Categories
1963

Social History 1963 #40

Sunday 21 July 1963

Screaming Lord Sutch, pictured, says he is to stand as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Stratford-on-Avon by-election. Screaming Lord Sutch, who often wears horns and a leopard skin, said, “It’s time the young people of this country had a say in the government.” Mr Sutch is single.

Put some zip into your sausages! A sausage manufacturer is experimenting with a new type of banger. He explained, “Some people like to eat sausages with the skin on, some don’t, so we are experimenting with a sausage skin with a thin gut zip on the side.”

A Paris fashion designer is working on “hostess gowns for the capsule.” This means that when your turn comes to be shot into space, and find yourself upside down, you’ll still be impeccably dressed.

Because of freak weather conditions, television pictures from Czechoslovakia and Hungary were available in Whitby, Yorkshire yesterday.

The Drop Dead Company of Montebello, California has changed its name to the Paramount Chemical Co.

Latest on the football match-fixing scandal. Three players have been accused of receiving inducements to play badly. The summonses concern players from Mansfield Town and Bristol Rovers.

A new 45 – the theme music to Sid James’ new TV series Taxi! This disc could go places.

Television highlights: Circus from Great Yarmouth. Land of Song with Ivor Emmanuel. The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Radio highlights: How to Like Americans. Top Twenty.

Weather: dry, mostly sunny and warm, some showers.

Monday 22 July 1963 

Haircuts are to increase in price. The National Hairdressers’ Association announced that men’s 3s 6d haircuts will go up by 6d and women’s 6s 6d hairdos by one shilling.

Clearer labelling is being urged for aerosols to avoid the confusion of fly spray being used for hair lacquer.

Ieda Vargas from Brazil won the Miss Universe contest. Miss England, Susan Pratt, withdrew from the contest after a car accident. She was cheered as she was pushed on to the stage in a wheelchair.

Loose false teeth? Poli-Grip is a cream fixative, three-ways better than any powder. It’s so firm, you can eat foods you haven’t tried for years. It’s so firm, you can laugh and sneeze without fear of any embarrassing accidents.

Another horse has been named in the doping scandal. At 5 – 1, Parnear won the Swafftham Handicap at Newmarket in April.

Personal advertisements: Lil, please come home. The children and I miss you – Teddy.

Music: look out Liverpool, the Brummies are on your tail. EMI have signed seven groups from Birmingham. No discs are available yet. Decca have also signed The Redcaps from Birmingham. Their first record, Shout, will enter Discville soon.

Television highlights: Panorama – London’s nightlife. Tennis – Inter-County week. University Challenge.

Radio highlights: The Archers. Meet Yourself.

Weather: dry, sunny and warm. Outlook – similar. 20c, 68f.

Tuesday 23 July 1963 

Tory and Labour MPs clashed in the House of Commons last night over the Labour claim that South Paddington is Europe’s “biggest brothel” run by racketeers and “slum emperors”. Thugs were on the rampage, extorting money from renters who had already paid, and beating up people, including elderly women. The Tories questioned Labour’s sources and insisted that only they could rectify the problem.

Princess Alexandra’s husband, Angus Ogilvy, was elected a director of the Guardian Assurance Company. Mr Ogilvy now has over fifty directorships. Meanwhile, London’s bus drivers have been offered a pay rise of 6s a week.

Christine Keeler gave evidence at the Stephen Ward trial today and spoke of the occasion when Ward introduced her to “reefers”. Miss Keeler was asked about numerous men and payment for her favours. She admitted that, under Mr Ward’s arrangement, such events took place, but she said angrily, “I am not a prostitute. I never have been.” Mr Ward is accused of living off immoral earnings. The case continues.

Swiss beauty expert Micheline Lugeon, 26, was arrested by Flying Squad officers in connection with the horse doping scandal. She will appear before Brighton Magistrates in the morning.

A vulture escaped from Belle Vue Zoo and spent three hours perched on a Manchester chimney pot. The bird tried to settle on a television aerial, but the aerial would not support its weight. Last night, the vulture was still free.

Television highlights: Watch With Mother. On Safari – frogs and lizards. Royal International Horse Show.

Radio highlights: Listen With Mother. Pop Go The Beatles.

Weather: dry and particularly warm. Outlook – cooler with rain likely. 25c, 77f.

Wednesday 24 July 1963 

ITV was flooded with complaints last night after the broadcast of End of Conflict, a play about soldiering set in the Far East. The play contained such expletives as “bloody”, “bleeding” and “bastard”. Mr George More O’Ferrall, who directed the play, said, ‘The words were used in context. I did, however, cut out a great number of “bloodies”.’

Ninety thousand teenagers a year are now fitted with false teeth. Only 29,000,000 toothbrushes, out of a population of 52,000,000, were sold in 1962. Toothbrushes only last three months, so the conclusion reached is that not many people in Britain use a toothbrush.

Swiss beauty expert Micheline Lugeon, 26, arrested in connection with the horse doping scandal, said yesterday, “I’m innocent.” Her father is a cemetery keeper in Switzerland. Six men have been sent for trial in connection with the scandal.

