Gunpowder, Treason and Plot



Guy Fawkes - Loved to Party

Today is the 5th of November, the anniversary of the old rogue Guido Fawkes' (now rebranded as Guy Fawkes) attempt to blow up the King on England!

Here is a potted (and completely honest) history... ok, with some embellishment.. 

5th November, also known as Bonfire Night. 

Back in 1605, Guido Fawkes and his cronies wanted to protest on how Catholics were treated.

So they decided that they would try to blow up the Houses of Parliament, in particular the House of Lords, by smuggling in hundreds of gunpowder kegs into the cellar for a firework display of their own and try detonating them on 5th November as the King (James I) was opening Parliament.

Unfortunately for Guy Fawkes, one of his gang was a lag and would blab when he got smashed and word soon spread all over town about this amazing party they were planning. They were caught in the act without so much as a roman candle going off.

Penny for the Guy?

In those days execution was considered as a fitting punishment for minor crimes like stealing a loaf of bread.  So they decided on a more fitting punishment and decided to chop Guy Fawkes into bits, hang him for a couple of minutes, disembowel him and do other unmentionable things to embarrass him whilst he was still alive.

Since petty crime only resulted in the severing of limbs and sometimes being boiled in oil, this gruesome torture of being 'hung drawn and quartered' was reserved exclusively for traitors. 

Whilst Guy Fawkes was a bit of a shit, he is also widely regarded as a person who knew how to Party. 

This is still observed on 5th November every year, when people of Great Britain, literally burn money they don't have and cheer as they see it go up in flames and whoosh into the air and erupt as fireworks.. whilst those who are more sensible collect old logs, burn and effigy called a Guy and create a massive bonfire to roast their chestnuts.

Amy MacDonald on Saturday

A popular show making a welcome return to London City on Saturday is the wonderful Amy MacDonald, a Scottish singer, songwriter and composer, who shot to fame in 2008 with her debut album, This Is The Life. 

Singing her most famous songs accompanied by a full big band orchestra, this concert is one not to be missed!

Party starts at 12pm SL (8pm UK) and the concert is an hour later at 1pm SL.

Join us here http://slurl.com/secondlife/London%20City/109/111/24

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! 

Celebrate Halloween at Madame Lala's today at 2pm SL time (9pm UK) with DJ DeSantis playing spooky tunes!  Come on over for a right scary time!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20City/241/38/23

Breaking News: Martian's Defeated Again!

Thank you to everyone who either appeared in, or attended, The War Of The Worlds interactive Stage Show in London City.

The cast all died magnificently in the heat ray and resurrected just as quickly for the Tripod invasion.  Everyone deserves to win whatever the SL equivalent of the Oscar's is. 

Happy Halloween.. and the events continue today at Substation's macabre collection of music from Bailey.

This Picture via Genesis Viewer

Clocks go back in UK and Europe

As British Summer Time and Daylight Saving ends in the UK and Europe, our clocks went back by 1 hour this morning, October 27th.

So what was 8pm UK/12 noon in SL, will be  8pm UK/1pm SL Time for just one week until the USA clocks catch up.

This means for US Residents, events in London City will be one hour earlier than usual.

American clocks will go back on November 3rd and we will all catch up again!

The Martians Arrive on Saturday 12pm SL

 And so it begins..

"At midnight, on the 12th of August, a huge mass of luminous green gas erupted from Mars and sped towards Earth. Across two hundred million miles of void, invisibly hurtling towards us, came the first of the missiles that were to bring so much calamity to Earth. As I watched, there was another jet of gas. It was another missile, starting on its way.

And that's how it was for the next ten nights. A flare, spurting out from Mars. Bright green, drawing a green mist behind it; a beautiful, but somehow disturbing sight. Ogilvy, the astronomer, assured me we were in no danger. He was convinced there could be no living thing on that remote, forbidding planet".

Join us for The War of The Worlds interactive stage show, today.  London City at 12pm SL time.

Please dress in turn of the century clothing or steampunk if you would like to be with us on the stage for this interactive show.

Halloween - War of The Worlds Stage Show - Saturday

  

 The War of The Worlds comes to London City on Saturday!

On  30th October 1938 long before television, CBS broadcast a radio version of The War of The Worlds.

They mentioned several times at the start of the show that it was a dramatisation.

The format of the show was that of a light music program, constantly interrupted by reporters giving an account of the aliens progressive invasion.

What the network had overlooked was that the average radio listener to jump stations throughout the evening.

As the play continued, more and more people tuned in to the War of The Worlds broadcast without realising it was a play. Furthermore the radio broadcast had used real town names instead of fictitious ones, and one by one each town fell into the hands of the Martians.

Panic ensued as whole towns, swept in waves of hysteria, packed their possessions and fled to surrounding areas.

