Ghost-grey

"The days are short,
The sun a spark,
Hung thin between
The dark and dark."
- John Updike


Ghost-grey the fall of night.
Ice-bound the lane,
Lone in the dying light
Flits he again;

Lurking where shadows steal.
Perched in his coat of blood,
Man’s homestead at his heel.
Death-still the wood.

Odd restless child; it's dark;
All wings are flown
But this one wizard’s - hark!
Stone clapped on stone!

Changeling and solitary.
Secret and sharp and small,
Flits he from tree to tree,
Calling on all.
- Walter De La Mere, The Robin


It is Yule, Montol, Brumalia, Lohri, Yalda, Koliada, Dongzhi, Midwinter's Day [whatever you choose to call it], the Winter Solstice - the longest night - today.

Good news, however - the days get longer from here on!

Roll on Spring...

The most expensive drag queen in the UK

The world is a far less glittery place, with the sad news that the legendary Stanley Baxter - one of the most popular entertainers in Britain over several decades - has shaken out that "Duchess of Brendah" wig for the very last time and ascended the glittering London Weekend Television stairway to Fabulon, at the magnificent age of 99.

Another piece of my childhood gone...

As the faboo Television Heaven site put it:

For 25 years Stanley Baxter produced the type of television spectacular that Morecambe and Wise could only afford to put on as part of their Christmas specials. Those legendary song and dance routines that Eric and Ernie performed in their shows may well be the stuff of television legend, but for Stanley Baxter, spectacular musical-comedy specials, reminiscent of Hollywood's best extravaganzas, were part of every series. And they were so flamboyant, and proved to be so costly, that Baxter was sacked not from just one, but two TV channels, who simply couldn't afford to keep him...

He was one of the true creative geniuses in British television light entertainment, and as far as comedy goes... Stanley Baxter was the true King of Scotland.

With his background in variety theatre, the Combined Entertainment Unit of the army in the post-War National Service years (alongside Kenneth Williams, John Schlesinger, Gordon Jackson and Peter Nichols) and - of course - panto, he was almost destined for a career in the fledging world of television (starting out in the 1950s), where his comedic talents and in particular his talent for mimicry (and drag) became a staple of Britain's "light entertainment" genre.

Very much a product of his time - his ITV "spectaculars" won the BAFTA Best Light Entertainment Programme Award two years running in 1973 and 1974 - much of Mr Baxter's fondly remembered output would nowadays be considered extremely non-PC, so repeats (were there ever to be any anyway) would needless to say be heavily edited [deep sigh]; hence the reason why he is largely forgotten. However, by way of a tribute to the great man [who, incidentally, only decided to finally "come out" as gay at the age of 94(!)], here are just three of Stanley's memorable sketches...

Stanley Baxter - Towering Quake '75

Stanley Baxter - The Fast Food Follies

Stanley Baxter - The Duchess of Brendagh

Irreplaceable!

RIP, Stanley Livingstone Baxter (24th May 1926 – 11th December 2025)

Vilja, O Vilja

Yesterday marked the 110th anniversary of the birth of Dame Elisabeth Schwarzopf, German-born British lyric soprano and a much-lauded performer throughout the 20th century.

There was much speculation during her lifetime about her alleged involvement in the Nazi party during her early career in WWII - rumours that were well-and-truly discounted by the eminent art and music historian Charles Scribner III in the New Criterion - but there was nothing that discredited her long and successful career. She performed with the Vienna State Opera, at London's Royal Opera House, La Scala Milan, New York Metropolitan Opera and just about every major opera venue across the world.

She was marvellous, and here are just a few examples of her talent:

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - An die Musik [Schubert]

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - Vilja [Lehar, The Merry Widow]

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - Final Encore in Amsterdam Recital - Seligkeit [Schubert]

Dame Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike Schwarzkopf, DBE (9th December 1915 – 3rd August 2006)

Fuck normality!

