January 8th
It'll soon be Jan 8th.
My late lamented dad (Bert) adored and worshipped Burly Chassis with a passion. He was a shy retiring sort of bloke who spent most of his time with his nose in a book hiding from his energetic young wife (my mum).
So Shirley was an unlikely love object for Bert.
In those days (2 channels and 2 colours) the highlight of the viewing week was 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium'. Bruce Forsyth - who was already well past his prime - ran the show . When Shirley was topping the bill, dad became increasingly excited as Sunday approached. He spent the day itself gripped by the tension of anticipation. The show started and we sat patiently through jugglers, acrobats, performing dogs and 'Beat the Clock' until a few minutes before Shirley was due to appear.
At this point Bert called out 'C'mon Oscar' and .. took the dog out for a walk?
It happened every time. Mum often asked why - but he just shrugged.
What would he think of Shirl aged 70 in her red M&S dress singing Pink's Get the party Started song?
Happy Birthday Shirl.
KAZ
Labels: David Bowie, Elvis and Bert., Shirley Bassey
posted by KAZ at 8:59 pm
23 Comments:
AMAZing!
Is she not the queen of covers these days?
She's so Bond!
*mixes himself a Flirtini*
She still has a fine pair of lungs!
Is it open season on your bar?
The Dane seems to have made himself at home.
Reminds me of the Pat Boone Heavy Metal album...but without a penis.
Perhaps he knew someone with a colour TV round the corner?
She's fab isn't she and wonderful frocks.
Anywhere with an open bar works for me MJ
Let's just face it, when the party at your place dies out I'll need a new hot spot and an open bar is always a bonus
What a nice story, thanks for sharing.
Presumably he'd have to take the dog out a lot more (given the saturation of that ad over Xmas)!
Cyberpete:
Shirley's Bond tracks were the best.
Middy:
Perhaps she had them Botoxed.
mj:
It's not really my bar - it's my sweet personality.
Rimshot:
Whatever happened to Pat Boone?
Shirley may not have a penis - but she's certainly got balls!
Ziggi:
You are so good at 'lateral thinking'.
Perhaps a neighbour had a red piece of cellophane.
CyberDane:
Oh (see above) - so mj was right after all.
NiC:
Oscar would have been walked to exhaustion as no one would know when the adverts were coming on.
God, your dad was an enigma, wasn't he?
Shirley's greatest performance was the one on Morecambe And Wise where she ended up wearing an industrial boot. Magical.
A dog writes:
1. We dogs think the old bitch is out of season so that's why he wanted to "Foxtrot Oscar".
2. I prefer Ricky Gervais singing that.
3. No wonder M&S vol-o-vents are so pricey.
4. Leslie Hornby must have spent more than the evil winking crone Anne Robinson on "work", but got much better value for money. Brucie went with cryogenics.
5. ...er..
6...that's it.
A post full of Memories for me this Kaz.. ha! Sunday night was bath night, or stand in the sink night whilst mum scrubed you down night.
If only we could have a show like the London Palladium back.. Jugglers an all ha!
Burly Chassis.... another memory not heard for ages.
As for your Dad Burt... well my Dad was the same with Dusty Springfield, it was the only time he would stop reading his 'Fur & Feather paper, flick the ash from his Park Drive all weekend.
Ha! your memories have me smiling and remembering a Dad I lost when I was 11... thanks Kaz.
Now that's an intriguing tale - all anticipation and no let-down. It's enough to keep you on edge for a lifetime.
She can still wear a frock.
But then, she made Eric and Ernie's hobnail boots look good too.
Cool Party!
"Icicles are For-EVAH
For-EVAH!"
That is an interesting story and I have no idea what Freud would have made of it...of course my brain isn't addled by copious amounts of cocaine and I have never looked at my Mum the way that he did...although the two must be related somehow.
Happy Birthday Shirl,
wherever you are.
Betty:
My mum wasn't one for enigmas - she just said he was a silly bugger.
I can still remember the shock of that boot - eat yer heart out Lily Allen.
Murph:
Dear dog,
Thankyou for your wisdom and erudition especially re that BF ...but surely Twiggy is just naturally youthful like me and Mr P.
Wom:
You got Park Drive, Dusty and 'Fur and Feather' - I got Capstan Full Strength, Shirley and 'The Daily Herald'.
Hope you've got a power shower now to make up for the scrub down.
Mopsa:
We weren't much into amateur psychology then (Freud was just a lad)
But the phrase 'better to travel than to arrive' springs to mind.
Arabella:
Welcome back ...well that seems the wrong way round .. but you know what I mean.
And sleeveless frocks as well - even Madonna wears long sleeves now.
HE:
You slipped in - we were probably typing the word 'Freud' at the same moment - how Freudian.
I didn't realise your mum was his relative. Uncle Sigmund eh?
Ah! The Queen Of Tiger Bay!
I got into Shirley in a 'roundabout sorta way.
you know she came from Tiger Bay in Cardiff?
Two of her mates at school became big Rugby League players in the North Of England .Billy Boston (Wigan) & Johnny Freeman (Halifax)
I was a big Johnny Freeman fan.As a child, i worshipped Johnny Freeman.He was like David Beckham is/was to kids today.
But he was only "semi-Pro".i.e. he had a day-job, which,at the time ,was a window cleaner.(Imagine David Beckham cleaning windows!)
Anyway.I reckoned, any friend of Johnny's,is a friend of mine!
That ,KAZ,is when I first noticed Shirley.
Your Dad had fine taste!
Very nice story Kaz.
~Oswegan
'Appy New Year, Kaz.
There is only so much excitement you can stand before you have to take the dog out.
Sounds like a good title for a book....
Tony:
Tiger Bay always sounded so exotic and exciting that I couldn't believe it was in Wales.
I know Billy Boston (of course) but not the other guy.
Oswegan:
Glad you liked it.
sl:
You too - hope you find true leurve and happiness in 2008.
Stitch:
Absolutely - hold on a minute I'll just go and write it.
Tiger Bay is all yuppy flats, and devolved government these days. Boo to the former, yay to the latter.
I had a Shirley Bassey collection but lost them in the 'divorce'
Gareth:
Oh and I always imagined it full of drunken sailors and loose women.
Re Shirey collection - move on and forget them both!
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