Golly! Whacked By A Brolly! Allan With His Story

Self defence with an umbrella. Daily Mirror (9.1.1902).

The previous post about make-shift cinemas brought some interesting responses from readers. While most letters were short but very sweet here's one from Allan Thompson, a regular contributor, who writes about his encounter with the lady and her brolly.

By a strange co-incidence Dino's lovely song from the 50s above is a favourite of mine. "With her umbrella in her hand she's never shy, And that's the reason why..." Thanks Allan and to all the rest who wrote in.

             Dean Martin: The Lady with the Big Umbrella from 46NathanDrake.
                     Dino's most amusing   and captivating song.

 Dear Andy,

I liked your piece on make-shift cinemas and I've already mentioned two such cinemas in previous articles: the one at RAF Kuching and the other in Changi Village.  I did not visit the one in the village, but my friend, Joe Hutchinson, went there with some of his friends.  He told me that he wondered why most people were carrying umbrellas until he realised there was no roof and he was soaked when the rain came down during the show. 

There was also an occasional film show on the basketball court outside the Malcolm Club at RAF Changi where films were projected on to a large temporary screen. 

I also recall this court being used for a concert by the Band of the Far East Air Force who included a number called the "1812 Twist". This was a speeded up version of the "1812 Overture" but instead of the sound of cannons being fired at the climax, recorded machine-gun fire was used. Very effective.



Carry an umbrella, just in case it rains!

I believe I also mentioned the seats in the Capitol cinema which slid forward when you leaned back in them because they ran on ball-bearing rails or something similar.  Very innovative but quite alarming the first time you experienced it.



Theme Song Was Popular in the 60s.

I once took a young lady to the Capitol cinema to see The Legion's Last Patrol (the title theme from this film was very popular in the early 1960s). She had brought her umbrella with her too, coincidentally, but it was not because the Capitol lacked a roof, as I found out to my cost.  When the film was under way, I slipped my arm around her shoulder and she whacked me on the shins with her brolly.  So unexpected and painful-lah!

An umbrella as a weapon too?

The Capitol was a favourite cinema of mine and I recall one Saturday when I had arranged to meet my Stangee Place girlfriend and her two younger sisters there.  I went to the cash desk and asked for three full price tickets plus one Forces concession for myself.  The girl behind the desk told me that officers were not entitled to concessionary tickets and I would have to pay full price. 

Indignant at being mistaken for an officer, I showed her my ID card to prove that I was non-commissioned, which caused much mirth to my young lady's sisters who were amused by my inverted snobbery.  

More cinematic memories to follow from Allan Thompson.

Ken Thorne & His Orchestra - Theme from 'The Legion's Last Patrol' by Mr Purser.

Images from Google and Videos from You Tube.

http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2009/06/self-defence-with-an-umbrella-daily-mirror-jan-9-1902/



Weather Forecast September Morn In The Rain - Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond 9/11

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It’s always been an important month for me during my younger days because of the constant reminder of incessant rain that pours from above. This weather persists in Singapore. 

In Canada, England or in Scotland, that’s when students either enjoy returning to their universities for another new year or dread the coming months after sunshine Summer sets. It’s like sensational sun in sizzling Summer and sobering school sessions in showery September. Lectures and term papers get wet in the Northern Hemisphere.

“The leaves of brown 

Came tumbling down 

Remember, in September, 

In the rain...”

(September In The Rain)

That's a Sinatra number, with another by him, called, September Song. Then came Earth Wind Fire with September. Earlier we saw Gina Lollobrigida in a movie and a song too, entitled, Come September, an instrumental by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra. Popular Bobby Darin made it with a cover too. Kool and The Gang came later with September Love. Mostly had covers by other artistes like Andy Williams, Sarah Vaughn and of course Willie Nelson. Gruff with his bass baritone, Neil Diamond came on with the unforgettable, September Morn and it became one of the biggest hits in the 70's.

In all its beauty September was always auspicious; the people call the period FALL. Ironically the word to describe Autumn, when Nat Cole sang about the falling autumn leaves drifting by his window, some wicked people attacked New York's busy Twin Towers and numbers nine and eleven became symbols of disaster, heartache and hate. FALL had another meaning that September morn at 8.46.

"Nine eleven", we call it even today, remembered every year since September 11 in 2001 when four coordinated attacks took place in the US. September mourns! A season so lovely has a scar on its face but now about 20 years later, September still reigns supreme. 

Do you have a story about September? Or a song about this month that you love and why?  Pray tell.

Fire In The Sky by Rhonda Lee: The 9/11 Terrorist Attract Interpretation.

So  as it showers outside, here's Julie London, singing her experience with September in the Rain, a refreshing rendition.

'PHOTO POSES FOR GIRLS' BY SIRI M 

Umbrellas and Ladies. Connect below.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search?q=lady+with+the+big+umbrella

(I'm just brushing around with oil paintings and popular songs. They go well if you get the right mix of music and colour.)

  Julie London September in the Rain.

Images and YouTube video from Google. 

If there is any objection to the photographs/paintings being used above as illustrations, please inform on the Comment Connection below and they will be deleted immediately. Other contributors will be credited soon. Thanks.