Who banged the gong at the start of J.Arthur Rank films after 1968?
The Rank Organisation’s on-screen identity of a strong man striking a gong was created in 1935. Bombardier Billy Wells (1887-1967) struck a papier mach gong three times, to which was added the synchronised sound of a 30-inch Chinese tam-tam struck by percussionist James Blades (1901-1999). The original shots, both colour and B&W were still being printed for use in the late 1960s to my certain knowledge.
