decoration behind it all. At the end the library was transformed into the Snow Queen’s Palace. Even the floor looked and sounded like real snow as you stepped on it. At the far end was the Snow Queen herself. She asked me if I was Royalty too, seeing as I was dressed the way I usually am. When I replied with removing my hat and bowing she sat on her icy throne and kindly posed for photos. We were quite impressed with our visit to the inside of the palace.

Above, the Snow Queen, on her icy throne, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2022.

  There is a lot more to see at Blenheim. There are stables – although it took us a couple of years to discover these – a Churchill Museum, and fabulous grounds. During November and December there is also a Christmas Market.
  The village of Woodstock is just a short stroll from one of the palace gates. Here there is a museum, a couple of Charity Shops, and a small supermarket for those like us who find the food available at the Christmas Market a little too pricey for Lunch.

Blenheim Palace, lit up at night, as we made our way to the start of the Light Trail. Photo taken by me, November 2022.

  As soon as it was dark the light trail was opened. Tickets for both the palace and the light trail are timed, so you never feel too overcrowded. We had walked part of the trail in the daylight but seeing it all lit up in the darkness was amazing. We knew then we would be returning.

Above, part of the Light Trail, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2022.

  The following year was themed as Sleeping Beauty. The theming and decoration was just as good as the previous year, and just as we had met the Snow Queen the year before, this time we got to meet Sleeping Beauty.

Above, Penny, with Sleeping Beauty, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2023.

  The light trail was just as extensive as the year before but covering a slightly different route. They were just as fantastic as they were on our first visit.

Above, Me and Penny, on the Light Trail, Blenheim Palace, November 2023.

  2024 was themed as Peter Pan. This was possibly the best themed so far, but they are all wonderful.

Above, the Peter Pan theming at the entrance, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2024.

It wasn’t Peter we got to meet at the end but Captain Hook, with most of the library taken up with his pirate ship. He asked me if I had ever considered becoming a pirate, to which I replied ‘Yes, I often have’, which led to Hook posing for photos.

Above, Captain Hook, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2024.

  2025 was themed as The Land of Oz. Still fantastic but Penny and I both felt there was perhaps slightly less theming this year, and maybe a little too much reliance on the use of pre-recorded videos.

Above, one of the Land of Oz themed rooms, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2025.

Don’t let this put you off if you are considering visiting, as it was still excellent, and we got to meet lovely Dorothy at the end.

Above, Dorothy talking to visitors, Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by me, November 2025.

  The light trail was as good as ever, and for the first time you could even try skating at the Christmas Market. Penny and I didn’t try it, but we did take time to watch others skating, some good, some mostly falling over, but all good to watch.

Above, Me and Penny on the Light Trail, Blenheim Palace, November 2025.

  Something introduced in 2025 as well is the opening of a new Life Below Stairs exhibition. This we first visited in the Summer, and it takes you to the servants’ areas and the kitchens. It is well worth a visit.
  Another new – but temporary – addition was the viewing platform high up above the scaffolding which is for a time covering the front of the palace. While restoration work is taking place, visitors are able to climb to the top of the works for fantastic views of the grounds. On the way up, you can also stop to take a closer look at the detailed decoration on the outside of the palace. It’s these decorations that in some areas are being renovated.

Above, Me, emerging from a carriage, the stables at Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by Penny, November 2024.

  As members of Cadw we get free access to not only the historic sites run by Cadw in Wales but also to other UK heritage sites such as those run by English Heritage and Historic Scotland. This means that we don’t often visit other sites that we have to pay for. Blenheim Palace is an exception however, and as the tickets can be exchanged for annual passes for free it means you can visit any time during the year. This is when we have visited during the Summer. Visiting outside of November and December means you get to see the palace as it usually is, without the lights, the decorations and the theming.
  To anyone who hasn’t done so I would highly recommend visiting Blenheim Palace if you get the chance, particularly for the Christmas themes and the light trails, but also at other times. There is a lot to see, the grounds are huge, and a visit to nearby Woodstock village is also worth doing.

Above, Me sitting on an ornate chair – or is it a throne? – in Blenheim Palace. Photo taken by Penny, November 2025.

In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about visiting the sets of some of our favourite Turkish TV series. What these series are, and what it is like on their fantastic sets, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 1 will be aware of the large amount of feasting that sometimes took place. However, although most people will now have a turkey for Christmas Dinner, what would they have eaten in the times when Blackadder 1 was set?

