Wednesday, October 12, 2011

21st Century Dodos!

How's that for a blog post title? 

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today, I'm delighted to have Steve Stack (aka Scott Pack) here to talk about his new book, 21st Century Dodos. Scott is the publisher of The Friday Project (HarperCollins) and also blogs over at Me and My Big Mouth. Dodos provides a look at extinct or soon-to-be-extinct aspects of the British way  of life, and as someone who hasn't grown up here, it's fascinating. 

Before I turn it over to Steve, just a quick link to give you: yesterday, I was over at The Writer's Guide to E-Publication, wondering about the divide in sales between Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Pop by if you get the chance!

And now, over to Steve!

The lovely Talli has invited my on to her blog but on the condition that I mention shoes.
I should probably explain. A couple of weeks ago there was a bit of a debate on Twitter about some press article or other that dared to suggest that all women’s fiction, the author probably called it chick lit, was about shopping and shoes. Quite rightly, Talli and other writers of fiction aimed at a female audience were up in arms and keen to point out that the genre, such as it is, covers the whole spectrum of human existence and isn’t just about shoes and shopping.
And then I piped up to point out that shoes do actually get mentioned quite a lot.
Which is why I have to mention shoes while I have here. I have now done so twice.
Hopefully that now buys me a few paragraphs to plug my new book. A book, I hasten to add, which contains not one mention of footwear. It does have 134 entries on other things though. It is a collection of (hopefully) humorous pieces about the many inanimate objects, traditions, experiences and other stuff that are in danger of becoming extinct. I call them, and the book, 21st Century Dodos.
Given that Talli is someone who has come to our shores from abroad and has adopted the UK as her home, I thought this entry about the playing of the national anthem in cinemas might be quite apt.
Talli, you must stand until the end of this blog post.
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Right up until the late 1970s, the national anthem was played at every screening in cinemas up and down the land. Patrons were expected, but not actually forced, to observe the anthem by standing throughout. Originally, it would have been played at the end of the film, but that tended to lead to a frantic rush for the exits while the credits were rolling (if you’ve ever seen that Dad’s Army episode, then you’ll know what I mean). It was later moved to the beginning so that unpatriotic scallywags would be immediately identifiable by their insistence on staying seated. Cue lots of tutting from older cinema-goers.
I am guessing that the tradition came to an end when the number of people sitting through the anthem far outnumbered those standing to attention. Or perhaps when multiplexes started popping up in out-of-town shopping centres. Or when most people stopped giving a tinker’s toss about royalty and the fine heritage of this great nation. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t happen any more.
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See? Fascinating! Thanks, Steve. If you'd like to follow along on the blog tour, yesterday Steve was here and tomorrow he'll be here.
What disappearing aspect of your culture/ daily life would you like to hang on to?

45 comments:

  1. This book sounds like fun, and a good Christmas present. I don't remember the Anthem at cinemas but I do remember we used to have a short film or cartoon first, then there would be an intermission and the usherette would come and sell ice cream in tubs, or orange ice-lollies. She'd probably get mugged now.

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  2. Oh, this sounds like a great book. I must read it, as I love getting to know other cultures and how they changed over time.

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  3. In Ireland we had to stand at the end of discos, dances and shows for the national anthem as a show of patriotism, it's pretty much died out though. In some Irish-speaking areas of the country they still do it - their sticklers for tradition.

    This book sounds really interesting, I'll definitely check it out.

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  4. How well I remember The National Anthem at the cinemas, as you mentioned many used to rush for the exits.Which I thought at the time an insult to the Queen.
    Enjoyed your post and thanks Talli for having a wonderful guest.

    Yvonne.

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  5. Men opening doors for me and walking on the outside of the pavement. I have a friend who does that and it makes me feel great!

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  6. This sounds like an interesting book - one for husband's Christmas stocking I think - and then I'll steal it afterwards!

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  7. What a cool book! I'm (happily) too young to remember the national anthem in cinemas, but one thing I miss from my growing-up years in Malaysia is the tock-tock candyman. The name of the caramel-flavoured hard candy comes from the sound the man makes when he chisels chunks of the sweet from his massive slab: "tock-tock-tock". Nowadays, tock-tock candy comes prepackaged, which kinda defeats the purpose of buying it, when the highlight for a child is watching the man chipping pieces of candy off a ginormous chunk of pure sugar!

    J.C.

    Join me in the Trick or Treat Spooktacular! Could you help make the Grand Prize a brand new Kindle Touch?

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  8. I can't believe they sung the Anthem in the cinemas! When I lived in London, though, I remember people were allowed to smoke in the theatre!

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  9. I wasn't around for the national athem in cinemas but, like Sarah Pearson mentioned, I remember the intermission where everyone made a dash for the loos. We must have better control nowadays.

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  10. Definitely going to read this one and I think my hubs would love it too. Great idea!

