Kenneth Williams - Going Places - 1975 - Bloomsbury, Piano Museum etc

Here's a very enjoyable BBC film circa 1975 includes a personal view of London's Bloomsbury area, and of Cromer House where he lived as a child from the legendary Kenneth Williams, a visit to Brentford's Piano Museum, now known as the Musical Museum, before moving on for a spot of village cricket.
Barry Norman covers the story as teams from Langleybury and Isleham battle it out in the Haig Village Cricket
Championships to get to the final which will be played at Lords, "the Mecca of all cricketers everywhere."
I grew up in the very same area as Kenneth Williams,and my late half sister Rosie lived in Cromer House where Kenneth grew up. I also went to Argyle Primary School up until 1971 which when Kenneth attended it was called Manchester Street School. I know the Kings Cross that he knew,and up until 1966 we still used a tin bath.

[@Catharguy]

There's no one about like Kenneth Williams nowadays, so listenable and so watchable.

[@lewissmith3896]

I know.

[@curlyanneb1973]

That million dollar voice. Hard to define. Very posh but good for a giggle, all at the same time. I’m so late to the game, as far as knowing who he is, but now I’m a super fan.

[@Edward1312]

He's so articulate, I get the impression that its not all scripted, a lot of the dialogue is off the cuff.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Kenneth Williams didn't need a script. As his diaries confirm, he was a writer of genius, his interviews show him to be a master raconteur and he was a celebrated ad libber on stage and in front of the camera.

[@meirwise1107]

What a wonderful programme by a highly intelligent, talented man. RIP Kenneth Williams, we will not see your type again.

[@GEricG]

We really won't sadly.

[@thomasclark362]

Quite true. *There are no people around today quite like Kenneth. A true legend. God bless him. R. I. P *I shall never forget him. *So sad in his last times on earth. 💜

[@timelordvictorious]

What a great speaker he was . He should have done more stuff like documentary's like this would have been great.

[@BavonWW]

A true londoner; the rough with the smooth. His observation on the Town Hall extension reveals yet another facet to his character, his concern for the homeless who he sees as being part of London too.

[@GEricG]

He did have moments of great empathy for the disadvantaged in life, judging by his diary entries.

[@pentuplove6542]

One can hear Mr Williams working class accent break through at times. A great man.

[@ria1636]

He did it deliberately!

[@routeman680]

I had no idea that Kenneth Williams had made documentaries. He could have been the Michael Palin of his time. If he had been offered more opportunities like this, he might not have felt unappreciated and suicidal in the 1980s.

[@mrdeathgaming1457]

.......Said it like it was.

[@mattiemclean9882]

No point in speculating what could have been....

[@WatchingDude]

@@mattiemclean9882 speculation is the mother of Invention

[@pippipster6767]

I think that was more his general mindset. Even during great success he wasn’t feeling great. Tendency to depression not necessarily related to outside events. In fact, often not at all.

[@christopherbriscoe8665]

Wow, Kenneth really had the gift of the gab, but what he said was full of truth and humour, but humour to deliver truth. He could have had a longer career as a commentator of historical documentaries like this.

[@gavinthorburn8818]

A man with class so much more than his carry on thing

[@simonpenum]

Love Kenneth. A very beautiful soul. I'm reading his diaries at the moment. I've walked past Cromer house so many times and I never realised he lived there as a child- fascinating

[@g-man8705]

I've read the diaries many times - compulsive reading and highly enjoyable though always tinged with sadness. I worked on Bedford Square for a couple of years in the early 1990s, sadly too late to have bumped into Kenneth at the nearby Tesco on Goodge Street, where he used to shop! But lovely to think he had walked across Bedford Square gardens, where I regularly took my lunch breaks in the summer, all those years before.

[@peterh1353]

Barry Norman and Kenneth Williams two of the most impersonated people in the UK at the time. Both have now gone. RIP.

[@GEricG]

Brian Sewell too - not that he was necessarily impersonated but a man of culture.

[@prince.mushroom]

This show is just marvelous

[@cecilefox9136]

i AGREE WITH HIS ARCHITECTURAL OBSERVATIONS!

[@davidevans3227]

..so used to seeing him older, in the nineteen eighties.. nice to see some colour in his hair.. can listen to him for hours, being funny or serious.. thankyou for sharing this.

[@hilary531]

So enjoyable, thank you. Kenneth was a singular force of nature and I love him.

[@stevenwade7466]

This is absolutely wonderful . I could listen to Kenneths wonderful voice all day long . Many thanks for uploading this .