Above, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, and Rowan Atkinson, as Percy, Baldrick, and Prince Edmund, in Blackadder 1.

  In Medieval England, most people who could afford it ate pork for Christmas Dinner. Much of this would often be distributed to the poor once the wealthy had eaten the cuts that they had wanted.
  In the times of Blackadder 2, the most popular choice would have been goose, again, only for those who could afford it. However, it was also during the Elizabethan Era that the first turkeys were appearing on Christmas tables in England, along with the first potatoes.

Above, Tony Robinson, and Rowan Atkinson, as Baldrick, and Lord Blackadder, in Blackadder 2.

  These first turkeys – and potatoes – were imported from America by traders. This would have made them quite expensive, but when the farming of turkeys began in Norfolk – in England – then they became more and more affordable.
  In the times of Blackadder 3, goose still remained more popular, and would remain so for quite a while.Turkeys had to be walked to London in time for Christmas. This would take weeks. They had to arrive alive as there was little in the way of refrigeration. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era that Turkey became more affordable, and more popular.

Above, Me, and Rowan Atkinson, as Pitt the Younger, and Blackadder,  in Blackadder 3.

  By this time, turkeys no longer had to be walked from Norfolk but could be taken on the railways instead, meaning they could arrive in London on the same day. Poulturers and butchers remained open on Christmas Day, this is due to them being some of the few people to have any form of refrigeration. People could pick up their meat on Christmas morning, and take it away to be cooked later the same day. This is why in A Christmas Carol, when Scrooge sends the young boy to fetch the turkey as large as he is from the poulturer, the boy is able to return so quickly, as the poulturer would have been open that morning.
  Most people didn’t have ovens large enough to cook a whole turkey. Instead, people would take their Christmas Dinner meat to the bakers’ to be placed in their large ovens. This means that as well as poulturers and butchers, bakers also had to remain open on Christmas Day.
By the time of Blackadder 4, turkey had been established as the most popular meat for Christmas Dinner for quite some time.

Above, Tim McInnerny, as Captain Darling, in Blackadder 4.

However, those serving in the trenches of WWI probably had to make do with whatever they were provided with. Those like General Melchett, serving way behind the front lines, probably had more of a choice of what they had. Perhaps even a turkey could be found for the General, perhaps even from Norfolk, but probably not one that had to walk all of the way there.

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on the Foundling Museum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundling_Museum

For more on Thomas Coram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Coram

For more on composer George Frideric Handel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel

For more on artist Sir Joshua Reynolds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Reynolds

For more on the Museum of London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Museum

For more on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle

For more on Shakespeare’s Globe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare%27s_Globe

For more on Sam Wanamaker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Wanamaker

For more on the Charles Dickens Museum, London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens_Museum

For more on Charles Dickens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

For more on Blenheim Palace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim_Palace

For more on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol

Part 117, Young Snotty, the Acropolis, and Lord Byron

Part 117

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Acropolis, and Lord Byron

The My History Part

  It was March 2014, and we were still in Athens. Amongst the many Ancient sites we saw the Acropolis is probably the best known of the city’s places to visit.
Although it is believed that the Acropolis was inhabited for thousands of years before, it was Pericles – one of my favourite Ancient Greek statesmen – who in the 5th Century BC had the buildings constructed that are still standing there today.

Above, part of the Parthenon, on the Acropolis, showing signs of restoration work work going on. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  From the mid 1400s, Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Parthenon on the Acropolis was used by the Ottomans to store their gunpowder. During the Morean War – 1684 to 1699 – this Ancient building and some others on the Acropolis were damaged.
  The Morean War was one of many wars fought between the Ottomans and the Venetians. In 1687 the Venetians used artillery against the Ottomans who were guarding the Acropolis, one shot hit the Parthenon igniting the gunpowder stored there. Although this caused great damage, the fact that it is still standing is a demonstration to the wonders of Ancient Greek architecture.

Above, another view of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, showing signs of restoration work taking place. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  We visited other Ancient places, stadiums, theatres, temples, and even the large Ancient Greek style tomb of the great self-taught German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann who I have mentioned before. I am quite a fan of Schliemann. As he was the man who excavated Mycenae, and rediscovered and excavated Troy, it would be difficult for me not to be a fan of his. When we approached the tomb, an elderly lady was being driven away in a car. When we were at the tomb, we were told by a member of staff that the elderly lady was a family member of Schliemann’s. We didn’t get to meet her but at least we saw her there.