A suicide was reported as one woman said she would rather die than be taken by the Martians. In another town there was a fatal stampede as residents desperate to leave trampled each other.

The following morning CBS were forced to hold a press conference to explain themselves and to apologize for the duress they had subjected their listeners to.

Ultimately with such intense press coverage, this catapulted the actor who has played the lead reporter, a young and unknown Orson Welles, into super-stardom.  Just three short years later, he wrote, produced, directed and starred in Citizen Kane.

Join us in London City on Saturday for the interactive stage show version of this most famous of classics.

Our evening begins with a huge mass of luminous gas erupting from Mars and heading towards Earth.

Across two-hundred-million miles of void, invisibly hurtling towards us, is the first of the missiles that will bring so much calamity.

Be part of this show.  Come dressed however you like, but to be in the cast and to dance on the stage, please wear turn of the century or steampunk clothing.  Men in cloth caps and working clothes, ladies in bustles or bonnets, or as maids.   Circa anytime between 1880 to 1940.

The event starts at 1pm SL Time (8pm UK)

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20City/97/110/23

Hazel O'Connor on Saturday

Enjoy a sensational night of New Wave!

London City's tribute to Breaking Glass, with Hazel O'Connor, from the 1980's Punk/New Wave scene.

The hit film starring Hazel O'Connor and Phil Daniels, and broke the UK box office in 1981.

The film was called Breaking Glass and charted the success of a post-Punk/New Wave singer 'Kate' from humble beginnings, singing in rowdy back street bars, to sudden super stardom and her eventual meltdown.

Hazel O'Connor wrote and performed all of songs from the movie and just like her character in the film, experienced a brief superstardom in the early 80s with songs, Black Man, Eighth Day, If Only, Writing on the Wall, D-Days, Who Needs It and her most famous of all, Will You, which remained in the charts for 14 weeks.

In January 2022, Hazel suffered a life changing brain haemorrhage and remains on a very long and challenging road to recovery. 

Come and enjoy the show on Saturday http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20City/128/113/23  

The Party starts at 12pm SLT (8pm UK), with the concert at 1pm SLT

War Of The Worlds - A date for your diary!

On Saturday 26th October, London City invites you to take part in War Of The Worlds.

Be a member of the cast in this interactive stage show!


As part of the Halloween celebrations, we hope you will join us for some Sci-Fi Horror as we enjoy an interactive interpretation of H.G. Wells' famous classic, The War Of The Worlds.

The story so far...

A huge mass of luminous gas has erupted on Mars and sped towards earth. 

Across two-hundred-million miles of void, invisibly hurtling towards us,  comes the first of the missiles that is to bring so much calamity to earth.

As we watched, there was another jet of gas, another missile, starting on its way.

The invasion has begun!

Come to the party dressed however you like, but to be part of the Cast (and dance on stage) in this Interactive Show, please dress in turn of the century clothing.  Men in cloth caps and working clothes, ladies in bustles and bonnets or dressed as maids - circa anytime from 1880 to 1940.  

We do hope you will join us for this production of WOTW at London in Second Life.

Party starts at 12pm SL (8pm UK) with the show at 1pm SL time.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/London%20City/108/108/24

The return of the World's Worst Gatcha

Do you remember when SL banned Spinning Wheels throughout the kingdom?

Well the great news is that Gatcha's are now 'legal' again, so long as the content isn't transferable.  There is more to it than that, but essentially that is what it boils down to.  See the Lab's story here

Back when they were outlawed we had to remove the World's Worst Gatcha from London City to comply with new rules, much to the disappointment of many people who enjoyed playing the machine to see what awful accessory it gave you.

We're really pleased to announce that it is back and in the hub and waiting for you to abuse it.

Every prize is a stinker, guaranteed!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20City/95/192/23

New Show: Meatloaf on Saturday

A brand new show for you this Saturday at Party in the Park: Meatloaf

Meat Loaf was an American singer and actor. He was known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. His Bat Out of Hell album has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. 

Party in the Park starts at 12pm SL time (8pm UK) with the Concert at 1pm SL.

Blondie on Saturday

It's the return of the Saturday Concerts, starting this Saturday at 12pm SL time (8pn UK)

Forty years ago (at least), waitress Debbie Harry, who had been performing part-time in a folk band, formed Blondie with her friend Chris Stein.

In 1976 they released their first album Blondie and from then on became a huge success in Australia, England and America.

Although the bulk of their hits were in a relatively short timespan from 1978 to 1981, their most successful release, Maria was not until the band reformed, many years later in 1999.

Now regularly touring again, you can enjoy the hits once more at The Blondie Tribute Concert, this Saturday in London City.  The party begins at  12pm SL (8pm UK) with the show an hour later at 1pm SL.

Concert Area: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20City/123/110/23