Elvis 'n Ross , BBC Tv docu, Dec.24 '07

[johnfoyle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/listings/p ... 44_8132_60

BBC TV 4

Last Man in Hammersmith Palais


Film recounting the amazing story of the iconic west London dance hall that closed in April 2007 after almost a century. It opened in 1919 when a disused roller skating rink in west London became the Hammersmith Palais De Danse.

Featuring archive footage and contributions from Dame Vera Lynn, Mick Jones, Andy Summers, Phill Jupitus and father and son Ross MacManus and Elvis Costello, plus Pauline Black and Robert Elms, both of whose parents met at the Hammersmith Palais. [S]


Mon 24 Dec, 22:10-23:10 60mins Stereo Widescreen


http://www.waddellmedia.com/news/0712palais.html

LANDMARK DOCUMENTARY FROM WADDELL MEDIA
‘LAST MAN IN HAMMERSMITH PALAIS’

TX: Monday 24 December 2007 at 22.10h on BBC Four



In April of this year, the Hammersmith Palais, west London’s legendary dance hall, closed its doors for the very last time, after almost a century at the forefront of entertainment history. This beautifully shot, nostalgic documentary recounts the amazing story of the iconic venue, immortalised by The Clash song ‘White Man In Hammersmith Palais’.

In 1919 a disused roller skating rink was transformed into the Hammersmith Palais de Danse and thus began tens of thousands of memorable evenings of jazz, swing, reggae, pop, rock, bhangra and ska. The documentary features a great line-up of world-famous artists and paying customers, who still treasure fond memories of great nights out at the Palais.


Interviewees include Dame Vera Lynn, Mick Jones (The Clash), Andy Summers (The Police), comic Phill Jupitus, and father and son Elvis Costello and Ross MacManus (former resident singer with the Joe Loss Orchestra at the Palais). Pauline Black (lead singer with The Selector) and radio DJ Robert Elms, both of whose parents met at the Palais, also contribute personal reminiscences.

The documentary includes fantastic archive footage – some previously unseen - from throughout the venue’s history. The narrator is Madness front man Suggs, who himself has performed and attended many memorable gigs at the Palais.

Elvis Costello and his father recall the days when the young Declan MacManus used to watch from the balcony of the Palais as his father rehearsed with the Joe Loss Orchestra on Sunday afternoons.

“It was competition dancers practising and, you know, two old maids dancing together, and a little kid and their aunt or something, learning to dance. So it was sort of a sweet scene. Being in the balcony and watching him perform and listening to the orchestra and the whole small pageant of those afternoons. I just took it to be normal. I thought that’s what dance halls were like.â€

[so lacklustre]

Thanks, probably would have missed this if I hadn't seen this post. Excellent programme with many facinating clips. Showed a brief clip of Elvis, Ross and Joe Loss from some mid eighties tv programme.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Great doc charting the Palais through the decades and it's progression from post-war dance-hall to School Disco venue, with various couples who met there along the way and of course performers too. Got quite excited when the Primal Scream + Mick Jones White Man came on, and then that annoying twat Bobby Gillespie had to go and ruin it (was it Phill Jupitus who said he was possessed by the spirit of Strummer or some such bollocks? - very wide of the mark). Elv and Ross were great. Some photos of Ross looking amazingly like his boy. Nice fleeting moment on The Fall on the closing night and our hero impressively giving a wholehearted thumbs up to the idea of Mark E Smith and co being the closing act.

[littletriggers]

I thought that was cool as well , Elvis giving the thumbs up to Mark E. A great show , did anyone record it ? Wouldn't mind a copy !
The black DJ who met his wife there made me laugh when he told his wife not say what she did in an end comment, how have they stayed married so long ? Happy Holidays gang and stay off the Stella !

[martinfoyle]

It's just popped up on uknova

http://www.uknova.com/wsgi/torrent/view/53475

[Neil.]

It's on again, Friday 8pm BBC Four. Also, you can watch it streamed on the BBC's iPlayer for 7 days after broadcast

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q= ... Programmes

Think it might be UK only

[DrSpooky]

Think it might be UK only

Yep. UK Only.

[martinfoyle]

I'd be glad to snailmail a few copies.

[DrSpooky]

That's nice but certainly not necessary. I was just curious. Was it good?