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Revision as of 19:01, 29 November 2023 editInspector Colombo (talk | contribs)195 editsm /* correction. two or three misplaced words.← Previous edit Revision as of 19:12, 29 November 2023 edit undoInspector Colombo (talk | contribs)195 editsm →The assumption that Electra Yaras invented the legend of Lillie Langtry having lived at 103, Alexandra Road “to suggest a historical importance for the house and support its preservation" is false.Next edit →
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Let me share some bytes with you: Let me share some bytes with you:


'''''"....At one time the street (Alexandra Road) could boast (that) <u>it housed no less a personage than Lillie Langtr</u>y. <u>She lived at Leighton House which had a covered canopy leading from the gate up the marble steps to the front door</u>. Another and perhaps more intimate personality (...) who lived on this road was (...) Frederick Scarsbrook co-founder of the Hampstead News - died in <u>1948</u> at the <u>age of 93</u> years... A <u>previous occupier of the house</u>, incidentally, was Miss L. Streetly-Smith, at one-time editor of this newspaper...."''''' (underlines mine). '''''"....At one time the street (Alexandra Road) could boast (that) <u>it housed no less a personage than Lillie Langtr</u>y. <u>She lived at Leighton House which had a covered canopy leading from the gate up the marble steps to the front door</u>. Another and perhaps more intimate personality (...) who lived on this road was (...) Frederick Scarsbrook co-founder of the Hampstead News - died in <u>1948</u> at the <u>age of 93</u> years... A <u>previous occupier of the house</u>, incidentally, was Miss L. Streetly-Smith, at the one-time editor of this newspaper...."''''' (underlines mine).


What the “Hampstead News” tells us, <u>completely discredits</u> some of the ''a priori'' assumptions made here on the Lillie Langtry’s article page. Sorry folks! What the “Hampstead News” tells us, <u>completely discredits</u> some of the ''a priori'' assumptions made here on Lillie Langtry’s article page. Sorry folks!


I refer in particular to the ''ad lib'' inferences drawn from an article in the “Evening Standard” of 2 April 1965 which was published one and a half decades AFTER the ''“Hampstead News”'' article above (…) I refer in particular to the ''ad lib'' inferences drawn from an article in the “Evening Standard” of 2 April 1965 which was published one and a half decades AFTER the ''“Hampstead News”'' article above (…)
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Incidentally, I have already attempted to address this issue in the defunct Talk Page (link at the top) but my arguments were ignored. Maybe the evidence was not convincing enough, then. Incidentally, I have already attempted to address this issue in the defunct Talk Page (link at the top) but my arguments were ignored. Maybe the evidence was not convincing enough, then.


In the first conversation I had with Electra Yaras' family, it became clear to me (overwhelming evidence) that Lillie Langtry's connection with Leighton House was well known in the area - well before the Yaras moved in on '''13 February 1946'''. This of course, was decades before the area was earmarked for demolition (...) I dutifully informed you of this - to no avail. In the first conversation I had with Electra Yaras' family, it became clear to me (overwhelming evidence) that Lillie Langtry's connection with Leighton House was well known in the area - well before the Yaras moved in on '''13 February 1946'''. This, of course, was decades before the area was earmarked for demolition (...) I dutifully informed you of this - to no avail.


Was it possible that my investigation findings did not fit the "official narrative" of a senior editor or two? I wondered. Was it possible that my investigation findings did not fit the "official narrative" of a senior editor or two? I wondered.


One thing is for sure, the facts, were subsequently archived as offensive rubbish and to this day, the same false assumptions, remain in place to misinform Misplaced Pages users. It's embarassing! One thing is for sure, the facts were subsequently archived as offensive rubbish and to this day, the same false assumptions, remain in place to misinform Misplaced Pages users. It's embarrassing!


I suppose the reasoning here could have been; since the information was coming from Electra Yaras' family - and some senior editor had already decided (without proof) that Electra was an "actress" - a professional liar - whatever her family might have to say, must be “fake” – as if it were.The fact is that her family was not lying - as the evidence just presented proves beyond a shadow of a doubt. I suppose the reasoning here could have been; since the information was coming from Electra Yaras' family - and some senior editor had already decided (without proof) that Electra was an "actress" - a professional liar - whatever her family might have to say, must be “fake” – as if it were. The fact is that her family was not lying - as the evidence just presented proves beyond a shadow of a doubt.


