by Rosalind Miles

Famous Oxford inn The Eagle and Child has been put up for sale for £1.2m.

The landmark St Giles pub – popularly known as “The Bird and Baby” – was the favourite watering hole of writers CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein, and has belonged to University College since the 16th century. The college is selling The Eagle and Child, two adjoining shops and flats, as fully let investments, earning £90,950 per year. The pub and the shops will continue to trade as normal.

Frank Marshall, the college’s estates bursar, said: “The college is looking afresh into its investments and is rebalancing its portfolio.”

Rupert Sheppard, of Oxford estate agent James Styles & Whitlock, which is handling the sale, said: “It’s rare for properties so full of historic interest to be made available for sale.”

The building has been a pub since 1650. It was named in honour of the Earl of Derby, whose family crest features a coronet with an eagle and child.

It belonged to a Thomas Gold of Oxford, who left it to his son on thecondition he if he ever sold the building, the buyer should be University College.

From 1939 to 1962 ‘The Inklings’ – JRR Tolkein, author of The Lord of the Rings, and CS Lewis, creator of the Chronicles of Narnia, and theirfriends – gathered every Tuesday morning in a parlour known as the Rabbit Room. The area towards the back of the pub now has a plaque, photos and mementoes of the writers.

During the Civil War the buildings were the pay house for the Royalistsoldiers of Charles I, when Oxford was his temporary capital.

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Mithveaen writes: I’m sending you a transcription and some photos from Viggo Mortensen in Otro Rollo, a Mexican show.

My impression is that despite the little knowledge from Adal Ramones (Otro Rollo’s host) about Viggo’s career and The Lord of the Rings movies (he presented RoTK trailer as TTT scenes), it was a delight watching Viggo very relaxed and having fun, speaking Spanish in a very strong Argentina accent. Personally I found quite lovely when he used expression and gestures very characteristic from Latinoamerica people.

Here is my translation with some comments and my pics. Sorry for the poor quality!!

*After being introduced by Adal Ramones, Viggo enters to the set using those stairs. Adal welcomes Viggo and both sit down*

Adal: Viggo, you are… your father is from Denmark.

Viggo : Yes, my father is Dutch and my Mother is from US.

Adal : But it turns out that you speak a perfect Spanish, because you had traveled a lot, obviously because of your family.. because of your father specially, have you been long time in Latin America as well right?

Viggo: Yes, *points his microphone* Speaking with this you can understand me? *chuckles*

Can you hear me?

Adal: Yes, perfect… in the movies is different, in the movies is different *this honestly doesn’t make any sense*

Viggo: Yes, I grew up in Argentina, I lived there until I was 11.

Adal: Yes, but why did you traveled so much Viggo? Was your Dad a diplomatic person or??

Viggo: No, he had different jobs, I also lived in Venezuela, we lived there one year… later I lived 10 years… 9 years in Argentina.

Adal: Because of that when you speak a fluent Spanish with that accent obviously.

Viggo: Yes, it has stayed with me.

Adal : The movie Perfect Murder… I was amazed to know as you played a painter, that the paintings on the movie are yours.

Viggo : *drinks water* yes, it’s true, well… more and less…. all of them were (based on) photographs, I knew better this..

Adal : A combination of paiting and photos.

Viggo : Yes. yes.. they gave me a couple of weeks and I got into that.. and I liked it very much… *insists with his microphone with audience* can you hear me??

Can you hear me??

Adal : Of course we can hear. Can you hear him well? (*audience exclaims yes and Viggo laughs*) or should we increase the volume?

Viggo : No. no..

Adal: Tell me how you got this role in this LoTR trilogy, because it’s one of the most box-office grossing movies in the movies history.

Viggo: Well, it was luck, there was another actor, and at the end, I don’t know…. he couldn’t do it… and when I arrived they had started shooting and the others actors had been already there for few months in NZ.. and I don’t know… I got it for pure luck… but no… it’s not like… I mean nobody knew that it was going to be so sucessful you know?? *this “you know?” is a very typical Argentina expression* Now it seems to be something of pure luck, but it was risky for (New Line Cinema) company .

