IT'S funny how not so long ago people in show business - even the VERY big stars - were all rather looked down on by the rest of the populace.
     I remember an old actor who worked on one of our pictures as he recalled the days when he used to tour the English provinces: "Trying to get digs was murder! They used to bolt their doors against us! The kids used to sing out, 'Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the actors have come to Town!" The funny thing is, they'd still pay to see us at the theatre!"
     Jealousy? Of the madly romantic lives actors were supposed to live? Or maybe he was exaggerating.
     Or maybe not. Because you'll always find people ready to bring us down. "Call that singing? My two-year-old kid can do better than that!"
     So why doesn't he record his kid and make a fortune?
     And this same old actor used to tell me about the touring days, when the theatrical companies used to play a different town every week (for months at a stretch). "We always traveled on a Sunday, and the railways used to take a delight in sending us the longest way round. Eighteen hours was nothing for a journey of a couple of hundred miles.
     Fish and actors. That's what made up the bulk of the Sunday traffic. And fish got priority over us. Fish didn't 'keep.' Actors, apparently, 'kept' for ever!"
     The Good Old Days! Now, of course, we mostly travel by road. Stopping off at transport cafes for snacks. And this is not without it's hazards!
     More than one group has been "done over" by the lorry drivers who don't like the way they dress!
     And the crazy thing is that, while they're doing it, the groups' records are playing on their jukeboxes! Which just doesn't make sense!
     Luckily, the boys and I seem to manage to move around quite unmolested. But to come to the point (at last!), the people (and I mean the people generally) have changed their point of view enormously over the past few months.
     Maybe it's a case of "If you can't beat them, join them." But they've suddenly woken up to the fact that maybe we're not after all something to be ashamed of!
     Take Lulu, for instance (not that they were ever ashamed of HER!). But Lulu is an instance of how even the "square" world of big business is waking up to the influence (all over the world) that people in the pop world have.
     One of the biggest London fashion houses - realizing what a fabulous dress sense she has - has just invited her to combine with them in producing a collection based on her own ideas of style, color and design.
     And, in a few weeks' time, nearly 400 shops all over Britain will be marketing the "Lulu Look." America, too. Because there'll be a permanent Lulu showroom in New York as the focal point for American sales.
     And the same thing's happening to us!
     One of the biggest firms in Europe has just asked us to tour Europe under the banner of the "London Look" - tying in our appearances in Italy, France, Germany, and Scandanavia with big displays in every town we visit.
     So THEY - the Great Big World outside Pop Music - is gradually waking up to the fact that WE may be of some use after all! At least, we seem to be bringing some ideas up to date. And about time too!
     Mind you, I don't want you to get the wrong ideas about our "London Look!" Next time we come to America we WON'T be wearing top hats and carrying rolled umbrellas.
     Or - wait a bit! That mightn't be a bad idea after all! It might start a new trend! And instead of kaftans and jeans, THEY will then be able to point and say:
     "Look at those ridiculous clothes!"
     Meanwhile, I'm being as "British" as I can by driving around my new new Rolls Royce.
     But maybe spoiling the picture by sporting a large red L on the back! (In Britain, until a person's passed his driving test, he has to display a prominent L, for Learner, on his car - to warn other drivers!)
     I must be the only learner-driver in Britain at the wheel of a Rolls. And I bet there'll be some people who aren't exactly in love with THAT!
     Still. . .to give our current British disc a plug. . .I Can Take or Leave Their Loving!
     Say, did I mention that I'm practically a movie star? I didn't! You remember all the time we spent making Mrs. Brown, the film with the song's name (or was that the other way around?). We made the film in England, and although it really was hard work getting up so early every morning to appear before those hot lights. I've decided to give it another round!
     With a film called Pinnochio. This time it'll be in New York, in your U.S. of A., for the filming. I look forward to it!
     Maybe I feel like an old film star? More on this next month!
     For now, so long!