Library books get defaced all the time, and no one ever finds it amusing or witty. But Orton was a successful playwright who died tragically, so his crimes in retrospect are perceived as something other than juvenile, irresponsible and loathsome. Nothing succeeds like success.
I did something similiar with movie rentals before they were CDs, and, later, DVDs. There was a LOT of blank video at the ends of movie rentals, and, I thought, "Hey, I could leave messages there" (this was, of course, before YouTube). Well, it got me time because, even though it was blank, it was considered vandalism.
Orton had the wondrous gift of writing really 'obscene' material but doing it in such a way as to imbue it with a sense of panache. 'The old whore Society' line is priceless.
Dear Spaceoreo, I worked at Islington and my boss was Jim Connell, the man on the telly programme. I just wish to say that from what I saw the alterations that Orton and Halliwell did could not be called obscene; they were at worst suggestive and still strike me as surprisingly subtle. There was one senior person in the Finance dept who hated gays with a vengeance and he drove the investigation.
I found this hilarious, but I suppose an under-funded library might not see it that way. Seems to me that as long as the alterations look right, it's not serious vandalism.
"Our book stock was being attacked by predators." What a hoot. I am a librarian myself and that man was so British! LOL. Great video. Thank you for posting it.
I was a visiting artist at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre many years ago and met Orton's sister, Leonie, I believe, during an exhibition on the lobby of these book jackets and violated texts.
How funny that the libarian is now part of joe ortons history,doing his good deed has now many years on made him look ridiculous,like many a jobsworth
Brilliant brilliant brilliant! I read 'Prick up your ears' years ago and the library book vandalism made me laugh. Amazing to see that the original book covers survive.
Library books get defaced all the time, and no one ever finds it amusing or witty. But Orton was a successful playwright who died tragically, so his crimes in retrospect are perceived as something other than juvenile, irresponsible and loathsome. Nothing succeeds like success.
goback3spaces 1 year ago
Amazing....
TheatreFracture 1 year ago
Haha i have never seen these examples of Ortons handywork! Just Fantastic!
TheatreFracture 2 years ago
I did something similiar with movie rentals before they were CDs, and, later, DVDs. There was a LOT of blank video at the ends of movie rentals, and, I thought, "Hey, I could leave messages there" (this was, of course, before YouTube). Well, it got me time because, even though it was blank, it was considered vandalism.
ItsAmadWorld2 2 years ago 2
the sister is fascinating
obviously like Joe Orton - highly intelligent and sensitive and a unique character
she gives me the sense of what a tragic loss Orton was
grai 2 years ago
Orton had the wondrous gift of writing really 'obscene' material but doing it in such a way as to imbue it with a sense of panache. 'The old whore Society' line is priceless.
spaceoreo 2 years ago
Dear Spaceoreo, I worked at Islington and my boss was Jim Connell, the man on the telly programme. I just wish to say that from what I saw the alterations that Orton and Halliwell did could not be called obscene; they were at worst suggestive and still strike me as surprisingly subtle. There was one senior person in the Finance dept who hated gays with a vengeance and he drove the investigation.
Richard
richspiv1 2 years ago 2
I've seen a bunch and don't consider them obscene either...I suppose it was really for theft and vandalising the books.
spaceoreo 2 years ago
Oh, les vilains garçons!
Très drôle, dommage que l'histoire ait mal fini.
Gary Oldman ressemblait beaucoup à Joe Orton!
Merci pour la vidéo.
gluups 2 years ago
Ironically those books are now the most valuable books in Islington Library's collection.
Edward1312 2 years ago 3
Lol.Yep!
MoonAharshMistress 2 years ago
haha of course!!
TheatreFracture 2 years ago
I found this hilarious, but I suppose an under-funded library might not see it that way. Seems to me that as long as the alterations look right, it's not serious vandalism.
flimpkin4 3 years ago 3
"Our book stock was being attacked by predators." What a hoot. I am a librarian myself and that man was so British! LOL. Great video. Thank you for posting it.
chopin65 3 years ago 4
.." I have never possessed a car, of any model, and would never wish to.." Genius.
eclecticfire73 3 years ago
lmfao...it was the thursday...just before the friday....Joe would have stuck that line in Loot.....Jobsworth...that wpc blurb was spot on!
eclecticfire73 3 years ago
I can't believe the library kept all the book jackets. This happened years before he was famous.
GanjaStu 3 years ago
I was a visiting artist at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre many years ago and met Orton's sister, Leonie, I believe, during an exhibition on the lobby of these book jackets and violated texts.
PlaywrightsLab 3 years ago
you've got to laugh haven't you. just read the Orton Diaries put it this way i would'nt give them to my Gran to read hee.
Bridgejones08 3 years ago
Our books are being attacked by predators!!!!!!!!
danielhewson 3 years ago 2
The Edith Cavell bit made me die. Sunny and me had tears rolling sdown our cheeks.....
maxinebendix 3 years ago
How funny that the libarian is now part of joe ortons history,doing his good deed has now many years on made him look ridiculous,like many a jobsworth
thehairlossfairy 3 years ago
lol @ the two men "wrestling"...
rinkelfut 3 years ago
Brilliant!
futurelegendfilms 3 years ago
Lol i bet Orton and Halliwell had great fun defacing the books!
ionsgirl 3 years ago 2
Lovely stuff! Thanks for posting it.
brutaltiger 3 years ago 2
That Sidney, clerk at the Library is an obnoxious jobsworth cunt!What a wanker!
BRUTUALTRUTH 3 years ago 4
Is that the librarian there when Ken and Joe were doing their dirty deeds?
chopin65 3 years ago
all the young punks!!!!! joe strummer should be proud!!!!!!
gouvyrock 3 years ago
So funny. I wish I could see the letters they wrote to pie crust companies and the like, adopting the personas of addled old grans.
knobchock 4 years ago
Brilliant brilliant brilliant! I read 'Prick up your ears' years ago and the library book vandalism made me laugh. Amazing to see that the original book covers survive.
bloodnokian 4 years ago
I agree with "coolitbaby's" comments. Fascinating vid and you certainly do have a wonderful taste for interesting and witty stuff...cheers!!!
mark919 4 years ago
Absolutely brilliant, thanks for uploading.
bodnotbod 4 years ago
Another really interesting clip.
I think you have the most interesting channel on youtube...just my personal opinion!
coolitababy 4 years ago
Thanks very much.
I have two other channels as well that you might like -
mishima1970 and yukiomishima1970.
25thNovember1970 4 years ago