Above, the Parthenon, the Acropolis, showing yet more signs of restoration work taking place. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  One of the last trips we made outside of the city was to an Ancient temple placed on a cliff about an hour or two from Athens. This temple is the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

Above, the Temple of Poseidon, on Cape Sounion, at a distance. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  As well as a fantastic Ancient site, this temple built overlooking the ocean also has a connection with Lord Byron. During the Greek War of Independence – also known as the Greek Revolution of 1821 – Lord Byron donated money and then travelled to Greece to actually take part in the fighting to help Greece gain independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Above, some of the Ancient pillars of the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  Byron died in Greece in 1824. Although he never saw the Greek independence that he was fighting for which didn’t happen until five years after his death, his taking part brought much international attention to the Greek’s fight. The money he gave also helped immensely. Not only was he able to provide the Greeks with much needed funds for the fight against the Ottomans, he also gave money to help the victims of the conflict, both Christian and Muslim.
  At some point during his time in Greece, Byron visited the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Whilst there he carved his name into one of the temple’s Ancient pillars. Today, visitors cannot get close enough to the pillars to see this carving, but although we couldn’t see it, we knew it was there, and just knowing was quite enough.

Above, the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, as the Sun was setting. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  It is a wonderful site to visit, especially at Sunset, and the position on top of a cliff looking out over the ocean seems just the right spot for the Greeks to have built a temple dedicated to Poseidon.
  Our time in Athens was soon at an end. We had managed to visit so many Ancient sites within the city like the Acropolis, the Agora, and theatres and temples. We also got to travel far out of the city to places like Ancient Mycenae in the Peloponnese, and Delphi on Mount Parnassus. Athens is a wonderful place to visit, and even if you don’t have time to travel outside of the city there is so much to see within Athens that any lover of the Ancient World would find it difficult to get around to see even a fraction of what this city has to offer.
  We reached most places within the city on foot, and eating out didn’t seem expensive. The people were great, and the sites were fantastic, as was Athens itself. I would highly recommend visiting this wonderful city to anyone who is a lover of History, particularly Ancient History, especially that of Ancient Greece, and if you have time then the tours on offer that take you outside of Athens are definitely worth doing.

Above, Me, Penny, and William, in front of part of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, March 2014.

When back in Wales it was time to get back to studying, as it was Ancient Greece and Rome which I was studying at the time, this trip to Greece seemed to be at just the right time, not that I think there are many times when visiting an Ancient site doesn’t seem the right thing to do.

Above, Me and Penny, with the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, in the background. Photo taken by William, March 2014.

  In the summer I had another exam for my degree. I am happy to say I passed, and I like to think that our visit to Athens helped a little with that.
  In 2015 there were to be many more trips, not all entirely straightforward. Where some of these trips were, what happened whilst we were travelling, and some of the things we got up to I will let you know in the next blog.

The Behind the Scenes Part

  I have written before about various films and TV series based on the stories of Robin Hood. One of my favourites is the 1991 film Prince of Thieves, but Kevin Costner has starred in some other favourites of mine.
  1987 seemed a particularly good year for films, and Blackadder 3. One film I saw that year in the cinema more than once was The Untouchables. Starring Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as Al Capone, and Sean Connery as Jimmy Malone.

Above, Andy Gacia, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, and Charles Martin Smith, as George Stone, Jimmy Malone, Eliot Ness, and Oscar Wallace, in the 1987 film The Untouchables.

  The film is loosely based on the book by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley, but many of the scenes in the film are fictional, including the shootout at the railway station, and the capture of a shipment of alcohol at the Canadian border, two of the film’s best known scenes.
  However, the film is extremely well cast – Sean Connery won Best Supporting Actor, for what I would describe as one of his best roles – it is well written by David Mamet, extremely well produced and directed by Brian De Palma, and with an excellent soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.

Above, Kevin Costner, and Sean Connery, as Eliot Ness, and Jimmy Malone, in the 1987 film The Untouchables.

  I feel it captures a real sense, particularly visually, of Chicago in the 1930s. I saw it more than once in the cinema when it first came out, and bought Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack album – which I still have – and we regularly watch the film at least once a year.
  Another of Costner’s films, which is a favourite of 5 the 1994 Wyatt Earp, starring Costner in the title role, along with an excellent performance from Dennis Quaid as Doc Holliday. The film follows the life of Wyatt Earp from teenager to several years after the Gunfight at the OK Corral. It is generally historically accurate, particularly the gunfight between the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday against the gang known as The Cowboys.

