PLAN AHEAD! THE EDINBURGH TATTOO - AN INTERNATIONAL FAVOURITE The 2003 Tattoo will take place from 1st - 23rd August 2003 >From its early days, the Edinburgh Tattoo has been an international favorite Performers from 30 countries have presented here, and around 35 per cent of the 217,000 audiences each year are from overseas. In addition, the Tattoo has been televised in 30 countries. An annual television audience of 100 million watches the coverage worldwide. The international flavor of the Tattoo has been deliberately developed as a key element in its capacity to entertain a huge, cosmopolitan audience. [Might be a 2-Line URL] http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/tattoo-experience/highlights.html History of Edinburgh Castle can be found at: [Might be a 2-Line URL] http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/tattoo-experience/castlehist.html Scottish Regiments [Might be a 2-Line URL] http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/tattoo-experience/scottish_regiments.html TATTOO FACT FILE 1. The first Edinburgh Tattoo took place in 1950. There were eight items in the program. 2. More than 10 million people have attended the Tattoo. The annual audience is 200,000. 3. Around 100 million people see the Tattoo each year on international television. 4. Approximately 70 per cent of each audience is from outside Scotland. Half of these are from overseas. 5. The average number of participants is 800. 6. The first stand was erected in 1951. 7. The present stands are made up from more than 10,000 metres of steel tubing. Some 20,000 nuts and bolts are used. 8. Around 35 miles of cabling (the distance from Edinburgh to Glasgow) is required. 9. The event was first seen in colour on TV in 1968. 10. From 1950 to 1991, there were three producers - Brigadier MacLean, Brigadier Sanderson, and Lt. Col. Dow. 11. Major Michael Parker then took over as producer for the 1992, 1993 and 1994 Tattoos. Brigadier Melville Jameson succeeded him in 1995. 12. The first overseas regiment to participate was the Band of the Royal Netherlands Grenadiers. The year was 1952, and there were also performers from Canada and France. 30 countries have been represented at the Tattoo. 13. The first lone piper was Pipe Major George Stoddart. He played in every performance for the first eleven years. 14. One woman has featured as the lone piper. Officer Cadet Elaine Marnoch appeared in 1977. 15. Not a single performance of the Tattoo has ever been cancelled. 16. The colors of the original Tattoo tartan are navy blue (for the Navy), red (for the Army), sky blue (for the RAF), and black and white (for the city of Edinburgh). It was officially approved in 1983. 17. A new tartan - the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Jubilee tartan - has been produced to mark both the Tattoo's 50th show and Golden Anniversary. 18. The Tattoo has always been staged at Edinburgh Castle. Rehearsals take place at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. 19. The Tattoo is set up and run for charitable purposes. Over the years, it has gifted some £4million to service and civilian organizations. At the last official count, visitors to the Tattoo contributed an estimated £72million annually to the Scottish economy. 20. The word 'tattoo' comes from the closing time cry in the inns of the Low Countries during the 17th and 18th centuries - Doe den tap toe ('turn off the taps'). Sally Rolls Pavia Sun City, AZ [email protected] List Owner: [email protected] "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup." All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus 2002 .