The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Pretty self-explanatory
Neil.
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:14 am
Location: London

The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Neil. »

Hi all,

Just to say that the Elizabeth Arden factory in North Acton (now called The Perfume Factory), is currently bragging about its Elvis-related past with a pretty eyecatching display. No little blue plaques for these muthas!

Sorry if someone has already posted this.
PefumeFactory2.JPG
PefumeFactory2.JPG (163.9 KiB) Viewed 25046 times
PefumeFactory3.JPG
PefumeFactory3.JPG (127.35 KiB) Viewed 25046 times
PefumeFactory4.JPG
PefumeFactory4.JPG (121.65 KiB) Viewed 25046 times
Neil.
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:14 am
Location: London

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Neil. »

Also this one
PefumeFactory5.JPG
PefumeFactory5.JPG (139.23 KiB) Viewed 25048 times
FAVEHOUR
Posts: 1118
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 5:41 pm

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by FAVEHOUR »

This is hilarious!!!!
User avatar
krm
Posts: 1141
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:10 am
Location: Sweden Skåne

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by krm »

"cultural heritage" - this is cool!!! and done in a very good taste too.
Poor Deportee
Posts: 671
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:30 pm
Location: Chocolate Town

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Poor Deportee »

Sometimes I think Elvis is a hopelessly marginalized artist in the current culture.

Other times he seems to be treated like a household name/international star (this, or the hockey game thread).

It's a weird space he inhabits, I suppose.
When man has destroyed what he thinks he owns
I hope no living thing cries over his bones
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

They weren't making such a big deal about it when I visited there in 2007 -

http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB2 ... tage+Trail
User avatar
Jack of All Parades
Posts: 5716
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:31 am
Location: Where I wish to be

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Sure does beat a blue National Historic Trust plaque. I will take neon dayglo anyday! Thank you for sharing.
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
jardine
Posts: 801
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by jardine »

ok, so how much is elvis getting from this? i don't expect they could use his image without some sort of, well, at least permission of not commission.
terryhurley
Posts: 119
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:30 am
Location: Somewhere in England

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by terryhurley »

brilliant & funny
Neil.
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:14 am
Location: London

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Neil. »

Ah, having read John's account of his 2007 visit, I'll bet the people at Record Collector (who, John tells us, hire offices in the building) made this happen. Who else would know?
User avatar
thepopeofpop
Posts: 414
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:19 am
Location: Newcastle, Australia (& Citizen of the World)

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by thepopeofpop »

Interestingly they must have got permission from Elvis to use his name and likeness...
--Paul--
Now put on your ironic dancing shoes
And dig my brand new rhythm and hues:
https://www.paulinglis.org
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

Ian McCann , editor of Record Collector, responds to my e-mail asking about 'that thing' -



Hello, thanks for your mail.

It seems that some of the users on that (us- JF)forum were a bit baffled about that thing outside the factory. And they are not alone. It was plonked outside here about a year ago, presumably by the management company for the building. They seem to attract a trendy clientele (Avalon television for example) and maybe wanted to advertise the building's funkiness amid what is definitely not one of London's hotspots. But Record Collector had no idea this was going to happen and we've been wondering, like yourselves, if Mr McManus knew about it. I expect he does now, anyway. I can promise you that if it was to promote Record Collector, it would have "RECORD COLLECTOR" plastered all over it in 5ft-high lettering...

Be interested to hear of any response from the great man that you might spot...

Best,
Ian
Neil.
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:14 am
Location: London

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Neil. »

Chortle! John, you're a dogged detective.

What I meant was that they'd be the type of people who'd get a kick out of the rock history connection, not that they'd do it to advertise Record Collector mag.

Anyway, whoever did it has great taste in music - and it's quite a well made thing which must've cost a fair bit!
User avatar
verbal gymnastics
Posts: 13637
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:44 am
Location: Magic lantern land

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by verbal gymnastics »

Love it!

And I love the Elvis has left the building tag. Obvious but it looks good in context.
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

User avatar
Natasha
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 3:35 pm
Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Natasha »

Poor Deportee wrote:Sometimes I think Elvis is a hopelessly marginalized artist in the current culture.

