Leonard Bentley
Piccadilly Circus: 1973
This is a FISA company postcard printed in Barcelona, Spain. It shows the view looking north across Piccadilly Circus towards Shaftesbury Avenue and Centre Point in Tottenham Court Road. It is summer 1973 and the American post – apocalyptic science fiction film, “Soylent Green” is playing at the Empire, Leicester Square. It starred Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young and Edward G. Robinson in his last film, he died twelve days after shooting finished. The film played at the main cinema from 21st June until 7th August and at the Empire 2, which was previously the Ritz cinema, from 8th August until 27th August 1973. The Max Factor sign has recently been dismantled and a sign for “Commercial Union Assurance” has taken the underneath slot which had been unused for a few years. The CUA was formed as a result of the Tooley Street fire in 1861. The fire, which was described as the largest conflagration in London since the Great Fire of 1666, destroyed several wharves on the south side of the Pool of London just downstream of London Bridge, during the fire, James Braidwood, the head of the London Fire Engine Establishment, one of many Firefighting brigades in the Capital, was killed. The resulting high premiums asked by insurance companies led to the formation of the CUA by several local businessmen and brokers. It also led to the formation of the London Fire Brigade in 1866. The CUA amalgamated with General Accident in 1998 and became CGU Plc, two years later the company merged with Norwich Union and became CGNU Plc and was later renamed Aviva.
Piccadilly Circus: 1973
This is a FISA company postcard printed in Barcelona, Spain. It shows the view looking north across Piccadilly Circus towards Shaftesbury Avenue and Centre Point in Tottenham Court Road. It is summer 1973 and the American post – apocalyptic science fiction film, “Soylent Green” is playing at the Empire, Leicester Square. It starred Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young and Edward G. Robinson in his last film, he died twelve days after shooting finished. The film played at the main cinema from 21st June until 7th August and at the Empire 2, which was previously the Ritz cinema, from 8th August until 27th August 1973. The Max Factor sign has recently been dismantled and a sign for “Commercial Union Assurance” has taken the underneath slot which had been unused for a few years. The CUA was formed as a result of the Tooley Street fire in 1861. The fire, which was described as the largest conflagration in London since the Great Fire of 1666, destroyed several wharves on the south side of the Pool of London just downstream of London Bridge, during the fire, James Braidwood, the head of the London Fire Engine Establishment, one of many Firefighting brigades in the Capital, was killed. The resulting high premiums asked by insurance companies led to the formation of the CUA by several local businessmen and brokers. It also led to the formation of the London Fire Brigade in 1866. The CUA amalgamated with General Accident in 1998 and became CGU Plc, two years later the company merged with Norwich Union and became CGNU Plc and was later renamed Aviva.