[@jnuttso1]

What a fabulous person he was so clever and entertaining always enjoy watching anything hes in so for this I thank you...:-)

[@robbiechandler7858]

KW was awesome. One of my fave comedic and serious actors

[@WatchingDude]

I didn't think I'd be interested in this but Kenneth makes it fascinating.

[@southseastroker]

What a delight. Fascinating too.

[@cathydoyle8804]

Omg I love little gems of old telly like this! Thank you.

[@dalebaker9109]

He was great. Love his posh cockney voice. Funny, how his accent changed, when he was at his old house. He did age rather quickly, but not here, still has brown hair. Great bloke.

[@tamesidefilming4650]

Life is all memory and misery

[@ianhoare289]

I never realised how educated this man was

[@okaminess]

Imagine if Kenneth doing a remake of this video for a 21st century audience but with 110% of his comedy turned up.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Kenneth Willams was really wasted on The Carry On Films. Oh how I wish Television was like this today. Thank You!

[@julianmeek2156]

You are of course right. Kenneth Williams was a self-taught scholar with a passion for history, philosophy and art. He was fun in the Carry Ons, but ultimately it was a waste which led him to his end.

[@juliaward1127]

He took the Carry On work because he wanted to, so you can't call it a waste.

[@GEricG]

Absolutely - he would not be short of work today. Nothing wrong with the carry ons but yes, it was way beneath his abilities.

[@Del-yv1qy]

No script required here,such a walking history book.Amazing unusal man.

[@Sameoldfitup]

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams....................

[@quaid667]

Wow, if he could look around now. He would be extremely pissed off lol

[@Syklonus]

Why? Are you going to into some low brow diatribe about Islam or immigrants? Newsflash: Kenneth wasn't a racist piece of shit.

[@leighbennett1961]

He would indeed.

[@vihodanyet]

@@Syklonus what does modernist architecture have to do with islam and immigration ?

[@Cybjon]

I'd love to have heard him bitch about that bloody walkie-talkie building that death-rayed the paintwork on everyone's car.

[@joestout2959]

@@Syklonus He certainly wasn't. Imagine what he'd say about the Eye or the shard. or the O2 center. It would be amazing.

[@royhepper6215]

What a wonderful video by the brilliant Kenneth Williams.....i lived in Bloomsbury in the late 40's and all of the 50's and went to the same school as KW - Argyle Primary - everything he said about the area good and bad is true and i still take trips to my old stomping ground 50 odd years after i left........was really enjoying the video then all of a sudden it switched to piano's! WTF.

[@royhepper6215]

I hope you had as good a time at Argyle as i did.........probably the best years of my childhood! if ever you take a trip down memory lane check out the pub at the back of the school.... McGlynns - the memories will flood back.Cheers

[@videocurios]

Havent been there for quite a few years,but I must pay a visit again eventually. Here's some memories from me on the Kings Cross website. Yes my memories of Argyle school were happy ones. kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/12/06/kings-cross-voices-back-on-the-camden-website/ Here's some cione film I took in about 1974 I grew up in Midhope Building we left in the hot summer of 1976. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2a1c3ybZs9_hJY

[@royhepper6215]

I loved the Kings Cross website and all of the comments but what i really enjoyed was your video!.....the Cross has changed as you would expect but to see it again as it was........that was special. The Parliment Hill shots were great i lived just a short walk from the Hill in the early to mid 60's until i got married. Many many thanks for your contact ....it's been a pleasure.

[@videocurios]

Thanks Roy its nice sharing memories with somebody who knows the place. I have lots of photos of Rent books from Midhope Hiollview estate etc amongst my zillions of photos of facebook. facebook.com/jimClarkreanimatorofpoets

[@videocurios]

There's a great facebook page that covers Kings Cross as well. facebook.com/groups/holborn.clerkenwell.kingscross.remembered/

[@markh9749]

This has some similarities with the 'Comic Roots' programme KW made in 1982. He was an intelligent and interesting - as well as idiosyncratic - presenter. KW knew the area around well. His father had a barbers shop on Marchmount St. As an adult, he lived alone in a succession of small rented flats, never more than a mile from where he was brought up by his parents Charlie and Louisa.

[@prince.mushroom]

I'm literally obsessed with Kenneth Williams

[@videocurios]

same with me,i grew up in the same area,and went to ti the same primary school little changed in my day the sixties, but renamed Argyle School.

[@David-uf8ex]

Its only when you see things like this you realise how standards today have sunk into the gutter

[@JanetCaterina]

Wow, those pianos are fantastic!!

[@7554EdwardG]

Another fabulous documentary about English eccentricity and heritage with the knowledgeable Kenneth Williams and as a welcome bonus, the joy and lore of cricket from the gifted and cricket-mad film head Barry Norman. Does anyone know who did the brilliant cricket caricatures or what book they were taken from?