If Christine Keeler’s entrance into the Stephen Ward trial yesterday had been dramatic, Mandy Rice-Davies’ entrance today was atomic. Mandy was asked about having sexual relations with Lord Astor while Stephen Ward looked on. There were gasps from the public gallery when she replied, “Oh yes, it is quite normal, isn’t it. There is nothing wrong with it.” The case continues.

Gadzooks, “The Provok’d Wife” is a lusty and high-speed romp at the Vaudeville Theatre. This Vanbrugh play, 266 years old, is well worth its present-day airing in the West End. Many of the lines are a joy, well delivered by an excellent cast. Slap me vitals, I enjoyed it.

Television highlights: Talking Sport – Cricket with Brian Rix, Charlie Drake and Ian Carmichael. Take a Letter – crossword game with Robert Holness. Professional Wrestling from Bradford.

Radio highlights: Honour Your Partners. Protest USA – a report on the race riots.

Weather: cloudy with rain or drizzle. Outlook – changeable. 20c, 68f.

Thursday 25 July 1963 

In the Stephen Ward trial, Mr Ward’s solicitors are looking for model Sylvia Parker whom they believe could be a vital defence witness. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are queuing for a seat in the public gallery every day. One of the people queuing, singer Julie Gulliver, a friend of Mr Ward, fainted. The trial continues. (The trial was receiving four to six pages of newspaper coverage daily).

Shock news that Dumbarton shipbuilding and hovercraft firm William Denny and Sons is to go into voluntary liquidation. Over the past three years the company invested £300,000 in developing a passenger hovercraft. Its hoverbus is now in service on the Thames in London. However, last night a spokesman said, “It did not reach the commercial stage soon enough.”

A plan to standardise the size markings on women’s clothes was agreed yesterday. Size 14, for instance, will mean a 37 1/2 to 39 inch hip size, with a bust size of 35 1/2 to 37 inches. The letter S will indicate garments for short women, and the letter T for tall.

Mr Brian Epstein said, “This time last year, I was trying to get the Beatles off the ground.” He succeeded. They are now one of the biggest disc properties in Britain. This week, their extended-play record Twist and Shout entered the top thirty at number 14, after an advance order of 100,000 copies.

Television highlights: The Good Old Days – old time music hall. Promenade Concert with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Here and Now – home brew.

Radio highlights: D-Day With the Stars. Ballads.

Weather: sunny spells and showers. Outlook – dry, sunny at times. 22c, 72f.

Friday 26 July 1963 

The strange crater in Roy Blanchard’s potato and barley patch was caused by a Thing From Outer Space. The Thing was as big as a cricket ball and weighed half a pound. The Thing was a meteorite, and it was discovered buried eight feet in the ground. (Update on the “meteorite” tomorrow).

Anti-smoking films will be shown on television. However, there is a big fear that tobacco revenue will decline if the smoking habit falls off sharply. Therefore, cigarette advertisements will continue.

Agony Aunt: H.T. and M.T. from Guildford write, “How can I stop my wife from painting her nails in bed?” “How can I stop my husband from smoking his pipe in bed?” Jane Adams’ reply, “Are you two husband and wife? Let me know before his pipe sets fire to your inflammable nail varnish and you both go up in flames.”

The House of Dior has spoken – hemlines will remain as they are this season. Skirts will still be worn short. Legs will be displayed. Common sense has won the day.

Cricket: despite a septic finger, Gary Sobers scored 102 for the West Indies against England in the Fourth Test Match at Headingley, yesterday. Sobers was well supported by Rohan Kanhai, who scored 92. The West Indies closed on 294 – 5. England entered the match as favourites, but now they have their work cut out.

Television highlights: Giants of Steam. Miss Universe 1963. Dad, You’re a Square.

Radio highlights: Round Europe in Song. The Lost Letter – satirical comedy.

Weather: sunny and warm. Outlook – sunny and warm. 21c, 70f.

Saturday 27 July 1963 

In an outburst during his evidence at the Old Bailey yesterday, Stephen Ward said, “If Vicky Barrett is telling the truth, then I am guilty.” However, he denied Miss Barrett’s claim that whipping and caning took place involving numerous men at his flat. He added that Christine Keeler had not told the truth and that Mandy Rice-Davies had also lied. Fashion model Sylvia Parker said that Miss Barrett’s evidence was “a complete load of rubbish.” The trial continues on Monday.

The mystery of the crater in Mr Roy Blanchard’s potato and barley patch deepened yesterday. The Thing recovered from the crater was not a meteorite, as initially thought. The Thing has trident markings on it, and is made of ironstone. Experts are investigating.

Mr Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess Alexandra, has become a director of yet another company – Provincial and Suburban Investments. Mr Ogilvy now has well over fifty directorships. 

Threepenny Lucky Bags are not so lucky these days. My friend’s son came home with a Lucky Bag that contained a balloon with a hole in it, a racing car with one wheel, a sweet and a card.

Cricket: the Fourth Test at Headingley and England are on the ropes. In reply to the West Indies’ 397 all out, England were teetering on 93 – 8. Charlie Griffith was the chief destroyer. In one spell he took four wickets for only six runs. A West Indies victory within three days now looks like the most likely result.

Television highlights: Summer Grandstand. Big Night Out with Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Vera Lynn. Supercar.

Radio highlights: Polish Music. It’s Latin.

Weather: sunny and warmer. Outlook – similar. 23c, 73f.

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