Geoff Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 This week it seems appropriate to draw attention to this news report from 1953 and the royal splendour of the first night of Gloriana:- 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 That's fabulous! I love the accompanying soundtrack! Such deep bows and curtseys... How times have changed! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Prince Phillip was so handsome when he was young. I saw a documentary about him a few months ago. It said Princess Elizabeth was besotted with him and was so happy when he proposed to her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Wow, things really have changed - inside the ROH and outside! And I have no idea who most of those royals were ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccolo Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I can't help seeing the dark side to this clip. So much fur being worn. So very beautiful and at such a cost - not just financial :-( Hopefully times have changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Arrowsmith Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 If you delve into contemporary news reports, the audience was kept waiting outside the ROH as the workers inside had not finished preparing the foyers. There will still carpenters walking around with their tools when the audience was admitted, making adjustments to the front of house decor. And Gloriana was a live relay on the radio too. A modicum of pressure! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 1953, post war austerity and many things still rationed and the sheep outside passively stand and watch. A different world indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I think it really disrespectful for you to call those human being 'sheep', people who had just come through an awful war, and through their efforts saved future generations like you and me. If they resented the Royal Family and the other upper crust present, they wouldn't be there watching. No one has put a gun to their heads and forced them to stand there. My mother spent the war in Coventry and London and was no stranger to bombs and rationing/austerity. She said that the Royal Family were much loved, and that they always presented a united front with the people during the blitz, so everybody wanted to see them when they could. She said that everybody loved seeing them in their finery for the very reason that there was drudge and austerity....it was a bit of glittering escapism, and people enjoyed seeing beautiful things and people instead of bleak destruction all around. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Somebody once queried Queen Elizabeth for wearing smart clothes when she visited the East End after it had been bombed. She said she did it because she was visiting their homes and she knew they would wear their best clothes if they visited her. The Royal family were a source of great encouragement to those who could not leave London during the war. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I have vivid memories of post war misery. Reality was rarely depicted in newsreels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 If you delve into contemporary news reports, the audience was kept waiting outside the ROH as the workers inside had not finished preparing the foyers. There will still carpenters walking around with their tools when the audience was admitted, making adjustments to the front of house decor. I guess not a lot changes in 45 years: that was pretty much the situation at the reopening of Sadler's Wells, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I guess not a lot changes in 45 years: that was pretty much the situation at the reopening of Sadler's Wells, too. I only went to the Saturday matinee the week SW reopened and it was still pretty chaotic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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