Above, Dennis Quaid, and Kevin Costner, as Doc Holliday, and Wyatt Earp, in the 1994 film Wyatt Earp.

  The film has very cleverly included dialogue and action from what people who were there said they saw and heard happen. The statements from people who were there before, during, and after the gunfight differ greatly depending on whether they were in favour of the Earps or Cowboys, and the Gunfight scenes depict the statements of both sides.
  The Gunfight itself seems very realistic, and the build up to it – partly due to James Newton Howard’s music – is one of my favourite parts of the film. The overall film captures a realistic view of what the Wild West was most probably like, and although the film is over three hours long it never seems overly long to me when we regularly watch it once a year on the 26th of October, the anniversary of the Gunfight at the OK Corral which took place in 1881.
  Critics praised the film but criticised the long runtime, and as Wyatt Earp came out a few months after another film, Tombstone, which had been in production at the same time and also depicted the events at the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp did not do as well as expected at the box office.
  The real Wyatt Earp was born on the 19th of March 1848 in Monmouth, Illinois, and died on the 13th of January 1929 in Los Angeles, California, aged 80. He had been in numerous gunfights throughout his career as a lawman in the Wild West, but somehow managed to not even get a scratch from a bullet. This is depicted in the realistically seeming  Gunfight scene in the film, with every other participant lying either dead or wounded by the time the fight ends, except Wyatt, who is left standing untouched.

Above, Dennis Quaid, Linden Ashby, Kevin Costner, and Michael Madsen, as Doc Holliday, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Virgil Earp, about to take on the Cowboys at the Gunfight at the OK Corral, in the 1994 film Wyatt Earp.

  Moving away from Kevin Costner films to something a little different, I want to finish this Behind the Scenes Part talking about another film we regularly watch once a year. That film is the 1989 film Henry V, starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same name, I think this is the best on screen adaptation of Henry V that has been made.
  It is extremely well directed, has a fantastic cast, probably mostly made up of Branagh’s actor friends, and a wonderful soundtrack by Patrick Doyle.

Above, Kenneth Branagh, as Henry V, in the 1989 film Henry V.

  Shakespeare wrote the play about one hundred and eighty five years after the events it depicts happened. However, the events are generally historically accurate. The dialogue must have been written with the intention of making Henry look good to please the English audiences that Shakespeare was writing for, but the Battle of Agincourt which took place on the 25th of October 1415 was quite a one-sided event.
  The French, massively outnumbered the tired, ill, and hungry English. The French were overly confident by their numerically larger forces, and their amount of mounted knights, while Henry’s smaller English – although partly made up of men from other parts of Britain as Shakespeare’s dialogue reminds us – were largely made up of archers.
  It was largely the archers of the English who won the day against the heavily armoured mounted knights of the French, delivering an overwhelming victory to Henry’s smaller army. This battle is extremely well depicted in Branagh’s film. Visually realistic, added to Shakespeare’s dialogue, and Doyle’s wonderful music, the film is fantastic to watch, which we regularly do, every 25th of October, on the anniversary of Agincourt.

Above, Kenneth Branagh, and Brian Blessed, as Henry V, and The Duke of Exeter, after the Battle of Agincourt, in the 1989 film Henry V. As you will most likely know, Brian Blessed also appeared in Blackadder 1. Robbie Coltrane, who appeared in Blackadder 3, also appears in Henry V.

  In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about an historic building which hosts wonderful seasonal events every Christmas. What this place is, how the themes of the events relate to well known films, and some of the preparation necessary to produce them, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

Those of you familiar with Blackadder 3 will be aware of how Prince George dressed. While the real Prince George started out quite a Fop, he was later transformed into more of a Dandy, largely due to the influence of Beau Brummell. However, while this transformation from Fop to Dandy was taking place, what were the Monarchs of other places dressing like?

Above, Hugh Laurie, as Prince George, in Blackadder 3.

Napoleon was always trying to portray a certain image, through the way he dressed and through the many portraits he had painted of himself for the public to see.
  Other European Monarchs dressed similarly to Prince George, and it is probably due to them all influencing each other’s styles. However, further away, leaders were under differing influences.

Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon, in Ridley Scott’s 2023 film Napoleon.

