When Walt came to Southwark
Some years ago, a sage old cabbie told me about a mysterious photo which he’d claimed to have never seen himself but was sure existed somewhere; an image apparently depicting legendary American animator and entrepreneur, Walt Disney posing beneath a street sign on Borough’s aptly named Disney Street…
Disney Street- and its little offshoot, Disney Place– are two thoroughfares which form a small dogleg between Marshalsea Road and Redcross Way.
‘Disney’ is in fact an extremely old name of Norman origin, deriving from d’Isigny; a surname historically used by folk from the town of Isigny-sur-Mer in north-western France.
The name has been borne by these two Borough streets since at least the 1860s- a quick search of The Times newspaper archive reveals a handful of vicious crimes taking place here, including numerous stabbings and an appalling incident in 1902 when a drunken woman was arrested after “ill-treating a baby by swinging it round” along with a verbal threat to “dash the child’s brains out by throwing it on the pavement.”
Late Victorian map depicting Disney Street (image: nls.uk)
In short, the name ‘Disney’ was being used in London long before Walt’s first flick- the jovial ‘Steamboat Willie’- hit screens in 1928… quite a relief really considering the rather brutal connotations with the two roads.
Going even further back in time when the area had a more rural vibe, the two paths, which have evolved over many decades, were known by completely different names- Bird Cage Alley (which really did refer to local artisans who made said pet accessories) and Harrow Street; an offshoot of which was ‘Harrow Dunghill’ which would no doubt have had quite a literal meaning back in the 18th century.
Original map depicting Harrow Street, Bird Cage Alley and Harrow Dunghill
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Returning to the cabbie’s fable with which I started this piece, I was told that, at some point in the mid-1960s, Walt Disney was on a visit to London with is wife, Lillian.
The pair hailed a taxi and, upon recognising his passenger’s face, the driver couldn’t resist telling his famous fare about the existence of Disney Street and Disney Place.
Unsurprisingly Walt was intrigued and asked be taken there, whereupon he and Lillian had their photos snapped.
For a long time I thought this was nothing more than a cabbie’s urban legend.
Until recently when I happened to discover the images…
The first is of Walt and Lillian:
Walt and Lillian Disney, Disney Street, Southwark, 1965
The second depicts Walt on Disney Place with his business partner, Arthur Allighan; a born Londoner who apparently confessed to having no prior knowledge of the streets which bore his colleague’s infamous surname.
Walt Disney and Arthur Allighan, Disney Place, Southwark 1965
These two images were taken in 1965 and were published in a 1966 edition of ‘Disney World Magazine’.
Sadly, they were amongst the last photos taken of Walt who died shortly after in December 1966 aged 65.
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Sherbert Dab: An Oral History of the London Taxi
In autumn 2017 I was honoured to participate in a project named ‘Sherbert Dab: An Oral History of the London Taxi’ (Sherbet Dab being Cockney rhyming slang for cab).
Organised by the educational charity, Digital Works in conjunction with Unite and the London Transport Museum, this ambitious venture introduced 26 London cabbies to pupils from St George the Martyr school, Holborn and Westminster Cathedral school, Pimlico.
The children conducted in-depth interviews with each of the London taxi drivers, covering topics such as family backgrounds, what it was like to study The Knowledge in their particular era, interesting stories which have occurred whilst driving a cab and much, much more.
All of these interviews- which together consist of many hours worth of material- can now be listened to online and are a real treasure trove.
Many of those interviewed are true veterans of the industry: Stanley Roth for example, who started driving in 1957 is believed to be the longest serving cabbie working in London today, whilst 84 year old Trinidadian, Vasco Figueria was one of the earliest West Indian drivers to qualify when he passed The Knowledge in the early 1960s.
To listen to these interviews, please click here.
Each interview was also recorded on film and the pupils have edited this extensive footage into a wonderful, highly professional 54 minute film which is insightful, moving, funny and a real testament to the skill of these incredible youngsters.
The film, which premiered on the 12th January 2018 at the London Transport Museum’s Cubic Theatre, can be viewed in full here.
All of the Sherbet Dab interviews will be going into the archives of both the TUC and the London Transport Museum.
Enjoy!
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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. London’s Star Wars connections
On the 15th December 2017, the latest instalment in the Star Wars saga- Episode VIII The Last Jedi will finally hit cinemas.
Despite being set “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” this much loved series of films has a surprising number of connections in and around London.
Here are 11 of them…
Elstree, Borehamwood
Located in Hertfordshire on the north-west outskirts of the capital, Elstree has been associated with filmmaking since 1914 when the ‘Neptune Film Company’ established themselves in the area.
Studio block at Elstree (image: Wikipedia)
It was in July 1976 that director, George Lucas arrived in Elstree- which then boasted a collection of huge sound stages- to begin filming the interior shots for the very first Star Wars film; the instalment which would later become known as Episode IV: A New Hope; an original 70s cinema trailer for which can be viewed below:
Production returned to Elstree for the next two films in the original trilogy; The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
Original posters for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), both filmed at Elstree
Sadly the studios in which the these films were shot were demolished in the early 90s and are now occupied by a large Tesco supermarket.