Other times he seems to be treated like a household name/international star (this, or the hockey game thread).

It's a weird space he inhabits, I suppose.
That's exactly what I love about this man! He can make an anti mass media anthem and a cameo in a popular tv show without being contradictory (or , on the contrary, allowing himself being contradictory).

I think it's curious that they mention I'm Not Angry. I always thought that Lipstick Vogue was a song about the period he worked at the factory. The line "Sometimes I almost feel just like a human being" sounds to me like a worker in the assembly line (not to mention the "lipstick" thing). Or maybe I'm getting too abstract. :p
“Between tenderness and brute force.”

Last FM
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

From Twitter today -

https://twitter.com/bestofbritishuk/sta ... 52/photo/1

Best of British ‏@bestofbritishuk


Earlier on today musician Elvis Costello visited his old workplace (& our office building!) - the Perfume Factory, W3

Image
Neil.
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:14 am
Location: London

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Neil. »

Wow! To think he was back in grotty North Acton!
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/a ... 76046.html


Image


Art deco perfume factory in north Acton to become 500 build-to-rent flats


JONATHAN PRYNN

February 9th 2016



An Art Deco former perfume factory is to be turned into London’s biggest ever “build-to-rent” housing development.

There will be more than 500 homes, exclusively for rent, at the 2.8-acre site in north Acton after Ealing councillors approved the £200 million scheme.

It is centred on the former Elizabeth Arden factory, which opened in 1939 and where singer Elvis Costello worked as a computer clerk in the Seventies.

The planning consent is being seen as a breakthrough for London’s small but growing build-to-rent sector.

Boris Johnson and the Government want City institutions to invest in European-style “rent-only” developments to boost the supply of homes for private tenants who cannot afford to buy.

The Perfume Factory scheme — designed by London architects Squire and Partners for specialist developer Essential Living — includes two towers of 33 and 27 storeys, and a mix of homes from studios to four-bed mews houses. It will also have 70,000 sq ft of commercial space and is due for completion in 2019. A spokesman for Essential Living said rents had not yet been set but will be in line with local market levels of about £1,500 to £1,700 a month for a two-bedroom flat.

Martin Bellinger, the company’s chief operating officer, said the planning approval “highlights the growing ability of the build-to-rent sector to make a very real contribution to Britain’s housing needs, while providing renters with a new service-led offer that treats them like customers for the first time”.

Essential Living is backed by US pension funds and other institutional investors. Its first scheme, Vantage Point Archway Tower in Islington, opens in June.

London’s private rental sector is dominated by small-scale landlords. But Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “Since the start of the year, there has been investment in the build-to-rent sector on a scale that we have never seen before.”

Last month, Legal & General announced a tie-up with Dutch fund manager PGGM to invest £600 million in build-to-rent with the aim of constructing 3,000 homes.
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

Now demolished, apparently. More later
User avatar
verbal gymnastics
Posts: 13637
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:44 am
Location: Magic lantern land

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by verbal gymnastics »

The curse of Costello...
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
erey
Posts: 206
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:54 pm

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by erey »

verbal gymnastics wrote:The curse of Costello...
Sometimes it can take more than 40 years to kick in! :D

But seriously, this does seem like a shame. At least the let the Hoover Factor stand when they turned it into flats.
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by johnfoyle »

Paul Lawlor on Facebook -

Sad to report the vanity factory is no more (North Acton). Similarly the EC tribute they had outside it.

Image
User avatar
verbal gymnastics
Posts: 13637
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:44 am
Location: Magic lantern land

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by verbal gymnastics »

I wonder if the Elvis tribute is winging its way to johnfoyle's house!
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
User avatar
Man out of Time
Posts: 1827
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:15 am
Location: just off the coast of Europe
Contact:

Re: The 'Vanity Factory' trumpets its Elvis past

Post by Man out of Time »

verbal gymnastics wrote: johnfoyle's house!
I expect it will turn up for sale on EBay 'ere long.

MOOT
Post Reply