And by the way, Electra was never an actress as such. This was another false assumption that was made for good effect but I have already addressed that on the Talk Page (see Archive). I must reiterate that Electra was never an actress as such. I have addressed this false assumption in more detail elsewhere. Please refer to the archived Talk Page.


'''IN SUM:''' ''' IN SUM:'''


The irrefutable evidence published by the "Hampstead News" way '''back in 1950''', discredits the assumptions made here on the basis of an “''Evening Standard”'' article published one and half decades later (2 April 1965) or, if you prefer, the entertaining (but erroneus) accounts of two local historians: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms.They got it wrong this time. The irrefutable evidence published by the "Hampstead News" way ''' back in 1950''', discredits the assumptions made here on the basis of an “''Evening Standard”'' article published one and half decades later (2 April 1965) or, if you prefer, the entertaining (but erroneous) accounts of two local historians: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms.They got it wrong this time.


'''The proverbial question is: Did Electra Yaras lie about her house's connections with Lillie Langtry?  ''' '''The proverbial question is: Did Electra Yaras lie about her house's connections with Lillie Langtry?  '''


'''The answer is: NO! She did NOT!''' ''' The answer is: NO! She did NOT!'''


She told the Evening Standard what she knew - or was told when she bought the lease of the house in 1946 , and by her neighbours since then. As it turns out, '''the legend was in place decades before - perhaps as far back as the 19th century ...''' She told the Evening Standard what she knew - or was told when she bought the lease of the house in 1946, and by her neighbours since then. As it turns out, ''' the legend was in place decades before - perhaps as far back as the 19th century ...'''


The investigation goes on. Stand by for further announcements. The investigation goes on. Stand by for further announcements.
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Adrienne Corri “The Search for Gainsborough”, page 58 (Jonathan Cape, 1984). Available at the Internet Archive. Free. Link here: https://archive.org/details/searchforgainsbo0000corr Adrienne Corri “The Search for Gainsborough”, page 58 (Jonathan Cape, 1984). Available at the Internet Archive. Free. Link here: https://archive.org/details/searchforgainsbo0000corr


Relevant microfilmed copies of the “Evening Standard”, “The Times”, “The Daily Telegraph” and others available at the British Library (London/St. Pancras) as required. Relevant microfilmed copies of the “Evening Standard”, “The Times”, “The Daily Telegraph” and others are available at the British Library (London/St. Pancras) as required.


] (]) 18:54, 29 November 2023 (UTC) ] (]) 18:54, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Revision as of 19:12, 29 November 2023

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A fact from this article was featured on Misplaced Pages's Main Page in the On this day section on October 13, 2017 and October 13, 2021.

The following is the link to access the "archived" Talk Page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/Talk:Lillie_Langtry/Archive_1


Inspector Colombo (talk) 20:20, 11 November 2023 (UTC)

Or you could just follow the link in the header. Where it says "Archives: 1". DuncanHill (talk) 20:23, 11 November 2023 (UTC)
Except the link you refer to may not be so obvious (...)

Let me explain. I had a couple of acquaintances (with whom I have shared research on the subject) e-mailing me to ask: "What happened to Lillie's Talk Page!? Has your research been censored? Is there a cabal?".

My reply: "That's ridiculous! Of course not!".

I thought I would make that clear for their benefit and that of others - not so savvy - Misplaced Pages users (...) 

(...) Inspector Colombo (talk) 20:46, 11 November 2023 (UTC)

Inspector Colombo (talk) 21:50, 26 November 2023 (UTC)

The assumption that Electra Yaras invented the legend of Lillie Langtry having lived at 103, Alexandra Road “to suggest a historical importance for the house and support its preservation" is false.

Greetings!

Has anyone here come across this article published by the "Hampstead News" on the 25 May 1950, page 3 ?

The reason I am asking is because I am reading it in the British Newspaper Archive right now!

WOW!

Let me share some bytes with you:

"....At one time the street (Alexandra Road) could boast (that) it housed no less a personage than Lillie Langtry. She lived at Leighton House which had a covered canopy leading from the gate up the marble steps to the front door. Another and perhaps more intimate personality (...) who lived on this road was (...) Frederick Scarsbrook co-founder of the Hampstead News - died in 1948 at the age of 93 years... A previous occupier of the house, incidentally, was Miss L. Streetly-Smith, at the one-time editor of this newspaper...." (underlines mine).

