Leonard Bentley
Piccadilly Circus: 1966
This is a Colourmaster International postcard printed in England. It shows Piccadilly Circus looking northeast with Coventry Street on the right and Shaftesbury Avenue on the left, this is 1966 and the swinging 60s are in full swing, I just wish someone had told me. The clue to the date is once again the London Pavilion which is showing “Cast a Giant Shadow” starring Kirk Douglas, Yul Bryner, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra. The film ran from 11th August until 19th September 1966 and I was at the opening night. The production company had advertised on radio, probably a pirate station and in several newspapers for very tall members of the public to come to the premiere where they would be given free tickets to view the film. My mother saw the advertisement and persuaded my Dad, 6’7” and myself, 6’6”, to take her, 5’8”, to the cinema. It was a bit of an anti-climax, just a lot of tall free loaders mooching about the foyer, the film was and is a bit of a clunker and viewing several times on TV since has not changed my mind. The large Coca-Cola sign has been a feature of the Circus since 1954 and Airlines have started to advertise. At this time Air India used the Boeing 707 as a mainstay and the British overseas Airways Corporation used both 707s and the superb Vickers VC10.
Piccadilly Circus: 1966
This is a Colourmaster International postcard printed in England. It shows Piccadilly Circus looking northeast with Coventry Street on the right and Shaftesbury Avenue on the left, this is 1966 and the swinging 60s are in full swing, I just wish someone had told me. The clue to the date is once again the London Pavilion which is showing “Cast a Giant Shadow” starring Kirk Douglas, Yul Bryner, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra. The film ran from 11th August until 19th September 1966 and I was at the opening night. The production company had advertised on radio, probably a pirate station and in several newspapers for very tall members of the public to come to the premiere where they would be given free tickets to view the film. My mother saw the advertisement and persuaded my Dad, 6’7” and myself, 6’6”, to take her, 5’8”, to the cinema. It was a bit of an anti-climax, just a lot of tall free loaders mooching about the foyer, the film was and is a bit of a clunker and viewing several times on TV since has not changed my mind. The large Coca-Cola sign has been a feature of the Circus since 1954 and Airlines have started to advertise. At this time Air India used the Boeing 707 as a mainstay and the British overseas Airways Corporation used both 707s and the superb Vickers VC10.