The Windmill was home to numerous famous comedians and actors who had their first real success there, including Jimmy Edwards, Harry Worth, Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, George Martin, Bruce Forsyth, Arthur English, Tommy Cooper and Barry Cryer. Wikipedia.

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that list Ian

@jamesjohnmoss8130

Жыл бұрын

I am getting really old. Know ALL those names, I think most have passed, just glad I am not part of that list!

@bonadesign

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to be Mr Pedantic but Spike Milligan only auditioned at the Windmill but was not given the job. He opened with an apology for not turning up nude which met with an immediate "Next!" from Vivian Van Damm.

@stanr4324

Жыл бұрын

My grandmother always maintained that all the stars started off at the Windmill!

@markbaird6691

Жыл бұрын

@@bonadesign My mother was a Windmill Girl from 1946 - 1951 and she always claimed Spike was fired from the Windmill she knew Peter Sellers well from these days - so maybe he never started lol.

John Snow pub? I think it’s about time we got a John Rogers pub, isn’t it? 😉 We need to campaign for this! ✊.

There’s a whole other part of Soho that everyone always misses, the Residents and the families who are from Soho and still live there. Soho is Home to a whole community. There’s still a Primary school and 1000’s of people of live there, not just the rich peeps who bought fancy houses but a real working class community. My mum was born in Soho, went to school in Soho, worked in Soho, watched the fan dance from the side of the stage at the Windmill as a little 10 year old girl (because to her innocent eyes it was beautiful. My Nan new all the market stall holders, there dads and their grandfathers (when there was a market…) and there’s many many more stories because the community is still there.

@michaelwilliams3232

6 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/lHms0M9wfb2bY7A.html

Oh, lovely, an area of London I've actually walked around, back in 2007. American here, probably won't get back to England again in my lifetime, so I'm really, REALLY enjoying these walks of yours, John. Thank you so much!

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure- glad I can take back walking the streets of London

As a Londoner myself I wander around this great City most weekends and at other times when I am not working. Many of the streets you feature in your videos, are streets that I have also visited. However, in every one of your presentations I find things of great interest that I have missed or don't have an in-depth knowledge of. I really enjoy watching these and hope one day to bump into you. Thanks John, and like all of your viewers, I look forward to seeing the record of your next walk, "Wherever that may be".

I just saw this, thank you. I used to live in Berwick Street in 1990-91 (Aussie) So wonderful to do a 'walk around' again. It snowed in early 1991 and I still have photos of a snowy and still Golden Square, very special 😊

Another excellent walk in soho london

Shortly after watching your last Soho video, I had to visit to attend an event. I walked around Soho that Sunday morning with new eyes. It was wonderful 😊 I noticed so many things

OH WOW ! ! ! Well, if ya luv film maker John rogers and ya luv soho , as I do on both accounts ,then this is 24 minutes of viewing gold. John your style of presentation is unique, there’s a genuine sense of hanging out with a mate embroiled within your delivery. I have the privilege to grace the streets of this great city of ours most days of the week in my lorry, but I bet your films are such a lifeline to those who share heritage with London but can no longer get out and about. Thank you for your great work.

@kerryannestevenson6099

Жыл бұрын

You’ve nailed it Nigel.

@dianarolph1770

Жыл бұрын

Yes there is something so special about John’s presentation but I can’t define it. I do know it’s unmissable!

I particularly enjoyed this one...a stroll down memory lane in an intensely vibrant part of London i have many distant childhood memories of as the son and grandson of Carnaby Street tailors who still had a family workshop until the mid 70s! So i was plunged back into times spent 'up in town' as a kid from the suburbs on the odd Saturday morning or during the school holidays...BIG thanks.

Many years ago ( in the 1980's) I lived in Kingly Street. Loved it, such a fantastic area. In those days you could still find places to live in the middle of the West End. Before Kingly Street I had a place in Goodge Street.

Spent my undergrad years living just off of Soho Square. Your video brought back many happy memories. Thanks for uploading.

What a treat. Really needed to chill out this evening and then saw this pop up, perfect Sunday night to see another of your walks

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoyed it Peter

Your visit to Carnaby Street took me back to my days as a seventeen-year-old backpacker in early 1973. Thanks.

I worked in Dean Street in the mid 70’s in a building that overlooked St Anne’s Court, where the ladies of the night worked a busy lunchtime trade as did the sandwich shop. Great comic shop there too. So many memories of places, the original Patisserie Valerie was a daily stop. Wasn’t one of the first open mike comedy clubs around there. Diverse and fabulous area.

