alton001

Have you ever stopped to think what a decade the thirties was for architectural exits and entrances? A great many "stately homes" (Granges, Halls, Houses, etc.) disappeared and a whole host of "palaces" (of the picture variety) made their debut. Despite the depression and, almost as if in obstinate anticipation of today's informal ways, people went out of their way to dress up to relax - if you want to see a wonderful array of collars and ties just look at photographs of men on the beach and in the park! It may also come as a surprise to see that, as early as 1936, there were quite extensive preparations for a possible war.

In Birmingham In The Thirties we've tried to create the illusion that all of thirties life is represented here. For a while lose today and become a part of the past.

One little niggle, at the back of my mind, when we set out on this adventure was that, having produced three books on the city during the Second World War, ("Birmingham at War Vol 1", "Birmingham at War Vol 2" and "Birmingham: The War Years") and several titles that included items from those eventful years, there might be a shortage of material. I reckoned, foolishly, without your help - in the end we finished up with enough rare items to fill the deepest bomb crater! Has there ever been such an engrossing period in our city's history? I think not.

Are you ready again for more time travelling?

Some years ago, on a bus, the man next to me, completely out of the blue, said "Hasn't this week gone quickly!" I thought, then, what a daft remark it was, almost as if he thought we'd shared all the same experiences. Now, looking back at the 50's, however, it seems as if we could all say, "Didn't that decade go quickly!" So much happened; the Festival of Britain, the Coronation, Warwickshire winning the Championship and Villa the Cup, the ascent of Everest, the trad boom and rock and roll, Teddy boys, Vespas and Lambrettas, bubble-cars, variety and pop stars galore visiting the city and so on.

In the 50's, the future lay mysteriously ahead. Let's go back in time to remind ourselves of how we looked and behaved and dreamed our dreams.

Well, in response to your suggestions, we've included a nest of items from our own personal scrapbook. When these photographs were taken, towards the end of the 50's, Jo (my wife) was working in the heart of the city, prior to starting her dance band agency and I was just about to begin a new phase in my life, fresh from being demobbed from the band of the Fifth Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. In a way, our lives mirrored that period in Birmingham's history, a time of great upheaval and change. For the city it would be a decade that would produce a great deal of controversy and debate, particularly in relation to the many architectural changes taking place. Above all the fifties changed us all.

To produce a successful pictorial book you really do need to have big ears - well, the ability to listen anyway! Most of the comments about "The Birmingham Scrapbook Vol 1" seemed to relate to the more historic items so, although this edition stretches from 1867 to 1969, the bulk of the material comes under the 'lost gems' heading. To be honest, for example, how often have you seen photographs of Ann Street or Green's Village; the farms of Hay Mills; or, apart from our books, anything representing the city during the First World war?

Thanks to your efforts (along with a bit of help from us) we can go back to the era of trams and see, mainly for the first time, some of the more unusual happenings and high drama of the Second World War. Then, to complete the mix, the more familiar sights of post-war Birmingham. Actually, in one sense, that word 'familiar' isn't strictly true because, as with all our books, most of the items have never been seen before. So, prepare yourself for a lovely wallow in the world of yesterday!

I blame it on Doctor Who! The success of the BBCTV series has made me realise that looking at our books is like a trip in the Tardis - travelling excitedly back through time (never forwards, of course, who wants to know what lies ahead). Take this book as a prime example see the slums of the late 1800's, contrasting with some of the architectural splendour of turn-of-the-century Birmingham, marching men in the days of the Great War, the ups-and-downs of the 20's and 30's, the drama of 1939-45, wonderful images of the developing 50's and 60's, then on into the 70's and finally a brief tribute to Pebble Mill. A century of memories and even more faces than ever. So, go on, discover yourself and your past.

Why the fifties again? Well, just pause and take a look at the decade - the Festival of Britain, the King's departure, Everest, the Coronation - and that's only up to mid 1953! So many of us were teenagers then and the publication of my autobiography, "The Original Alton Douglas", this year, has given a greater personal impetus to the project. Apart from the tasters mentioned, we've also included Villa winning the FA Cup, the news of the first ever satellite, acres of familiar scenes - need I go on? I won't spoil it because the whole purpose of our books is to lead you on a voyage of discovery - so, off you go - BACK TO THE FIFTIES.

Do you remember that mesmerising moment in Hitchcock's' classic film, "The Lady Vanishes", when Miss Froy's handwriting disappears from the window of the train? Each time I see it I think about our books and it brings a sense of urgency to every project. Well, Miss Froy would have been proud of the permanency of this collection - literally, hundreds of treasures preserved for all time - shops by the basketful, enough events to fill a decade of diaries, famous names from the past remembered forever. Enjoy the sixties, we did then and now we can again.

When I was a lad there was a gadget, a bit like a periscope, that enabled you to look over the heads in a crowd. Try and imagine that you're using one to see behind you and you'll notice that the 70's are fading further and further into the distance. Some people refer to the period as "only yesterday" but in reality the decade finished over a quarter of a century ago. So, what have we got for you this time? Scores of streets to stroll along, lots of window-shopping to do and crowds full of faces to look through (and hopefully identify some of them). In total, over 350 Items - if you've got the time and energy, just count them. Incidentally, the Queen seemed almost to be addicted to our city, she visited us so often and - as you'll see - how we turned out to greet her on every occasion!