Adal: it was an experiment.

Viggo: yes..

Adal: And now.. your situation in the first 2 movies.. *more nonsense from Adal* because let me Viggo tell to our audience that when you shoot some scenes, and maybe the director decides to remove them from the film, and you think you are in the film, but you are not..

Viggo : Mhm.

Adal : Then, I read in your biography that you worked with Woody Allen, and you weren’t in the scene, in the film, he cut it, and for an actor, suddenly, watching the film and saying “Gee, I was supposed to be there”

Viggo: Well, if they don’t tell you in advance then you are a little bit embarassed.

Adal: But if they tell you… but just imagine, you take (to the theather) all your family your friends.. nad you say “This is my scene.. this is my scene…. hey what happened??”

Viggo: Well, they called me liar, my family, I told them several times, it comes a movie… I am in a movie una pelicula and they go to see it… the first one, the second one.. the third one.. and they tell me “Well what are you doing in New York?? Drugs or what??”

Adal : *laughs*

*Adal introduces by mistake RoTK trailer as TTT scenes, it seems Viggo says No.. and someone corrects Adal. They see the trailer*

*watching trailer*

Adal : Tell me something…

Viggo: Let’s see if this (RoTK movie) is a goodie…

Adal : It’s a must see…

Viggo : I haven’t seen it as well. (here Viggo makes a Spanish gramatical mistake very common, instead of saying “Neither” he says “As well.”)

Adal : Haven’t you seen it?

*pointing at stairs*

Viggo: No… tell me…. have someone ever fell down from those stairs??

Adal : Yes, someone has fell down.

Viggo: Really?? Really?? Who??

Adal : Well I don’t know… but yes, some people has fell down… *audience laughs*

Viggo: A lot?? Live?

Adal : I… I have fell down…

Viggo : Yes?

Adal : Yes, I fell down once.

Viggo: And you get in here rolling around yourself?

Adal: Yes.

Viggo: And what happens next?

*checking again the stairs*

Adal : Why???

Viggo: Naw, just curious. *audiences and Adal laughs*

Adal : Hey tell me something… I know you made a lot of the stunts… what does your agent tell you?? because there are people who represent the actor, and they tell him “Don’t do this, you can hurt yourself”.. but why this desire from you to do it..

Viggo: Mhh…

Adal: Why?

Viggo : I don’t tell anything to my agent.

Adal: You don’t tell him anything..

Viggo: No.. and later they see the film…

Adal : And when they see the film they say “What were you thinking!!” Hey and you had sword teachers, I imagine myself that is like being in a theme park.

Viggo: No… it’s quite funny, as any children I played with wooden swords and pretented to be the hero and all that.. .

*Note: with these “no” he’s not denying what Adal says… it’s a way to speak some Latinamerican countries have like saying “Yeah, you can’t imagine that…”*

Adal: And now as an adult doing it again… imagine, when you are a kid you did it..

Viggo : Mhhhmmm *again that very lovely noise he makes but this time noding*

Adal : And as an adult doing it again..

Viggo : And it’s a great story

Adal : Yes.. it’s a great story.. and what other projects do you have?? Because this movie was already shot…. what upcoming projects Viggo Mortensen has?

Viggo: Well, I have had some photo expositions in Cuba, US, Denmark, I have another one quite large now in NZ at the end of this month… and a movie we made the last year… the name is Hidalgo, not the Hidalgo from Mexico (our Independence National Hero’s name is Miguel Hidalgo), but it’s the name of a horse… a story that will be released next March… and it’s a nice story, interesting in these times we live… because it’s about an American, a NorthAmerican that travel… to what is called now Irak and Siria.. that zone… very interesting.. a true cowboy, not the one who pretends to be

Adal: A Cowboy there..

Viggo: and pretends to be a cowboy, and goes there to do other things, the one I play he goes there to make a horse race, and to learn, not to conquest and steal the oil to nobody, he goes there, do his things…

Adal : It’s his way to connect with the people there..