Bowie phone box is also in Heddon Street, down the side of No.25, and Outside No27 .

The Piccadilly theatre is doing fine now, I drummed in Jersey Boys when it transferred there and it lasted a decent amount of time. Moulin Rouge has been in that theatre for a good amount of time aswell.

David Bowie's Album cover photo for" Ziggy' was shot across Regent St. In Heddon St.

'A tree filled with angels, bright angelic wings bespangling every bough with stars.' Blake

Such strong and fond memories of my 'Soho years.' As an aspiring actor (Granada TV had its headquarters in Golden square) i would be in and out of various Casting directors offices all over Soho and then, if i was flush, would invariably sit afterwards in one of the pubs you featured fretting over what sort of impression i had made. Could i have been better? Could i have BEEN worse? A sweet agony undoubtedly shared with all those people who started at the 'Windmill' and the star struck youngsters to come.

I enjoyed this latest walk round Soho John. I walked all those streets back in 64/65 when working as a Messenger Boy aged 15/16 for A B Pathe based in Film House, Wardour St. You mentioned the Scene Club but wasn't sure where it was. Well you were quite near at one point. It was located in Ham Yard down a alley behind the pub on the corner. I think the alley has been built on now. . I would go down there once a week for a few months in 65 after finishing work and met my first girlfriend down there. Ham Yard then didn't look like it does now. Brought back some memories. Thanks.

Mike & Bernie Winters worked the Windmill for years & had other comic friends who would put on shows there . When I worked up there , i got to know a great fella called Lolly who was Jamaican & very well known in Soho & his daughter married Michelin chef John William Burton-Race..Lolly had so many stories about Soho . A Genuinely Fascinating man .

@jillshapiro7081

7 ай бұрын

If I may correct you, Mike and Bernie Winters did not work at the Windmill Theatre. Many other comedians did but not Mike and Bernie. I can tell you this on good authority as I have a Windmill Theatre archive.

One of my favourite parts of London. In the very early 80s I worked in Newman St just north of Soho Square, I used to walk to work each morning from Waterloo, snaking my way up through Chinatown then zig-zagging across to Soho Sq. The walk, at 8am, was always interesting/entertaining.

The Scene club was in Ham Yard which was shown towards the end of the video.

I worked in an ad agency in William Blake House in the 90s and this walk captures all the places that were special to me at that time. I was 19 and hadn't worked in central London before, so at lunchtimes I would just set out from the office and walk for 25 minutes, then get out my A-Z and navigate back to the office - and that was how I learnt my way around Soho! So many familiar pubs - especially The Coffee House (which confused me no end the first time someone suggested nipping for a pint over at the Coffee House). Glad you included Carnaby Street - it has a fascinating history, I met a wonderful old lady on a train up from Gatwick once, and when she learnt that I worked on Marshall Street, she told me that she grew up in that area - her parents worked in a nearby factory (vague recollection it was tobacco or cigarettes) and they would go for their weekly bath at Marshall Street Baths. It's become an area that so heavily visited that you might not see how many people live there. I was glad to see the primary school is still open. Really enjoyed this walk, thank you.

Thanks John I really enjoyed this walk, brought back a lot of memories ( all good!). The late Barry Cryer started his career at the Windmill Theatre

Wherever that may be...🎉

I always look forward to Sundays when you post your walks! ❤️👏 Thank you! 😊

Excellent walk John. Worked at Tower Records, Piccadilly and that meant we frequented most of the pubs in soho. but mainly the Queens Head, next to the Piccadilly Hotel. When doing the closing shift on Saturdays (3 till midnight) we'd take our lunch break (6-7) at the Dive Bar under the Kings Arms in Gerrard Street, we got to know the owners (George & Mae, old school East End) very well, sadly, converted into a restaurant, many years ago - Great farewell party when it closed, full of locals, old regulars & central casting east end villains, who probably were just that.

This weekend has been a slow weekend, not been feeling 100% so this has come at a perfect time because I love this part of London (along with Seven Dials) I always feel a connection with the area. The Windmill Theatre, there is a film called Mrs Henderson Presents (with Judi Dench as Mrs Henderson) which is about the theatre in the Second World War. Well worth a watch!

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

I’ve literally just been filming a walk round Seven Dials

@SundaysAreForQuiet

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks oh yes! Cannot wait!

