2017 is packed full of anniversaries, from the first time we got to see Steed & Emma Peel in colour to the birth of Carnaby Street as the fashionable heart of Swinging London, here’s Art & Hue’s handy round-up of milestones in 2017 and the pop art inspired by them.
In 1957, a 23-year-old Scotsman called John Stephen opened up the first fashionable menswear boutique aimed at young men on Carnaby Street and proceeded to build a retail empire on the street, making it globally-famous as the heart of Swinging London during the 1960s.
2017 marks 55 years since the first ever James Bond film when Dr. No started filming on the 16th of January 1962 and premiered in October of the same year. Art & Hue has prints featuring some of the faces that appeared in the long-running spy series.
See pop art featuring actors who appeared in the James Bond films.
2017 marks several royal milestones – it’s the year of the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee marking 65 years on the throne, The Queen & Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary, plus the year that marks 100 years since the royal family became the House of Windsor.
In 1967, The Avengers series started broadcasting in colour (for those with colour TVs) & Emma Peel handed the spying baton to Tara King on set. Whilst Diana Rigg’s departure upset devotees of Mrs Peel, Linda Thorson secured her own fans who fell for the resourceful novice spy.
In 1967, the colour was switched on for the first time in Great Britain, literally and metaphorically. The BBC broadcast the first colour pictures in July 1967 & society at large, and the British cultural landscape, seemed more colourful when homosexuality was decriminalised on July 27th 1967.
The “darling” of the 1960s, British actress, & “It”-girl, Julie Christie turned 77 this year. An icon of “Swinging London”, Julie won an Academy Award for her performance in “Darling” directed by John Schlesinger, who also directed the actress in “Billy Liar”.
45 years ago, the British cult film started filming in Scotland. Christopher Lee considered it to be his best work and the film’s longevity is testament to Anthony Shaffer’s great screenplay & Robin Hardy’s direction – the final shot alone is cinematic perfection.
Keep your appointment with Art & Hue’s pop art of “The Wicker Man”.
In 1957, Hammer films released the first of many colour horror films for which the company would become famous. 60 years ago Hammer began their prolific output of horrors in vivid colour, such as “Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb”, “Scars of Dracula”, & “Horror of Frankenstein”.
70 years ago, the 1947 British crime thriller “Brighton Rock” had its first trade screening, starring Richard Attenborough in his breakthrough film role as gang leader Pinkie Brown. The classic British film noir was filmed in Brighton with a screenplay by Graham Greene & Terence Rattigan.
25 years ago, television audiences were introduced to the delight of Joanna Lumley‘s unique creation – the outrageous fashion editor Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous. A new departure for The New Avenger, Patsy became an instant cultural icon & Joanna a national treasure.
50 years ago, TV screens in 1967 saw the launch of a new spy series starring Edward Woodward as Callan. Darker & grittier than other fictional spies, the TV series came to an end in 1972, 45 years ago. Lauded for “The Wicker Man”, it’s “Callan” where audiences were first captivated by the actor.
55 years ago, the suave & debonair Simon Templar glided onto British TV screens when “The Saint” debuted in 1962. Audiences were treated to the natural charm of Roger Moore in the show that ran until 1969, second only to “The Avengers” in the amount of episodes.
See Art & Hue’s illustrated pop art of the saintly Roger Moore.
Despite having just 17 episodes, the impact of “The Prisoner” was phenomenal when it initally aired in 1967 and continues to have a profound affect on subsequent television shows that reference the stylish blend of surrealism, cryptic sci-fi, and psychological mystery.
Peter Wyngarde’s flamboyant spy Jason King debuted in 1969 series “Department S”, then starred in his own spin-off show until 1972. Defining the peacock dandy, it’s no surprise that the Carnaby Street King, John Stephen, awarded Wyngarde with “Best Dressed Man” in 1970.
With Dame Barbara Windsor turning 80 this year, Art & Hue takes a look at the birthdays of more performer from the classic Carry On comedies. The longest-running British film series (yes, longer than James Bond), Art & Hue raises a glass to toast these British cultural icons.
Jeanne Roland modelled for hairdressing revolutionary Vidal Sassoon in 1964, before going on to appear in James Bond films “Casino Royale” and “You Only Live Twice”. Vidal Sassoon sadly passed away five years ago but his legacy of modern hairdressing endures.
50 years ago, Royal Mail decided to revamp their postage stamps and created a new model of The Queen’s profile. This was used to launch a new series of stamps by Machin with the instantly identifiable image of The Queen’s head, in various colours & values.
65 years ago, Audrey’s first main film appearance was released in UK cinemas. If it wasn’t for Thorold Dickinson casting Audrey in “Secret People”, and then filming her screen test for “Roman Holiday”, the world may have been deprived of her iconic performances.
In 2017, iconic fashion models of the 1960s are celebrating milestone birthdays. Arguably the world’s first supermodel, Jean Shrimpton is turning 77 this year and the uniquely distinctive Peggy Moffitt is now 75 years old.
140 years ago, the first long-distance phone calls were made and the first commercial telephone company started in 1877 in Friedrichsberg, near Berlin. Art & Hue still has a hankering for Mid-Century receivers with the curly cords and they feature in several art prints.
Not only has Earl reached the milestone of 100 years, he broke new ground in his long career as an actor. “Pool of London” was the first British film to cast a black actor in a main role, and have an interracial relationship, with Earl Cameron making his film debut.
50 years ago, Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the music venue Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank in London. The start of the Brutalist expansion of the riverside arts complex, striking architecture helped establish the Southbank Centre as London’s cultural heart.
40 years ago, the world was shocked by the news that the King of Rock & Roll had died. The King changed music and culture forever in the 1950s with his revolutionary sound and inspired teenagers at the time, and in subsequent generations.
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