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  11. I must admit I'm too young to remember this, though perhaps it faded out earlier in Australia. You've reminded me of something I'd love to see more of, though--drive-in cinemas! There are still a couple around Melbourne, but I have such fun memories of running riot around them as a kid while my parents watched a movie!

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  12. What an awesome book! I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the post.

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  13. I think in the US we only stand for our national anthem at sporting events. That's the only time I ever hear it anyway.

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  14. Sounds a fascinating book! I remember the National Anthem at cinemas and the undignified rush to get out before it started so we weren't obliged to stand still until it finished.
    I'd like to see people thanking people who hold doors for them - some do, many don't.

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  15. Interesting! I think if they made us stand up for the anthem at the movies here, there would be a lot of dropped popcorn. Then cursing would ensue, and a protest would start about overpriced tickets and . . . probably good not to have that tradition.

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  16. I can just about remember the anthem at the end of a movie, but I also remember that most people just headed for the exit, regardless. I too miss men not opening doors for me or offering to carry things for me, those were the days :)

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  17. 'What disappearing aspect of your culture/ daily life would you like to hang on to?'

    Talli, this question is intriguing-- and, yes, a very apt title for the post. I think I fight the disappearance of that which I value, all the time. But perhaps I need to wield a better weapon. (Okay, not gonna get too philosophical, here because I can see that the connection from brain to 'pen' is gonna be filled with really corny metaphor, at the moment!)

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  18. Sounds like a great book, Steve!

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  19. Hahaha I'd love to get the book for my tea-table. ^_^ I like keeping books there that I'd actually read.

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  20. I love this - what a hoot and I agree with Sarah; what a fun Christmas present for your favorite anglophile. Also, Talli, thanks for the link! Going to check it out...

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  21. What I want to know is - Talli - did you actually stand till the end of the post...?? :)

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  22. Your post really resonated with my husband regarding the national anthem, as he served in the Army for many years. Even as a civilian working onboard a military installation, at 0800 hours, when the colors were raised, he would stop what he was doing, face battalion headquarters and put his right hand over his heart. No wonder I'm so crazy about this man!

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  23. A fascinating look at things that quietly pass into history. Offhand, I think of music, and the albums and cassettes that are pretty much long gone. Best wishes with your book!

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  24. Great stuff. I'm off to read the other post ...

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  25. I'm floored that anyone would sit through the national anthem. In the US It's been ingrained into my being to stand and show respect not only for my country, but for those who have died for it. Thank you for this post, I've got to read your book!

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  26. I wish that people still wrote letters. I used to have pen pals when I was younger and it was always so much fun to write letters on pretty stationery. And it was always more fun to get letters than e-mails. Somehow they seem more personal, especially because letters are usually longer.

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  27. Ahh, thanks for all the nice comments.

    And I can confirm that smoking sections, audio tapes, handwritten letters and penpals are all in the book!

    Thanks for being such a lovely host Talli

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  28. I bet he could do several books in that series!
    I remember saying the Pledge in school. That died decades ago.

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  29. Ya know, we in Jamaica tend to hold on to stuff like this. To this day, the National Anthem is played in movies and plays.

    I like the humorous tone of Steve's snippet.

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  30. It's an interesting topic. It seems like there is a certain sameness to many places in the world that accept western culture. In the U.S. the "melting pot" is kind of cool in concept but from it a conflict of cultures is beginning to arise. I'd rather keep my traditional American ways thank you.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  31. This book sounds brilliant - I'm going to have to get hold of a copy!

    Like Neurotic Workaholic, I miss having pen pals - I had loads when I was at school, from all over the world. We used to send round 'Friendship Books' with our letters to try and get more. Does anyone remember those?

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  32. Love the title - and the book sounds great too! Glad you mentioned shoes.

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  33. There's nothing wrong with mentioning shoes. Books have lots of idea, but women think about shoes. Can we fail to leave such an important part out?

    National Anthem? Interesting.

    I'd be sad if they stopped singing Sweet Caroline during Red Sox gams or showing Gino dancing on American Bandstand during Celtics games.

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  34. How about using a cell phone as a phone?

    And believe it or not, I'm not into shoes.

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  35. Fun post, thanks to both of you! It's nice to meet Steve; thanks for the intro, Talli!

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  36. haha how could one not read after that title.

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  37. Being she of the Daily Dodo - I love the sound of this book:) It's the little village carnivals that are dying out that I'd miss... especially the egg and spoon race
    Lx

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  38. Cool book! A very good idea for one, too.

    How about watermelon Twizzlers? Bring those back! :)

    BTW, I launched a giveaway today!

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  39. I love the look of this book and have bought a copy as a small extra present for my husband for Christmas. I hope it does very well.

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  40. Catchy title and an interesting idea for a book! Best of luck Steve! Thanks for hosting Talli!

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  41. This sounds like a great book. And I love the title.

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  42. Great idea for a book!

    Nice to meet you, Steve!

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  43. I am definitely buying a copy, the book sounds brilliant.

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Coffee and wine for all!