@biddylisduff

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks that's great news! I worked in Monmouth Street, I was fascinated how Seven Dials area had been transformed from it's dark days - but no spoilers before your video airs!

Marvellous. Still the greatest city in the world.

John, the street with phone box on the Ziggy Stardust album was taken in Heddon Street the other side of Regent Street from Soho.

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

Many thanks - that’s in my Mayfair video but I thought there was another location as well for some reason

I’m a Bowie fan and feel thouroughly ashamed of myself that I can neither deny or confirm re the telephone boxes. Thanks for another great little London perambulation 👍🏼

As a Cycle Courier in the early 'teens' I'd spend a little time in Golden Square chatting to compadres about tyre compounds or cassette teeth or something

Thanks for the educational walk, as usual much appreciated. Being (slightly) disabled i enjoy these walks, and learn something along the way.

Addendum to the John Snow story, (from the excellent book, 'The ghost map', about John Snow's investigation of the source of the cholera epidemic). Evidently there was a brewery near the site of that infamous pump, but the folks who worked at the brewery could take a pail of beer home at the end of the day, and drink beer at work (fairly low alcohol, 'session' beer), so they did not get hit by the epidemic. Saved by the beer.

Some great memories of when I used to work on Argyll St. The Clachan, the Red Lion, Blue Posts, even lunch at Thai West Cafe. Thanks

Good books from Soho Original Books! Yes! I used to tell people this and they'd look at me askance with a smirk. I used to go there on my lunchbreak a few times a week - I think it was a quirk of the licence from Westminster Councilt that allowed them to sell smut downstairs as long as there were "actual" books upstairs. They had a manager for the "real" books department who obviously knew his stuff and would get outstanding remaindered books from publishers. My shelves are still packed with books I got there - of many writers he introduced me to David Mitchell - I bought 6 copies of the first edition hardback of Ghostwritten there to give away as it was such an outstanding literary debut - and they were only £2! Such a shame when he eventually left. Twas never the same again. Thanks for the reminder of the remaindered...!

I Loved this one John. Best ever, really look forward to your posts.

Awesome video, I love your presentation style. On John Snow, I worked in the field of epidemiology briefly and legend is that John Snow plotted the deaths and their water sources on a map and came to the conclusion that it was the one water pump that was causing the infections - thus John Snow is thought to be the forefather of epidemiology and geo mapping. It is said that he went and broke the handle off the pump himself - but I don't think that is verified.

@andrewmurray5542

Жыл бұрын

Yes, and I think that's why the fake pump that's there now never had a handle; to symbolise that it was the removal of the handle that stopped folk from using it, thus effectively stopping the outbreak.

This was lovely. Still no mention of Sammy Lee' but I loved this. Thankyou john

Thank you. Another great walking tour. I especially like the Soho videos as it's a favourite part of London.

I did much of this walk five days ago so it’s good to hear your fine commentary , pointing out things I didn’t know.

Need to have a catch up binge watch of john rogers channel this week thanks for what you do.

I used to maintain a few restaurants around Soho and St James, and a couple other places, back in 2017. I did a fair old bit of walking around a lot of these streets! The Windmill was the only place open during the Blitz apparently! The Red Lion on Kingly Street used to be managed by a couple of really good mates of mine and my wife. Slept over a fair few times and wandered out the next morning with hangovers! Used to stop off for a pint in the William the 4th when my wife (then girlfriend) lived in Leyton back in 2012 and found Brodie's beer. Not for me. Tried several different pints for £2 a go but wasn't impressed.

@unecafe

Жыл бұрын

re: Windmill in the Blitz. there's a film/play called Mrs.Henderson presents, all about that! Film stars Judi Dench

Hi John. According to someone on Tripadvisor..."The name ‘Golden Square’ is believed to originate from Gelding Close which referred to land being used for horse grazing." Apparently, it was also Sir Christopher Wren who laid the square over former a Plague Pit. Spooky stuff!

It is always such a rare pleasure to receive an honest smile.

Intrigued by the Blakean asides. Just reading John Higg's 'William Blake Vs The World'. Never had Blake's mythology and it's relation to the events and ideas around at that time so well explained to me. Lots on Swedenborg, too, so I'll be rewatching your last film in the light of it!

My favourite walk love pubs, the culture, the story's, the history thank you!

Excellent as always - thank you!

The Lyric is my favourite Soho pub. Quality ales. Not over busy.

