CAROLE LOMBARD COLOURISED

With the opening of two new cinemas in Hereford, together with this year's theme for the Modelling Challenge ("Ladies! To the Barricades!), it's the perfect time to pursue our interest in colourised photographs, on this occasion not of tanks nor planes, but of one of the 1930s most glamorous female film stars, Ms. Carole Lombard.

Queen of Hollywood's "screwball comedies", Carole Lombard (born 1908 as plain Jane Alice Peters) was the highest paid film star of 1937, earning $450,000, or more than five times the American President. Her full biography is HERE. And so on to the colourisations:

Carole, 1932

Carole, prob c.1937

Carole at the height of her acting powers, prob c.1935

Quite what effect Carole Lombard had on contemporary (or even modern day) Herefordians is unknown. Her effect on at least one member of the Modelling Challenge 2024 Judging Panel has, however, been clearly documented:

Anthropomorphic Mr Wolf, a distinguished celebrity Judge, makes a judicial recommendation.

Note (and just one more colourisation):

Having begun an (illicit) romance in 1936, Carole Lombard married Clark Gable on 29th March 1939:

Tragically, on the morning of 16th January 1942 and while returning from a US War Bonds tour, Carole Lombard and her mother were killed in an aeroplane crash in Nevada. It is said that an inconsolable Clark Gable (d.1960) never recovered from the loss.

CINEMA IN HEREFORD 1930s

Hereford was slow (some would say pleasingly and/or entirely characteristically) to take advantage of the great cinema going boom of the 1920s and 1930s. It was only in 1936 that the Alhambra, the old fashioned Victorian music hall in Gwynne Street, was demolished; at that point, films then appear to have been shown in the former Corn Exchange - converted into the Kemble Theatre - in Broad Street. Nevertheless, in 1937/1938, Hereford witnessed the construction of not just one, but two, purpose built cinemas - the Odeon in Commercial Street and the Ritz in Commercial Road:

(1). The Odeon, 7 Commercial Street, opened in April 1937. This photograph also dates from
April 1937, the month of release for "Good Morning Boys" starring Will Hay.

(2). A photograph of the Odeon from 1949. Will Hay has long departed (in fact,
he died in April 1949, and the earliest this photograph could have been taken
is July, when "Sorrowful Jones" was released).

(3). The splendid Art Deco interior of the Odeon.

(4). Interior of the Odeon - a view from the right hand side of the dress circle.

The casual tourist (or eager VBCW researcher) visiting Hereford today will search in vain for "The Odeon" and its fine Art Deco interior - unfortunately, it has now to be numbered amongst the "architectural losses" of the cityscape. Unlike a number of other buildings, however, there is no suspicion that this loss was caused by "enemy action" during the course of the VBCW; the demolition of the Odeon in 1984 to make way for the (actually quite sympathetic) Maylord Shopping Centre redevelopment is too well-documented.

A quite different fate awaited the second (and even larger) purpose built Hereford Cinema, the red-brick Ritz:

(5). The Ritz Cinema, 100 Commercial Road, opened on 10th January 1938.

(6). A splendid extended view of the Ritz in the 1930s. A full sized cafe and tea room nearest the
camera. The cinema itself, reflecting the changing concerns and pre-occupations of the generations, was situated on the demolished remains of the Victorian County Gaol, itself built on the ruins of the
 ancient Priory of St. Guthlac.

(7). Interior of the Ritz, complete with the essential organist (Mr Frank Slater). March 1939 photo.

(8). A somewhat fuzzy (but best available) late 1930s view of the Ritz interior, organ in the centre.
Again Art Deco in inspiration, but not quite as exuberant as the interior of the Odeon.

The Ritz remains with us today, but had a somewhat chequered history of takeovers, buy-outs, and partial conversion (the stylish 1930s Cafe became the local Unemployment Benefit Office for a number of years, and part of the cinema was converted - shame to relate -  into a bingo hall). Final closure as a cinema took place in 2014, when an entirely new (multi-screen!) cinema was built in the course of the redevelopment of Hereford's old Cattle Market.

(9). A wet Commercial Road in May 2000; pretty much the same shot of the Ritz Cinema as Photo (6) above. There has been a very noticeable increase in traffic over the intervening 70 years, the once 
stylish Cafe now advertises itself as "Snack Bar and Amusements", and someone has thought to plant
a tree in order entirely to ruin the Art Deco vista. Sic transit....

(10). The 2010s - the once "Snack Bar & Amusements" space converted into an "all you can eat"
Chinese restaurant, trading as "Planet".

(11). The Odeon in 2008. Having previously been divided into a cinema and bingo hall,
the bingo hall has now given way to a nightclub called "Dusk".

