The Establishment Club
6 of 25 portraits of Alan Bennett
The Establishment Club
by Bryan Wharton
bromide print, 29 September 1961
11 1/8 in. x 13 3/8 in. (281 mm x 339 mm)
Purchased, 2000
Photographs Collection
NPG x88638
Artistback to top
- Bryan Wharton (1934-2020), Photographer. Artist or producer of 20 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- Alan Bennett (1934-), Playwright. Sitter in 25 portraits. Identify
- John Bird (1936-2022), Comedian, actor and writer. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
- Peter Edward Cook (1937-1995), Comedian. Sitter in 25 portraits. Identify
- John Fortune (1939-2013), Actor and director. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Sean Kenny (1932-1973), Stage designer. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
- Nicholas Lamert Luard (1937-2004), Novelist and travel writer; co-founder of The Establishment. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Dudley Stuart Moore (1935-2002), Comedian. Sitter in 23 portraits. Identify
- David Walsh (1942-), Actor. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Hazel Woodvine (1935-1996), Comedian. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
This portraitback to top
The Establishment Club opened in Soho as a venue for satire and comedy. The photograph shows some key figures of the era; John Fortune; John Bird; Hazel Woodvine; Dudley Moore; Peter Cook; Sean Kenny; Nicholas Luard; Alan Bennett.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1961back to top
Current affairs
Peter Benenson's article The Forgotten Prisoners is published internationally, inspiring the founding of the human rights organisation, Amnesty International.The philosopher and peace activist Bertrand Russell is imprisoned for inciting civil disobedience during a sit down demonstration at the Ministry of Defence and Hyde Park.
The farthing coin - used in Britain for the last 7 centuries - ceases to be legal tender.
Art and science
Rudolf Nureyev defects from the USSR fearing that the KGB would arrest him for being gay and for fraternising with foreigners. After seeking asylum in Paris he set up home in London at the Royal Ballet and began his famous partnership with Margot Fonteyn.The satirical magazine, Private Eye is first published.
International
The East German government erects the Berlin Wall, ceasing free movement between East and West Berlin. The barrier prevented citizens of Soviet controlled East Germany from crossing the border into West Germany to work, or to defect.Yuri Gagarin, the soviet cosmonaut, becomes the first man in space orbiting the earth on the 12th April.
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