Just wanted to say hello to everyone on this very interesting site.
My connection to LOTSW is that my Father, who was a Variety Agent (for Actors/Artists etc.) for over 50 years, had a Cousin who worked for the BBC. He called my father way back when in the 70's asking him to put together several minor Actors for a new Comedy series that the BBC had just commissioned, and my life long association with the show started.
Dad didn't provide any of the major Actors, Bill, Peter or Michael but he did handle many of the lesser players and Actors who appeared in only one or more episode from time to time. I wont mention any names directly for professional etiquette etc., but it did mean that someone from the agency was in attendance from time to time.
This association meant that I visited the various sites when they were filming to make sure that our Artists were happy and well looked after etc., and that we were able to provide everything that the BBC required.
I have many, many memories of my visits and conversations with the various Actors over the years, and I spent literally hundreds of hours with many of them, in-between takes and equipment changes etc. I'm sure everyone realises that Filming is actually extremely boring on the day, as everyone spends most of the day sitting around waiting to do the next scene.
As I am sure that most members know, in between takes Peter used to sit and do his crossword and keep himself very much to himself, whereas Bill would chat happily with the Crew most of the time, he could be cranky at times, but then again, we all can, and some could get a little "precious" occasionally. I never quite took to Brian Wilde to be honest, or he never quite took to me, I'm not sure which. Thora was an absolute darlin, very down to earth, she would talk to anybody, and once she started, you could never shut her up, but it was always well worth listening to, the people she had met, and her career, awesome.!
I had 2 particular favorites which may be a surprise to some members, namely Michael Aldridge, who was a lovely man, and believe it or not Juliette Caplan, who was always chatty and happy and always took time to talk to any spectators who were watching, proving to be totally different to her on screen persona.
One very rare appearance and I cant quite remember the name of the episode was an uncredited appearance (in a Bright Yellow Jacket) of one of dads Variety artists by the name of Mark Stanley, who was one of my Clubland favorites, who had a very unique act where he used to find out the names of colorful local characters and streets, doctors etc. and drop them into his comedy interludes. If any members are local to Yorkshire, they well remember Mark, should have been a big star, but it was before Reality TV.
I could write a book with the amount of stories I can remember, but I'm not a kiss and tell merchant, so I will keep them to myself. Thankyou so much for a wonderful site, really enjoyable.
My connection to LOTSW is that my Father, who was a Variety Agent (for Actors/Artists etc.) for over 50 years, had a Cousin who worked for the BBC. He called my father way back when in the 70's asking him to put together several minor Actors for a new Comedy series that the BBC had just commissioned, and my life long association with the show started.
Dad didn't provide any of the major Actors, Bill, Peter or Michael but he did handle many of the lesser players and Actors who appeared in only one or more episode from time to time. I wont mention any names directly for professional etiquette etc., but it did mean that someone from the agency was in attendance from time to time.
This association meant that I visited the various sites when they were filming to make sure that our Artists were happy and well looked after etc., and that we were able to provide everything that the BBC required.
I have many, many memories of my visits and conversations with the various Actors over the years, and I spent literally hundreds of hours with many of them, in-between takes and equipment changes etc. I'm sure everyone realises that Filming is actually extremely boring on the day, as everyone spends most of the day sitting around waiting to do the next scene.
As I am sure that most members know, in between takes Peter used to sit and do his crossword and keep himself very much to himself, whereas Bill would chat happily with the Crew most of the time, he could be cranky at times, but then again, we all can, and some could get a little "precious" occasionally. I never quite took to Brian Wilde to be honest, or he never quite took to me, I'm not sure which. Thora was an absolute darlin, very down to earth, she would talk to anybody, and once she started, you could never shut her up, but it was always well worth listening to, the people she had met, and her career, awesome.!
I had 2 particular favorites which may be a surprise to some members, namely Michael Aldridge, who was a lovely man, and believe it or not Juliette Caplan, who was always chatty and happy and always took time to talk to any spectators who were watching, proving to be totally different to her on screen persona.
One very rare appearance and I cant quite remember the name of the episode was an uncredited appearance (in a Bright Yellow Jacket) of one of dads Variety artists by the name of Mark Stanley, who was one of my Clubland favorites, who had a very unique act where he used to find out the names of colorful local characters and streets, doctors etc. and drop them into his comedy interludes. If any members are local to Yorkshire, they well remember Mark, should have been a big star, but it was before Reality TV.
I could write a book with the amount of stories I can remember, but I'm not a kiss and tell merchant, so I will keep them to myself. Thankyou so much for a wonderful site, really enjoyable.
