Rudyard Kipling and H Rider Haggard were great friends – my family and I, on more than one occasion have visited Kipling’s house ‘Batemans’ in Sussex and I remember the guide showing us round on one occasion and when we went into Kipling’s study she said that Rider Haggard often visited and he would sit and chat for long periods in that same room.

I felt a shiver of excitement to think that I was actually standing where these two colossal figures had often been together exchanging notes no doubt because in terms of story telling these two are in a class of their own.

Two giants of Literature and this book which I have just acquired, details the film and television adaptations of their stories

King Solomons Mines

‘King Solomons Mines’ – a big and impressive picture – . Looking even further into this, it appears that most of the African location filming for King Solomons Mines was done by February of 1950 –

‘King Solomons Mines’ proved a massive hit at the Box Office for MGM

Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr were top billed – Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) is missing her husband, who departed on a quest to find King Solomon’s lost diamond mines.  She meets and hires a disenchanted safari guide – Allan Quatermain (Stewart Granger) to lead a search party to find him.

Along the way they are besieged with several challenges, including a tremendous animal stampede which even today makes one wonder how it was filmed – and this was way before the days of CGI special effects.

 Even now this must rank as one of the best stampede scenes ever done.

‘King Solomons Mines has a strong storyline loosely based on H Rider Haggard’s magnificent novel –

I remember someone quite famous saying that he loved H Rider Haggard’s books and he used to encourage his children to read them – this is in quite recent times. He made a deal with them to read the first 50 pages of any one of his novels – and he said he knew that after that they would not be able to put the book down.

H Rider Haggard’s remains one of the greatest adventure story tellers in English Literature of all time

In the very early days of Television – when there was only ONE channel – the BBC – this young lady appeared very regularly on screen

Shirley Abicair with a zither, 1961.

Shirley Abicair, who has died aged 96, introduced British audiences in the 1950s to new sounds and songs from around the world. She played the zither, a stringed instrument with its origins in Austria and Bavaria, and her repertoire included folk songs not only from her native Australia but also from France, Italy, Ireland, the US and Asia. A great storyteller, she became a regular fixture on British TV variety shows and children’s programmes.

She was around at about the same time as another artist who also seemed a regular – namely Elton Hayes

She appeared with Norman Wisdom in the film ‘One Good Turn’ along with Joan Rice

She arrived almost penniless in London from Australia in 1952 – after stops in Singapore and Karachi to play at nightclubs to pay for her onward journey – and her career took off almost instantly. A newspaper photo of Abicair arriving at Heathrow was seen by a BBC radio producer looking for Commonwealth artists to appear in a radio programme. The band leader Geraldo heard her and booked her for a concert and a further audition, after which she appeared for the first time on the BBC TV programme The Centre Show, on 20 January 1953. Within a few weeks she had her own series with her zither and “a rhythm quartet”, and later that year released her first 78rpm single, an orchestra-and-zither treatment of Careless Love, once recorded by Bessie Smith.

She went on to appear alongside Norman Wisdom in the film One Good Turn (1955) and in the same year made the first of her appearances on the children’s TV show Crackerjack.

Her skills as a children’s entertainer were further demonstrated by her appearances on the TV programmes Studio E and Children’s Hour, which she hosted with her puppet “friends”, Tea Cup and Clothespeg. The BBC request programme Children’s Favourites regularly featured her recording of Little Boy Fishin’ (1956), written by the Australian Bill Lovelock.

Shewas Roy Plomley’s castaway on Desert Island Discs in 1956, and chose music by Bach, Fats Waller and Burl Ives, and, for her luxury item, a “case of avocado pears”.

, she worked with the producer George Martin, of Beatles fame, on the theme song for the 1956 film Smiley, set in a small country town in Australia, and praised Martin’s “warm, silent understanding and musicianship”.

She also worked with Lovelock to collect what she called “some of the most beautiful folk songs in the world” for her solo albums. It’s Shirley! (1958) included the English traditional Green Willow, which Steeleye Span later recorded as their hit All Around My Hat. The follow-up album Look! It’s Shirley (1959) included Willie the Weeper, a song recorded by Louis Armstrong and now arranged by Humphrey Lyttelton. A Delicate Air (1960) included Walzing Matilda and Spanish Is a Loving Tongue, a song written in the 1920s that became a Bob Dylan favourite.

In 1957 she appeared on the BBC’s first rock-era programme Six-Five Special, alongside Lyttelton and the Vipers skiffle group.