“[She] was an eccentric, dominant London character. In the early 1980s, alongside the likes of BodyMap, Pam reinvented lycra catsuits and disco fashion. In more recent times, she lit up London with her fantastic fashion shows at Freemasons Hall. A prominent figure across the arts, fashion and British music scenes. The fashion world won’t quite be as vivid or rebellious now Pam is no longer with us. She will be greatly missed.” - Zandra Rhodes

RIP Pam Hogg, Blitz club regular, ecccentric, audacious and pioneering fashion designer, a fave of the likes of Debbie Harry, Siouxsie Sioux, Rihanna, Lily Allen, Björk and Kylie Minogue [who wore a catsuit by Pam in her 2 Hearts video], who has left the deafening applause at the end of the catwalk one last time and departed for Fabulon.

“I’m just glad not to be termed normal. Fuck normality!” - Pam Hogg

All hail .

This weekend, I am mostly dressing casual...

...just like the eternally eccentric Björk, whose - gulp - 60th birthday it is today!

From Dazed magazine:

“Over the years I’ve been asked a lot of questions about what makes Icelandic people so special. I used to talk a lot about things like elves and isolation, but as I get older I think, especially with what’s going on in the world today, I think perhaps what really makes us stand out is the lack of religion. Give me a few bottles of red wine and I could probably go into that one all night. It’s just amazing talking to friends, especially from the States, who will tell you that half of their teachers at school were religious fanatics. I never had any religion imposed on me, I went to church maybe twice as a child.

“I find that when a lot of foreign people go through problems, like messy divorces, they suddenly start going to church more. In Iceland you wouldn’t do that, you’d start going in to nature more. The difference is as you grow up you don’t expect anyone else to sort out your problems – a priest or a president or a god or any kind of authority to surrender to or seek punishment or guilt from. If you are in trouble, you have to sort it out yourself. There are plenty of things we’re not good at, though. We’re hopeless at teamwork because everybody is so independent.”

By way of a tribute, an old, old favourite...

Björk - It's Oh So Quiet

Many happy returns, Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born 21st November 1965)!

Quando Quando Quando

We at Dolores Delargo Towers are very sad to hear the news that house favourites, the kitschiest-of-the-kitsch cabaret artistes, The Kessler Twins have taken their last perfectly-synchronised shimmy up the glittering stairway to Fabulon, aged 89.

They simply oozed camp - as these examples prove!

Kessler Twins - Mas Que Nada/The Look Of Love

Kessler Twins - Put Your Arms Around Me Honey/The Band Played On

Alice & Ellen Kessler - Pollo e Champagne

Madame Arcati and I have practised all their routines, of course, but we still can't quite get the timing right...

...by way of a finale, here's the routine that kicked off our obsession with them!

Kessler Twins - Quando Quando Quando [HD]

RIP, girls. This truly is the end of an era...

Valentine no more

Sad news. Another of the UK's most popular actresses, Miss Pauline Collins has departed for the bright lights of Fabulon.

In a career spanning seven decades, her roles encompassed realist drama, situation comedy, costume drama, children's programmes, sci-fi and a variety of "homespun" character parts on telly and on the big screen - everything from Z-Cars to Upstairs, Downstairs to Tales of the Unexpected to The Ambassador to Quartet to The Time of Their Lives (with Joan Collins).

Of course, it is for one marvellous performance that she is forever immortalised, however - Shirley Valentine (for which she was nominated for an Oscar)!

Shirley Valentine - Trailer

"That's right, Millandra, I'm going to Greece for the sex! Sex for breakfast! Sex for dinner! Sex for tea! And sex for supper!"
"Sounds like a fantastic diet, love!"
"It is, have you never heard of it? It's called the "F" plan!"

A superb film. A superb actress. We'll miss her terribly.

