During his early days in London, Sam Wanamaker was extremely interested in seeing the place where the Globe Theatre had stood. After trying unsuccessfully to find a reference to Maid (or Maiden) Lane on a map, Wanamaker began to ask cab drivers if they could take him to the Globe. It seemed as if no one in Southwark could tell him where it was. Finally, someone pointed Wanamaker in the direction of the site, on the current road Park Street.
What Wanamaker found at Park Street was a plaque on a wall denoting the location of the Globe (Figure 15). No museum, no tribute, just a plaque, placed in 1908 by the Shakespeare Reading Society of England and India. "Here stood Shakespeare's Globe." Wanamaker was floored. He could not believe that so little was done to honor such a great piece of theatrical history. Something should be done. Something would be done. Wanamaker would see to that. Even if it would take the rest of his life.
Today, the plaque still stands on the same wall on Park Street. And today, it is just as much of a disappointment to those seeking the history of the Globe. In fact, as a further testament to the sentiment Sam Wanamaker must have felt back in the 1950's, in December, 1997, one could not even get to the plaque due to the City's careless positioning of fencing and dumpsters from nearby construction (Figure 17).
Figure 15: Plaque that began Sam Wanamaker's quest for the Globe, 1997
Figure 16: Close up picture of the plaque, Shot # 2, 1997
Figure 17: The Plaque, December, 1997
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| Lesson 4.0 |
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Lesson 4.2 |