In the 60s she travelled extensively, touring Russia and the US, and entertaining British troops in the far east with the comedian Frankie Howerd. But she continued to work in children’s entertainment, and published a collection of children’s stories about an Indigenous Australian boy, The Tales of Tumbarumba, in 1962. Her final singles included covers of Paul Simon’s Flowers Never Bend With the Rainfall (1966) and the Beatles’ This Girl (1967).

In the 70s, in a move that would have surprised those who remembered her as a family entertainer, she toured the US college circuit with the counterculture writer Ken Kesey (the author of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, known for his drug-induced adventures with the Merry Pranksters), and lived on his farm in Oregon.

Born in Melbourne, Shirley grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, the daughter of an RAAF wing commander and a music-loving mother. Her musical career started when she discovered a zither while looking through the attic of her parent’s home, and taught herself to play. At Sydney University, where she studied philosophy, she supported herself by working as a typist. At night she would sing to friends, and after winning a radio contest she began to sing professionally.

She was followed to Britain in 1952 by her then boyfriend, Murray Sayle, whom she had known since her university days. Both of their careers flourished in the UK – Sayle became a celebrated war reporter and adventurer – but their relationship was less successful.

She spent her final years living in London.

 Shirley Abicair, musician, writer and entertainer, born 25 October 1928; died 27 September 2025

I never realised that there was such an event as this but the pictures appeared in a magazine of 10 July 1952

There was a large film conference arranged by Pathe in the resort and this of course would concentrate very much on British films of the time – ‘Angels One Five’ to name one film was promoted here

It does seem from the pictures below that MGM sort to capitalise on the publicity this conference would get, by promoting their films in the town

Two big films promoted here – ‘Quo Vadis’ and ‘Scaramouche’

The Black Knight ABOVE and BELOW were from ‘Ivanhoe’ and not to be confused with the Alan Ladd film of that was made here in England a couple of years later

Don’t say that The Black Knight is going to confront a very up to date bus of the era

My post back in August concerned David Farrar’s Autobiography ‘ No Royal Road’ which I had then just acquired and now have got down to reading. I am quite a slow reader as opposed to a skim reader, so hopefully I make sure I retain the majority of it – if I don’t then often I re-read a passage.

David Farrar was the youngest child of the family and was born in 1908 in Forest Gate London – or so it says on Wiki. Not sure about this as I can’t find where he actually says this in his book. i maybe think that he was born in Essex and moved to London at a very young age. He had an older brother Albert, a sister and another brother.

David seemed to get on very well with Albert and looked up to and admired him. Albert could and often did play the piano that they had and David started to learn but he does not refer much to his sister or other brother.

David along with his father and Albert often went to the cinema at a weekend – in those silent days – something they all three loved. His father had a love for entertainment particularly the Music Hall.

He describes very clearly the tragedy that befell the famiiy when David was 13 – so 1919 or so.

Albert became unwell and confined to bed at home. Doctors came but he didn’t improve and so he was admitted to hospital where he died some days later. What he died of isn’t made clear but at that time it could well have been the terrible Flu epidemic that ravaged the World.

The family were devastated – the piano was not played as it wrought such painful memories for them – although after some weeks Mrs Farrar realised that this was doing the remaining children no good at all and so playing was then recommenced

What a sad time that would have been for them

On a lighter note, the family always looked forward to their holidays down on the farm in Hainault, Essex owned by relatives of his mother.

There is much more to come from this Autobiography which has been very hard to find – and expensive when you do

I certainly don’t remember this at all – in fact this is the first time I have seen such a TV set with a coin operated addition.

Is this for real ?

I am wondering if this was an idea from the USA although the television is showing ‘Andy Pandy’ so maybe not

I have since discovered that this type of TV set was used by people who rented their sets as we did for many years in the early days of Colour.

To me and to many I suppose, the launch of Colour Television does not seem that long ago – in fact on occasions in conversation with younger people I will say ‘that was the first place that I saw a Colour Television’.

I don’t think that they grasp that there was actually a time that we only had ‘Black and White’

I have previously posted an article here about Walt Disney who along with his wife and daughters visited Norton Disney in Lincolnshire way back in 1949 while he was over here overseeing his film ‘Treasure Island’ being made at Denham. He was looking to find evidence of his family roots to the village.

Fast forward to 2025 and very recently Lincolnshire now has a Lancaster Bomber statue at Norton Disney depicting Lincolnshire’s unique connection to the plane and to the Dambuster 617 Squadron which was Lincolnshire based.

