Granger 41
- This article is a Biography
- Chapter 41 - Publicity
Perhaps the last two pages may seem rather off the main theme. However, I feel that they are a vital part of the story, for they illustrate the tenacity of Ethel and myself in pursuit of an objective; they show that tight lacing and high heels do not make a woman helpless and they show, furthermore, how tough and adaptable she could be. Also, how, by now we had become quite accustomed to her figure and to hell with those who would object, so that we became quite unconscious of the picture she might have presented, in so many places, all over the place, hotels and restaurants, at which we passed for refreshments, with some of the comments we heard. Many times the drivers of cars which passed us on our travels, slowed down or even stopped to allow her to come by to be certain that their eyes had not deceived them. I guessed they wondered who she might be, so when the publicity came, as it did, they must have said, cYes, we saw her there, and I couldn't believe it was true." I know now that she was seen and noted by many, who like myself, take note of exceptional figures and eccentricities but had no means of following it up to the end.
We had lost our old Oxford Street restaurant, but found another one in Wardour Street, for evening use, not far from the Regent Shoe Stores and another one, not far from the Windmill Theatre. Later we found another in Soho, just off the Charing Cross Road, in Old Compton Street, where one could get a good seal for 2/6d, and to each of those we became regular visitors. Not only that, but whom it was warm enough, Ethel would discard her well cut coat and so exhibit her waist in all its glory. Also we became more daring and so she even wore one or both nose studs in daylight. Naturally people stared and followed, either bar waist or adornments; some time quite Its obviously. For after a meal, we would stroll down Wardour Street, into Oxford Street, where we would go down into the Mews Cinema for an hour or so before catching the train back, and before this she would put in one or both nose studs in place, where the girls soon spotted them and got to know us, and she wore them until we got into the train at Kings Cross.
One day, in June, after a meal, we were walking down Wardour Street, in the evening light. She had been wearing one stud and had just put in the second one. Then Ethel said, "Have you noticed that man over there? He has been by us twice already and there he goes again." He walked quickly by on the other side, crossed over, then came back towards us, feasting his eyes on her figure, heels and facial jewellery, came by slowly, crossed over, raced past again and repeated the manoeuvre. He must have been fascinated in one thing or the other, but which we did not know, and maybe wanted to say something, but did not dare. We never found out who he might be. When he noticed we had seen him, he stopped his perambulations.
Ethel hated me to leave her alone for a moment to visit a toilet, for very often someone would try to pick her up, by remarking about her waist and jewel, which annoyed her, although I said, "At your age, you should think otherwise, that it was a compliment, for not many women of your age would be attractive enough to get a second glance and you can always brush them off. When they saw my 6ft 5inches coming up they soon made off. Many times I was told how lucky I was, and I know it for I had made it all myself.
The proprietress of the Wardour Street restaurant was Italian, so without the inhibitions of the English people. When we walked in, Ethel was wearing one diamond stud in her nostril, but when she took off her coat, showing her waist, the waiter saw it, for I saw his eyes pop out. In a short time the lady came up to ask if we had everything we wanted, but really to look at what the waiter had reported about her, to see if it were true. Without much hesitation she remarked about the waist, which she said was quite unbelievable. Was she on the stage? I believe the place was called "The Stage Door". We said no. When the asked how did she eat, and was it diet that gave that wonderful figure? She said she wished she could get one like it, and how was it done. I said, "With good corsets and iron determination." So Ethel let her feel her corseted waist, to prove it was really there. Then she, who like all Italians, had her ears bored for earrings, asked about those wonderful earrings. Were they all pierced in, even the one in the centre? Lastly the one in her nostril. "Was that pierced in, too?" She had never seen any Englishwoman wearing one, but thought they looked attractive, so could not see why the idea was not more commonly done. Was it painful to have it done and how was it fixed? Ethel took the stud out to show her and also showed her that she was pierced both sides. Every time when we came in after that she would come up for a long chat.
For lunch we often visited the one in Windmill Street, where they were either Austrian or Swiss. After one visit, when we came in the second time she said, "I remember you! I will always do so because of that charming jewel you wear in nose. It is so unusual but very charming and your figure is out of this world. Also your ears are so out of the ordinary. You cannot be English, like that." I said we were. We became quite good friends and we were sorry when they moved away.
I should have said, too that we found out from Wilkinson where his daughter was, and he told us that she was working at the Collins Music Hall in Islington. So one day we wandered down that way, and round the back, found them living in a caravan for the week. I made ourselves known, but as soon as she saw us she knew who we were, for Ethels jewelled nose and ears told their tale. She was wearing the diamond stud in her nose then. Of course she was interested Ethel's way of fixing hers, and that she had both done, also her ears all round, and her waist was marvellous. She wished she had one.
