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Converse are doing limited edition artwork pumps to celebrate thier 100th anniversary. Including three types of Black Sabbath ones, my favourite being these inspired by the cover art of Sabbath’s 1972 Album, Vol. 4:
You might get an A to Z if you’ve a need for a map of Brum and haven’t got a stat-nav. You might buy one anyway to sit by the fire and look up amusing and rude place names. Bell End, The Darkies, Lickey End they’re all there. But while you might find amusing rudeness, you won’t find any areas with names begining with ‘Z’. Not according to William Dargue and his site “A History of BIRMINGHAM Places & Placenames… from A to Y“.
The site is completely packed with history and photos for every area of Brum, you can learn things like that “Moseley was once full of rustic country inns (of which the “Fighting Cocks” was the chief)”and that Witton has a “name [that] may originate from the Anglo-Saxon, wic tun meaning ‘dairy farm’”
There’s also a great resourse of new and old history texts about Brum — including William’s own “History of Birmingham on your Doorstep”, which was written initially as a resource for Birmingham schools (so it shouldn’t be too heavy for us).
The research and collation here is real exhaustive, as is the collection of links to other local history resources on the web. It’s the type of stuff that makes you embarrassed that you haven’t got the energy for proper research, and also a little bothered that you never know this huge amount of resources is there. It’s sort of another layer of the internet, wish we could help dig it out a bit more.
"To wipe out such an important building would be a travesty and would, if anything, detract from the vibrant feel of the city. Functionally, the building would be perfect for a new media hub of art, technology and culture as there is limited natural daylight, originally due to the fact the building would house books." [link]
Although the price is pushing it towards Christmas-present-for-dad-with-canal-obsession territory, there’s no doubting the beauty of the photos in the new book ‘The Cut’:
“Peter Donnelly’s evocative photographs taken during the 1960’s, record the time and his verse the surroundings and its many wonders. The two albums have been created recently by his son Simon after finding some layouts his father did for two books he intended to publish. The first called “The Cut” includes pictures and verse about the Black country. Although Peter was born in Birmingham he moved to Cradley Heath after getting married. The area’s Pete Photographed during this time include Brierley Hill, Hawne Basin, Cradley Heath, Netherton, Round Oak Steel Works (Merry Hill)”
Birmingham and Black Country Nostalgia, is the appropriately named site to go and investigate further. It’s a step up from the photocopies of old bus tickets nostalgia books we guiltily enjoy.
Shona finds out that you can find, in Brum a beery and glam life drawing session:
“Life drawing sessions are a staple for artists, but I’m often a little daunted that I’ll be in a room with hardcore pros who will make my efforts wither to a pulp. The added bonus of beer should, hopefully, detract from this. I like the potential for a greater amount of informality in the occasion with Dr. Sketchy’s. Not to the point of getting trashed and not being able to draw, but to be drawing from life in an environment outside the normal assumed constrains of a studio with models who offer a different take on the subject. Burlesque is glam. Glam is good”
I can’t draw for toffee (has anyone ever been asked to draw for toffee?), but this is very cool. [link]
Ben has a wonderful knack of these tours, mixing history, design and a hint of psychogeography. There are a few types (sorry) of tours:
"Digbeth Type Tour: Exploring use of typography and handwritten letterforms in industrial Digbeth side streets. The area's history revealed through its use of type.
Baskerville's Birmingham: the history of Birmingham's most famous typographer, John Baskerville (1706 - 1775). Artifacts, locations and type specimens associated with Baskerville will be visited, around Birmingham City Centre.
Blue Plaques tour: The history of Birmingham and of the Blue Plaque itself: changing and improving designs, layouts, type use &c. The tour also covers plaques other than Blue; many forms of wall mounted commemorative texts around the City Centre.
City Type Tour: Birmingham history as shown through its typography. Civil, monumental and commercial use of typeforms will be explored in Birmingham City Centre." [link]
Who knew that Kindstanding ODEON (now a Mecca bingo) was not only the [edit] one of the [/edit] first ODEON (altogether now, Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation) but revered around the world as a piece of art deco splendour? Tom Lennon, that’s who, who told me all about a virutalisation project to show how it looked back in the day.
King’s College London are doing the 3D work, which covers the inside as well as this outside view.
Art Deco Britain has a ton of information about the cinema and its history, and some very nice pics:
"In an interview the current Bond said that if the credit crunch hits Hollywood and studios try to save money, the exotic locations will be the first thing to go. If that happens the next movie could be set in the UK, switching Bangkok or the Bahamas for Birmingham." [link]
Remember Birmingham L!ve TV? Tony Butler’s football phone in on telly, with Tone looking uncomfortable sitting on his own in a studio by a coffee table? It wouldn’t be like that? Would it? [link]
In a good show of just what the web can do, Central's ITV Local site has very dull video (at least split up into parts) of each person finishing the Birmingham Half Marathon. Interesting if you're looking for someone you know. I'm not about to sit through every minute looking for something funny, but if you spot anything do tell us. [link]
