Review of The Year - George Groves News of 2009
A major disappointment at the beginning of 2009, was the realisation that the BFI Cinema 100 plaque that was dedicated to George and Stanley Watkins’ achievements, had been lost. It had been ceremonially unveiled in November 1996 at Warners’ flagship West End cinema in London, four months after a separate plaque had been unveiled in St.Helens. The loss was first discovered by George’s step-daughter Susie, who was brought up by in California by the English movie sound pioneer, always calling him ‘Pappy’.
Susie and her son Marlon, flew to the UK during October 2008 in order to attend ‘The Quiet Little Englishman’, Esther Wilson’s marvellous play on the life of George Groves. After staying in Liverpool for a few days, the pair visited the Warners’ cinema in London, so they could see for themselves the commemorative plaque. They discovered that it was nowhere to be seen, and as it was unveiled by the Association of Motion Picture Sound in association with the British Film Institute, I asked AMPS to investigate.
Hilda
and Molly Watkins unveil the plaque in
London's West End watched by Peter
Dobson
Brian Hickin of AMPS
contacted Warners who undertook a
thorough investigation. They reported
that they’d sold their cinema
chain, including their flagship Leicester
Square cinema, to SBC International
Cinemas in 2003, who’d re-branded
them all as Vue. A re-development had
taken place at the West End theatre, the
plaque had been removed and it was never
returned. No one knows where it is now,
as Warners’ spokesman commented:
“Unfortunately,
we are unable to come up with any clues
as to its whereabouts. Even searching in
the out of the way nooks and crannies of
the cinema has not yielded
results.”
As George Groves’ sister
Hilda Barrow and
Bob Allen of AMPS, who
were both instrumental in organising the
plaque unveiling, are no longer with us,
the family have taken the decision not to
consider a replacement.
When the St.Helens plaque was unveiled in
June 1996, Hilda told me that the
commemoration of her brother’s work
was the highlight of her life. That
plaque was sensibly installed by
St.Helens Film Society high up on a wall
of the former barbershop, at the corner
of Duke Street and Hamer Street. So far,
it’s evaded any efforts by vandals
and thieves to damage or remove it. As
long as the St.Helens plaque remains on
the house of George’s birthplace as
a physical reminder of George’s
achievements, the family will be
satisfied. Plus they have their memories
of the London event, which can never be
erased.
In saying that, if anyone knows anything
about the whereabouts of the missing
plaque, please do contact this website.
So what else happened in 2009? Well the
year began with a nice email from
Claus Wiedemann:
“What
a wonderful website, what a myriad of
information! I had worked at the WB Sound
Dept. from 1987 to 2001 and had heard
some of the stories but none as authentic
as they are presented on your site. Thank
you!!!”
Nice to be validated by some one
who’d worked in the sound
department at Warners!Also I was
contacted in January by
Jay Glennie who for the
last three years has been researching and
gathering content for a new
online resource chronicling
British Oscar recipients. His project has
received backing from the Academy of
Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the
UK Government via the UK Film Council. Of
course, George had to be included, so
images and audio history recordings were
despatched to Jay.
In August the Australian Centre for the Moving Image requested a high resolution copy of the photograph of George with his friend Al Jolson, posing together with the Mammy playback turntables. This is being used in an exhibition entitled Screen Worlds: the story of film, television and digital culture. The exhibition is free and will last ten years. So if you find yourself in Melbourne over the next decade, drop it and see it!
Also in August the International Sound and Cinetechnicans Local 695 requested images for their quarterly publication. Again complementary copies were despatched by the organisation of sound technicians in Hollywood and the cover looks really great!
At the end of the month, a New Zealand organisation of 140 film enthusiasts who’d mainly worked in the film industry, got in touch requesting photographs. Warren Smyth wrote:
“I started as a film editor years ago and found your site on George Groves one of the most fascinating accounts I have read…may I thank you so much for the wonderful information you have provided to the world. We would like to share a small part of this with some elderly folk who are not computer literate and don't have access to the internet. Some of these are collectors who have early theatre equipment.”
In November, a new pub opened in St.Helens. Not an earth-shattering event, but of interest to this website because it came close to being named after George Groves. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon considered calling their new hostelry on Chalon Way West ‘The Jazz Singer’, before plumping for ‘The Running Horses’, after an 18th century coaching inn that stood near the site. The pub’s décor has a strong element of heritage, with photographs and information boards on the history and characters of St Helens. These include George Groves as well as Sir Thomas Beecham and 19th century murderer Frederick Deeming.
Finally, by sheer accident whilst in the St.Helens Local History Archives in November, I came across an article in the St.Helens Reporter on George Groves’ first marriage to singer Clemence Apperson. In describing the wedding as a “spectacular affair”, the article said “many leading figures of filmland” were present and Warners Studios’ own orchestra played for the happy couple. Composer Sigmund Romberg arranged a special coach for their honeymoon.
Thanks to all have contacted me during 2009. Do feel free to get in touch if you require hi-res images for your media project or if you have any queries. Have a happy new year!
Stephen Wainwright
Site Owner