Great stuff John! I was born in Tooley St many years ago, but after a lifetime teaching history in England I find myself in the Bay of Islands New Zealand. Your walks are a fantastic connection with my childhood growing up down the Old Kent Rd. Keep up that great work mate :)

@luapnosboh7421

Жыл бұрын

Can you come back n teach the propper stuff folk need to know , your country needs you 👍

Hoorah!! Thank you so much. My family have become ardent fans of yours. Our wish is to accidentally bump into you one day, 'wherever that may be'. We've read so many wonderful books on London (one 6-volume favourite being 'Old And New London' by Walter Thornbury. 1873. Also available online), but your videos bring so much extra to life. Here's to you and many more walks to come. Barty

When in London I always walk down Carnaby Street on the way to my favorite store, Liberty .

Thanks! One of the shops you passed on Kingly street used to be a bar called the Bag O' Nails that Hendrix and Clapton frequented. The building next to the Windmill I believe is the back of what used to be a grand house but the front was later turned in to another street. It was used by Dr William Hunter as an anatomical theatre and museum in the late 17 hundreds..

@unecafe

Жыл бұрын

yes! the dressing room block, as viewed from across the street is the original front of their house. was used as an operating theatre, for early anatomical studies. The museum about the Hunter brothers and their collection has just been reopened in Lincoln's Inn Field.

I lived in London for 10 years, and haven't been back since 2019 due to covid - just scheduled my first trip back for Sept. Soooooo excited! These walks just make me that much more ready to come back!

Brilliant as always. Let's not forget our friend Ben Aaronovitch's Moon Over Soho! that in itself could be a maze of adventures in Soho.

Really love these guides around the less known parts of London - I used to visit regularly up to about 10 years ago & spend all my time off the main streets just looking at the history & architecture of a once proud city. Never visit now as I don'r find it safe or welcoming, so these videos should be preserved as historical records before the place is even less recognisable & more hostile.

Most enjoyable! I used to spend time here, years ago, so you've DEFINITELY included Memory Lane.. Nice one John! 🌟👍

Thoroughly enjoyed this John. Back in the day when i was a despatch rider Soho was a rich source of fascination as i used to snake my way through from Regents st to Centre point on the way to the city. Great memories, thank you.

John Snow was born in York and we have a replica pump in the parish he was born. It's just opposite All Saint North Street by the River Ouse in a small park. I'll take a photo next time I walk past.

You know the better weather is on the way when John ditches the beanie and the baseball cap makes a comeback

Great walk John.. I love Blake and have done many walks that connect Blake’s London locations. I have done a longish walk connecting Blake, Coleridge, Shelley and Byron across the West End and out to Lambeth and Kensington. Thank you for these joyous sojourns!

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

That sounds like a great walk Mark

What a lovely trip around Soho, another really interesting adventure, old London has some superb architecture that we take for granted, but John highlights it in his video. Gymnopédie No.1 always reminds me of the book "A taste of honey".

Loved beak street. Two white vans not only on double yellow lines, but parked across the pavement ( side walk) too. Loved London and miss it.

Archer Street - was known as the musicians’ labour exchange back in the 40s & 50s. On certain days, it would be full of musicians for hire for playing jazz clubs or musical theatre. Ronnie Scott used to talk about it.

Living in Dubai. I always look forward to Sunday.

Love that area especially the Chinese quarter walked it a few times

Thanks for bringing memories back.worked in foyles,always had groups of men standing in one corner by a window.checked it out it overlooked the st Martin's school of art.popular on life models drawing days.thanks again for new info on soho.may you wander forever,a modern day story teller.

Love your videos John . I am confirmed Londonophile having lived there in the eighties and now a regular visitor. It never loses its allure and you pacify my yearnings when I’m not ….thank you 👍

An odd fact for you, the 1959 film " Expresso Bongo " was filmed in Soho, which is now the centre of the coffee industry in London. Back in 1959 there were few coffee cafes in Soho and even the "Old Coffee House" was turned into a pub!

Another great walk John… massive thank you …funny really when I worked around there and socialised on days off I was so busy and having a good time I never had time to appreciate the history. Funny, what you say about the Windmill club I do remember being in there in the very early 70s occasionally to appreciate the female art-form to put it politely. And there was comedians who used to come on stage. Must have been their hardest gigs ever! Everyone was in a rush to get him off. I’m sure those old professionals learned the tricks of the trade in those those hard gigs that was made them as household names in the years to come .

