The Guardian has launched a fascinating new series, delving deep into its own archives to uncover the very first, often surprisingly modest, mentions of now-iconic pop culture figures and institutions. The series, titled 'Origin Stories', reveals how the newspaper initially covered the likes of The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, and even a toddler-aged Claudia Winkleman.
Humble Beginnings for Global Superstars
The inaugural feature highlights how future legends often received scant or dismissive attention in their early days. The Beatles' first Guardian appearance came not with fanfare, but in a January 1963 article about Manchester's 'coffee dance clubs'. The piece merely listed 'the Beatles for instance' among the twist or jazz groups playing in basement venues, just as 'Please Please Me' was climbing the charts.
Similarly, Marilyn Monroe's debut in the paper was far from glowing. A review of her 1952 film 'Don't Bother to Knock' found it 'does not succeed in ending up as anything very special'. Her follow-up in 'Niagara' prompted the critic to suggest 'little roles suit her best'. It wasn't until 1959's 'Some Like it Hot' that the Guardian finally deemed her 'irresistible'.
Early Scoops on Enduring Institutions
The archives also show the paper's first reactions to now-established cultural pillars. When the BBC announced EastEnders in October 1984, the Guardian predicted Albert Square would become 'a familiar national landmark'. The opening night review in February 1985 was cautiously positive, calling it 'Coronation Street with added abrasives'.
Perhaps the most dismissive early mention was reserved for Nintendo. In 1980, a technology column sniffed at the 'puerile video games' and the 'inevitable advance' of the firm's Game & Watch device. By 1984, the paper was noting the plethora of clones inspired by its hit game Donkey Kong.
The Star Who Started in a Smock
The series saves its most charming revelation for last. Long before her reign on 'Strictly' and 'The Traitors', Claudia Winkleman made her Guardian debut not in the 1990s, but as a toddler in a 1973 children's fashion photoshoot. The future presenter, sporting an embroidered Indian smock and stripy bell-bottoms, was featured in a piece on small-fry fashion, though her signature fringe and fingerless gloves were yet to appear.
This new regular feature promises to be a treasure trove for pop culture enthusiasts, showcasing the often-overlooked moments when future giants first stepped into the public eye through the pages of one of the UK's leading newspapers.
