This product used to be very popular for many years since the 1960's.
It's been a while since Allan Thompson, (60's RAF Changi) wrote to me and contributed an article for the blog. A few stories are coming up soon. Here's a cute one when he and a friend discussed the above product.
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| ALLAN THOMPSON |
Many thanks for your reply and I will try to summon up the energy to rewrite and expand my barber shop story. Actually, I can add a little (rude) anecdote right now:
One of my room-mates in Block 116 at RAF Changi was a slightly plump young man called Joe Hutchinson who came from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
One day, when he was preparing to go out, he realised that his underwear had not come back from the laundry, so he went downstairs to the barber's shop outside the Airmen's Mess to buy a packet of Hings underpants.
Things Ain't What They Used To Be: Ella Fitzgerald. Video by: Vws Vas.
When he returned, he ripped open the packet, removed one pair of pants, and went for a shower. A little while later, he returned wearing his new underpants which were so tight, there were natural protrusions from either side. As I chuckled at this ridiculous sight, Joe, with a perfectly straight face, said:
"Hings ain't what they used to be!"
Best wishes,
Allan.
Images: Google.
Video: YouTube from Vws Vas.
Article: Copyrighted by Allan Thompson.
Inspirationally, with the story, two songs came to mind, 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be' and 'Things.'
Allan Thompson laughing away at his friend's remark. Or is it?
Allan has written nearly 3 dozen stories on this blog. Humorous too. Here are some connections:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/04/us-troops-from-vietnam-plays-motown-on.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/08/british-invasion-of-goodwood-park-hotel.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/06/raf-police-bilko-ben-casey-brands.html
'Things' by Bobby Darin (1962). Video from: Carl's Old Record Club.
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/04/where-have-all-record-shops-gone.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2014/05/part-1-equating-dh-lawrence-with.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/08/golly-whacked-by-brolly-allan-with-his.html
Uncanny, Allan does look like Mr Putin. But who's the more handsome?
😄
Inspirationally, with the story, two songs came to mind, 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be' and 'Things.'
Allan has written nearly 3 dozen stories on this blog. Humorous too. Here are some connections:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/04/us-troops-from-vietnam-plays-motown-on.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/08/british-invasion-of-goodwood-park-hotel.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/06/raf-police-bilko-ben-casey-brands.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/04/where-have-all-record-shops-gone.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2014/05/part-1-equating-dh-lawrence-with.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/08/golly-whacked-by-brolly-allan-with-his.html
😄
By Jove!
ReplyDeleteThat's a surprise from you, old friend. You did a good job with that one, and the Putin resemblance has been pointed out to me before. Naughty, but thanks. Rambutans indeed! Oddly enough, I have a rambutan story...
Back in 1965, my friend Jay and I hired a lovely old black Citroen saloon car (similar to the one used in the 1960s "Maigret" TV series) and drove from Singapore to Penang...
I will leave it there at present because, somewhere, I have some colour transparencies taken during that trip which I will try to upload to accompany the story which...
Best wishes,
Allan.
Ha, ha. Word of the day, RAMBUTAN.
ReplyDeleteBTW, my first pair of store-bought underwear was... yes, you guessed it.
HINGS of course!
Very good posting indeed.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of the rambutans, as a representation.
:-)
Thanks, guys for the immediate response to this hilarious play of words by ALLAN THOMPSON's friend.
ReplyDeleteNot only that, I've forgotten about HINGS, and like what Jimmy mentioned it was my first pair of undies too when I was older.
Funny, when we remember this nitty-gritty in life.
And John, you're always focussing on pictures, being an artist that you are. But it wasn't too graphic I think?
"Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is a 1942 jazz standard with music by Mercer Ellington and lyrics by Ted Persons. Duke Ellington used songs written by his son Mercer and pianist Billy Strayhorn, famous for: "Take the 'A' Train", "Chelsea Bridge" and "Day Dream", and Mercer wrote "Things Ain't What They Used to Be", "Blue Serge" and "Moon Mist".
ReplyDeleteMost likely Mercer Ellington came up with the tune and his father arranged the song for the band. It's most often played as an instrumental. Lyrics were written by Ted Persons.
Hing's underwears for males was popular then. We used Tancho and Brylcreem for our hair in our younger days. I don't think youngsters nowadays use them or they do? Are Hings and those hair cream still available in the shops ?
ReplyDeleteDear Andy, There was also a stage musical by Lionel Bart and Frank Norman called "Fings Ain't Wot They Used To Be" which was about Cockney life in London. Max Bygraves had a hit with the title song and it was also performed by Joe Brown.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes, Allan Thompson.
You're everywhere Allan.
ReplyDeleteHope KGB doesn't come after you.
cheers.
Dear Andy,
ReplyDeleteThere was also a Cockney musical called "Fings Ain't Wot They Used To Be" written by Lionel Bart and Frank Norman in the 1950s. Max Bygraves had a hit with the title song and it was also recorded by Joe Brown and others.
Good wishes, Allan.
('Putin On The Style' maybe?)