  By the late 1800s,the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire took more influence from European rulers, but in the late 1700s and early 1800s they still dressed in the styles that had been used for Ottoman rulers for centuries. The fez – Tarboush –  hat would come later, and during the time of the Georgian Era the Ottoman Sultans were still wearing very Islamic based clothing such as thobes and bishts, all topped off with a turban.

Above, Bulet Inal, as Sultan Abdul Hamid II, in Turkish TV series Abdulhamid. Sultan Abdul Hamid II ruled in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, when the Fez – Tarboush –  had replaced the Turban for Ottoman Sultans.

  Turbans were still quite large at this time, but not as large as they had been during some of the time of previous Sultans. Suleiman the Magnificent was often depicted wearing an enormous turban, but this was not just for show. These large turbans, worn by Ottomans in positions of power from judges and viziers up to the Sultan himself, were actually shrouds.

Above, a portrait of Sultan Suleiman I, otherwise known as Suleiman the Magnificent, wearing a very large turban, which was also his shroud. Suleiman the Magnificent ruled from 1520 to 1566.

  These shrouds – Kaffan in Arabic – were worn on the head as turbans to remind the powerful wearer that they were only men, and to act with justice, kindness, and mercy where possible. For these Muslim rulers they were also reminded that Allah sees all, and one day when the wearer of the turban dies, it would be unwound to reveal the shroud in which they would be wrapped. It was then that they would have to answer to Allah for any unjust or unkind decisions they had made as rulers.

Above, Halit Ergenc, as Suleiman I, in Turkish TV series Magnificent Century. Not wearing a turban, but still quite a magnificent piece of headwear, similar to that placed at the head of his tomb in Istanbul.

  Even after death, the Ottomans would still be recognised by their headwear, by carving it in stone and placing it at the top of the gravestone. The size and type of headwear told everyone what you had been in life, and today walking around an Ottoman graveyard one can tell who was a high up official, a Pasha, or a Vizier. The Sultans themselves were placed in tombs, usually near a Mosque. Here they can still be viewed by the public, and in many cases some sort of headdress is placed above to show who they were.

Above, the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent,  in the grounds of the Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul.  Photo taken by me.

So, next time you see a portrait of Prince George just remember that as he was dressing as he did, and as many other European Monarchs dressed much the same, further away rulers were under different influences of dress, and even wore headwear that was a reminder to do the right things. I wonder if this would have been a good thing for George to have worn, and perhaps some of our political leaders now would do better to be reminded of such things too.


 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Athens https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens

For more on the Acropolis at Athens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolis_of_Athens

For more on Ancient Greek statesman Pericles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles

For more on the Morean War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morean_War

For more on the Temple of Poseidon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Poseidon,_Sounion

For more on Lord Byron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Byron

For more on the Greek War of Independence  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence

For more on the 1991 film Prince of Thieves https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood:_Prince_of_Thieves

For more on Kevin Costner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Costner

For more on the 1987 film The Untouchables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untouchables_(film)

For more on Sean Connery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Connery

For more on Ennio Morricone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennio_Morricone

For more on the real Eliot Ness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Ness

For more on the 1994 film Wyatt Earp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp_(film)

For more on Dennis Quaid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Quaid

For more on James Newton Howard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Newton_Howard

For more on the 1994 film Tombstone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_(film)

For more on the real Wyatt Earp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp

For more on the Gunfight at the OK Corral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral

For more on the 1989 film Henry V https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_V_(1989_film)

For more on Kenneth Branagh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Branagh

For more on Patrick Doyle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Doyle

For more on Beau Brummell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Brummell

For more on Ridley Scott’s 2023 film Napoleon  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_(2023_film)

For more on Joaquin Phoenix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix

For more on Sultan Abdul Hamid II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Hamid_II

For more on Turkish TV series Abdulhamid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payitaht:_Abd%C3%BClhamid

For more on Suleiman the Magnificent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suleiman_the_Magnificent

For more on Turkish TV series Magnificent Century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhte%C5%9Fem_Y%C3%BCzy%C4%B1l

Part 116, Young Snotty, the Oracle, and the Telescope

Part 116

Part of History Pitt

Historical Performance Talks – Video Greetings – Meet, Greet and Mingles – and Merchandise

Visit http://www.historypitt.co.uk for details.

My History, Behind the Scenes History, and Fun History

Young Snotty, the Oracle, and the Telescope

The My History Part

It was March 2014. We had already seen a lot of Athens and the Peloponnese but now we were heading to Delphi.
  People from all over the Greek World visited this site on Mount Parnassus in Ancient times to visit the Oracle at the Temple of Apollo. This vast site is full of temples and monuments, all put up by Greek states as thanks to the Oracle whilst also trying to outdo each other in the size of their displays.

