My mother just about remembers 'the war', and the austerity that followed it, and the 1948 London Olympic Games ... all in black and white. News of the world beyond the small West Country town where she grew up arrived via the radio, newspapers, and Pathé news reels. Some Olympic events were televised - BBC coverage ran for roughly five hours every day - but Mum's family was among the vast majority that didn't own a television set. And even if they had they lived way beyond the twenty-five mile range of the Alexandra Palace transmitters.
Back then the opening ceremony featured - in addition to the march past of the athletes, the arrival of the torchbearer, and the lighting of the stadium flame - a fanfare by the trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, the drums, pipes and fifes of the massed bands of the Brigade of Guards, a twenty-one gun salute sounded by the Royal Horse Artillery, and, in keeping with tradition, the release of 2,500 homing pigeons. This time ... well this is how today's New York Times described it ...
"... hilariously quirky ... a wild jumble of the celebratory and the fanciful; the conventional and the eccentric; and the frankly off-the-wall ... a sometimes slightly insane portrait of a country that has changed almost beyond measure since the last time it hosted the Games."I was feeling somewhat spacey last night having been concussed by one of the wild, leaping whippets I live with - yup, literally, doc's orders are to take things easy for a few days - so the whole of Boyle's extravaganza seemed kinda' trippy to me! I loved it mind you, although I think I may have hallucinated the finale ... some old codger singing out of tune? I also mistook Brunel for Dickens, and didn't recognise Voldemort. Guess I'd better take the doc's advice and veg in front of the tele' this weekend! What's on tomorrow? Rowing, swimming, tennis ... sorted! So what did you think of last nights pageant?
I wasn't concussed by a whippet but I found it all a bit bizarre I must say! Idea good but just too over the top and difficult to know who was who - it was nearly the end before I realised who Brunel was!! Hope you will feel better soon - maybe a gold medal or two will help?!! I was 4 when the 1948 Games took place but as I lived in the north near Liverpool and as there was no TV etc it completely passed me by!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was weird, eccentric, slightly potty but loved it! Some of it I got, some I didn't! Very British in a slightly off ball way, best bit was the Queen and I'm sure there was a twinkle in her eye! Just need the golds now! Ada :)
ReplyDeleteLove your photo's Annie, love the fact that in 1948 the Olympics was termed the 'Austerity Games' and I think there is some thing quite humbling about that. We all gathered about the telly in the Campsite family/ indoor games room and there was a cheery atmosphere encouraging and giggling at different scenes in the opening ceremony. I must say that I thought it rather quirky and different, very Danny Boyle. I kind of understood the NHS bit but also thought it was a bit odd for the rest of the world to see us celebrating!? The lighting of the flame was pretty cool, I liked that a lot. I was also waiting for Harry Potter to fly in on his broom, but alas it was not meant to be :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm loving watching the swimming, cycling and gymnastics. Come on Team GB and South Africa, we need a medal please xox Penelope
Poor Annie, you are in the wars again! Hope the head gets better soon. I only saw the first half but loved it, in all it's ridiculousness. I liked the way the whole thing had a sense of humour and gently mocked Britishness, and the way it focused on people rather than politics and ideologies.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had some friends over, one leaned over to me and said "What DID you put in that drink you gave me" young and old (me) thought it was one of the strangest things they had ever seen. I hope they can all calm down and win some medals now.
ReplyDeleteThere was quite a bit that flew right over my head, being an American, but I did love it and thought is was fantastic. Well, until towards the end when the music started to drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, Annie, have you considered wearing a helmet? First the jaw and now this! Take care!
I couldn't get up at 5am on a Saturday morning and watch. The highlights looked interesting though.
ReplyDeleteJust about to take my one and only whippet for a walk. At 11 she is not wild and leaping luckily! Sorry to hear about
your head x
It was flipping bonkers and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteIt was SAturday here and I was staging my own marathon, whisking kids around to sports and dances and plays. One of the boys caught a bit of it in the afternoon and told me it was "cool". Now I am wondering what I missed and hoping it is replayed in the wee hours so I can enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI loved it! A bit of Elgar, Jerusalem, JK Rowling, Mr Bean and James Bond, doesn't get more British than that!! As for 'some old codger singing out of tune', you can't blame the whippet for that, that was definitely real. ;)
ReplyDeleteSilly New York Times ~ I'd like to think we had changed a bit since 1948!!
