Sunday 8 April 2012

A to Z 1950s/60s Nostalgia: G

G Smell:
Gas - In those days we used coal gas with its metallic smell that was always vaguely lurking in everyone's kitchens. The natural gas we use today has no smell and a smell is added for safety.

G Memories:
Gangs - Teddy boys: In the 50s it was the teddy boys with their winkle picker shoes and drainpipe trousers. There was talk of gang fights with flick knives but I was too young to see it.

Mods and Rockers: In the 60s it was the Mods who wore smart suits and rode motor scooters, and the Rockers who wore leathers and rode motorbikes. They were always fighting, especially at seaside resorts on Bank Holiday weekends. The fights were apparently pre-planned - all this before the Internet. I never understood why they fought but I remember being scared by it.

Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe
from the Goon Show


G Programmes:
On TV:
The Grove Family
The Good Old Days, music hall theatre on the TV

On Radio:
The Goon Show, "Ying tong diddle eye foe!"
The Glums, "Ooooh, Eth."  "Ooooh, Ron."


G Names:
I had this picture of Gerry and
the Pacemakers on my bedroom wall.

Charles De Gaulle, France
Indira Gandhi, India
Yuri Gagarin, 1st man in space, 1961
John Gielgud
Alec Guinness
Judy Garland
Gerry and the Pacemakers
Marvin Gaye who, with the lovely Tammi Terrell, provides the...





G Music:
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell singing Ain't No Mountain High



Which Gs did you enjoy?