Rainbow Valley

The return of Rainbow Valley – the podcast that tells the stories about the swinging decade.

Episode 023 The Theft Of The Duke Of Wellington

Dr No, the first big screen outing for Ian Fleming's James Bond. Its 1962, and the movie would start to lay out a successful formula for most of the other movies that would follow in the series.

Of course when we speak about Dr No, most of us will remember Bonds introduction at the casino, Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder emerging from the sea in 'that' bikini or the scene where the spider crawls up Sean Connery's arm. But what about this scene….and in particular, one specific moment.

James Bond and Honey Ryder have just met the evil Dr No in his underground lair. Before crushing an ornament with his metal hand and telling the pair of SPECTRE's dastardly plan to hold the world to ransom, they are led away. As they walk up a small set of steps, Bond stops, noticing an oil painting on an easel to his right ….

The painting was a portrait of Arthur Wellesly the first Duke of Wellington, painted by Francisco de Goya - and only several months before the release of Dr No it had been hanging on display in London's National Gallery. When it was stolen however, one early August morning, it made national and international headlines. The story would develop with an unlikely villain, who like Dr No, would hold the British government to ransom. A story that would span many decades and involve a high profile court case, the introduction of a new criminal offence, and, of all things….the British tv license!

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of the theft of the Duke of Wellington.

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Scott

The return of Rainbow Valley – the podcast that tells the stories about the swinging decade.

Episode 021 – The Zapruder Film.

Season three opens with the story of a sequence of film that runs for approximately 22 seconds.

A piece of 8mm film that is only 25 feet in length and yet is possibly the most watched piece of celluloid in history….and certainly the most famous home movie ever.

For within that 22 seconds, Dallas dress manufacturer, Abraham Zapruder managed to capture the death of the most powerful man on the planet on November 22nd 1963.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of The Zapruder Film

This and other episodes are available on our website rainbowvalley.libsyn.com

You can also find us on Player FM

Sticher

Spreaker

I Heart Radio

…and anywhere you download your podcasts

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

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This has been a Stinking Pause production.

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Scott

Rainbow Valley - bringing you the stories from the decade that shook the world.

Episode 031 - Sinatra at the Sands (1966)

January/February 1966 and Frank Sinatra is headlining at the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Performing twice a day with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, conducted by Quincy Jones, there is no doubt that Sinatra was at the top of his game. Having turned fifty only a few weeks before, he never sounded better and had the audience in the palm of his hand.

Over a period of seven days, some of those 90-minute concerts were recorded for what was to become surprisingly, Sinatra's first commercially available live album, and one of the greatest live albums of all time.

Ladies and gentlemen – Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of Sinatra at the Sands

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

Or send us your thoughts and feedback at [email protected]

This has been a Stinking Pause production

Thanks for listening

Scott

The return of Rainbow Valley – the podcast that tells the stories about the swinging decade.

Episode 022 - Tammi Terrell

Join us as we tell the story of one of Motown's greatest stars. The story of a life cut tragically short, but thankfully a life that brought us one of the greatest soul singers of all time.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of Tammi Terrell.

You can find us on Player FM

…and anywhere you download your podcasts

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

Join our Facebook group

Or send us your thoughts and feedback to [email protected]

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This has been a Stinking Pause production.

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Scott

1964...and the world was still reeling from the assassination of John F Kennedy. Racial tensions continued in the southern states of the USA and tension was rising elsewhere as the conflict in Vietnam escalated.

But it was also the year of the Tokyo Olympics, The Blue Streak, Donald Campbell and Radio Caroline.

There was music from not only the Fab Four, but Dusty, Manfred Mann and the Beach Boys.

And on TV, we saw a surge in the poularity of Steptoe and The Avengers and a phenomenon known as Dalekmania.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of the Hits and Headlines of 1964.

You can find us on Player FM

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You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

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A Stinking Pause production.

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Scott

The Big Freeze

Boxing Day evening 1962

The Christmas Number One at the top of the hit parade was Return to Sender by Elvis Presley

All around the country, families were settling down after a busy two days of eating, drinking and making merry.