Above, one of the views from the Ancient site of Delphi, Greece. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  An important archaeological site, Delphi is also of great importance to anyone who loves the history of the Ancient World. It is also somewhere visited by groups of students from many parts of the world. Unfortunately, when we visited the first thing we were met with was a large group of students from Italy. They were sitting all around the entrance to the site, smoking, playing loud music, unattended by any tutors or anyone in authority, and quite obviously disinterested in the wonders of the Ancient place they were visiting.

Above, a view of part of the Ancient site of Delphi, Greece. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  A few of them thought the sight of William and I both wearing shirts, ties, and waistcoats was something extremely humorous, as they sat smoking in their grey tracksuits. A few strong glances from me seemed to put a stop to it, and we left behind this group and their smoke and loud music as we entered the site.

Above, Penny and Me, Delphi, Greece.  Photo taken by William, March 2014.

  The site of Delphi has so much archaeology to see. Many parts of the temples and monuments are still standing, and the views from Mount Parnassus are magnificent.
  One of the things to definitely see is the Serpent Column. The three headed column was built to commemorate the Greek Victory over the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. What you see in Delphi today is a replica. If you want to see the real one you have to travel to Istanbul in Turkiye, as it was taken there by Emperor Constantine in the year 324.

  Most of the column still stands in Sultanahmet Square in what was once the city’s Hippodrome. The three snake heads remained in place until the 1600s, and one is on display in the Archaeology Museum in the city.

Above, another view from the Ancient site of Delphi, Greece.  Photo taken by me, March 2014.

Many people are possibly unaware of just how much Greece and what is now Turkiye were connected in Ancient times. Many of the great cities and ports from these times that still stand today in Turkiye were populated by Greek speaking peoples, and those that weren’t could either claim descent from them or were ruled by or traded with them.

Above, William and Me, Delphi, Greece. Photo taken by Penny, March 2014.

  When Greek power was replaced by that of the Roman Empire then these places were again connected under Roman rule, and later again under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Today, many of the Ancient sites that can be visited in Turkiye are of Greek origin.
 

Above, the Ancient Theatre, Delphi, Greece. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

   After spending a good amount of time at the site we also visited the excellent Delphi Archaeological Museum. Here we saw many fantastic items uncovered by archaeologists, placed in the museum to keep them safe.
  After this there was an optional lunch stop at a hotel. We were the only ones not to take up this option, but unlike the trip to the Peloponnese a few days earlier where we had to wait in a car park, this time we were dropped off at the town of Delphi in the mountains near the site. This was definitely better than spending time and money in a hotel restaurant. We ate lunch – including ice cream – went souvenir shopping, and then had a drink in a restaurant and bar called Telescope. The name comes from the fantastic views down from the mountains, and the Telescope mounted on the balcony for use of the customers.

Above, Penny having Ice Cream, Delphi, Greece. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  We had already eaten, and we only had time for one drink, but the service was excellent, as were the views both with and without the Telescope on the balcony. I highly recommend to anyone visiting the Ancient site of Delphi to stop off for lunch in this mountain town, and to either eat, drink, or both at the Telescope Restaurant.

Above, one of Delphi’s steep Alleyways. Photo taken by me, March 2014.

  The journey back down the mountains was full of views, and once down we still had quite a long drive back to Athens. Travelling through Greece today it may be easy for some to forget that a journey from Delphi to Athens in Ancient times would have meant travelling through the territories of differing city states.
  When Athens was at the height of its power and had a maritime empire that stretched across the Mediterranean to North Africa, Turkiye, and the islands of the Aegean, its main rival – when not fighting off Persian invasions – was Sparta.
  Athens was by far the strongest at sea, but Sparta had an extremely well trained army. Athens still held its own against Sparta during most of the Peloponnesian War – 431 to 404 BC – but was eventually defeated by Sparta. This was largely due to Athens trying to invade Sicily, overstretching itself, losing much of its land and sea forces, and leaving Athens itself vulnerable to Sparta.
  We were back in Athens in time for Dinner. We still had a few days left to look around the city, and just one more – shorter – trip outside of Athens.

  What last sites we saw, and what we got up to I will let you know in the next blog.
  

