London in the 1960s

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London, the primary city and capital of the United Kingdom, thrived in the 1960s. From the mid-1960s, partly as a result of the success of British musicians and bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, London became a centre for the worldwide youth culture. This was exemplified by the Swinging London subculture which made Carnaby Street a place of youth fashion. Sixties London was also a time of significant development and change, with the demolishing of pre-World War II buildings for new complexes and housing.

History

West End, Leicester Square, London

The '60s was the decade when the Labour Party came to power under Harold Wilson from 1964 to 1970, 20 years after Clement Attlee. The West End thrived as a place of pop culture, and boutique culture came into vogue with mini skirts, Peggy Maffits' Greenwich fashion, the "maxis" and men's boutiques on King's Road setting major fashion trends for men.[1] Tousled hair styles, the opposite of the polished styles of the '50s, were extremely popular on the streets of London, inspired by music groups of the times. Vidal Sasoon's style also became iconic and the distinctive style of East London at the time. Leslie Hornby became known for wearing miniskirts, and walked the streets of London like a "big-eyed cockney Dolly bird" exposing as much of her legs and other features as permitted.[1][2] It was the era when Twiggy, the top fashion model was introduced to the fashion scene by David Bailey, a leading photographer in the late '60s, when hippie culture, "Flower Power" and the slogan "Make Love not War"[3] was fashionable.

As a result of baby boom in the 1950s, London became the city with a population of 40% under the young category by the mid-1960s,[citation needed] a situation which happened only after the Roman Empire. Youth and money then underwent a pivotal and remarkable "metamorphosis from a gloomy, grimy post-War capital into a bright, shining epicentre of style".[1] Changes in fashion were also accompanied by changes in architecture and the demolishing of old buildings and the development of new housing and centre, reflecting the modern times.

1960–1

Vauxhall Bridge.

1960 was a year of much commotion in the city. A great crowd of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament supporters assembled on Trafalgar Square in protest, opposed by Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell. A group of anti-apartheid protesters also demonstrated at the Oval Cricket Ground.[4] Anti-Semitic protests also took place.[5] The compulsory National Service for men was abolished in 1960.[1]

The titillating book, "Lady Chatterley’s Lover" by D.H.Lawrence, was in the news when the Penguin Publishers were taken to court for its publication as falling under the Obscene Publications Act. A jury of the Old Bailey Court, hearing the petition from 20 October to 2 November 1960, ruled that the book narrating the love affair between the Lady of the Manner and the Game Keeper and the use of four lettered words, was not obscene.[6]

In 1961, immigration peaked with over 100,000 West Indians living in London. This also ushered the creation of slums (due to shortage of accommodation on account of WWII bombed structures) and emergence of social problems.[1] The first issue of the anarchist monthly magazine, Anarchy was published in London in March 1961; the magazine run until December 1970.[7] The Carl Rosa Opera Company stopped performing after its Don Giovanni performance on 17 September 1960, due to lack of funds, only to reopen in 1997.[8] The 1961 London Trophy was a motor race on 22 May 1961 at Crystal Palace Circuit, run to Formula One standards.

1962–3

Andi Lothian, a former Scottish music promoter, claimed that he coined the term Beatlemania after the Caird Hall Beatles concert that took place as part of The Beatles' Mini-Tour of Scotland, on 7 October 1963.[9] Beatles recorded their music at the EMI studios in St John's Wood at the Abbey Road, which is also the title of their album. The mania enveloped the nation and young fans resorted to rioting as a celebration when the Beatles got the MBE at the Buckingham Palace.[10]

The Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones with Ian Stewart and Dick Taylor on bass – billed as "the Rollin' Stones" played their first gig on 12 July 1962, at the Marquee Club.[11]

Christine Keeler.

John Profumo, the British Secretary of State for War was involved in a sex scandal with Christine Keeler who was a call girl. This affair took place in 1961–62. She was reported dallying with Profumo in the swimming pool at the Clivedon Estate of Lord Aston. The torrid affair involved Mandy Rice-Davies also, with Dr. David Ward as the organiser of the escapades at the estate where Russian spy Eugene Ivanov was also one of the many clients of the two call girls. In the furore, it was alleged that the country’s security was compromised. Profumo was forced to resign and the affair termed Profumo Affair damaged the reputation of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government.[10]

The Gaelic football club, Tír Chonaill Gaels, based in Greenford, was formed in London in 1962, and is one of the most successful in the London Gaelic Scene. In the same year, the City of London Festival was established.[12]

The London Government Act 1963 recognised officially the Greater London conurbation, creating a new local government structure for the capital.[13] Centre Point, a 385 ft (117m) high concrete and glass office building in was built at 101–103 New Oxford Street, close to St Giles Circus from 1963–66. It was one of the first skyscrapers in London. Numerous tower blocks, many of them apartment blocks on housing estates in the suburbs, sprang up.