[@paulrock5170]

Amazing gentleman that give a lot to us fans..

[@ajabrams]

Love Kenneth and the wonderful Piano Museum!! Thanks for posting.

[@joestout2959]

God I love Kenneth and London.

[@viloscohaagen4230]

I go to London three times a year & I always stay in Bloomsbury Tavistock place, love all those book shops.

[@robertclatworthy1857]

Often walked past the Music Museum but never went inside. I notice now that the building has been converted into posh apartments and the museum has moved further up the road. Will definitely make an effort to visit when next in London

[@udeychowdhury2529]

I love Kenneth Williams!!!!

[@videocurios]

Ditto

[@rexel666]

A legend. Badly missed.

[@pippipster6767]

I was brought up in that area. Nice part of London. Not so much now.

[@TheInnacity]

Bloooombury sqare .. kens wonderful voice

[@kairocx]

Hey it was my school there. I go to that school and I'm in year 6

[@GEricG]

Shades of Metroland with the late Sir John Betjeman.

[@aryehfinklestein9041]

How wonderful! thanks for posting ( wish KW had done as many of these as Michael Palin...pity ).

[@mrdeathgaming1457]

I work around here everyday since 2000 and chuckle everytime I think of this film. Kenneth Williams the most Ostentatious .. All the pomposity now only surviving in the sadly rundown parks.

[@vihodanyet]

Once a wonderfully extravagant facade of the imperial hotel with architectural conceits all over it.. we now have this bed and breakfast vulgarity that would be more at home in the costa del sol! Thank goodness they’ve left the Russell Hotel ALONE!

[@garrysimpson1395]

Great Programme. Great man!

[@stuartthomas3105]

Thank you so much for this. Great viewing. And very interesting. Kenneth Williams was fantastic as ever.

[@brfchazard9787]

You try that with a bow! What a lovely upload, its really lifted me! Thank you!

[@tamesidefilming4650]

R. I. P. Ken 💙

[@GEricG]

Brilliant, thanks for this!

[@SylentEcho]

This was a fun watch. Thanks for this. Love Kenneth Williams. :)

[@garrysimpson1395]

Places for the Bureaucrats not he homeless! 41 years on nothing changes.

[@markofsaltburn]

Twas ever thus and ever shall be.

[@mrubbish1]

I know this area very well. I lived in Midhope house, Midhope street for about 7 years in the eighties. Actually met Kenneth Williams one day just walking around looking at the flats. Slightly contradictory to what he says here, he told me that the area we used for the communal bins was where the mothers used to throw the children into the bath after doing the washing of clothes. Of course when I lived there we had inside plumbing etc but there were also still the old taps between each flat on the balcony.

[@videocurios]

I grew up in Midhope buildings we left in 1976 my mum used to see Kenneth about,and she reckoned my late brother Paul knew him.

[@mrubbish1]

I lived on the top floor, number 30 then 32. Walking up those flights of stairs sure kept me trim. Thanks for your post and reply.

[@videocurios]

Have you seen my cine films which include some of midhope from the early 1970's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2a1c3ybZs9_hJY

[@janettedewar6617]

I remember seeing him with his mother walking through Regents Park prob. 1979 or 1980.

[@peetiewheatstraw1]

Terrific - thanks for posting.

[@adrianclinch9553]

So good thanks for posting I just love Kennith Williams a great talent

[@sphinxtheeminx]

Ken saying it like it is, being very much the Morrissey of his day. Spookily, I am reading the Holdroyd biography of Lytton Strachey so this came as a nice visual addition to that excellent book. In the backgound here, Schubert's Trout is tinkling. O to be in England now that April's here!

[@nakedmambo]

He should have run for PM, I'd have voted for him.

[@videocurios]

I absolutely Iove Kenneth Williams,but he was Pro EEC (EU as its called now) so not for me his politics,but how amazing he would have been at Prime Ministers Question Time etc he would have been invincible ha ha.

[@nakedmambo]

The EEC was different from the EU. Williams's politics became right-wing in some respects as he got older (as can be seen from his two notorious appearances on Parky) and I didn't care for that, but he was still sensible.

[@videocurios]

The EEC morphed into the monstrous EU all part of a masterplan to control Europe. Kenneth discussed his political opinions on one or two of the Parkinson shows.I dont hold it against him we are all entitled to our views until such time as the EU make that illegal as well.

[@Lytton333]

Oh dear.. he wasn't left-wing. What a catastrophe for him. I dare say he managed to cope with the tragedy though, him being sensible and all that.