Facts about Pauline Collins:

• Despite her Scouse accent, Pauline was actually born in Exmouth in Devon; her family moved to Liverpool when she was a child.
• After an early part in Doctor Who, in 1967 she was offered to become the Second Doctor's next companion but turned the part down.
• She was "Dawn" in the first five episodes of the classic 70s BBC sitcom The Liver Birds, before Nerys Hughes debuted in the show as "Sandra".
• She and real-life husband John Alderton not only acted together as "Thomas and Sarah" in Upstairs, Downstairs and its eponymous spin-off, they were often cast as a couple - in Yes, Honestly, Wodehouse Playhouse, Forever Green and Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War, as well as on stage.

RIP, Pauline Collins OBE (3rd September 1940 - )

Oh, I know...

Basil Fawlty: "Do you remember when we were first manacled together? We used to laugh quite a lot."

Sybil Fawlty: "Yes, but not at the same time, Basil."

'The fête itself, dear one,' said Elizabeth, 'is what I must speak about. I cannot possibly permit it to take place in my garden. The rag-tag and bob-tail of Tilling passing through my hall and my sweet little sitting-room and spending the afternoon in my garden! All my carpets soiled and my flower-beds trampled on! And how do I know that they will not steal upstairs and filch what they can find?'

'As long as I am tenant here,' said Lucia, 'I shall ask here whom I please, and when I please, and--and how I please. Or do you wish me to send you a list of the friends I ask to dinner for your sanction?'

RIP, Prunella Scales (22nd June 1932 - 27th October 2025). One of Britain's most wonderful and beloved actresses. We adored her.

Death's second self

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.

- William Shakespeare, from Sonnet 73

It's all over for another year - British Summer Time is ended.

No light evenings until next March...

Sob.

The Queen of Salsa

We have another centenary to celebrate today!

From the Guardian:

[Celia] Cruz was perhaps the greatest Latin American icon of her era, dominating the Latin music charts, decorating her walls with gold records, three US Grammys and four Latin Grammys – alongside prizes from Billboard, the Smithsonian Institution and more – and receiving the keys to New York, Los Angeles, Miami and many other US cities. “I have lots of keys,” she later lamented, “but they don’t open any doors.”

They didn't need to - the great lady opened them herself!

As music producer Bruce McIntosh, whose label is releasing a series of reissues of music from her vast back catalogue says:

“Celia had been a star since the 50s, and she brought a bit of professionalism to [The Fania All Stars, the pioneers of the "salsa" sound].

She also brought a whole new demographic, broadening the scope. When she arrived, there were basically no other women singing salsa. After Celia, women were more drawn to it.”

Not one of them could even come close to the sublime talent of Celia Cruz, however! She was peerless:

Celia Cruz - Quimbara [100 Años de Azúcar]

All hail!

Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (21st October 1925 – 16th July 2003)

---

PS

We're off to the centenary Celebration of Celia Cruz at the wonderful Cadogan Hall tonight...

Actors are not made

"Actors are not made, they are born."

"Bringing humour and bringing happiness and joy to an audience is a wonderful opportunity in life, believe me."

It is the centenary today of one of our most-missed Patron Saints, Dame Angela Lansbury!

All hail.

By way of a little tribute, here she is at her most camp portraying one of our most favourite characters...

Death on the Nile - "The Salome Otterborn Tango"

...and again, but this time with an "old pal":

Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur - Bosom Buddies

Lordy, how we miss her...

Another style icon passes

RIP, Diane Keaton (5th January 1946 – 11th October 2025)

A bit of sex every 25 pages?

“We all need the pipe dream of writing the great novel, or winning the pools, or becoming managing director and kicking all our colleagues in the teeth. The world is deep and dark and full of tigers, and we need those shimmering white castles in the air to creep into when life gets unbearable.”

“I know [my novels] are frivolous; imperfect. But people love them — you should see the letters I get! Maybe one day I will write something more serious, but I don’t want to come across like a ghastly actor who wants to play Hamlet. Basically my aim in life is to add to the sum of human happiness. My dear, is that pompous, hmmm? Darling, am I being boring?”