(12). It's 2014 - the end. The Odeon has moved to the redeveloped Old Market.
 The nightclub stumbles on, rebranded from "Dusk" to "Fusion".
 The now leafless tree remains.

Post 2014, Christ and Mammon co-habitation. The cinema is now in use as a "Freedom Church", while "Fusion" continues its nightclub activities. The tree has not perked up.

Thankfully, however, as we live in the VBCW of 1938, we do not need to consider the future of demolition and change of use: it is sufficient to celebrate the arrival of two wonderful new cinemas in the centre of Hereford (just in time for the outbreak of the civil war, of course) and the journeys of imagination that Herefordians will soon be entranced by:

A long way from Hereford. Future blogposts will catalogue the types of films seen by Herefordians
during the course of the Very British Civil War.......

Notes:

(A). The Alhambra Music Hall, situated in Gwynne Street and demolished in 1936:

Alhambra demolition 1936.

(B). A local internet wag has cleverly pointed out the similarity between the Ritz Cinema, Hereford, and:

....the Red Banner Textile Factory, Leningrad.

The modern day Textile Factory has, nevertheless, rather more severe "tree issues".

TYPES OF THE VBCW (19) : STAFF OFFICER

Every VBCW Platoon needs a "Staff Officer" - someone who might just know where the Platoon is within the County, and where it might usefully go to. Often operating as the "No.2" to an inevitably charismatic Platoon Commander, here is a nice 28mm Staff Officer type:

VBCW (probably Royalist) Staff Officer, complete with detailed folding map.
From the Gripping Beast WW1 Pilots Pack, painted (many years ago!)
by Rob Bresnan (aka Comrade Colonel Professor Winters aka 
Roderick Spode, 7th Earl Sidcup aka etc. etc.)

With his bushy blonde waxed moustache, this Staff Officer might even serve as a 28mm personality figure, none other than a VBCW type "Lord Flashheart" (although, in those circumstances, the map might have to be repainted with a quite different kind of "centrefold"):

Staff Officer ? Some kind of joke ? Lord Flashheart takes over command of the Platoon.

FOREIGN NEWS - VBCW ACTION IN BORSETSHIRE

Long term followers of this blog will recollect the previous intervention of Superintendent Ronald Bigsworth-Hill and the Wiltshire Police Flying Column in the affairs of the Hereford VBCW, and their subsequent return to Borsetshire (or Wiltshire, or wherever, but definitely somewhere that is not-Herefordshire). The Foreign Correspondent of the "Herefordshire Times" has, however, brought back from such "furrin' parts" these splendid images of a recent parade of a re-fortified WPFC:

Ronald Bigsworth-Hill salutes the motorcycle section of the WPFC.
Motorcyclists - RAFM; Scout Car - Dinky.

A panorama of the Motorcyclists Parade. Note WPFC Canadian manufactured tank
in the right background.

Superintendent Ronald (aka Sir Gilbert Hill aka Doug exEM4) has provided full and loving details of the build-up of the WPFC on his blog, "The View from the Hill", together with a blow by blow account of their most recent "Training Exercise" under the beneficent eye the Bishop of Felpersham. New characters mix with those already much loved in the Herefordshire VBCW, such as Mad Wullie McSpaniel ("satchel bomber and confirmed maniac") and Nanny Pankhurst (who we seem to remember was once "saved from death" by her diamond encrusted girdle). Well worth a read!

The Wiltshire Police Flying Column in all its "refortified" power.

(1). One of the glories of Doug's blog is the choice of names. We particularly admire the distaff side of Sir Rufus Pitt-Bulstrode's family - his formidable wife, Lady Ferocity (usually accompanied by her secretary, Audacity Bunty-Thimble, her SIS-agent houseguest, Miss Temerity Ping, and her doberman bitch, Bitch) and Sir Rufus' five daughters, Ladies Anticipation, Persistence, Recreation, Acceptance and Reality (it being explained that "Sir Rufus wanted a son from the outset, and it is thought that his daughters names reflect this long-thwarted ambition").

(2). All photos above nicked - with a scribbled note of thanks left behind by the Raffles-style intruder -  from Doug's blog, see HERE.

ROSS - ON - WYE MULTIVIEW

After THIS POST on "multi-views" of the City of Hereford through the years, some similar photographic postcards of the famous centre of Anglican resistance in the County of Herefordshire, Ross on Wye:

1930s Ross on Wye, with the Old Market House in the centre of the card. From left -
 "Alton Court and the Woods", a view of Ross from the River, the Horse Shoe Bend,
the River and Boathouse. The River Wye provided a substantial natural defence feature
to Ross, expertly exploited by the Anglicans during the VBCW.