Walt Disney of course had used Richard Todd in the title role in ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ released in early 1952 and three years later he had played Wing Commander Guy Gibson in ‘The Dam Busters’ – he also live much of his later life in Lincolnshire just a few miles South of Norton Disney.

So it is Richard Todd that connects Walt Disney to the new Lancaster Bomber memorial

ABOVE – What a picture as the only existing Lancaster still flying passes by above the new memorial

This does seem an unlikely pairing but it seems that having met when they both did a Charity Event performance in 1955 called ‘NIGHT OF 100 STARS’, they liked each other and got on extremely well

She told a lovely story about having dinner with Tyrone Power andf then ,being taken home in his Jaguar She felt obliged to offer dinner back,but said to Tyrone,it will only be bacon and eggS to which he replied ‘ I would love bacon and eggs’ and he ‘looked forward to it‘

Joan forgot but ater a few days she received a telephone call from his manager / agent -saying that Tyrone kept asking when are we coming for bacon and eggs.

Joan was then in a panic thinking that she couldn’t give a movie star bacon and egg so her friend showed her how to make Caesar salad to go with it. The meal was a success.

They all enjoyed the meal and danced the night away to Songs for Swinging Lovers

This BELOW is a photograph from the event NIGHT OF 100 STARS, Tyrone Power did a song and dance number and Joan was one of the showgirls (below) dancing with him (others included Anna Massey, Jean Kent, and Brenda Bruce).

Tyrone Power did see Joan a few times, and they had a sort of romance until he was summoned back to Hollywood.

No this isn’t one of his films but in fact his Autobiography – at least as far as it went as this was published in 1947 so in fact, his life – and his film life – would have much more to be written about.

I have read one comment quite a while ago, from someone who had read ‘No Royal Road’ and he had found that the thing that struck him was that David Farrar seemed to have a very high opinion of himself.

This book is notoriously hard to find but I was lucky although I had searched regularly for it – not that I am a big fan of his but he was in memorable films of my youth.

I recall the story of a school trip by the Old Monrovians to Denham Film Studios where the film ‘Mr Perrin and Mr Traill’ was being made which also starred Marius Goring and Greta Gynt. Apparently all the actors particularly Edward Chapman were very helpful and friendly with the boys but David Farrar was not.

He appeared looking dis-interested, had a picture taken, and then just strode off and that’s the last the schoolboys saw of him.

He does come over as superior and supercilious and unfriendly.

‘Mr Perrin and Mr Traill’ is one of my favourite films

David Farrar was certainly happily married for a lot of years and it does sound as though his wife was very influential in his Theatre work and in the films he played in.

He did regret turning down the main ‘villain’ role in that big production of ‘Ivanhoe’ made in England and released in 1952 – a lavish MGM Technicolor production. The part went to George Sanders after his refusal – and David later said that he wished he had done it – it was the most interesting role in the film in his opinion.

David Farrar moved to Hollywood probably later than he should have done – he appeared in films there with limited success.

One of his later films ‘300 Spartans’ is well remembered to this day

When he retired from films, and after his wife died he went to live near his daughter in South Africa. He didn’t keep in contact with any of his colleagues in the film industry – and appeared to have few friends

No sooner had she finished with ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ Joan Rice was signed for a leading role in this South Sea Adventure filmed in Fiji starring opposite Burt Lancaster.

Byron Haskin – who Walt Disney had hired previously to direct ‘Treasure Island’ at Denham Film Studios in England in 1949 – directed this one and as always, he made a very good job of it. In Technicolor and Widescreen this looked so impressive at the cinema when I saw it along with my brother at The Odeon, St. Albans.

Joan Rice acted well in this and was well treated by Byron Haskin who had no complaints about her – and she was respected and certainly not the subject of bullying s she was on ‘ The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Memories of this film released in 1954 and one I saw at the Odeon in St. Albans are still crystal clear because in those days in the early days of TV which as we all know was in Black and White and on such a small screen, we had seen nothing of the South Sea Islands and here we were transported to Fiji in Technicolor on the giant Cinemascope  screen.

We saw a swashbuckling Burt Lancaster – previously having seen him in The Flame and the Arrow – and the very beautiful Joan Rice.

                                         The lovely star of this film – Joan Rice.

