Flying visits
Faster air travel tempted many American stars to fly over to post-war Britain. MARION McMULLEN checks out some of the VIP passengers clocking up the air miles
WISH you were here! It was some 60 years ago that the Lone Ranger left his famous horse Silver home on the range and headed on over to Britain.
The popular TV cowboy was promptly mobbed and brought traffic to a complete standstill when he arrived in Cardiff in August, 1958.
Thousands turned out to see actor Clayton Moore in his Lone Ranger guise, including the lord mayor of Cardiff. The 6ft 1in American actor cut a striking figure in his costume of blue shirt, white cowboy hat, red scarf and black mask and once said: “I will continue wearing the white hat and black mask until I ride up into the big ranch in the sky.”
Travelling to the UK from America used to mean a long, slow voyage aboard an ocean liner, but the introduction of international flights soon tempted many of Hollywood’s biggest stars to head to Britain for both work and play.
Silver screen cowboy John Wayne arrived at Heathrow Airport for his first visit to the UK in 1951. He flew over to attend the opening of his movie Rio Grande and, although his name is synonymous with American westerns, he was once in line to play the heroic British Army officer Lawrence of Arabia in the epic film of the same name. The lead role, which was would later be made famous by Irish actor Peter O’Toole in 1962, was apparently first offered to the American star almost a decade earlier. Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart, his actress wife Lauren Bacall and actress Katharine Hepburn also arrived in Britain in 1951 after filming iconic movie The African Queen in Uganda and the Congo. Bogart went on to win his only Oscar for the movie. His role of gin-swilling Charlie Allnutt was originally written as a Cockney riverman, but Bogart struggled with the accent and the character eventually was turned into a Canadian.
Glamorous movie star Elizabeth Taylor was photographed surrounded by pigeons in London’s Trafalgar Square when she paid an early visit to the UK in 1948.
The British-born American actress became a regular face at Heathrow over the years, even before her two marriages to Welsh actor Richard Burton, and was made a Dame in 1999.
Marilyn Monroe and her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, flew into Heathrow in 1956 as she prepared to film The Prince And The Showgirl. Her co-star Laurence Olivier turned up to welcome her but they all had to seek refuge behind an airport counter to escape the photographers and reporters waiting for them.
Marilyn spent her UK stay at a large country estate in Surrey called Parkside House.
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin also caused a stir when they arrived together at Heathrow in 1961.
By 1970, Ol’ Blue Eyes was travelling to Britain in style on his own personal Gulfstream jet to perform two charity concerts in aid of children. The plane was luxuriously fitted out in dark panelling, with sofas and club chairs in leather and Oriental carved busts. Even the toilet seat was padded for an extra touch of luxury.
Tony Curtis and his wife travelled with fellow film star Kirk Douglas in 1957 and the two actors went on to work together in Europe for the movie The Vikings.
Kirk was back in the UK the following year as he joined Janette Scott, Burt Lancaster and Laurence Olivier on the set of The Devil’s Disciple in Tring Park in Hertfordshire.
Comedy star Danny Kaye had a life-long love affair with the UK... and Britain loved him right back. He was overwhelmed by female fans who turned up at Heathrow in 1949 to wish him a good trip home to America.
He had enjoyed success the previous year with a run at the London Palladium with audience members including Winston Churchill and members of the royal family. He was later invited by King George VI to perform at the Royal Command Variety Performance.
The comedian did so much flying that he later took and passed the commercial pilot’s certificate allowing him to fly single and multi-engine aeroplanes. In addition he was qualified to fly small business class jets.
Of course, even VIPs suffer air travel snags. Italian star Gina Lollobrigida and her husband only just managed to catch the last flight from Orly Airport to London in 1955 to attend the royal film performance of To Catch A Thief.
Unfortunately, in the rush, her three suitcases were left behind... including the one containing a special white satin dress she was hoping to wear when presented to the Queen.