h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That Red Sky at Night etc. is attributable to anyone in Oxfordshire and for this reason...

I once spent 3 months working in Italy and mentioned this phrase to them and it turned out, they have the same phrase in italian - although it doesn't rhyme.
I think this is a very old phrase because it crosses international boundaries.

Having said all that... a nice thorough article.

A couple of additions and queries.

Cinemawise does the Penultimate Picture Palace no longer exist then? It was an arty cinema somewhere down the Iffley or Cowley road area - I forget its precise location. I watched the original TExas Chainsaw Massacre there many years ago. It was famously owned by that guy who has the house with the shark diving through the roof.

Historically Alfred the Great had something to do with Oxford as University College claims its foundation as attributable to him - they were celebrating there (admittedly dubious) millenium anniversary when I was studying at the Uni. Certainly he founded some sort of educational establishment there anyway.

Oh it does still exist...

http://www.ultimatepicturepalace.co.uk/

although it's updated its name now...

for reading my article and pointing out things