1964–5

Heathrow Airport in 1965

During 1964, London was the scene of a heady mix of Art Nouveau and rock and roll music. Victoria period clothing became popular with the boutique "Granie Takes a Trip", which relegated Woolworth's to oblivion. Music of the Beatles and other pop singers, TV and cult movies and admen made the rest of the world envy the booming culture of London with romance and love taking the front seat.[2]

Following on the foot steps of the west Indian immigrants was the adoption of West Indian styles which got infused into the London culture scene during the 1960s. Musically, the rude boy style of ska changed in music so also the dress styles underwent change over to "sta-press trousers, the Crombie overcoat, and the pork-pie hat"; initially skinheads dressed in this fashion which was later followed by punks.[14]

The Daily Herald newspaper, published in London during the period of 1912–1964, ceased publication when it transitioned to The Sun.[15] In 1965, a new magazine titled Nova was published which was a contrast to the then popular "Queen" in its aesthetic presentation.[14]

1966–7

Exterior view of Wembley Stadium.

In 1966, England lifted the 1966 FIFA World Cup in the final game played at the Wembley Stadium on 30 July 1966, a match against West Germany which played into extra time. It was won by England with 4–2 lead and was a memorable moment.[16]

Twiggy was given the epithet "The Face of 1966". The Chelsea Set, a "hard-partying, socially eclectic mix of largely idle 'toffs' and talented working-class movers and shakers" became well-known; Mary Quant was uncrowned queen of the group.[1]

On 15 April 1966, Time called London the "Swinging City". The The Beatles, The Kinks, The Small Faces, The Who, The Byrds and The Rolling Stones ruled the music roost of not only London but also the rest of the world.[1]

1968–9

Anti-immigration euphoria was orchestrated by Enoch Powell, Member of Parliament, in 1968, when the term "Rivers of Blood" was used to highlight the context, and he also called Britain "the Sick Man of Europe." His racist perorations caused him dishonor of dismissal from the Shadow Cabinet when Ted Heath was the Prime Minister.[17]

In May 1968, students of London's Hornsey College of Art protested in a dispute over the distribution of student union funds.[18] A new gallery for notable temporary exhibitions became an "event of significance in the unfolding relations between the public and modern art."[19] In 1968, Paul Morrissey's film Flesh was confiscated by the police from the Open Space Theatre as it had very explicit graphic footage of sexual scenes.[20] Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) was shot in London and the suburbs in 1968 and epitomised the look of 60s London at the time.

In 1969, Monty Pythons' Flying Circus, a TV show, was started.[20]

Swinging London

Main article: Swinging London
Young people in Carnaby Street in the 1960s.

"Swinging London" was defined by Time magazine in its issue of 15 April 1966 and celebrated in the name of the pirate radio station, Swinging Radio England, that began shortly afterward. However, "swinging" in the sense of hip or fashionable had been used since the early 1960s, including by Norman Vaughan in his "swinging/dodgy" patter on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. In 1965, Diana Vreeland, editor of Vogue magazine, said "London is the most swinging city in the world at the moment."[21]

The British Union Jack on Austin Power's "Shaguar"

During the time of Swinging London, fashion and photography were featured in Queen magazine, which drew attention to fashion designer Mary Quant.[22] The model Jean Shrimpton was another icon and one of the world's first supermodels.[23] She was the world's highest paid[24] and most photographed model[25] during this time. Shrimpton was called "The Face of the '60s",[26] in which she has been considered by many as "the symbol of Swinging London"[24] and the "embodiment of the 1960s".[27] Other popular models of the era included Veruschka, Peggy Moffitt, and Penelope Tree. The model Twiggy has been called "the face of 1966" and "the Queen of Mod," a label she shared with others, such as Cathy McGowan, who hosted the television rock show, Ready Steady Go! from 1964 to 1966.[28] Mod-related fashions such as the miniskirt stimulated fashionable shopping areas such as Carnaby Street and King's Road, Chelsea.[29] The fashion was a symbol of youth culture. The British flag, the Union Jack, became a symbol, assisted by events such as England's home victory in the 1966 World Cup.[30] The Mini-Cooper car (launched in 1959) was used by a fleet of mini-cab taxis highlighted by advertising that covered their paintwork.[31]

Film industry

Horror film Masque of the Red Death.

