Toomorrow

After a Galactic Observation Control space craft is seen approaching Earth during the titles, a beam passes over the City.

The beam settles on the garden of a suburban house where John Williams rises from sleep before appearing at the door and walking into the ray.

Revealed to be an alien Observer for Planet Earth, Williams is advised that a new pattern of vibrations has been detected and told that he has seventeen hours to investigate. How many hours Dave W spent on this is not known, but he did get good vibrations and tells us that we are looking approx south west from a viewpoint above Westminster not far from wherever Capture 1 was filmed. Dave now favours a view from Millbank Tower. (RL)

The new form of electronic harmony is traced to the building where Olivia, Benny, Vic and Karl of the band 'Toomorrow' live. Dave W moves on from his school days to his college days and finds this as the rear of 1 Carlyle Square, London SW3 with the camera set in Lightfoot Hall, student residence block for Chelsea College of Science and Technology at the time. (RL)

Expecting to play in a festival that evening, Karl (Karl Chambers), Benny (Benny Thomas) and Vic (Vic Cooper) load their gear into a trailer. Dave savours the evidence of the portico step heights and the non-matching pattern on the replacement for the missing railing spear to suggest we are outside Number 5 Carlyle Square. (RL)

Unfortunately a parked car prevented a wider shot to engage with the missing spear replacement. SJ

After Olivia gets into the driving seat, the band set off towards college and the day's lessons. Continuity and a still-present drain cover in the street conspire to confirm Dave's identification that we remain outside Number 5 Carlyle Square. (RL)

Sans parking meters. Remember them? SJ

The Mk1 Ford Cortina Estate passes the camera . . . that is situated Dave says, at "Kings Road at the entrance to Carlyle Square. Now pedestrianised and greenified with the pair of utility cover plates still in place. (RL)

There are the utility covers. Looking west down King's Road from the east side ex-road of Carlyle Square. SJ

. . . which pans to follow. As does Dave to Kings Road at the corner of Bramerton Street. Dave has no recollection of café society spilling onto the pavement outside Lightfoot Hall canteen in 1970 and believes the tables to be props. (RL)

Certainly no tables filling the pavement there over 50 years later. SJ

South Carriage Drive in SW1 with Knightsbridge in the background beyond Bowater House. To the left, Jacob Epstein’s The Rush of Green can also be seen in ‘Sebastian’ as well as 'The Primitives' while Bowater House appears in 'For Members Only', 'Victim', 'Otley' and 1962's 'What Every Woman Wants'. The building was demolished in 2006 and the sculpture has since been moved to Edinburgh Gate.

If I were to turn to the right, there would be the sculpture. SJ

Running late, Benny asks what classes they are about to miss. Facing east on South Carriage Drive in Knightsbridge.

Panning left. SJ

The Cortina arrives at the London College of Arts where a protest is taking place. In reality, Holland Park School in London W8.

At lunchtime, a television Interviewer and his Cameraman interview Students about the sit-in. Anthony McKay confirms that IMDb's identification of Holland Park School on Airlie Gardens off Campden Hill Road being used for some scenes, including this one, is correct.

Looking for an angle on the protest, the Interviewer approaches Karl, Vic, Olivia (Olivia Newton-John) and Benny to ask their opinion. Holland Park School on Airlie Gardens in Holland Park, which also features in 'Subterfuge' and 'The Knack . . . and How to Get It'.

John Williams (Roy Dotrice) appears at the college as the band play an impromptu session in front of their fellow students. Holland Park School identified by Anthony McKay.

When the Principal cuts the power, John carries Benny's "tonaliser" while Sylvana (Kubi Chaza) helps move equipment from the college. More of Holland Park School in Holland Park.

Finding that they have common interests, Benny shakes John's hand after he offers his conservatory for rehearsals. Holland Park School on Airlie Gardens W8.

The band set of for John's house as the disguised alien makes his own way. Anthony McKay found Holland Park School off Campden Hill Road.

