NO it's not the latest council bike hire scheme, but beneath the greasepaint is the late great veteran of Scottish variety theatre Jimmy Logan, publicising the 1987 pantomime at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh, Jack and the Beanstalk. Coincidentally that is also this year's panto at the Edinburgh King's with Allan Stewart and Andy Gray, although I suspect the props will be a little more imaginative than a sparkly bike.
Hamming it up on the bike is Alyson McInnes, presumably playing the eponymous Jack. I don't know Alyson, but her name appears on a number of pantos in this period, so although not a big name in Scottish theatre, she appears to have been a regular performer.
What we like though is the Edinburgh matron striding past, gloves on, handbag in one hand and shopping bags in the other, trying to look disinterested in the caperings beside her. I dug out my magnifying glass and I think that is a lifeboat charity sticker on her lapel, and only the churlish would suggest that being Edinburgh, she probably keeps the sticker there all the year round in order to repel other collectors.
The dingy looking pub in the background was The Stage Door which was reinvented a few years ago as the brighter Cuckoo's Nest.
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