On a recent cruise holiday, my wife and I had called at Suva in Fiji and during the bus tour our guide asked if anyone had heard of or seen His Majesty O Keefe and I was able to say – Yes I have seen it about 50 times – and he said that the scene in Hong Kong with Burt Lancaster and Joan Rice had actually been filmed in the heart of Suva. He also showed us where some of the action shots were done. It seemed a film that they were quite proud of – and why not. It is a very good and enjoyable film. It wasn’t the first because Jean Simmons had been out to Fiji a year or more before to film The Blue Lagoon. I quite often think about those young actresses going out to Fiji in those days – even now it is a long way but then it must have taken ages – but what an adventure for them !!

Burt Lancaster plays a sea captain / adventurer IN 1870  who plies his trade in the South Seas and in Fiji sees an opportunity of making a lot of money from Copra. He does however fall in love with Joan Rice – who wouldn’t ? – and turns into a hero helping rescue the islanders from unscrupulous people.

Andre Morrell is very good – as he always was – he was something of a stalwart of this era although never in the starring role but pretty dependable. He would have gone out to Fiji also for the filming which was all done on the islands rather than back on studio sets.

Also cast were Abraham Sofaer and Benson Fong in quite good roles.

This is one of my own favourite films – it is exotic, colourful with a good story and a lovely leading lady in Joan Rice. I was never a big fan of Burt Lancaster though but he did well enough in this and he had the name to ensure some success for Warner Brothers with the film which cost around $1.55 million dollars to make in the early fifties – so it would be quite big budget.

After her return Joan Rice’s career just seemed to fade away even after The Story of Robin Hood and His Majesty O Keefe both major films with worldwide distribution and both financially very successful. I can never understand this because in both films she was good and very watchable. Something went wrong but what ?

An above average British film – a film that deserves to be better known

This well-made British science fiction story concerns the crew of a test rocket on which a lady reporter (Lois Maxwell) stows away. Kieron Moore plays the pilot of the rocket sent into orbit in connection with the test of a new “Tritonium bomb”. Donald Wolfit plays the bomb’s inventor.

After releasing he bomb, it’s internal propulsion system fails and it becomes attached to the hull of the spacecraft. All attempts to dislodge it are unsuccessful, so the bomb’s inventor takes drastic action to deal with the situation.

Director Paul Dickson presents an exciting and intelligent story. The special effects are both competent and exciting — which is no surprise in view of the fact that their creator, Wally Veevars, later worked on “2001”

The special effects include the space scenes, an underground space complex, and a rocket which is launched from a horizontal track, similar to “When Worlds Collide”. Well-designed sets and props (especially the ship’s interior and the spacesuits) enhance this wonderful British entry.

Satellite in the Sky – Start of the Take-off

Satellite in the Sky – The Spaceship speeding up the Ramp

Satellite in the Sky – We have lift-off

Satellite in the Sky – The Spaceship cruising along in space

One scene in Satellite in the Sky on the big wide screen that remains with me to this day is a brief shot when Keiron Moore looks out of the space craft from a side viewing area, and we are looking back with him towards the earth and other planets – and that was extremely well done although you could see that it was fake – it didn’t seem to matter anyway as the film was so enjoyable.  Now I see it again – as above – still pretty good, I would say.

Kieron Moore and Lois Maxwell on board the Spaceship

In Satellite in the Sky 1956 – we have that  grand thespian Donald Wolfit  – BELOW  who, to me, is the most interesting character in the film – and gives the best performance.

Satellite in the Sky should really have a far higher profile in British sci-fi history, or even as a classic British film but somehow it is a forgotten relic – which I think is unjust for such an expensive and, at times, impressive film.

Sir Donald Wolfit made quite a few films and was always good but he never ventured to Hollywood as people like Laurence Olivier did – both Shakespearean Actors of some note although Donald Wolfit had the edge. He could tackle – and did tackle on stage – all the major Shakespearian Characters whereas Olivier could not. His Othello was pretty poor.

If Donald Wolfit had gone to Hollywood I am certain that he would have fared very well indeed.

To finish we quote just two of the impressive Theatre reviews Sir Donald Wolfit received :-

From James Agate the influential Critic wrote :-

“I say deliberately that his performance on Wednesday was the greatest piece of Shakespearean acting I have ever seen”

AND

C.B. Cochran wrote :

‘In Donald Wolfit a new ‘giant’ has arisen .. It is my decided opinion that there has been no actor on our stage since Irving’s great days comparable to Wolfit in the great roles’

Edith Sitwell  after seeing him in King Lear wrote that the cosmic grandeur of his performance left her and her brother Osbert unable to speak