Tomorrow night some of Sydney's most interesting people, including media types, will return to the scene of many a crime from the original Underbelly 1920's and 30's.
They will be celebrating the DVD launch of 'Underbelly Razor'. "Glorifying crime"...we can hear the knockers already.
Some 'Underbelly' blurb that we got hold of (thanks Larry Writer - author of Razor) reads...Back in the day the East Village was called 'The Tradesman's Arms', a bloodhouse with sawdust on the floor to soak up the spit and vomit, hard stools at the bar and a dozen cheap wooden tables with chairs scattered around".
The Tradesman's has been a staple meeting place for members of Sydney's underworld throughout the years but tomorrow, November 9, there will be an extra jump and thump in the air around the old pub (now The East Village Hotel) in Sydney's Darlinghurst. The cast of Underbelly Razor and special guests will party celebrating the Underbelly Razor Uncut DVD release at the very same place that crime queens Tilly Devine, Nellie Cameron, along with Guido Caletti frequented back in their heyday.
Strutting the red (blood red?) carpet with the guests will be all of the Razor cast, including the stars such as Danielle Cormack, better known now as our vice queen Kate Leigh, Anna McGahan who played Nellie Cameron, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Norman Bruhn), John Batchelor, better recognised as the loyal Wally Tomlinson, Felix Williamson, aka the suave Phil 'the Jew' Jeffs and Jack Campbell, who we know as Big Jim Devine.
Larry Writer tells us of the former glory days of 'The Arms', recounted from the many interviews he conducted, compiling the book, Razor. "The air was thick with coarse language, raucous laughter and the cigarette smoke pumped out by the Arms's clientele — the factory workers and bakers from the nearby Sergeants pie factory, prostitutes, pimps, pickpockets, muggers, con men, SP (starting price) bookies and drug dealers." says Writer.
Game to show up tomorrow? We've got the guts, so expect our next report guys and dolls.
Websites
Underbelly (Channel Nine)
Channel Nine
The East Village Hotel
Casino News Media
Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
Eva Rinaldi Photography