London History

Loads of interesting things going on during London’s East festival which runs from 1 to 6 March. Many of the activities centre on the Museum of London and http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/. Pencil in Friday 2 March, when the Museum is running ‘East End Shorts’ a series of movies showcasing the East End and the lives of its inhabitants. A fascinating collection from the fifties, sixties and seventies, they are a mix of documentary, semi-documentary and (in the case of Bronco Bullfrog, fiction played by local people rather than professional actors.

Other highlights include Vanishing Street, which explores the life of a typical Jewish community in 1960s Britain. Shot by Robert Vas in 1961 in and around Hessel St in the East End, it shows us its street market, kosher food shops, newspaper and synagogue … just as the bulldozers move in. The film will be introduced by BFI film historian Ian O’Sullivan. Bronco Bullfrog and all the films in East End Shorts will feature in London Calling, a collection of 100 films and television programmes about the capital, available to view free of charge in the new BFI Mediatheque (opening 14 March). Further details at www.bfi.org.uk.