Lobby Lud

Lobby Lud was a fictional character invented in 1927 by the Westminster Gazette, a British newspaper. The name derives from the telegraphic address of the newspaper ("Lobby, Ludgate").

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Anonymous employees of the newspaper would visit seaside resorts. The newspaper would print details of the town, a description of the appearance of that day's "Lobby Lud", and a particular pass phrase. Anyone carrying a copy of the newspaper could challenge "Lobby Lud" with the appropriate phrase, and receive the sum of money. Other newspapers such as the News Chronicle and the Daily Mirror ran similar schemes - "You are (name) and I claim my five pounds", the most well-known challenge phrase, seems to date from a Daily Mail version which ran after the Second World War.

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Holidaymakers were less likely to buy a newspaper, and since claimants for the prize had to have a copy of the newspaper, the newspaper proprietors hoped the prizes would increase circulation. The Daily Mirror's "Chalkie White" continues to visit resorts, and the idea has been taken up by local radio stations and other media (often offering lesser prizes).

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Graham Greene's Brighton Rock uses a Lobby Lud character (called Kolley Kibber) as a plot device.

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1927: 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar)....

Westminster Gazette: The Westminster Gazette was a Liberal newspaper based in London which started publishing on January 31, 1893. It merged with the Daily News on February 1, 1928. It was known for publishing sketches and short stories, including early works by Antony Hope and Saki, and travel writing by Rupert Brooke....

British: The word British has several different uses. See the article on Britain for more details on the development and use of the word Britain....

Lobby Lud related Images and Photos (experimental)

Hotel Lobby	Lobby of the White House at Washington	Lobby of the Cleveland Public Library's Main Branch	Members' Lobby Houses of Parliament 1872-73
Stained Glass Lobby Ceiling Bellagio Casino Las Vegas Nevada USA	Belles on their Toes Lobby Card Debra Paget Hoagy Carmichael Myrna Loy 1952	Woman Crossing Bridge Between Lobby and Accomodation Area at Four Seasons Tented Camp	True to the Navy Clara Bow on Jumbo Lobby Card 1930
French Actor Jacques Tati Looking at the High Ceiling of an Office Lobby