But publicity was now coming at an ever increasing tempo and the final phase, which brought us out into the public view was the advent of the Arend Roland Comet, which made the news, before Christmas 1956, and I obtained some long exposure photos of the visitor to our part of the Solar System. It started with my letter to the Daily Worker of Monday February 4th 1957, in which I congratulated them for publishing an item about the comet and gave predictions if its likely appearance and dates, when to be seen, and said I had already developed photographs I had taken of it.
On February 26th an article appeared, headed, "How One Man sees Stars." The TRIALS OF AN ASTRONOMER," with a photograph of my observatory, with Ethel, in blouse and skirt, her waist encircled with the laced leather belt, standing by the door. If it had been any other paper I expect we should have had some comments about it. It said at the top, "When Mr W A Granger of Peterborough wrote to us saying that he had taken a photograph of a new comet discovered on Nov 8 1956, we were intrigued and asked him how he did it. His answer, published below, tells how, with keenness, determination and second hand equipment you too might become an amateur astronomer."
This was followed by a short article on April 18th, "Watch nut for the Easter Comet and on April 25th, my first photograph of the comet, taken on the 23rd, was printed in the Daily Worker of the 25th April 1957, and in the Peterbornugh Evening Telegraph, 30th April and the Peterborough Advertiser 3rd May 1957, and I had several write ups in both papers.
I had, in fact exhibited some of my first photos of the comet, taken on the evening of 23rd April 57, with a 21 minute exposure, with my 20 inch Aero Camera on Zenith Astro ­nomical plate. The only other photo taken on the same date was by Dr Waterfield. This, as well as some planetary drawing I had done during the year was put on show at the Exhibition Meeting of the British Astronomical Association, held in the rooms of the Royal Institution on April 24th, and these two were the first photos taken after peri ­helion return. It was then that Patrick Moore, who had just started his new programme on T.V. "THE SKY AT NIGHT".
When he saw my comet photograph he said, "I must have it on my next show." I said I was quite willing, and by then I might have something even better. He told me that he was going down, after the meeting, to put on his T.V. programme, and would make the arrangements for the next one. He said it would be nice if I could come up to be on the show, to talk about the photos. Ethel was with me that evening at the meeting. Meanwhile, at home I continued with a long series of over 30 photos of the comet, right into June, when Comet Mekos came along, and this time I was the first one to get a photo, on 10th August 1957. Patrick was as good as his word, for in a few days I had a letter from the B.B.C. asking if I was willing to come on the programme, "The Sky at Night", with Patrick Moore. Also they wanted two of' my best comet photos and of the observatory. These I packed up and sent off as requested, so they could prepare the necessary large prints for the programme. I didn't know whether we should both be on the programme or not, but I had expenses allowed enough to cover the train fare for both of us, so I was determined she should come too.
The official letter, dated 17th May, 1957 said,: - "Dear Sir, We invite you to prepare and deliver a talk in our television programme for broadcasting or for recording for subsequent broadcast reproduction .... etc. Title: "The Sky at Night" (to discuss Comet and provide photographs) to be arranged with the producer, Paul Johnstone. Studio H Lime Grove, London, Wednesday 22 May 1957.
Time of Broadcast Wednesday 22 May 1957. 10 -15 to 10 -30pm. Fee. £10 -10 -0 plus expenses, £3 -6 -2 (Rail fare and 1 nights subsistence).
Of course I had to leave school early and the news appeared in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph of May 9th, with my picture under which it says, "Mr W.A. Granger (the children at the school used to talk of me as WAG) who will be seen on Television on Wednesday May 22nd. Mrs Granger, who is also an enthusiast at astronomy, will also be seen on T.V. They have accepted an invitation by Mr Patrick Moore to appear on his monthly feature, "The Night Sky". Mr Granger will take with him a photograph of the observatory he built at the back of his house in Priory Road, together with some of the 19 photographs which he has taken of the Arend Roland Comet. (My final total was over 30 photos in all.)
I had previously been in more hot water, because I had applied for regular permission to attend every monthly meeting, as I was free every Wednesday afternoon. They soon stopped that by fixing up that I did not have my Wednesdays free, but I did get the concession that I should have permission if required for a special purpose. However, as this did not take place until the evening, I just got off work early for the visit. So I left early, came home and fixed up Ethel, in case she should be needed, and left about 4 -30pm from Peterborough to Kings Cross. She had on a lovely pair of high heels, her ears were decorated all round with diamante stones, and a nice pair of black pendant rings. She wore a well fitting dress in black velvet with a black leather, studded belt, which set off her waist to perfection. We arrived at Kings Cross about 6pm and took a taxi to the Lime Street Studio, to arrive about 6"30 pm, to find that we were expected. In fact they expected us earlier, to have a preliminary run through, so as soon as we announced ourselves they said, "Take him upstairs to studio H. They are waiting." So upstairs we went, to the studio, which was prepared, a great empty barn-like building, in one corner of which was set up the necessary backcloth for the show, and all the other items required for the programme to be televised.