Vivienne x
Thanks for your post, this is the reason I love blogging, I enjoy reading other bloggers take on the world - past and present. Enjoy your Olympics (looks like your country knows how to throw a party). The view from Texas was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was amazing. I loved all the eccentric bits and the travel from past to future. Agreed that some were maybe "over the top" but the little bits of fun, i.e. the Queen and Bond, Mr. Bean in the orchestra, were just too priceless. I will remember this ceremony for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I was glad a commentator was telling me what I was seeing......had I been in the audience, I wouldn't have had a clue what was happening!!! It made sense---with some help! Loved the torch----loved the closing fireworks! (pyrotechie??? me!) and 007 is always a winner. Poor Sir Paul.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the whippet mishap---but doc's orders to watch tv this weekend isn't such a bad prescription. I'll be right there with you!!
Oh dear! I was rather delirious too while watching it, not concussed but rather shivering my way through a bone rattling summer fever (and I'm not allowed to take Ibuprofen - gah!). I thought that it was sort of marvellous that Danny Boyle didn't shy away from including some elements that really only Brits would "get" - because as a nation, there's nothing we like more than in-jokes. The Archers theme tune in the opening segment, a little clip of that tv show from my childhood "Kes", and (although I did feel sorry for him) that awful quote from Michael Fish in the 80s. And kudos to Queenie, she looked like she really needed to be in her bed, but she managed. Loved it (just wish it had been a bit earlier!)
ReplyDeleteLoving those photos of the 1948 olympics! Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
I thought the show was quite spectacular, but only us brits could understand it, I even watched some of the repeat on Saturday morning!
ReplyDeleteJulie xxxxxxxx
Another brilliant post Annie, love the pictures and a little bit of a feel for what having the games was like last time. I liked the show a lot, especially the lighting of the cauldron, which I thought was fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon from your whippet beating! :)
Sandra x
Willy Wonka insane (as Dan Lepard once described his Rocky Road rock cakes)! I loved the whole spectacle. And the fireworks, which we could see from a vantage point not far from the stadium, were fab. I envy those who were inside to see it close up. We cycled home past the stadium in the early hours and there were still trickles of people walking home, still jolly from their night of celebration. All very uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it immensely, my fave bit was Mary Poppins using her umbrella to chase the Dementors out of the arena. Spit Spot!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand why GOSH got such a prominent place in the proceedings - but there you go. They had Brunel, but where was Shakespeare? As for the old codger at the end - I think he should be locked up in the Tower along with the Crown Jewels - we can keep our alleged 'national treasure' safe that way ;-)
Hope you are feeling much better soon, Whippet concussion must be a similar ailment to Chicken concussion.
xx
Hello Annie:
ReplyDeleteWherever the Olympic Games may be we are always to be found in a different country if not continent! They really do not have any appeal at all, not even from an armchair in our own home [and, as we have no television, avoidance is simple].
Looking at your images of the 1948 games we cannot help but think how much more sophisticated everything has become, but has the essential spirit of the Games been lost in the process? We hope not.
I maybe the only person on earth that missed the whole thing. I haven't even seen a highlight. I was busy in Atlanta at a swim meet for my son, we took the kids out to dinner afterward then I went to bed. I missed all of yesterday's events due to traveling home.
ReplyDeleteToday I am watching!
Hugs,
Meredith
Loved the Opening Ceremony - it was a perfect portrayal of unbeatable English eccentricity. But I went to bed after listening to a few seconds of 'the old codger' trying to sing.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the Queen's acting role very much too - my husband refused to believe it was her and insisted it was an actress until the papers put him right.
I wasn't planning on watching much anything games-wise but surprised myself yesterday by getting drawn in the rowing, cycling and swimming....and rooting for individual competitors too.
Well I had to watch the cycling as they went past Box Hill which was my hubby's school, and he was sitting here shouting out things like...."Look look there's the little shop where I used to buy my chicken and ham pie every afternoon...and I had to put on my uniform just to leave the school gates and go into the village" (He was a boarder and this was in about 1970). I heard that about 10 times. Or maybe 20. This morning he's watching replays of them riding past his old school on the internet...and getting as excited. Very odd, if you ask me. ;)
I think Ellen was spot on - you need to get a helmet! Life is clearly dangerous chez vous. Hope you're feeling less fragile today.
Poor you I hope you are feeling better. Your images of the 1948 games are amazing and such a contrast to the 2012 games.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the ceremony like you I didn't recognize Voldemot, I like the way that some many of the younger generation were involved and the lighting of the flame was fantastic!