Small screen entertainment on the tv that evening included a hilarious variety show from the London Palladium featuring Bruce Forsyth and Norman Wisdom and the BBCs big Boxing Day movie was Moulin Rouge starring Jose Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor

And then, it began to snow. A day late and tantalisingly close to giving the country a proper White Christmas, but snow nevertheless. The temperature dropped…..and it continued to snow.

And it snowed and snowed, and it got colder. And it snowed and it snowed some more

And that was how it would be for the next one hundred days or so as Britain was plunged into an icy wilderness that would last until the following March.

Industry ground to halt as businesses and schools were forced to close. There was widespread panic as ambulances and fire crews were unable to respond to emergencies. Essential supplies and medication failed to get through to hospitals and over half the natural wildlife population died in the freezing temperatures, unable to forage to food.

Nothing could be done to stop the bitter temperatures and the relentless snowfall

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of The Big Freeze

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This has been a Stinking Pause production.

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Scott

Rainbow Valley - The Sixties Podcast.

Telling the stories from the decade that shook the world.

The Apollo One Disaster

January 27th 1967, US astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee way made their way into a brand new spacecraft perched atop a large powerful Saturn Five rocket at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. A routine dress rehearsal, and one of many, for their approaching launch into orbit less than a month away.

All three astronauts were experienced pilots, all harbouring dreams of one day setting foot on the moon. But little did they know, nor did anyone else, that once they entered the spacecraft that chilly winters day, they would never leave it alive.

The Apollo programme would be dangerously close to cancellation before it even got off the ground.

The Apollo spacecraft was condemned from the start, comprising of miles of uninsulated wiring, tons of flammable materials confined in an atmosphere consisting of pure oxygen, and a hatch that wouldn't open.

Public opinion was already turning against the space race, and the events of that January evening did nothing to boost their confidence in the programme.

It is a story not only of how America continued to fulfil its destiny of placing a man on the moon, but also a valiant tale of the three American heroes who lost their lives in a horrific accident

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of Apollo One.

Don't forget you can also listen to our weekly sixties chart show evey Sunday on Mixcloud.

Link below:

https://www.mixcloud.com/scophi/rainbow-valley-sixties-chart-show-5th-march-2023/

Rainbow Valley - bringing you the stories from the decade that shook the world.

Episode 032 - Tere Jo Dupperault - Orphan of the Sea (1961)

The name Tere Jo Duperrault resonates with a chilling tale of survival and unfathomable tragedy. In 1961, at the tender age of 11, she became the sole survivor of a horrific crime that unfolded aboard the sailing yacht "Bluebelle," a voyage that transformed from a family vacation into a nightmare. Her story is a testament to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity.

The Duperrault family, seeking a tranquil escape, chartered the "Bluebelle" for a sailing excursion. However, this idyllic journey was abruptly and violently shattered by the actions of Julian Harvey, the ship's captain. Harvey, for reasons that remain shrouded in a complex web of motivations, murdered the entire Duperrault family. In the wake of this heinous act, Tere Jo was left adrift in the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, a solitary figure facing the unforgiving elements.

For four agonizing days, Tere Jo endured a harrowing ordeal that tested the limits of human endurance. Adrift on a small, fragile cork float, she battled the relentless sun, the gnawing pangs of dehydration, and the searing pain of severe sunburn. The vastness of the ocean, the isolation, and the constant threat of the elements created an environment of unimaginable terror. Yet, against all odds, she clung to life, her survival instinct propelling her through each grueling hour.

Her eventual rescue by the crew of a Greek freighter marked the end of her physical ordeal, but the emotional and psychological scars of the trauma would endure. The world watched in stunned disbelief as the story of the young girl who survived against all odds unfolded. The incident garnered international attention, and Tere Jo's survival became a symbol of human resilience.

Following her rescue, Tere Jo sought to rebuild her life, choosing to live a life of relative privacy away from the public eye. The enormity of her experience, the loss of her family, and the trauma of her ordeal required time and space for healing.