The Behind the Scenes Part

  The North East of England has been a location for many films and TV series. Robin Hood on both small screen and big, historical films, action films such as Indiana Jones, and even Blackadder 1. However, the film I will be talking about this time is a 1976 comedy that came from a 1960s and 1970s TV comedy.   The series and the film is The Likely Lads. The TV series ran from 1964 to 1966, with later series named Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? from 1973 to 1974. The film – which went back to the original name of The Likely Lads – was released in 1976.
  It starred the same main cast as the series had, with James Bolam as Terry Collier, Rodney Bewes as Bob Ferris, and Brigit Forsyth – appearing for the first time in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? – as Thelma Ferris. It also features in a smaller role Alun Armstrong, who I worked with in 1987 in Yorkshire TV’s Christmas is Coming where I played his son. It was also excellently written by the same writers as the series, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Above, Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, and Rodney Bewes, in the 1976 film The Likely Lads.

  The general theme of the Likely Lads is that Bob tries to have a normal and respectable life – largely encouraged by Thelma – but keeps getting drawn into trouble by Terry, who still tries to live his life the same way the two friends did when they were younger.

Above, Rodney Bewes, and James Bolam, as Bob Ferris, and Terry Collier, in a scene from the 1976 film The Likely Lads.

  The film was almost entirely shot in and around Newcastle, where the series were also set. Having previously visited some of the locations in Northumberland for Robin Hood, Blackadder, and Indiana Jones, this time we decided to visit a couple of the locations of the Likely Lads film on our way to the far North of England and Southern Scotland.
  Our first of these locations was Whitley Bay.

Above, the seafront at Whitley Bay. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

Much of the film concentrates on the redevelopment of the area which took place in the 1970s. Bob, in particular, sees the pulling down of familiar buildings such as homes and pubs to make way for more modern buildings as the destruction of the things of his own past. This he discusses with friend Terry, who he has known since a child. One of these conversations takes place on a bench overlooking the sea at Whitley Bay. As the two friends talk, the large white building named Spanish City is easily visible in the background.

Above, James Bolam, and Rodney Bewes, as Bob Ferris, and Terry Collier, with Spanish City, Whitley Bay, in the background, in the 1976 film The Likely Lads.

  Built in 1910, with shops, restaurants, and even a theatre, Spanish City was a popular place to go. In 1920 the theatre was converted into a ballroom, but live performances continued at the venue.

Above, Spanish City, Whitley Bay. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

  By the 1990s the building had begun to fall into disrepair, and by the early 2000s it closed to the public. Fortunately, grants made it possible for it to be renovated and repaired, and today Spanish City looks much as it always must have done, from the outside anyway.
  I say from the outside, as although I plan most trips quite thoroughly I had not noticed during the planning of this quick trip to Whitley Bay that Spanish City is closed on Mondays – the day that we were there – and therefore we could only view it from the outside.
  I am still very pleased to have seen this wonderful building, and to spend a couple of hours looking around Whitley Bay. If anyone gets the chance to visit this area for a quick stop then I definitely recommend it, but if you want to have a look inside Spanish City then best not visit on a Monday, when it is closed at certain times of the year.

Above, Me, Penny, and William, with Spanish City, Whitley Bay, in the background, September 2025.

  A short drive away is another location used in the Likely Lads film. Whilst on a caravan holiday with Bob’s wife Thelma and Terry’s lady friend Christina – played by Mary Tamm – Bob and Terry decide to head to the pub whilst Thelma and Christina make dinner.
The pub they visit is The Beehive between Earsdon and Hartley. We didn’t go inside, but we managed to park across the road and quickly have a look from the outside. In the film it is supposed to be a long way from where they live but the Beehive is a little over ten minutes drive from Whitley Bay. When Bob and Terry leave the pub and head back to the caravan they are faced with so many almost identical caravans that they cannot find the right one until it is so late that dinner is ruined. The ladies are not pleased, something which is not unusual when Terry leads Bob into trouble.

Above, The Beehive, not far from Whitley Bay, as used in the 1976 film The Likely Lads. Photo taken by me, September 2025.

  I am just old enough to remember places being pulled down to make way for modern buildings in the early and mid 1970s just as it is portrayed in the Likely Lads. I also remember the series being aired on TV, although what I saw of The Likely Lads would have been later showings, and it was probably Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? that I remember being aired more.

Above, Rodney Bewes, and James Bolam, as Bob Ferris, and Terry Collier, in the 1976 film The Likely Lads.