Viggo : and he comes back home, it seems to me that is a good example, specially for the US young people.

Adal: And now I know.. and I love it… that besides of being a painter, photographer and actor… you are also a poet..

Viggo: Well…

Adal: Do you like to be with yourself? To enjoy your own company?

Viggo: Poetry, paiting, photography, all those things… I don’t separate them… they are the same as acting… that is a way to communicate with yourself and ask questions about what is around you… I don’t know.. a way to figure out things..

Adal: Hey Viggo, now coming back to the scene *points the TV where RoTK trailer was shown* I was watching your face when the dragons were flying *please don’t flame me, Adal knows nothing about RoTK and he called Dragons to the Nazgul* I was watching your face like saying “Wow.. that looks great…” of course when you are shooting you don’t see the Dragon, actually the Towers aren’t even there.. a lot of things are CGI…. do you amaze yourself watching you on the screen?

Viggo :Yes.

*praising Peter Jackson*

Adal : You are still amazed with that magic..

Viggo: Yes, and though I know the book very well and I know what we shot, the director (Peter Jackson) alwasy amazes us, so we can’t wait.. all who made the film… we’re curious to see what he (Peter) did.

Adal : We’re very happy than an actor from your league is here in Mexico and in our show, but above all, to see you like this because I got this vibe from you, as a person very human, humble, down to Earth, and of course quite creative and intelligent.

Viggo: Thanks for inviting me to your show.

Adal: No, the pleasure is ours… we’re leaving but… un cojin, all the International starts… I would like you sign this to Otro Rollo

*Adal takes the microphone*

Viggo: Let’s see how do you feel with that *points the microphone, because it was quite obvious that Viggo wasn’t very happy with the microphone in his hands. When Viggo says this, he nods his head in a very particular way we Mexicans have.. in a very challenging way like saying “Ok, now it’s your turn to do this”*

*and grins to the audience who laughs*

*and he also laughs*

Adal: Ladies and Gentleman, our dear Viggo Mortensen… and don’t miss RoTK!!

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Earwen writes: I just wanted to give a quick report on the Houghton Mifflin sneak preview event. I was surprised and excited to learn one of the screenings was being held in my town of Colorado Springs, so there was no way I was going to miss it. Including myself and my mom (who gets credit for not only giving birth to me but to my Tolkien obsession as well since it was she who read the books to me all the time when I was growing up until I was old enough to do it myself…THANKS MOM!!!) whew, sorry about that digression. Anyway, my original point was, including myself and my mom there were a total of only 5 or 6 people who showed up for the event. I think the fact that the weather turned very cold and it was the middle of the week kept some people away. That is alright though since it made for a nice cozy atmosphere.

The screening was held in a corner of the Media Play store that had been all decked out in posters and displays for the purpose of this event. There was a tv with several comfortable chairs set in front for us to sit in. We were each given a newsletter of sorts that contained information about the various editions of the book that are available through Houghtin Mifflin, and two bookmarks. The documentary itself was contained on a cassette tape in a plain black box that was not likely to give away what was inside. It was about half an hour long, and I noticed that the employee who put in the tape ended up staying to watch the whole thing, even though he was obviously not a huge fan of the trilogy. When I looked behind me I also saw that several other employees had stopped what they were doing to watch the documentary.

As for the documentary itself, it was all about the origins of various aspects of Tolkien’s world. For example, the battlefields of WWI with their dead bodied strewn about was the inspiration for the Dead Marshes, and his friend C.S. Lewis’s booming, harooming voice was thought to be what Tolkien imagined Treebeard sounded like. It was a very well put together and interesting documentary, with some things I already knew and some I did not. It’s quality is exactly of the high level one would expect after the appendices material of the Extended Edition of FOTR.

