On the eve before his 86th birthday (his birthday is 17th February), Barry Humphries celebrates the music and artists from the year of his birth, 1934.
Barry says: “I’m delighted to say that I’ve received notification that the country of my birth has decreed, that all references to the years prior to 1934 are to receive the suffix B.B. – meaning Before Barry.”
1934 was also the year that:
• Flash Gordon and Donald Duck first appeared.
• In a referendum, Germans voted for Hitler to become the Fuhrer - a new, unique Government position, which combined both the roles of Reich Chancellor and Head of State, giving him control over German’s affairs. Barry says, “it’s perhaps worth noting that, as history shows, referendums can be troublesome things.”
• Samuel Goldwyn purchased the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for Forty Thousand Dollars from the estate of L. Frank Baum.
• Percy Shaw patented the cat’s eye road safety device.
• Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express was first published.
• The Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive to be officially recorded at 100 miles per hour.
• P.L. Travers’ first children’s story Mary Poppins, James Hilton’s Goodbye Mr Chips and P.G. Wodehouse’s first full-length Jeeves story, were also published.
Prog. 3 selected Music Playlist (not necessarily in order) includes:
• An earful of Music – Rudy Vallee
• Easy Come Easy Go – Al Bowlly
• What a Difference a Day Made – Denny Dennis
• Ain’t It Gorgeous – The Western Brothers
• With my Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming – Greta Keller
• I’m on a See-Saw – John Mills & Louise Brown, accompanied by the Saville Theatre Orchestra. That track was recorded in London, on 19th December 1934 (long before John Mills was given a Knighthood in recognition of his serious dramatic roles in countless movies from the 1940s onwards).
• I Only Have Eyes for You – Ben Selvin, from the musical Dames.
• The Girl with the Ironing Board – Joan Blondell, from the musical Dames.
• With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock – George Formby…
1934 was also the year Elgar died and, towards the end of the programme, Barry plays a recording of Elgar conducting 'Elergy for String Orchestra' on 11th April 1933 at Abbey Road Studio No. 1, a year before he died. Show less