Allan Warren
Encyclopedia
Michael Allan Warren is an English society-photographer, writer and former actor. His work encompasses works of many celebrities during the late 1960s, 70s and into the 80s, such as members of the British Royal Family
, influential politicians and artists in both music and literature as well as some of the most important people in Hollywood at their time.
. It was during this time that he attended auditions through which he received several assignments. One such piece of work was as a child presenter in "The Five O'clock Club", which afforded him the opportunity to associate with a variety of people, including a young Marc Bolan
(then performing as "Toby Tyler") who would later employ Warren as his first manager.
's play Forty Years On
with John Gielgud
in the West End
at the Apollo Theatre
. Around this time Warren bought his first second-hand camera and started to take photographs of his fellow actors. His first major assignment was when his friend Mickey Deans
asked him to cover his wedding to Judy Garland
, which marked the beginning of Warren's work as a professional photographer. Upon travelling to New York for personal reasons, he attended an audition for the Broadway production of Minnie's Boys
. However, he later declined the role offered to him in favour of returning to London and pursuing photography as his vocation.
After this decisive event Warren embarked on his photographic career, throughout which he took portraits of personalities including many actors, writers, musicians, politicians and members of the British Royal Family
. In the early 1980s Warren embarked on a quest to photograph all 26 non-royal and four royal duke
s. Together with the 12th Duke of Manchester
he set up the Duke's Trust, a charity for children in need.
, as a result of his numerous encounters with strangers for his book Strangers in the Buff, including members of the Swedish navy
who had posed for Warren in their naval underwear. Their fitted boxers were embroidered with the Royal Swedish Crowns, and Warren decided that this image of the clean cut and healthy young Vikings would be ideal for a range of clothing, including underwear and polo jackets.
and critics even went as far as comparing it to Sleuth
, a thriller written by Anthony Shaffer. The cast of "The Lady of Phillimore Walk" consisted of Zena Walker
and Philip Lowrie
; and even saw productions in the United States.
Furthermore, Warren is credited to have invented the Hankybreathe, a handkerchief which allows the user to inhale air through a carbon filter at the mouth, in order to filter out the noxious effects of exhaust emissions. The invention, which is meant to be dabbed in eucalyptus oil
, harks back to the nosegay
and stems from Warren's experience with asthma
in heavily polluted London.
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, influential politicians and artists in both music and literature as well as some of the most important people in Hollywood at their time.
Early life
After growing up in post-war London, Warren attended Terry's Juveniles, a stage school based in the Drury Lane TheatreTheatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
. It was during this time that he attended auditions through which he received several assignments. One such piece of work was as a child presenter in "The Five O'clock Club", which afforded him the opportunity to associate with a variety of people, including a young Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
(then performing as "Toby Tyler") who would later employ Warren as his first manager.
Career
Warren started his photographic career at the age of 17 when he was acting in Alan BennettAlan Bennett
Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...
's play Forty Years On
Forty Years On (play)
Forty Years On is a 1968 play by Alan Bennett. It was his first West End play.-Subject:The play is set in a British public school called Albion House , which is putting on an end of term play in front of the parents, i.e. the audience...
with John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
in the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
. Around this time Warren bought his first second-hand camera and started to take photographs of his fellow actors. His first major assignment was when his friend Mickey Deans
Mickey Deans
Mickey Deans a musician and entrepreneur, was the fifth and last husband of Judy Garland.-Early life:Born Michael DeVinko in Garfield, New Jersey, on September 24, Deans was a discothèque manager....
asked him to cover his wedding to Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, which marked the beginning of Warren's work as a professional photographer. Upon travelling to New York for personal reasons, he attended an audition for the Broadway production of Minnie's Boys
Minnie's Boys
Minnie's Boys is a musical with a book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the Marx Brothers and their relationship with their mother, the driving force behind their ultimate success.After an...
. However, he later declined the role offered to him in favour of returning to London and pursuing photography as his vocation.
After this decisive event Warren embarked on his photographic career, throughout which he took portraits of personalities including many actors, writers, musicians, politicians and members of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. In the early 1980s Warren embarked on a quest to photograph all 26 non-royal and four royal duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
s. Together with the 12th Duke of Manchester
Angus Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester
Angus Charles Drogo Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester, etc. , was a British hereditary peer, the son of the 10th Duke of Manchester, and the younger brother of the 11th Duke....
he set up the Duke's Trust, a charity for children in need.
Swedish Navy Clothing
In 1999, Warren was inspired to create a clothing line called Swedish Navy ClothingSwedish Navy Clothing
Swedish Navy Clothing is a clothing line set up by the society photographer Allan Warren in 2001 in London. His inspiration for the line of clothing came about after taking photographs of a group of young Swedes who had just joined the Royal Swedish Navy During the shoot whilst changing their...
, as a result of his numerous encounters with strangers for his book Strangers in the Buff, including members of the Swedish navy
Swedish Navy
The Royal Swedish Navy is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet – as well as marine units, the so-called Amphibious Corps .In Swedish, vessels of the Swedish Navy are given the prefix "HMS," short for Hans/Hennes...
who had posed for Warren in their naval underwear. Their fitted boxers were embroidered with the Royal Swedish Crowns, and Warren decided that this image of the clean cut and healthy young Vikings would be ideal for a range of clothing, including underwear and polo jackets.
Miscellaneous
In the early 90s Warren turned his hand to play writing. One of his works, The Lady of Phillimore Walk, was directed by Frank DunlopFrank Dunlop (director)
Frank Dunlop is a British theatre director.-Early life:Dunlop was born in Leeds, England to Charles Norman Dunlop and Mary Aarons...
and critics even went as far as comparing it to Sleuth
Sleuth (play)
Sleuth is a 1970 play written by Anthony Shaffer. The play is set in the Wiltshire, England manor house of Andrew Wyke, an immensely successful mystery writer. His home reflects Wyke's obsession with the inventions and deceptions of fiction and his fascination with games and game-playing...
, a thriller written by Anthony Shaffer. The cast of "The Lady of Phillimore Walk" consisted of Zena Walker
Zena Walker
Zena Walker was an English actress in film, theatre, and television.Walker was born in Birmingham, the daughter of George Walker, a grocer, and his wife Elizabeth Louise . She attended St. Martin's School in 1960 and then went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She starred in an...
and Philip Lowrie
Philip Lowrie
Colin Philip Lowrie is an English television actor. He played Dennis Tanner, the son of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street, from 1960 until 1968. On 25 January 2011, it was announced that he would return to the role, reappearing on screen later in the year...
; and even saw productions in the United States.
Furthermore, Warren is credited to have invented the Hankybreathe, a handkerchief which allows the user to inhale air through a carbon filter at the mouth, in order to filter out the noxious effects of exhaust emissions. The invention, which is meant to be dabbed in eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus, a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, antiseptic, repellent, flavouring, fragrance and industrial uses...
, harks back to the nosegay
Nosegay
A nosegay, tussie-mussie, or posy/posey/posie is a small flower bouquet, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice....
and stems from Warren's experience with asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
in heavily polluted London.