“There are a lot of lewd jokes and ribald remarks but there isn't that much sex. Everybody says, 'Do you put in a bit of sex every 25 pages?' and I say, 'No, it happens when it happens.'”

“Our house is so difficult to find that people always arrive late, which means that by the time we go into dinner, I've had so many dry Martinis I'm practically under the piano, and it no longer seems to matter that I haven't put the potatoes on.”

“I'm bored stiff by ballet. i can't bear those muscular white legs like unbaked plaited loaves, and I get quite hysterical every time one of the women sticks out her leg at right angles, and the man suddenly grabs it and walks round in a circle as though he were opening a tin.”

“I'm not wild about holidays. They always seem a ludicrously expensive way of proving there's no place like home.”

“The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things.”

“People are going to be sent to prison for saying somebody’s common soon, aren’t they? Really. You can’t say anybody’s fat, you can’t say anybody’s anything, now. Not that one wants to say people are fat, but mind you, they are huge, aren’t they. Enormous. Enormous. I hate people being hurt. But nobody can say anything now. Anyway, enough of that. And all this [anti] wolf-whistling. I love being wolf-whistled at. I’m that generation. All contributions gratefully received.”

RIP, Dame Jilly Cooper, the creator of "the British bonk-buster".

So sad - she was lovely.

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn

One hundred years ago on Friday, a genius was born - that great man of letters, wit and raconteur Mr Gore Vidal.

Born into a socialite family, Gore Vidal was destined to mix in the most erudite of circles, his early relationships included Anais Nin, and he was good friends with the Kennedy family. His ground-breaking gay-themed novel The City and the Pillar caused controversy in late 1940s America, and his later Myra Breckenridge was made into a cult film starring Raquel Welch and Mae West.

His TV clash with right-wing writer William Buckley was notorious for its evident hatred between the debaters, and on Buckley's death Vidal said: "Hell is bound to be a livelier place, as he joins forever those whom he served in life, applauding their prejudices and fanning their hatred". Ouch!

Some more examples of this deadly waspish wit:

• A good deed never goes unpunished.
• A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.
• After a certain point in life, litigation replaces sex.
• Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an I.Q. of 60.
• Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so.
• Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.
• As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests.
• By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over.
• Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.
• Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.
• I don't want anything. I don't want a job. I don't want to be respectable. I don't want prizes. I turned down the National Institute of Arts and Letters when I was elected to it in 1976 on the grounds that I already belonged to the Diners Club.
• I never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television.
• I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults.
• It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
• Never have children, only grandchildren.
• Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.
• Sex is. There is nothing more to be done about it. Sex builds no roads, writes no novels and sex certainly gives no meaning to anything in life but itself.
• Some writers take to drink, others take to audiences.
• Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.
• The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so.
• Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either.
• We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of ours which connects kings and farm boys, artists and clerks. Let them see that the important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
• What other culture could have produced someone like Hemingway and not seen the joke?
• Write something, even if it's just a suicide note.

We adored him.

Gore Vidal (born Eugene Louis Vidal, 3rd October 1925 – 31st July 2012)

Acting is what I do

"I had that accent which prejudices people against you so instantly, or makes them respect you so falsely... I had a driving ambition to be an actress. Like so many actors, whatever their class or race, I kept feeling there must be something more. I had this urge to dig deeper."

"Acting is what I do with who I am."

"I've been taking lessons in Damehood from Judi Dench. Being a Dame is useful in restaurants, hotels, and restaurants, Judi says, but you have to get someone else to do the booking."

Many happy returns today to the marvellous Dame Harriet Walter, award-winning Shakespearean actress - her significant screen roles in the likes of Sense and Sensibility, Downton Abbey, Killing Eve, Poirot, The Crown, Midsomer Murders, Succession, and more recently she played Margaret Thatcher in Brian and Maggie - whose 75th birthday it is today!

All Hail.

Dame Harriet Mary Walter (born 24th September 1950)