Pat was pleased to see me and the producer said we expected you earlier, so we have had one preliminary run though, with a substitute for you, although, why if they wanted me earlier they did not say so I cannot imagine, for we could have come up on an earlier train, for they could not have refused permission. So they said, "We will now have another run through, to see how Mr Granger goes, and how it fits in with the time schedule." I had never seen inside a television studio before, and I must confess when the actual show began I had a few butterflies in my stomach and my mouth went dry so I felt unable to say anything. But it was really only for a fleeting moment, then I got going, I was O.K. I could see myself in the monitor screen in front, as I was talking. They had two of my comet photos and also a picture of the observatory, with Ethel outside by the door, so she would be seen, but not on the live screen as I gathered they had not thought about it. Maybe if we had been in time for the first trial it might have been fitted in with her too.
While I was having the practice run through in front of the cameras, Ethel was standing just out of the picture at my side, when I felt more relaxed I could look around, and I could see the technicians behind arguing amongst themselves and I could see by the way they were talking, putting their hands into a circle, it was her waist they were talking about, and I think they were laying bets on its size. They also pointed to their ears, but she was not wearing a nose stud at the time, or no doubt that too would have come in for comment.
After a few run-throughs in this way we broke up, to go down for something to eat and drink for all of us, Ethel and I and Patrick. One of the female producers had to comment about her waist, and said I would be very good, and it could have been arranged for both of us to be on, but as it was it had to go as it was now planned. The lacy producer said she had never seen anything like it before, and could not imagine anything like it existed. What size was it and when we told her she had a shock for when we said it was under 14 inches, she could hardly believe what even her eyes told her to be true. She said, "I am interested because they have just had a show on a collection of old costumes put on T.V. The smallest waist they could get to fit, was for a 22 inch waisted dress, while the smallest waist in the collection was a 19½ inch one, which Ethel could have worn with ease." She was also interested in her ears, so queried how they were fixed, and told her she was brave and tough, when we told her they were all pierced in place, to endure all that.
She also said that it was astonishing that she could eat and drink normally and did not diet. After that drink and talk, Pat and I were bustled away to be made up, until I felt like a beauty queen, but soon forget it, then up to the studio, where the live broadcast was to take place. It was not scripted, it was not quite like any of the trials, but we followed fairly well to get it all in. Patrick was still new to the game and inclined to speak to quickly, and had to keep his pipe in hand to help him gain confidence. I must say that the butterflies returned, especially when I thought that thousands of people were probably watching me try to make a fool of myself, but I put the thought out of my mind and concentrated on what I was to say, and I felt fine again. It was very exciting and thrilling, so I felt on top of the world. The producer congratulated me and said I had done very well and they might like us again some time.
Pat took us back to the station so we got home the same night, and I found I had forgotten to take off my make up in the excitement of the moment. Next day I had many friends and people I did not even know compliment me on the programme, so I became very well known. They said I came over very well, but why wasn't Ethel on too?
Naturally the local papers, which had told the people about the broadcast, wanted to know all about it, how we got on, so I told them how it went off and added as an after-thought that I could see the technicians, arguing and laying bets, so I told them what they were doing about the waist, and about the collections, saying that Ethel had what was probably the smallest waist in the world.
So on 7th June 1957 the Peterborough Standard printed this small piece entitled: ­
- "WHAT A WAIST." as follows ­-
- "Mr W. A. Granger, 58 Priory Road, makes a claim to fame on behalf of his wife. HE BELIEVES THAT HER 14 INCH WAIST IS THE SMALLEST IN THE WORLD. During the recent series of television shows on Victorian and Edwardian dress, taken from the Bridge Castle Museum collection, the smallest waisted dress was 22 inches" Mr Granger told the Peterborough Standard, "The smallest size in the museum collection was 19½ inches, which is quite large in comparison with my wife's"
That small cutting really set the ball rolling and events followed from it, thick and fast.
Actually the Guinness Book of Records had just come out, and I found in it, under the smallest waist that it was then claimed by some Polish lady, with a waist of 17 inches, which Ethel by then at 13 inches could easily beat. So I pressed her claims to the title, and after some correspondence and sending some photographs to substantiate her claims, she was acknowledged as the Worlds smallest waist, and so far no one has ousted her from the title.
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