In later years, Tere Jo, now known as Tere Duperrault Fassbender, chose to share her story, collaborating with Richard D. Logan Phd to document her experiences in a book. This decision to speak out was not driven by a desire for fame but by a desire to share a testament to the human capacity for survival and to honour the memory of her family. Her narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the strength that can be found in the face of unimaginable adversity.

The story of Tere Jo Duperrault remains a powerful and enduring narrative, a stark reminder of the darkest depths of human depravity and the extraordinary power of the human spirit to endure. It is a story that continues to resonate, prompting reflection on the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring impact of trauma.

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

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This has been a Stinking Pause production

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Scott

Rainbow Valley - bringing you the stories from the decade that shook the world.

Join your host, Scott, as this week he recounts the tale of Goldie—the golden eagle who soared into the hearts of Londoners in 1965 with his daring escapades!

Episode 033 - Goldie And His Bid For Freedom

Picture this: it's a chilly February day, and Goldie, a majestic golden eagle residing at London Zoo, decides he's had enough of the cage life. While his keepers are cleaning his enclosure, Goldie seizes the moment and takes off into the skies above Regent's Park, leaving behind his mate, Regina, and a trail of chaos.

For the next 12 days, Goldie became the talk of the town. He wasn't just any escapee; he was a celebrity. Crowds flocked to Regent's Park to catch a glimpse of the rebellious raptor, causing traffic jams as drivers circled the area hoping for a sighting. Goldie, meanwhile, was living his best life—gliding over the park, exploring nearby neighborhoods like Camden Town and Tottenham Court Road, and occasionally indulging in some predatory mischief. He even made headlines for snacking on a duck in the garden of Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. Ambassador. Talk about dining in style!

The zoo's keepers tried everything to lure Goldie back. They borrowed equipment from the Royal Navy and Civil Defence Corps, and even enlisted the help of BBC reporter John Timpson, who attempted to charm Goldie with an Ethiopian bird pipe. Spoiler alert: Goldie wasn't impressed. He also had a run-in with two terriers in the park, but their owner managed to fend him off. Goldie was clearly enjoying his freedom, and the British public couldn't get enough of his antics. He was even mentioned in a debate in the House of Commons, where MPs greeted his name with cheers.

Eventually, hunger got the better of Goldie. On March 11, the zoo's deputy head keeper tempted him with a dead rabbit, and Goldie swooped down for what would be his last picnic in the park. The keeper approached quietly, secured Goldie's legs, and brought him back to the zoo. Goldie was in good health and reunited with Regina, much to the delight of visitors. In fact, the zoo's attendance nearly doubled after his return—Goldie was a true crowd-puller.

But Goldie wasn't done with his Houdini act. Later that year, in December, he escaped again! This time, his freedom lasted only four days before he was recaptured. Goldie's escapades cemented his status as one of London Zoo's most famous residents, and his story remains a delightful chapter in the city's history.

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

Or send us your thoughts and feedback at [email protected]

This has been a Stinking Pause production

Thanks for listening

Scott

Rainbow Valley - bringing you the stories from the decade that shook the world.

Join your host, Scott, as he continues the story of the death of a young woman and a man destined to become President of the USA.

Episode 035 - Chappaquiddick Part Two (1969)

9:32 am – Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday July 16th 1969 and Apollo 11 blasts off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida

On board, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, carrying the hopes and dreams of the American public, eager to see the fulfillment of John F Kennedys promise to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade.

72 hours later and 1300 miles away at Edgartown police station, Martha's Vineyard, Edward, the youngest, and last surviving of the four Kennedy brothers, was putting the final touches to a carefully written statement – not a speech to some multi national corporation or an address to his fellow senators in Washington, but a 240 word police statement that would cost him the trust of the American people and also his chance of ever becoming President himself.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the conclusion to Chappaquiddick

You can follow the podcast on Twitter @rv_podcast

Or send us your thoughts and feedback at [email protected]

This has been a Stinking Pause production

Thanks for listening

Scott