[@andrewclarkson1942]

Thanks very much for posting this.

[@darrenschutt7818]

watching Kenneth William's and then the cricket I realised this one of local parks

[@flossyflue4305]

Thank you! It’s wonderful.

[@naughtyman2887]

Never noticed it before but I see a similarity between Kenneth and an older John Lydon at 2:09 there.

[@mannixflinn6227]

Thanks for this. I love Bloomsbury, having worked there in the eighties. When I return to London for business I must do a trail of where Kenneth walked, using your video as a guide. Thanks again.

[@davidrobinson8224]

Yes, he should have made many more documentaries. He had that easy going gift and extensive knowledge about what he was talking about, just a pleasure to watch.

[@annefones2424]

Wonderful to see this!

[@physicmad]

9:19 Some say that phone is still ringing to this day.

[@elchico4918]

So long I have waited to see this! Many,many thanks!

[@jacksonman5217]

I live in kings cross Caledonian road near kings cross end so i know all these areas very well they don't make them like Kenneth Williams anymore he was brilliant

[@yoya4766]

''Bureaucrats discussing the plight of the homeless''. Almost 50 years on, nothing has changed.

[@russellwylie2815]

Brilliant very true to whats still going on today regarding studenr population

[@stevencowie7151]

Ah, that VOICE. I miss him. RIP.

[@chestnutsev7]

Great read the Kenneth Williams diaries and just over 800 pages.

[@BionicRasta]

I looked up Cromer House on google maps & its still there but with an extension on the side. I imagine those flats today have been gentrified with rents out of reach of the working class today that use to live there in Kenneth Williams time?

[@mistofoles]

I was wondering how they kept the boom out of shot, but I've just noticed Ken was wearing a clip-on mic attached to his tie.

[@iVenge]

So very pleasant, all this. Today London is a bloody rubbish dump. My city destroyed by various gaggles of barbarians.

[@g-man8705]

When was this filmed? Looks like the middle of the day but the streets are empty and the British Museum is apparently closed....

[@mistofoles]

Maybe the TV company arranged for the museum to be closed to the public temporarily, just while they filmed there.

[@ianmedium]

Probably a Sunday when things used to close. It all changed in the eighties sadly. Thankfully I now live in Austria where Sunday’s are still special and apart from the bakers in the morning a petrol stations everything is closed and all the better for it I think otherwise it’s all about out of town malls grabbing cash and people having to work more to spend it and on what, Crap!

[@itkapatanka]

2:20 Goodness Kenny, nothing much has changed!

[@NxDoyle]

A strange programme. A magazine format that contains no delineation of segments.

[@dantaylor7344]

2:45 yeah Ken nothing changes!

[@NxDoyle]

Look how filthy the ionic columns of the British Museum were in 1975. They were almost black with soot and other grubby pollutants. Also, I'm surprised by the length of Kenneth's tie.

[@alantraish3368]

When he mentioned LNER whilst looking at St Pancras railway station was he being deliberately misleading or was it a Faux Pas?

[@jimbobjimjim6500]

Hes so funny!!

[@chrishopkins209]

I wonder how much each of those flats sell for these days?

[@christianesommer1584]

Hi, ich mag die Filme mit Kenneth Williams seh aber bitte in deutscher Sprache wäre seh schön

[@marclilly9049]

very british

[@LoudCitizen]

What was the song played on the player piano?

[@AntPDC]

How filthy from air pollution buildings were in the 70's.

[@videocurios]

soot from the by then outlawed coal fires

[@salvadormarley]

Dear old Kenny must have found himself a nice young waiter because Barry Norman had to finish the documentary.

[@aldershot5100]

Wonder how many of these sort of presenting jobs he did

[@davids8449]

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CLASS PROGRAMS GONE, BRITAIN NOW IS A NONE COUNTRY

[@MrRichiekaye]

Would anyone happen to know the name of the song played at about 13:56 on the player piano? I've heard it before but can't place it

[@michaelburling]

It's called 'Bye Bye Blues'.

[@ianmedium]

Can you imagine any English comedian now being so outspoken about hideous modern town planning! They probably invest their money in such rubbish!

[@JBTV1991]

easiest like ever

[@danwoodhouse9290]

if you didnt know theres a chance to see Kenny on the quiz show Countdown here kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIi7fp2iopd6d6c

[@videocurios]

Thanks Daniel Lovely I don't think I had seen this,though I might have watched it at the time. Anymore rare Kenneth is always welcome.

[@ianbentley7276]

cheers DANIEL, didn't know that.

[@Sameoldfitup]

"the peasants found the terms of redemption unattractive"