What the “Hampstead News” tells us, completely discredits some of the a priori assumptions made here on Lillie Langtry’s article page. Sorry folks!

I refer in particular to the ad lib inferences drawn from an article in the “Evening Standard” of 2 April 1965 which was published one and a half decades AFTER the “Hampstead News” article above (…)

The "Evening Standard" issue of 2 April 1965 was central to certain false assumptions made here, namely that Electra Yaras (a well-connected and highly educated Greek lady) had, around that time (mid-60s), invented the “myth” of Lillie Langtry's association with Leighton House (103 Alexandra Road) to try and save the house from demolition – or, as a curator of this page put it, diplomatically:

"These claims (were) made to suggest a historical importance for the house and support its preservation" (verbatim)

This is a fantasy first formulated by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms with the help of Anthony J. Camp, MBE - in their blog “History of Kilburn and West Hampstead” (in May 2021).

A brief mention of the actress Adrienne Corri was made in connection with the house and “former actress” (sic) Electra Yaras.

Electra was not an actress. I suspect this was added for a "denotation and connotation" effect - to make the argument more convincing. Two actresses conspiring (wink).

Adrienne was, for a while, a member of the Society of Genealogists - make of it what you wish - but the fact that the St. Johns Wood and Hampstead Preservation Societies, Henry Brooke (MP), Sir John Betjeman (a founder of the Victorian Society) and Sir Hugh Casson (ex-president of the Royal Academy) - who were all involved in the fight to preserve the house, that was ignored - as if they ALL had been fooled by Electra Yaras’ imagination. Really!?

Incidentally, I have already attempted to address this issue in the defunct Talk Page (link at the top) but my arguments were ignored. Maybe the evidence was not convincing enough, then.

In the first conversation I had with Electra Yaras' family, it became clear to me (overwhelming evidence) that Lillie Langtry's connection with Leighton House was well known in the area - well before the Yaras moved in on 13 February 1946. This, of course, was decades before the area was earmarked for demolition (...) I dutifully informed you of this - to no avail.

Was it possible that my investigation findings did not fit the "official narrative" of a senior editor or two? I wondered.

One thing is for sure, the facts were subsequently archived as offensive rubbish and to this day, the same false assumptions, remain in place to misinform Misplaced Pages users. It's embarrassing!

I suppose the reasoning here could have been; since the information was coming from Electra Yaras' family - and some senior editor had already decided (without proof) that Electra was an "actress" - a professional liar - whatever her family might have to say, must be “fake” – as if it were. The fact is that her family was not lying - as the evidence just presented proves beyond a shadow of a doubt.

I must reiterate that Electra was never an actress as such. I have addressed this false assumption in more detail elsewhere. Please refer to the archived Talk Page.

IN SUM:

The irrefutable evidence published by the "Hampstead News" way back in 1950, discredits the assumptions made here on the basis of an “Evening Standard” article published one and half decades later (2 April 1965) or, if you prefer, the entertaining (but erroneous) accounts of two local historians: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms.They got it wrong this time.

The proverbial question is: Did Electra Yaras lie about her house's connections with Lillie Langtry?  

The answer is: NO! She did NOT!

She told the Evening Standard what she knew - or was told when she bought the lease of the house in 1946, and by her neighbours since then. As it turns out, the legend was in place decades before - perhaps as far back as the 19th century ...

The investigation goes on. Stand by for further announcements.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple …”

(Oscar Wilde in “The Importance of Being Earnest”)


References:

“Hampstead News”: 25 May 1950, p. 3. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/account/subscribe  To access this item, simply enter these search terms: Alexandra Road + Lillie Langtry. NB You will find that the Optical Character Recognition system (OCR) of the B.N.A., misspells the transcript here and there, but the relevant bytes of the actual copy are perfectly readable.

Adrienne Corri “The Search for Gainsborough”, page 58 (Jonathan Cape, 1984). Available at the Internet Archive. Free. Link here: https://archive.org/details/searchforgainsbo0000corr

Relevant microfilmed copies of the “Evening Standard”, “The Times”, “The Daily Telegraph” and others are available at the British Library (London/St. Pancras) as required.

Inspector Colombo (talk) 18:54, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

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