Sarah x
I taped it all here as it was on all night and then watched later - I really loved it except the old codger really ought to retire. Mr Bean got replayed several times :)
ReplyDeleteComing from an insanely sporting country, I will probably watch lots of it one way or another.
viv in nz
I loved the whole thing (see the breathless blow by blow account on my blog). I too have been interested in the comparisons with the last two Games that we hosted. Shire have done a fabulous book about the last two, full of great pictures and interesting 'stuff'. What a year we've had!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the head! I loved it, especially the acknowledgement of the workers who built the sites and the NHS. I like to see the equestrian events of course, but without cable tv, my options are limited. Rest up and relax.
ReplyDeleteWhat I took away from the Opening Ceremonies was that they might have made slightly more sense if watched with a concussion!
ReplyDeleteMm, even without concussion I obviously missed a few bits! Enough already, Sir Paul, time to retire!
ReplyDeleteHey Annie!
ReplyDeletePoor you. I hope your rambunctious whippet was suitably sheepish!
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the opening ceremony apart from ... Paul McCartney. Why oh why must he continue to be wheeled out at every special occasion? So, other than hiding behind my hands for his little contribution, loved it all. Huge crush on Kenneth Branagh now too. :-)
Heather xx
Thanks for the nod on your blog. Missed the extravagansa by choice but your photos put me in the mood to check in on todays's events. Hope your are well on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI love the message in the last image but wonder if it is as pertinent in today's competitive world. Here in Samoa all we get is the commentary on Radio Australia and it seems you are dammed if you don't win a medal especially if predicted to do so.
ReplyDeleteI think concussion or no, everyone felt slightly triply watching the opening ceremonies! I thought it was amazing, hubby missed the lot, out sheeting down our neighbours freshly mown silage...he came in right at the end disappointingly.
ReplyDeleteFight well....hope you are feeling back to sorts already!
nice of you to visit me.
ReplyDeletei missed the whole thing,but a couple of friends mentioned that exactly, - it was trippy! what was described to me sounds nothing short of bizzare. uk is certainly retaining the 'eccentric' label.
Dear Annie, After you left me a comment I thought it only fair to hop over and see you and I'm so glad I did. How have I not discovered your blog before? It's lovely and I will definitely be back. I especially like your "Dear Brother" post. Gina x
ReplyDeletethat must have been one hard hit to be hurt by a dog! My Frodo (dog) is only 13.5 pounds so I think I'd have to hit my head myself :) My husband has the games on whenever they are broadcast-which feels like all the time!
ReplyDeleteLoved the ceremony - but it did make me stay up way past bedtime and render me pretty useless for anything but gentle Olympics watching on TV the following day. I thought Mr Boyle managed to stuff it chock full with messages to the watchers and yet keep it entertaining.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite comment on the whole thing came from my 8 yr old who was watching it on tape the following morning. When I asked him where he was up to he said "that na na na naff song". Mouths of babes.
Hello and thanks for your comment over on my blog!
ReplyDeleteI fell asleep and missed the whole thing and keep meaning to catch up on iplayer to see what all the fuss was about. Loving the sport though and very proud it's in London!
x
I can understand living with a big dog can be hazardous! LOL! Hope all is well. I LOVED the opening ceremonies! You guys outdid yourselves! It was awesome and you know it wasn't easy after the Chinese one but they were so totally different. I loved it! Thanks for those pictures too. I was born in 49 so I just missed it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteHello Annie...Oh my, I hope you are feeling much better today!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the opening ceremony far more than I expected to but my daughter said the following morning that a Facebook page had been set up called 'Why does Paul McCartney always have to come in at the end and spoil everything?'...
Love your pics...Make sure you put your feet up for a few days Annie and enjoy the spectacle...along with a few treats too of course!
Susan x
I watched about half of the opening ceremonies because I was too tired to stay up late. I enjoyed them - but I thought they were a little disjointed. Television viewers had the advantage of a camera showing us what to look at next, but I wonder how it was for those who were there in the stadium?
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
These photos are great! It is interesting to see and hear about how the Olympics were before everything got all world-broadcast and corporate ;) These photos are so endearing. It seems like a real homegrown event. And how amazing to be at the games so soon after the declaration of peace after so many years of war. Im sure it was a really emotional event~
ReplyDeleteI thought it was brilliant, apart from Macca at the end. Wish he would just go away haha! Sympathies re the whippet injury. Lottie's whacked me on the chin before and it was surprisingly painful :(
ReplyDeleteOh, hope you're not too hurt! Recover with some happy time snuggled on sofa? The Olympics look so homely and wonderful in those photos - thanks for sharing them! Maggie x
ReplyDelete