Part 18 - Videos of the Plaque Unveilings to Movie Sound Pioneer George Groves
a) 57 Duke Street, St Helens - 2 mins. 16 secs.
SYNOPSIS: The video is a clip from the documentary 'The Quiet Little Englishman', made by S.R. Wainwright. It begins with Hilda Barrow in 1995 describing her brother's death nineteen years earlier and assessing the importance of his work as a pioneer of motion picture sound. The video continues with footage of the unveiling of the plaque commemorating George Groves' achievements at his birthplace in St Helens, England on June 22nd 1996. The plaque was unveiled by Hilda and Bob Allen of the Association of Motion Picture Sound as part of the British Film Institute's Centenary of Cinema celebrations. Over thirty guests including Gerry Bermingham, Member of Parliament for St Helens South, were in attendance.As part of the ceremony the York Street Mission Band, who'd been founded in 1899 by George's father, played their own tribute to the man Al Jolson called "The Quiet Little Englishman". The video concludes with Hilda being interviewed at the reception in the local museum. The plaque wording reads: “GEORGE GROVES, Leading Pioneer of Cinema Sound, Won many Oscars at Warner Bros. Studios, Hollywood, 1925-1972, Born here in 1901.”
b) Warners Cinema in London's West End - 1 min. 46 secs.
SYNOPSIS: This video contains amateur footage of the unveiling on October 1st 1996 of a BFI plaque in Warners flagship cinema in London's West End. The plaque commemorates the engineering achievements of Stanley Watkins and George Groves in developing Vitaphone sound-on-disc technology during the 1920s. The unveiling was by Hilda Barrow and Molly Watkins (Stanley's widow) in front of over 30 guests. The cinema had over a million paying customers per year at the time, each of whom were able to read these words: “STANLEY S.A. WATKINS (1888-1975) GEORGE R. GROVES (1901-1976). The British electrical engineers who worked in America for Western Electric and Warner Bros. and played major roles in the development of 'Talking Pictures’.”However Warners sold their cinema chain in 2003 and the new owners removed the plaque from the West End cinema. Its whereabouts are presently unknown.
BBC News Reports on The Quiet Little Englishman Play
a) Park Palace - 2 mins. 48 secs.
SYNOPSIS: This video is a BBC TV North West Tonight Report on the Park Palace Theatre and the Quiet Little Englishman play which was broadcast on April 24th 2008. It was presented by Jayne Barrett and features director Paula Simms and writer Esther Wilson.b) Quiet Little Englishman - 2 mins. 33 secs.
SYNOPSIS: This video is a BBC TV North West Tonight Report on the premiere of Quiet Little Englishman play which was broadcast on October 15th 2008. It contained interviews with Doreen and Roland Barrow and features clips from the show.Part 18 - VIDEOS OF PLAQUE UNVEILINGS AND PLAY
Plaque Unveiling at 57 Duke Street, St Helens - 2 mins 16 secs
SYNOPSIS: The video is a clip from the documentary 'The Quiet Little Englishman', made by S.R. Wainwright.It begins with Hilda Barrow in 1995 describing her brother George’s death nineteen years earlier.
The video continues with footage of the unveiling of the plaque commemorating George Groves' achievements at his birthplace in St Helens, England on June 22nd 1996.
The plaque was unveiled by Hilda and Bob Allen of the Association of Motion Picture Sound. Over thirty guests including Gerry Bermingham, MP for St Helens South, were in attendance.
As part of the ceremony the York Street Mission Band, who'd been founded in 1899 by George's father, played their own tribute to the man Al Jolson called "The Quiet Little Englishman".
The video concludes with Hilda being interviewed at the reception in the local museum.
Plaque Unveiling at Warners Cinema in London - 1 min 46 secs
SYNOPSIS: This video contains amateur footage of the unveiling on October 1st 1996 of a BFI plaque in Warners flagship cinema in London's West End.The plaque commemorates the engineering achievements of Stanley Watkins and George Groves in developing Vitaphone sound-on-disc technology during the 1920s.
The unveiling was by Hilda Barrow and Molly Watkins (Stanley's widow) in front of over 30 guests.
In 2003 Warners sold their cinema chain and the new owners removed the plaque from the West End cinema. Its whereabouts are presently unknown.
BBC Report on The Quiet Little Englishman Play - 2 mins 48 secs
SYNOPSIS: This video is a BBC TV North West Tonight Report on the Park Palace Theatre and the Quiet Little Englishman play broadcast on April 24th 2008.It was presented by Jayne Barrett and features director Paula Simms and writer Esther Wilson.
BBC Report on The Quiet Little Englishman Play - 2 mins 33 secs
SYNOPSIS: This video is a BBC TV North West Tonight Report on the premiere of Quiet Little Englishman play broadcast on October 15th 2008.It contained interviews with Doreen and Roland Barrow and features clips from the show.