The British film industry, under the new wave young film makers, got a boost when the Hollywood big names of Warner Brothers and MGM offloaded some of their film making to their units in London, and co-productions were filmed. But this only lasted till end of the '60s as there was a financial crunch when the American film makers withdrew from the London scene of joint productions. Some of the films made during this period were of B-Grade. To name a few: Peeping Tom (1960) a thriller by Michael Powell, horror films such as The Masque of the Red Death (1964) and the Tomb of Ligeia (1964) and the Carry On films till 1966.[32] Movies filmed in London during the 1960s, with an altered perception theme, included Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup (1966) and Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965).[33]

Gallery

  • High Holborn, London (1960s)
    High Holborn, London (1960s)
  • London Transport logo
    London Transport logo
  • Piccadilly Circus c1960
    Piccadilly Circus c1960

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "SWINGING 60S – CAPITAL OF COOL". History. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b D. Richard Truman (December 2010). Mods, Minis, and Madmen: A True Tale of Swinging London Culture in the 1960s. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-4502-6755-7.
  3. ^ Levy 2012, p. 1.
  4. ^ "History of London:1960s". LBC. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. ^ Steve Nicholson (2012). Modern British Playwriting: The 1960s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 1964–. ISBN 978-1-4081-5711-4.
  6. ^ Levy 2012, pp. 2–3.
  7. ^ Ward, Colin (1987). A Decade of anarchy 1961–1970: selections from the monthly journal Anarchy. Freedom Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-900384-37-0.
  8. ^ "American and British History", www.carlrosaopera.co.uk, 2009
  9. ^ "Radio interview". Radio Tay AM. Retrieved 11 June 2103. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ a b Levy 2012, p. 5.
  11. ^ Wyman, Bill (2002). Rolling With the Stones. DK Publishing. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0-7894-9998-3.
  12. ^ "About". City of London Festival.
  13. ^ Williams, D. G. T. (July 1964). "London Government Act, 1963". The Modern Law Review. 27 (4): 447–454.
  14. ^ a b Christopher Breward; Edwina Ehrman; Caroline Evans (2004). The London Look: Fashion from Street to Catwalk ; [published in Conjunction with the Museum of London Exhibition, The London Look: Fashion from Street to Catwalk, 19 October 2004]. Yale University Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-300-10399-1. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  15. ^ Curran, James; Seaton, Jean (2010). Power Without Responsibility: The Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. Taylor & Francis. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-0-415-46699-8.
  16. ^ Levy 2012, pp. 3–4.
  17. ^ Levy 2012, p. 3.
  18. ^ Tickner, Lisa (2008). Hornsey 1968: The Art School Revolution. frances lincoln ltd. ISBN 978-0-7112-2874-0.
  19. ^ Taylor, Brandon (1999). Art for the Nation: Exhibitions and the London Public, 1747–2001. Manchester University Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7190-5453-2.
  20. ^ a b Levy 2012, p. 6.
  21. ^ Quoted by John Crosby, Weekend Telegraph, 16 April 1965; and in Pearson, Lynn (2007) "Roughcast textures with cosmic overtones: a survey of British murals, 1945–80" Decorative Arts Society Journal 31: pp. 116–37
  22. ^ Miles, Barry (2009). The British Invasion. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-4027-6976-4.
  23. ^ Burgess, Anya (10 May 2004). "Small is still beautiful". Daily Post. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  24. ^ a b "The Girl Behind The World's Most Beautiful Face". Family Weekly. 8 February 1967.
  25. ^ Cloud, Barbara (11 June 1967). "Most Photographed Model Reticent About Her Role". The Pittsburg Press.
  26. ^ "Jean Shrimpton, the Famed Face of the '60s, Sits Before Her Svengali's Camera One More Time". 07 (21). 30 May 1977. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ Patrick, Kate (21 May 2005). "New Model Army". Scotsman.com News.
  28. ^ Fowler, David (2008) Youth Culture in Modern Britain, C.1920-c.1970: From Ivory Tower to Global Movement – A New History p.134. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008
  29. ^ "Carnaby Sound Music festival". Official web site of Carnaby. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  30. ^ "History of the World Cup:Part Eight: 1966 England". Millingstein's Enterprise.net. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Britpop and its influences" (pdf). Chrispettitt.com. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  32. ^ Sarah Casey Benyahia; Freddie Gaffney; John White (2006). As Film Studies: The Essential Introduction. Taylor & Francis. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-0-415-39310-2.
  33. ^ Grunenberg, Christoph; Harris, Jonathan; Harris, Jonathan P. (2005). The summer of love: psychedelic art, social crisis and counterculture in the 1960s. Liverpool University Press. pp. 119–. ISBN 978-0-85323-929-1.

Bibliography

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