DB7

I do agree, and to employ an American filmmaker was a masterstroke as he rarely got sentimental or judgemental. Unfortunately neither did it appear there were any solutions - or at least solutions the comittee were prepared to entertain.

I was half expecting a post-production footnote to say the club had closed.

BristolUK

So you agree they are not at the same level then.

Steve Crook

Huh, what? Are you still going on about this?
Stop putting an emphasis on what I said to try to imply a different meaning

All British newspapers are now at the level of what we used to call "tabloids".

2 articles in the British national press on US Defence Intelligence Agency report that Taliban have retaken 10% of Afghanistan and government controls only 30%, news released on 28 February
0 articles in the British national press on US State Department report that opium poppy production in Afghanistan is at record high, news released on 29 February
250 articles in British national press on Prince Harry's deployment in Afghanistan, news released on 28 February

I remember when newspapers used to print news

Steve

Steve Crook

My own recording of it
I'm just waiting for that to get to the front of the queue of things to watch

Steve

Steve Crook

Did it get any better in the second half? I gave up when they were interviewing the bloke who was obviously drunk and maudlin drunk at that.

They must like the 1950s a lot, they seem very unwilling to move out of it and embrace the modern world in any way.

Arguing about ways they can save pennies when they were losing pounds - and lots of them

Steve

DB7

The blame was laid largely on the smoking ban but that doesn't account for a two decade void (20-40yr old) in patronage. Our local club is still open but it has changed to a social club for hosting events like wedding receptions etc and they do try to attract younger people with various social nights.

Steve Crook

It probably helps if you actually advertise things like a function room rather than just sit by the window wondering why nobody comes in.

Of course anywhere like that has to change to work in the modern world. Back in the old days it was quite reasonable that people would get home from work, get washed and changed and then go to the club. They had very little to stay at home for. Now that people are more comfortable in their homes and have TV, internet etc. you need to make more of an effort to get people out of their houses in the evenings and at weekends

The people in that documentary really did seem like a bunch of dinosaurs in so many ways. They were dead but hadn't realised it yet

Steve

Moor Larkin

Clearly binge drinking is nothing new........

I liked seeing the old footage of the inside of old WMC's (Weapons of Mass Consumption). I can see DB7's point about an American having no bias, but I actually thought he showed very little common sense. What possible relevance did those poor old souls have to anything other than their own, quirky little existence. Even their own community had deserted them! It's the same as interviewing all these mad-dog Imams and then assuming they represent anyone other than themselves.

It was obvious that all these old blokes were permanently pissed! The Committee should have had a 5-year rule. 5 years and you're off the committee! One assumes the committee members get free/subsidised beer!

I couldn't believe the Club's beer was costing more than the pubs nearby. The only reason anyone went to those old dumps in the first place was because the beer was cheap!

What a farce. How out of touch the BBC evidently are about anyone outside Notting Hill or Hampstead or wherever they all live nowadays.

Let's hope the drama strand will be more useful.

TimR

The Financial Times is not a tabloid. It is a very high quality newspaper.

DB7

I think the 'White' strand is something of a misnomer, of all 7 programmes the underlying theme is immigration (Enoch Powell tonight) rather than 'white working class'. Not a pigeon fancier in sight...

BristolUK

The Guardian today leads with:
Crisis in Serbia
Closure of railways
Income Tax
Israel/Palestine
ETA murder
Forced Marriage
Death of a newsreader

The Sun leads on:
A Curt Kobain related story
Thatcher health scare
A 'mystic' who cooks fish with his hands
Gazza (not Gaza strip...but Gazza the ex footballer)
Lesbian killers
Love cheat
numerous other celebrity items


You don't recall all those similar articles about Prince Andrew in the Falklands then?

batman

That Lesbian Killers story sounds interesting.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

DB7

My Guardian headline was:

kelp

Just as an afterthought DB7, did anyone else think that the last chap in the club was a dead ringer for Johnny Ammonds?
(A Radio/TV Producer from Kelps era M'Lud)

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

Moor Larkin

Dunno, but whoever he was, I hope he remembered to put the lights off.