Great blog. I love the Poirot series and spent a wonderful night at Burgh Island where Christie stayed and set two of her books and has been used in the TV series aswell.

There are lots of Art Deco Societies around the world. LA, NY, Asheville, Chicago, Miami, Tulsa and many more US cities have great organisations. There are a few in Australian including the Art Deco and Modernism Society (artdeco.org.au) with chapters in Melbourne, Adelaide & Tasmania. Of course there is the Twentieth Century Society in the UK and the Art Deco Trust in Napier, New Zealand (rebuilt after an earthquake in 1931).

There is an Art Deco World Congress every two years. In May 2009 it is in Montreal, Canada (http://www.artdecomontreal.com/congress/en/).

Thanks for the link to my Art Deco Buildings blog (artdecobuildings.blogspot.com) and there is a great blog of Art Deco pics at (artdecoblog.blogspot.com).

I too have watched the opening graphics a number of times. As an avid collector of Art Deco, especially posters, I would dearly love a copy of the train passing the funnels of smoke. Any suggestions?

@Sylvia – I don’t know where you would find a print of the train, but Pat Gavin was the designer who did the title/opening sequence for the Poirot series.

You can also see some screenshots from the opening sequence on the Gallery at Hercule Poirot Central’s website. These are not print quality, but still interesting to look at.

Nice to see my photos are appreciated! You are welcome to use them. (Wouldn’t mind an ascription, though …)

I too have watched countles times, the train, the spotlight etc., at the start of Poirot, and never cease to be amazed at the frisson of excitement they cause; I only wish I could let the creator of them know just how much they are appreciated!

So does anyone know which font is used in the titles and closing scenes of this series? Thanks!

@Rosalie Whitehead –
Apparently it’s called Plaza, I found the answer here: http://answers.yahoo.com/quest.....915AAz0vyt
And they linked to the actual font here:
http://www.linotype.com/1348/plaza-family.html

Can someone tell me the name of the artist or graphic designer who has produced the wonderful opening thematic sequence for Poirot?
And do you know who did it for Jeeves and Wooster?
I think they are marvellous!

@Charles Harris – It’s mentioned above in the comments as Pat Gavin.

I couldn’t find much online about him, though.

I love the Jeeves and Wooster opening sequence too. I believe it was Derek Hayes who directed the animation:
http://www.britfilms.com/briti.....OrN1E9BE07 – I’m not sure if he did the actual animation or not though.

Anne Dudley composed the music.

< I have been searching everywhere and would love a copy of the train passing the funnels of smoke or indeed any of the opening titles.
Any suggestions please?

thanks for the info, I LOVE the series of Poirot and i love the art déco too, i started to reed agatha when i have 10 and i still loving her books
greting from chile!!!

The Brits refer to buildings such as the De La Warr Pavillion and the home used in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as Modern Style or International Modern. Contrast “Whitehaven Mansions”, truly Art Déco with those with thoseFrom the Art Moderne, of course. There is an interesting article http://nwrenovation.com/archir.....the-1930s/ Also, http://www.london-footprints.c.....obldgs.htm and THE site, http://www.C20society.org.uk http://www.tvlocations.net, under Poirot, has photos of some of the locations used in filming the series. http://www.e.architect.co/uk/modern_homes.htm has a photo of Lishmor House (Kininmouth + Basil) in Edinburgh. I’ve been told that there are quite a number of homes inthe modern style in the area. It served as anexterior in one of the Poirot episodes but I cannot recall which one. Enjoy!

Way cool

PERDONEN QUE me exprese en castellano, pero mi inglés es terriblemente malo. Quería añadir un edificio que salió en uno de los capítulos de la serie Poirot, con david Suchet.
es el hotel midland Morecambe:
http://www.midlandhotel.org/

espero sea de su agrado.

Sorry, but my english is very bad. I see ne chapter of Poirot series, and i was very impressed with this building.

The opening sequence is being produced by Pat Gavin.

Greetings Terence

Thanks for putting these things together. I don’t know why I’ve been bitten by the Poirot/Art Deco bug but I have, and have been studying just what it is about it. I found a comment on a website that says “During the Great Depression the use of art deco saw its heyday because of its practicality and simplicity.” and that it draws from Egyptian, African and even Aztec cultures. But there’s something about the clean geometric lines overlaid with organic curved lines that catches me. And I love Poirot also, but I wouldn’t watch the show as closely if it weren’t for art deco. Thanks again.

I’m afraid this is a bit geeky but I’d like to point out that the train we see is pulled by an A4 Pacific loco and is in the livery of LNER, the London North Easter Railway. We also see it passing Battersea Power Station — another great icon of the period. Unfortunately it’s very unlikely that these would ever have been seen together since the power station is south of London, far from the stomping ground of LNER. Dramatic licence!

nice blog….
thanks for the share

@David Thompson –
I hear of a pirot Agetha Christies club exists do you know of this ?? let me know

@Roger Wilco – Yes, and Battersea didn’t have four chimneys until the 1950s, either, apparently!.