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Living in Portobello Rd for 8 Decades and 60 Years in Showbiz with Earl Okin
In this episode of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Podcast, he is joined by musician, singer, comedian and podcaster Earl Okin, who has lived in Portobello Road since 1952. He has worked with musicians as diverse as Paul McCartney, Fairport Convention and Van Morrison, regularly headlined on the comedy circuit and celebrates 60 years in showbiz.
From Earl´s first-hand account you will gain a great insight into how the area around Portobello Road has evolved. He speaks about the Jewish, West Indian and Muslim communities as well as the Fascists, the slum landlord Rachman and a local serial killer. He also shares his memories of the 1st TV´s, trams, early cinema and dozens of stories about some of the world´s biggest music and comedy stars including Billy Connolly and Rik Mayall.
If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Portobello Road used to be a very poor area.
- When Trinidadians moved in, the British fascists targeted the area to try to drive them out.
- In such a racially and culturally mixed area you soon learn that people rarely fit the stereotypes and labels assigned to them.
- Originally a full orchestra accompanied silent film showings.
- An audience of 12- to 92-year-olds all laugh at Earl´s shows. His comedy crosses the generation gap.
- Alternative comedy has its roots in folk clubs.
BEST MOMENTS
“I discovered from his behaviour that his surname is actually Cockney rhyming slang.”
“By the time I was 8 I was an atheist.”
“The funny thing is that there were less channels, but somehow more choice.”
“He then changed his name to Elton John, so he's sort of got my career.”
“Mine have got English words, so I call it Bossa Britannica.”
“I certainly never do drugs, apart from just standing in Portobello Road and breathing in occasionally.”
“I quit my job, and on Friday, I was on the tour (Wings).”
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.earlokin.net
Yellow Petals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDJug04Cd0
https://folklondon.co.uk
Driving out the Fascists from Portobello Road - https://libcom.org/article/beating-back-mosley-notting-hill-1958-baker-baron
Rillington Place Murders - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christie_(serial_killer)
Café Continental - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Continental
HOST BIO
Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.
CONTACT AND SOCIALS
https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638
https://twitter.com/dannyhurst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720
View all episodes
By Danny HurstIn this episode of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Podcast, he is joined by musician, singer, comedian and podcaster Earl Okin, who has lived in Portobello Road since 1952. He has worked with musicians as diverse as Paul McCartney, Fairport Convention and Van Morrison, regularly headlined on the comedy circuit and celebrates 60 years in showbiz.
From Earl´s first-hand account you will gain a great insight into how the area around Portobello Road has evolved. He speaks about the Jewish, West Indian and Muslim communities as well as the Fascists, the slum landlord Rachman and a local serial killer. He also shares his memories of the 1st TV´s, trams, early cinema and dozens of stories about some of the world´s biggest music and comedy stars including Billy Connolly and Rik Mayall.
If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Portobello Road used to be a very poor area.
- When Trinidadians moved in, the British fascists targeted the area to try to drive them out.
- In such a racially and culturally mixed area you soon learn that people rarely fit the stereotypes and labels assigned to them.
- Originally a full orchestra accompanied silent film showings.
- An audience of 12- to 92-year-olds all laugh at Earl´s shows. His comedy crosses the generation gap.
- Alternative comedy has its roots in folk clubs.
BEST MOMENTS
“I discovered from his behaviour that his surname is actually Cockney rhyming slang.”
“By the time I was 8 I was an atheist.”
“The funny thing is that there were less channels, but somehow more choice.”
“He then changed his name to Elton John, so he's sort of got my career.”
“Mine have got English words, so I call it Bossa Britannica.”
“I certainly never do drugs, apart from just standing in Portobello Road and breathing in occasionally.”
“I quit my job, and on Friday, I was on the tour (Wings).”
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.earlokin.net
Yellow Petals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDJug04Cd0
https://folklondon.co.uk
Driving out the Fascists from Portobello Road - https://libcom.org/article/beating-back-mosley-notting-hill-1958-baker-baron
Rillington Place Murders - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christie_(serial_killer)
Café Continental - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Continental
HOST BIO
Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.
CONTACT AND SOCIALS
https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638
https://twitter.com/dannyhurst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720