The Oldest Tenter in Town

The Oldest Tenter in Town – to the song ‘The Oldest Singer in Town’. By Tom Sandow. How I remember the old days! Referred to now by the newer fellers! As, Old Hat.

Children cheered the circus into town, laughing cheering was their sound, all the way to the circus ground. You’re the oldest tenter in town.

1/9d bought a ticket to the flicks, and Woolies sold its Pick-N-Mix and the crowds all enjoyed simpler tricks from the oldest tenter in town. Great film stars like Trevor Howard, Nigel Patrick and Noel Coward, Alec Guinness and Leo Genn, we went back to see them again and again

The circus tent had one or two holes and four men could carry the old main poles and clowns would tumbler the Jumps and Rolls. you’re the oldest tenter in town

Nat King Cole toured the theatre stage and George Formby was all the rage and Variety had a golden age, you’re the oldest tenter in town

When the circus friends were the Council and its Clerk, and £15 hired the local park and a few light bulbs would light the dark for the oldest tenter in town

Sunday bells would always chime and ponies grazed for most of the time and doors left open without much crime, you’re the oldest tenter in town.

Great old films that can’t be beaten, Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton, the feather dancing of Fred Astaire, Yellowstone Park and Yogi Bear

Arthur Askey who said ‘not half’ and Ted Ray would raise a laugh, Reg Dixon and George Dixon, Sidney James and Jimmy James. They were always great and super, Billy Dainty and Tommy Cooper, Terry Thomas and Alastair Sim, brillient fun and never grim.

Great cartoons and fabulous tunes, old steam trains and ladies rooms, great film stars beyond compare who spoke clear words no need to swear. The arts were fine and understood, modern trends that never could, open doors of homes and cars – Variety theatres full of stars

Children’s shows were always funny, Betty Boop and Bugs Bunny. Enter -tain -ment stimulating with no hype or overating. TV shows with great scriptwriters, far above some current blighters, Tommy Hanley and Billy Cotton – big bands gone but not forgotten.

Old Dick Barton Snowy and Jock, Vera Lynn and Josef Locke. Will Hay and Freddie Frinton Gracie Fields – these stars were glinting

Aircraft all had spinning propellers, the police on bikes were cheerful fellows, we were proud of Imperial Measures these were always things to treasure. Pints Quarts and Milestones, red box phones no traffic cones. little shops in a market square we knew they were always there.

This sad new world is full of plastic, no time left for the real artistic? Fine art is elevating so ignore the de-grading, for our children,s sake I say, let them have an innocent day, give them plenty of time to play says the oldest tenter in town.

The oldest tenter in town. Our children should never wear a frown says the oldest tenter in town.

Artwork is by Trevor Mitchell