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Post by taffy on Mar 26, 2015 6:12:52 GMT 12
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Post by stephen68 on Mar 27, 2015 11:01:51 GMT 12
I always laugh when the little dude in the outfit has to look up to see where Jones is before sticking him in the bum with his sword.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 12, 2017 23:49:17 GMT 12
Here's a great newspaper article that reminds me of this episode. It comes from the WAIKATO TIMES, dated 28 DECEMBER 1889.
STEEPLE JACKS AND THEIR WORKS.
It would be difficult to point to a more remarkable example of hair-breadth escape from imminent peril than the following adventure, which is related of a steeple jack in Lancashire town. The man had been engaged in repairing the top of one of the chimneys which are common in the manufacturing districts of the north; and the repairs being completed, he proceeded to lower the scaffolding whereon he had been working. This he did, piece by piece, by means of a rope, he himself remaining on the dizzy summit of the chimney.
At length the last plank had been lowered and the steeplejack himself was preparing to descend, when, to his horror, and equally to that of the spectators below his rope became detached and fell to the ground. The man's perilous position was at once evident. Resting on a narrow ledge a hundred feet above the ground, he had no apparent means of descent, nor was there any way of assisting from below, the excitement quickly spread throughout the town, and soon a large crowd had assembled.
A thousand anxious eyes were gazing at the unfortunate steeplejack, who looked a mere pigmy on the high chimney top, far above the roofs of the town. How long could he retain his dangerous position in mid air? Would he be overcome by vertigo, caused by fear, and fall headlong to the ground? Such were the thoughts passing through the minds of the excited crowd of onlookers.
Someone suggested that a kite should be flown with a cord attached to take up a rope, but no kite was available. Tho steeple jack was gesticulating as if beseeching assistance that those below were anxious, yet powerless to render.
A piteous shriek rent the air as a woman ran quickly into tho crowd. "His mother!" was whispered from mouth to mouth. A dead silence spread over the assembly, and all eyes were turned towards the woman, who, with a stony look of horror, was gazing upwards at her son.
Suddenly her voice again rang through the air, sharp and clear, amid the pervading silence. "Unravel the stocken!" she cried out; "Tom, my dear, unravel the stocking!" It was a flash of inspiration. Wise men had been vainly endeavouring to devise a means of rescue, but it was left for the poor woman who had knitted the stocking that her lad wore to find the way to save him.
A hearty cheer was burst from the crowd when this was recognised, and soon it was seen that the steeple-jack had taken off one of his stockings and was unpicking the stitches. It was a long process, but at last it was finished, and another cheer burst forth as the woollen thread floated lightly to the ground. Thin twine was in readiness, and this was affixed to the woollen filament to be drawn up by the man above. Then a stout string was fastened to the twine, and this being drawn up too, a cord was fastened to the string, and, finally, rope to the cord. The steeplejack this time fixed the rope firmly on the chimney, and, to the joy of the multitude, they saw him descend in safety. — From "Cassell's Saturday Journal " for November.
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Post by Col on Feb 13, 2017 10:33:34 GMT 12
That's a great story, Dave. I was wondering though how the steeplejack was able to hear his mother considering the height of the chimney was one hundred feet above the ground.
Shame there was no mention of a Lancashire bystander like Mr Blewitt saying 'that ledge won't break. Them builders make really safe ledges. They also make sturdy walls, chimney's, wells - they make very deep wells them builders.'
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 13, 2017 12:33:56 GMT 12
"They make very good stockings, them Lancashire mothers" 
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Post by glimmertwin on Jun 3, 2017 8:14:57 GMT 12
My favorite part is when Walker starts singing In the mood and they all get in the groove for a few seconds. Mainwaring looks hilarious when he does his little dance.
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Post by pault1963 on Jul 23, 2018 1:40:50 GMT 12
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Post by Andy Howells on Aug 15, 2018 10:43:14 GMT 12
I always laugh at Mainwaring's reaction when they are trying to remove the german paratrooper from the clock and he discovers the clock was made by a craftsman in Munich. "That does it! The hands are coming off!"
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Post by pault1963 on Aug 15, 2018 22:02:30 GMT 12
I love Mr Blewitt's comments: They make very strong ropes, them Germans do. They make a lot of other things, too, them Germans. They make binoculars and cameras and telescopes, and bicycles, air guns, sewing machines. They make a very good sewing machine, them Germans. Warden Hodges: Oh, shut up, you silly old fool. (When we visited the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford and had pictures taken with the 'platoon' in Captain Mainwaring's office I declined the invitation to wear Hodges White hat - I didn't like how he was so rude to dear Mr Blewitt. That's all down to Bill Pertwee's fine acting skills not the man himself.)
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Post by hamish on Aug 18, 2018 14:09:07 GMT 12
"love the bit where they pass godfreys rubber ring round wich he got in timothy whites what ever happened to them Mainwaring turns to mr gorden and says they could have put it in a bag and the hats getting used to stop the bell
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Post by neilold on Aug 27, 2019 20:46:43 GMT 12
I like when they start doing the arm moment to 'in the mood'. It's such an unusual moment because Mainwaring joins in on the action, which is very out of character for him, given the triviality of it. I also like whe Walker goes 'ho cha cha'. who the hell would understand that to mean swing! I'm english and I didn't understand what he meant for ages, until I knew what swing music was.
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Post by Col on Dec 1, 2020 9:21:09 GMT 12
I never gave much thought to Hodges' reply to Mainwaring's message of 'How are we going to get down' until I remembered the radio version of the scene. Hodges reply of 'Why don't you jump' is so much better in my opinion and typical of what you'd expect the Warden to say.
I just wondered why the Perry and Croft writing team never thought of such a line? Their version only has Hodges reiterating what Mainwaring is thinking, which seems mild considering the Warden is raging because of the bottle incident.
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