I can remember only three brief clips from the upcoming Extended Edition of TTT being included in this documentary. One occurred when they were explaining the origins of Eowyn’s name (Eoh = old english word for horse, Eowyn = “horse joy” or “one who takes joy in horses”). It showed Eowyn walking through the horse stables at Edoras and coming up to a brown horse (Brego?) who nuzzles her face. The second occurred when they were talking about Tolkien’s portrayals of evil. It showed what appeared to be Uruk Hai or wildmen punching someone in the stomach and throwing them to the ground, and then killing someone else with a sword or spear of some sort. This looked like an extension or addition to the “wildmen destroying Rohan villages” scene. The third clip I remember was the longest and was the Merry and Pippin being swallowed by Old Man Willow scene, which I must say had me grinning from ear to ear, and almost laughing out loud. There may have been more clips, but I did not notice any.

After it was over, the employee who seemed less than enthusiastic at the beginning, was asking when the next movie came out, and how big a fans did we consider ourselves to be? December 17th, and obsessive we replied, smiling and giggling 🙂 Everyone left pretty soon afterwards since it was cold and dark, with the ominous presence of work looming in the morning. I did notice and inquire about two cardboard cutouts of Gandalf the Grey and Aragorn which the employee gave to me (Eeeeeexcellent!). This made me most ecstatic since I have been trying to get a hold of some of these for ages. Also, he had heard me talking about the awesome time I had at the Two Towers: One Party last year, and asked how he could get tickets. I happily explained about TORn and wrote down the address for him. He thanked me, and so ended a lovely evening of Tolkien fandom, as well as this overlong (see second sentence) report.

P.S. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin and to Media Play for hosting this and taking the time to decorate and make it nice.

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In a recent press release, Games Workshop announced that it has just opened three new Hobby Centers this past weekend, bringing the total to 50 Hobby Centers throughout the United States. These Hobby Centers are staffed and run by teams of enthusiastic Games Workshop gamers, and are totally dedicated to the Games Workshop product line.

The three newest Hobby Centers are:
Games Workshop SunValley near San Francisco at the Sun Valley Mall
Games Workshop Natick Mall near Boston in Natick Mall
Games Workshop Third Avenue in New York City’s Upper East Side

…and three more are excepted to open before the end of the year (look for new stores in Atlanta and St. Louis). The company is on track to double this number in two years to over 100 stores in America, meaning that by then roughly one quarter of all Games Workshop Hobby Centers will be in the USA.

“The plan is to continue with the ongoing expansion in the USA, with at least 20 more stores coming in 2004” said CEO of Games Workshop America John Stallard. “This will be a quite exciting year for Games Workshop in many ways,” he went on to say. “We’re launching our third game for The Lord of the Rings right now, and have several more major releases for 2004. You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

To find a Games Workshop Hobby Center near you call 1-800-394-GAME or visit the Games Workshop website here

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Begthelion writes: Here is a little update on scrrenings from UGC cinema in UK. Just got this in my e-mail:

We will be showing the first two Lord of The Ring films; Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers on the following dates at the cinemas listed below:

Regards
UGC Customer Services

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Lord of Moria writes: I see you have a few updates regarding Trilogy Tuesday in the U.K. Unfortunately that doesnt help out us Irish very much. So here is an update as far as the UGC in Dublin is concerned

There are no concrete plans as of yet regarding Trilogy Tuesday. I work for the cinema myself and we are waiting on word from our head ofice in the U.K. before we move ahead. As it stands we have two options

(a) Run FOTR EE for a week two weeks before Dec 17th then followed by TTT EE for a week before Dec 17th and then open with ROTK

OR

(b) run with Trilogy Tuesday.

By that stage UGC Dublin will have 17 screens so it would be brilliant if they reserved 4 or 5 screens for triolgy tuesday but i’d say that is unlikly as they think there isnt that much interest for Trilogy Tuesday in Dublin. So PLEASE all patrons of UGC Dublin on your next visit PLEASE tell the staff at the Box Office how much you want Trilogy Tuesday. Dont be afraid to tells us because we all want it as much as you do.

P.S. if you see someone wearing a suit with a UGC pin wrestle them to the ground and dont let them up until they agree to Trilgy Tuesday

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