South Carriage Drive with the Entrance Screen of Hyde Park as the background. The location features in a number of films including 'Escape!', 'The Magic Box' and 'Joanna'.

Different road layout and in the background finishing touches are being put to the London Peninsular Hotel. SJ

South Carriage Drive at the southern end of Park Lane in W1 with the Hilton hotel in the centre background.

The Queen Elizabeth Gates/Queen Mother's Gates by Giuseppe Lund were opened in 1993, but the Byron statue, seen to the original's right, on the cut-off island is rather obscured by the traffic. SJ

Cumberland Gate W1 with Avenfield House on Park Lane to the top left.

A different season. SJ

Materialising at his Hampstead home, John enters and makes preparations for the band's arrival.

As John creates a vinyl album collection, a state of the art stereo along with a four track tape deck with sync recording out of magazine pictures, Toomorrow continue on their way. Antony Blair locates this as looking across Whitestone Pond in Hampstead NW3.

Denis Hoare visited the spot to take this shot for us and advises that Whitestone Pond was tidied up a bit and the new edging and reed bed added in 2010 in anticipation of it being included on the UK section of the Tour de France, unfortunately, in the end it was rerouted. (RL)

The camera follows the yellow Cortina as the band travel northward. Whitestone Pond at the junction of North End Way, Heath Street, West Heath Road and Whitestone Walk in Hampstead identified by Antony Blair.

Another shot from Denis of the location as it is today. (RL)

Turning from the story's West Heath Drive, the band reach the front gates of John's house. The South Entrance to Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire which is also featured in 'Up in the World', ‘Carry On Screaming’, 'Crackerjack', 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden', 'The Woman in the Hall' and ‘The Ghoul’.

A Nissan replaces the Ford in Antony Blair's shot taken 51 years later.

Once inside the grounds, equipment is carried towards the conservatory.

Following the band's return to Earth after being beamed to the Galactic Observation Control ship, John makes a request for a female to be provided as a "groovy" new girlfriend for Vic.

Back at college, Vic and his girlfriend Amy split up after she tells him that they're not compatible because she's fed up of playing second fiddle to a "tonaliser".

Appearing from their lodgings, Karl, Olivia, Benny and Vic run to the car after the college administrators begin their own sit-in. Exiting Number 5 Carlyle Square as established by Dave earlier with 246 and 247 Kings Road visible in the background in the days when free access was available and greenery planted to prohibit both access and the view. (RL)

I forgot this one last summer when covering the earlier shots. And then promptly forgot to shoot the same side of the square which also appears in 'Wrong Number'. SJ

A Student tells the band that the Principal is inside the building having a shouting match with his staff. Holland Park School in Holland Park W8.

While Olivia and Vic distract a patrolling Policeman, Students help Karl and Benny to get into the college. Holland Park School on Airlie Gardens off Campden Hill Road recognised by Anthony McKay.

Keeping out of view, the two young Men make their way to main building to retrieve their instruments from the assembly hall. Holland Park School off Campden Hill Road.

With their gear stowed in the trailer, John watches the band as they head off to the Roundhouse Pop Festival. Holland Park School on Airlie Gardens W8.

The audience begins to arrive for the Roundhouse Pop Festival. The Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road NW1.

The Roundhouse now has step-free access. SJ

Watching other bands turn up, John waits outside the venue. Outside the Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road in Chalk Farm.

Looking east. SJ

Benny's girlfriend Suzanne Gilmore (Tracey Crisp) drives into a parking space outside the stage door. Facing eastward on Chalk Farm Road NW1.

Car-free now. SJ

In their Cortina, Toomorrow arrive for the sold out gig. Outside the Roundhouse, looking north-west along Chalk Farm Road towards Haverstock Hill with Chalk Farm station in the left distance.

On the right the Camden Lock Hotel and Enterprise pub remain. The white apartment building appeared in about 2021. SJ