Atlantica - 01.11.2000, Page 27

London. New York’s SoHo is so called
simply because it lies South of
Houston (pronounced Howston by
New Yorkers).
The majority of the London district
was built in the late 17th century and
early became the haunt of immigrants,
initially Greek Christians and French
Huguenots. Later many Italians put
down roots here and London’s China-
town sprang up within the district. This
exotic human cocktail has led to a cer-
tain level of tolerance in Soho which
has given people the leeway to be that
little bit different from their neighbours
in the way they look and behave.
Unsurprisingly, this acceptance has led
to the formation of a flourishing gay
scene which gained a foothold in the
area just as the sex industry was loosen-
ing its grip. This colourful world has
brought with it a flood of good restau-
rants, bars and clubs as well as any
number of tiny specialist shops, some
catering for all who enjoy beautiful
things, others serving a rather narrower
clientele in the leather and bondage
trade.
Kick around Soho for a few days and
you can hardly avoid bumping into
someone you know. Not personally, you
understand, but familiar faces from the
world of film, stage, TV or radio. This is
hardly surprising as all kinds of media
firms are based in the area, from book
publishers to music companies.
Wardour Street has long been home to a
fleet of film companies, while Sony’s
London headquarters are on Great
Marlborough Street, and the famous
theatres of the West End are within hail-
ing distance.
A few years ago I was in London inter-
viewing Karl Hyde, one of the members
of the band Underworld, whose music
was featured on the soundtrack of the
film Trainspotting. Karl Hyde and
Richard Smith (the other member of
Underworld) are men of many talents.
Another of their claims to fame is that
SOHO
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