Lovely walk John . So many great pubs in and around soho

The area of Ham Yard was where a Bomb fell during the War - Hence the space. My mother worked at the Windmill as a dancer from 1946 - 1951 One night after work she left by the stage door in Archer street and found a young man in an RAF uniform in a bad state he had been attacked and cut-up by a Razor gang.

I remember the ITV series in the early 70s starring Adam Faith, Budgie much of which was set in soho

@flyinghedgehog3833

Жыл бұрын

Charlie Endell.."I'll chop yer ands off Budgie!"...yep was around then too.

@christown2827

Жыл бұрын

Porn on video cassettes and a dodgy bookshop being turned into a sex shop. That series was written by journalist Keith Waterhouse and writer Willis Hall and was so realistic to what was going on in Soho at the time that Hall was interviewed by the Metropolitan Police at one point.

As usual, you walk around an area that I know well but still educate me. Looking forward to more.

Thank you John watching this video made me realise the place where my father was born still exists, he always said it was torn down. I will definitely be going there just to see the place.

I last set foot in Carnaby Street in July 1976, during a family holiday, and all I have is vague memories of heat, tie-dyed t-shirts and bright colours. The upstairs rooms in the pubs tip might come in very handy, thank you.

At 1:00 To the very left of that Adult shop in Brewer st there is an iron gate. Back in the late 80's I worked in a graphics studio on the first floor, above the black awning there. I used to know that whole area. Happy memories,

Great walk around Soho.I remember going to the Cranks vegetarian restaurant in the 80's and loved Harry's cafe early mornings after hitting the nightclubs.

Another great video John. Always such a pleasure. Thank you!

A terrific walk, John. Thanks for further exploring more of Soho!❤

Thanks John - marvellous video. You get a real sense of it’s history!

Interesting to have a walk around Soho. So many pubs ! Very atmospheric area.

What a wonderful walk John. I always have a notebook & pen with me when I'm watching your videos, so that I can make notes to read more about certain bits & pieces. There are so many rabbit holes of discovery waiting for me to explore. Thank you! 😊

@elainemiller5809

Жыл бұрын

I do this too - well, a list on my phone but the same principle!

great walk John, worked in Soho for 6 years in the early 2000's. Always a good Thursday or Friday night after work in The Midas Touch pub in Golden Sq ... no longer there. 🍻

Thanks for video John!

Thankyou john,my favorite part of London.worked in fouberts st,just off Carnaby St late 70s.still quite scruffy round the edges then.

@jamesjohnmoss8130

Жыл бұрын

Hi, you, or the street? Me remembering this time would have been both! Much better now.

The Flamingo club in wardour street famous jazz club between 1952 and 1969 played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues. I have to say I spent many nights in there opened at midnight and shut at six in the morning, Happy days

@colingodfrey1281

6 ай бұрын

I think it's a betting office now!!

Great walk John. I love Soho and have massive fond memories of working around there for a design studio in the late 80’s. Fantastic times and a great vibe

On a sunny day, Golden Square is the perfect spot for a takeaway lunch from the nearby Whole Foods.

Short walk, and history lesson done with finesse and grace. Good on ya mate.

@JohnRogersWalks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Nick

Another good one thank you

Another great Soho walk, packed with interest. It seems you could probably fill a whole video with material from just one or two of these amazing streets. Really enjoyable. Thank you.

23 Heddon Street where the Ziggy cover photo taken - the phone box photo also on Heddon Street.Trident studios where Hunky Dory and Ziggy recorded just around the corner.

Great stuff as ever John. The Blue Posts in Kingly St is a pub dear to my heart. The Canaletto plaque reminded me of another artist with a London connection, specifically a South London one - Camille Pissarro, who lived and painted scenes around Crystal Palace & Sydenham in the 1870s. I think you passed by the setting of one of them on Fox Hill on your recent Capital Ring walk in the area.

Thank's John Stay safe.

Great video John. The Duke of Argyll on Brewer St was my spiritual home whenever in Soho,until it was revamped and consequently totally ruined.

An ever growing list!😛

Golden Square hadn't really been on my radar either, but I detoured there recently to see Britain's first Stolperstein (Stumbling Stone). It's outside number 3 Golden Square (Grafton House) and is dedicated to remembering Ada Van Dantzig, who worked there as a paintings conservator, before leaving to join her family in the Netherlands and being murdered in Auschwitz in 1943.