Despite this loss, Elstree still maintains a large studio complex on Shenley Road where filming on the 2016 Star Wars story, Rogue One was carried out.
Elstree Studios, Shenley Road (image: Geograph)
Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
Opened in 1936, Pinewood Studios– which are situated between London and Windsor- are most famously associated with the James Bond franchise.
In recent years they have been used for the latest Star Wars movies; The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017)
The ‘007’ sound stage at Pinewood in 2006 (image: Wikipedia)
Canary Wharf station
Not all Star Wars production around London has been studio-based. In 2016, some on-location filming for Rogue One was carried out at Canary Wharf, with the futuristic looking Jubilee line station being used to represent the interior of the murderous ‘Death Star‘.
Anvil Studios, Denham
Denham on the western outskirt of London was once home to Anvil Studios and it was here that composer, John Williams recorded his sublime scores for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back with the London Symphony Orchestra both of which can be listened to below:
Sadly, Anvil Studios were demolished in the early 80s, just months after the Empire Strikes Back soundtrack was completed.
Abbey Road Studios
Following the loss of Anvil, John Williams headed to the world famous Abbey Road Studios to record music for 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
The soundtracks to the prequel films- The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005) were also made at Abbey Road.
Abbey Road Studios
Leicester Square
Premiere for The Empire Strikes Back at the Odeon, Leicester Square, 1980
This bustling square in London’s West End is synonymous with cinema, and it’s here that every Star Wars movie has had its UK premiere.
Click below to hear a vintage radio advert announcing showings of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ at The Odeon, Leicester Square in May 1980:
Lauderdale Road
On the 2nd April 1914 at Maida Vale’s Lauderdale Mansions South, the legendary actor, Sir Alec Guinness was born.
Lauderdale Mansions, Maida Vale (image: Chestertons)
Sir Alec Guinness appeared in many celebrated roles during his life, including The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Ladykillers (1955) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).
Sir Alec Guinness (image: Wikipedia)
In Star Wars of course, he played the wise old Jedi, Obi Wan Kenobi who confronts his former pupil, Anakin Skywalker- now twisted, and corrupted as the treacherous Darth Vader- in a final lightsaber duel aboard The Death Star (please click below to view):
Marshalsea Road
As seen above, the villain of the original Star Wars trilogy was the ominous Darth Vader.
This mighty baddie was portrayed by Dave Prowse (although his voice was provided by the deep tones of the incredible James Earl Jones), a bodybuilding and weightlifting champ who was born and bred in Bristol.
Dave Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader (image: Wikipedia)
For many years, Dave Prowse ran a gym on Southwark’s Marshalsea Road which was popular with many celebrities- including the late Christoper Reeve who he helped to bulk up for his role in Superman (1978).
Marshalsea Road, Southwark
Barnes
It was in Barnes, south-west London that the 7ft 3. Peter Mayhew was born and raised. He would go on to play the huge, furry Chewbacca; Han Solo’s trusty copilot onboard the Millennium Falcon.
Chewbacca
At the time he was offered the role, Peter Mayhew was working as a porter at King’s College Hospital, Brixton.
Peter Mayhew in 1976
Peckham
John Boyega– who plays reformed storm trooper Finn– is one of the biggest names in the recent Force Awakens and The Last Jedi movies.
John was born in Peckham in 1992 and attended Oliver Goldsmith primary school on Peckham Road where, at the age of 9, he had his first taste of acting. He then went on to attend Westminster City school, South Thames College and the University of Greenwich, before going on to study acting at the Identity School of Acting in Hackney.
As well as film appearances- including 2011’s Attack the Block which was filmed on the former Heygate Estate at Elephant and Castle, John has appeared on stage both at the National Theatre and Kilburn’s Tricycle Theatre.
Bushey, Hertfordshire
Bushey, which can be found between Stanmore and Watford, was home to both Kenny Baker (born in Birmingham) and Jack Purvis (born in London) who’d been friends since the early 1960s after forming a double-act called The Minitones in which they’d performed in night-clubs across Britain.
The Minitones- Kenny Baker (left) and Jack Purvis (right)
In 1976 Kenny Baker was offered the opportunity to play the loveable little droid, R2D2.
Kenny Baker inside the R2-D2 costume, 1976
He accepted- but only on the condition that his pal, Jack be given a role too. Consequently Jack went on to portray numerous droids and creatures throughout the original Star Wars trilogy.
Jack Purvis on the set of Star Wars, 1976
Jack and Kenny also had prominent roles in the 1981 Terry Gillingham film, Time Bandits.
Tragically Jack Purvis was later paralysed in an accident at his Bushy home and died a few years later in 1997.
Kenny Baker passed away in 2016; the same year in which Carrie Fisher (who played Princess Leia) also died.
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View from the Mirror 