  The 1976 film, therefore, is a reminder of those times. Very 1970s and probably very British in its style, The Likely Lads film is a funny and touching slice of 1970s life in North East England which I highly recommend watching to anyone who is a fan of 1970s British Comedy, as well as the series if you get a chance to watch them.

 
In the next Behind the Scenes Part I will be talking about a few of my favourite historical films, what they get historically right, and how they sometimes differ from the reality of the historical events and characters that they portray. What those films are, I will let you know in the next blog.

The History Part

  Those of you familiar with Blackadder 4 will be aware that some of the British Army had to endure spending a lot of time in trenches looking at the enemy, who were also sitting in trenches looking back at them. Well, there was someone on the other side who, after WWI, would become a star of the big screen.

Above, Tony Robinson, as Baldrick, in Blackadder 4.

  Bela Ferenc Dezso Blasko was born on the 20th of October 1882 in Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Better known later on as Bela Lugosi, he served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1914 to 1916. Having previously appeared on stage, in 1917 Lugosi began to act in Hungarian silent films.

Above, a young Bela Lugosi.

  After a failed revolution in Hungary – supported by Lugosi – he left in 1919 to work in silent films in Germany, before serving as a crewmember on a merchant ship in order to make his way to America.
  He starred as Dracula in a Broadway stage production in 1927 before moving to Hollywood in 1928 when the production moved there. In 1931 he starred as Dracula again, this time in a Universal Studios film. He spent the rest of the 1930s and early 1940s playing roles in Horror films, but being best known for playing Dracula, and having an Hungarian accent meant the roles he was offered were somewhat limited.

Above, Bela Lugosi as Dracula.

  By the mid 1940s Lugosi had both a drug and alcohol addiction. This was also the time he began to be offered less and less roles.

Above, Bela Lugosi, in later years.

  Bela Lugosi died in 1956, but not before making a film with director Ed Wood, which was released in 1957 the year after Lugosi’s death.

Above, Johnny Depp, as Ed Wood, in the 1994 film Ed Wood.

Ed Wood films are well-known, and some may say well-known for being not very good. However, as an independent filmmaker, Ed Wood had to work with extremely low budgets, borrowed costumes, props, sets, and performers who had little or no acting experience. Despite this, Ed Wood’s films are not that bad, they make sense, they have better effects and storylines than some much more expensive productions, they are definitely watchable, and in some cases they even star actors who, like Bela Lugosi, were happy just to be acting again.

Above, Martin Landau, as Bela Lugosi, in the 1994 film Ed Wood.

  The film that Bela Lugosi made with Ed Wood is Plan 9 from Outer Space. As a piece of film history I think it is worth watching, especially for fans of 1950s Sci Fi and Horror. However, for anyone who hasn’t yet seen this film, I would suggest first watching the 1994 film Ed Wood starring Johnny Depp as Wood, and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi.

Above, Martin Landau, and Johnny Depp, as Bela Lugosi, and Ed Wood, in the 1994 film Ed Wood.

  The film Ed Wood is very cast, well made, and often very funny. It tells the story of Wood’s filmmaking career, and also that of Bela Lugosi’s work with him, and the making of Plan 9 from Outer Space, which brought Lugosi back to the big screen.

Above, Rowan Atkinson, as Captain Blackadder, in Blackadder 4.

  So, next time you think about what it must have been like for the British fighting in the trenches of WWI, just remember, somewhere on the other side was a young Hungarian officer, who would later become a Hollywood actor who would always be linked with the role of Dracula, the role that is difficult to think of without also thinking of the name Bela Lugosi.

 

If you haven’t done so already, give the fantastic King of Blackadder on Twitter a follow!
https://twitter.com/pitchblacksteed?s=09

Then take a look at this also fantastic Blackadder fan group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1507847676134507/?ref=share

For more on Athens https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens

For more on Delphi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi

For more on the Peloponnesian War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_War

For more on the TV Series The Likely Lads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Likely_Lads

For more on the TV Series Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatever_Happened_to_the_Likely_Lads%3F

For more on the 1976 film The Likely Lads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Likely_Lads_(film)

For more on James Bolam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bolam

For more on Rodney Bewes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Bewes

For more on Brigit Forsyth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit_Forsyth

For more on Spanish City, Whitley Bay https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_City

For more on Bela Lugosi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bela_Lugosi

For more on the 1994 film Ed Wood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Wood_(film)

For more on Ed Wood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Wood

For more on the 1957 film Plan 9 from Outer Space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_9_from_Outer_Space