DEC4 Podcast

It's a great thrill and privilege this episode to welcome multi-talented actor, writer and music artist, Andrew Mackintosh, who carved his own special niche in British television history as Detective Sergeant Alistair Greig, a key character in over 300 episodes of one of the most successful and influential television dramas of all time, The Bill.

https://dec4podcast.com/2024/09/17/a-conversation-with-andrew-mackintosh/

Selected content guide for fans of The Bill:

(24:07) Casting – (29:39) DS Greig’s accent – (34:02) Main segment: Remembering Kevin Lloyd, script quality, cast and character dynamic, notable guest artists and production anecdotes – (57:30) Social and political awareness and activity – (1:21:18) Effect on career

Special thanks to Andrew, and to Oliver Crocker for making this episode possible.

In this clip from our 2022 episode, From Memphis to Vegas: A Vintage Leisure Tour, our leading contributor, Gary Wells (https://soulrideblog.com), talks about the serenity of an early morning visit to Graceland's Meditation Garden. He also takes us inside the mansion itself and to other significant areas including the racquetball court.

Find the full episode here (website embed with images, links, background and additional local information);

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/02/26/gary-wells-from-memphis-to-vegas-a-vintage-leisure-tour/

Oliver Crocker is a filmmaker, podcaster, publisher, and leading writer and historian on classic British television. In this clip from a two-part podcast recorded in 2021, prior to the passing of Frank Williams (Vicar Timothy Farthing), Oliver shares some personal encounters with Dad's Army legends.

Find the complete episode with some additional background, images and links, here:

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/01/29/in-conversation-with-author-filmmaker-and-podcaster-oliver-crocker-a-two-part-podcast/

In this clip from our 2022 episode, From Memphis to Vegas: A Vintage Leisure Tour, our leading contributor, Gary Wells (soulrideblog.com), recounts his joyous experiences at the Stax museum, and a memorable visit to Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle Church.

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/02/26/gary-wells-from-memphis-to-vegas-a-vintage-leisure-tour/

(Information and commentary about destinations and city conditions generally are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of the original episode's publication. We understand that personal experiences will vary, and everyone should consider information from a wide variety of credible sources before making a decision on personal safety when travelling).

Oliver Crocker ‪is a filmmaker, podcaster, publisher, and leading writer and historian on classic British television. In this clip from a two-part podcast recorded in 2021, we discuss Oliver's friend, Z-Cars legend Ian Cullen (1939-2019), and the evolution of police drama from Z-Cars to The Bill.

Find the complete episodes, with links to suggestions for further viewing, reading and listening, at our podcast website;

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/01/29/in-conversation-with-author-filmmaker-and-podcaster-oliver-crocker-a-two-part-podcast/

In this clip from our podcast series taking a deep dive into Elvis' 1973 satellite concert broadcast, Aloha From Hawaii, our leading contributor, Gary Wells (soulrideblog.com), joins us to discuss some highlights from 1972.

We consider Colonel Parker's hesitancy to play New York, and compare how the fans were showcased in two documentary movies, Elvis That's The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis on Tour (1972). We also take a lighthearted look at Elvis' memorable encounter with the Mayor of Roanoke, VA, Roy Webber.

There doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of available information on Roy Webber himself – it appears that he had two stints as Mayor of Roanoke (1949-1954 and 1968-1975). He also owned a florist, which traded until 2008, and which, unsurprisingly, provided the floral guitar presented to Elvis upon his arrival in Roanoke. Roy Webber passed away in 1975, aged 70.

Find the complete episodes on all the usual podcast places or at our podcast website;

https://dec4podcast.com/

Oliver Crocker ‪is a filmmaker, podcaster, publisher, and leading writer and historian on classic British television. In this clip from a two-part podcast recorded in 2021, we discuss how The Bill evolved throughout the course of its run, and how the skills of the writers and actors created some of the most admired and fondly remembered characters in British television.

Find the complete episodes, along with additional background and links, at our podcast website;

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/01/29/in-conversation-with-author-filmmaker-and-podcaster-oliver-crocker-a-two-part-podcast/

In this clip, we revisit our earlier podcast episode, From Memphis to Vegas: A Vintage Leisure Tour, in which our leading contributor, Gary Wells (soulrideblog.com), takes us on an audio journey to some of the important cultural sites in Memphis and Las Vegas. Here we recall Gary's visit to 1034 Audubon Drive (the Presley family's first home in Memphis), and to Sun Records.

In the complete episode, available on our podcast website and the major platforms, we also visit the Stax Museum, Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle Church, Beale Street, and we explore Elvis Presley’s Graceland in detail, of which Gary says, “It’s a hundred percent worth it, and what you get is the feeling, the experience. Elvis worked, lived, operated here. This is his home. It really does add an intangible and a strong dimension to your pursuit of the man and his world.”

Find the complete episode, with additional local information, background, images and links, at the dedicated page at our podcast website;

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/02/26/gary-wells-from-memphis-to-vegas-a-vintage-leisure-tour/

In this supplement to our episode on the Winter Dance Party tour, headlined by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson (the Big Bopper), our leading contributor, Gary Wells (soulrideblog.com), joins us to discuss in more detail some of the friendships and professional relationships forged during the tour. We examine the culpability of the promoters taking into account the context of the time, and learn that the Ritchie Valens biopic, La Bamba, might have been a very different movie if not for a notable intervention. We also look at how the tragedy shaped the future of JP Richardson’s family, and share some personal thoughts on the often forgotten fourth occupant of the plane; the young pilot, Roger Peterson.

https://dec4podcast.com/2024/02/23/gary-wells-the-winter-dance-party/

Find the complete episode, including additional background, images and links, at our website:

https://dec4podcast.com/2023/02/26/gary-wells-from-memphis-to-vegas-a-vintage-leisure-tour/