1930s again, with the Old Market House again taking pride of place. From left - Ross on Wye
from the river bank, "The Loop", River Wye, Horseshoe Bend ,and Wilton Bridge.
For more on the important Wilton Bridge, SEE HERE

1950s Ross, a postcard printed on behalf of "The Wye Hotel". The Hotel in the centre, from L:
the Bridge, the Horse Shoe bend, the Market Place with the Old Market Hall, the River.
"The Wye Hotel" seems no longer to be trading.

And after THIS POST on 1930s "Railway Posters" and their artist, Claude Buckle, it is worth reproducing his work on Ross:

 

STALINS "RE-INFORCEMENTS"

After "The Disaster at Dinmore" and "The Martyrdom at Willersley", the rumour is that Comrade Stalin is intent on providing more troops to the suddenly hard pressed Kington and Presteigne Soviets:

Soviet Infantry in greatcoats with Moisin-Nagant rifles and budenovka headgear.

A nice military band to accompany the infantry.

Rather more useful Horse Artillery - and motorcycle despatch rider.

Searchlight truck, supply vehicles, and a unique looking Armoured Car.

Staff Commander A.D. Mann, spokesman for Lord de Braose, Governor of Hereford and Lord Warden of the Marches, has had no difficulty in dismissing such rumours, identifying Stalin's proposed contribution as, at best, "mere paper re-inforcements"....

Note: paper Soviets from c. 1932, via Pinterest.

HEREFORD SPRING BATTLE REPORT (7) - BATTLE OF WILLERSLEY

The situation was now desperate. Captain Stroganov was forced to withdraw from his exposed position, retreating to the shelter of his Command Car:

Captain Stroganov and his Command Car, right. In the roadway, a Communist A/T Technical
and an ILP (multi machine gunned) Technical.

The Blackshorts in general advance. The badly depleted Communists have retreated to the last hedge
line (top), but have little hope of holding back the hordes of Blackshorts. The ILP throw in their
last remaining asset, the "Tom Tank" (top right).

Mr Benn, leader of the ILP, now gambled upon a counter-thrust to relieve the pressure on his Communist allies - he sent his "Tom Tank", together with the allies few remaining (semi) armoured assets, into a charge "up the road", spraying machine gun fire as they went. Magnificent in conception, the counter-thrust ended badly:

Boom ! The advance of the "Tom Tank" halted by 3rd Blackshorts AT Rifle
The tank burns in the roadway....the rest of the "semi armour" is lost.

A longer distance shot. Imperial Blackshorts have now
reached the village of Willersley (top left) as Third
Blackshorts advance (HQ next to AT Rifle in roadway).

while the Classic Blackshorts complete a flanking manoeuvre to the right of Willersley
Village, breaching the Communist's final hedge-line and reaching the A438 itself.

The end....Captain Stroganov's few remaining Communists - sections now reduced to but one or two men - go "Jumpy" along the A438. The ILP transfer assets to the flank in a failed attempt to stop
the Classic Blackshorts. Stroganov himself, together with his Standard Bearer,
contemplate a sharp exit.

The end...the ILP garrison their last remaining house in Willersley, while Imperial and Third
Blackshorts prepare a final assault. Blackshorts Armoured Car and Commercial Vehicle head
towards the A438.

Blackshort Triumph...with all resistance cleared or departed, the "Commercial Vehicle"
gains "free passage" along the A438 !

Mr Benn of the ILP managed to keep his command more or less intact, despite suffering significant casualties, and retreated in good order from Willersley. Captain Stroganov is now on his way back to Presteigne, facing an uncertain future. In contrast, his Communist raiding forces suffered more than 95% casualties, which statistic provided Commissar Moody of the Presteigne Bureau Desinformitzya with "the propaganda public information line to take":

"The Martyrs of Willersley". A poster produced by Commissar
Moody immediately after the Battle. The heroic sacrifice  of the
Communist troops, it is hoped, will provide an example to new recruits...

In the face of massacre, Commissar Moody's finest propaganda
public information campaign to date....

Communist Casualty Note: those familiar with the "Went the Day Well" Rules may well be puzzled by the extent of the Communist casualties, and wonder why the morale rules did not result in Communist withdrawal before utter annihilation. There are two possible explanations - (1). in the chaos of battle, the players simply failed to implement the morale rules properly, or (2). Eustace Spode's (aka JP's) utter bloodlust....we shall leave you to choose the explanation you prefer.  

Commander Casualty Note: Eustace Spode himself, having been caught in an explosion early on at the Battle of Willersley, is said to be "hovering between life and death" at a Blackshort Casualty Clearing Station, with his uncle, the 7th Earl of Sidcup, weeping by his bedside..........