Tucked away in page 12 of a Nottingham Post, on 21st January 1993, are some cinema listings. "First-time director Quentin Tarantino dazzles with stylish and controversial heist movie.... Funny, clever, and very violent."
Those who took note and went along to the Broadway cinema were treated to a showing of cult classic Reservoir Dogs. Some of you will have fallen in love with the director's style - little did anyone know that Tarantino would come to love the city back.
The 59-year-old director is a huge influence on modern crime and drama films, has received dozens of awards over his career, and worked with superstar actors like Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta and Leonardo DiCaprio. But he's quite enjoyed trading Hollywood for Robin Hood in the past.
His first visit was for the crime and mystery festival, Shots in the Dark, in June 1993. He introduced a screening of Reservoir Dogs at the Broadway Cinema, which the Post reported was their best-selling film in their history up until that point.
"You guys had the best posters of any country," Tarantino said at his event. He also let slip that he'd spent around £100 at The Tales of Robin Hood centre while he'd been in Nottingham, so surely there are some souvenirs tucked away in his home.
He planned to return the year after as an honorary patron of the festival, to host a selection of 70s Blaxploitation films like Shaft and Superfly. But along the way, he earned a little prize for a new project - only the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or.
That was for Pulp Fiction, and the Post caught wind of an additional "mystery film" on the bill at the Broadway. Sure enough, we got the first UK screening of a modern classic, and it was the second time it had been shown to a paying audience anywhere in the world.
When we caught up with him, he said "People ask me, 'why are you coming here?...'. I come here because I really like the festival. I like the city, I think Nottingham is a cool city."
"I could put my characters in Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh - even Nottingham", he said, when asked about future shooting locations. It's been 28 years, but we can hold out hope.
He'd spent six hours in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem the previous night, soaking in city life. Little did we know that would be the end, for now.
Awards came flooding in for Pulp Fiction, and Hollywood spotlight was firmly fixed on him. There were no repeat trips for 1997's Jackie Brown, or the Kill Bills after that.
If he ever wants to return, he'll still find his old comforts here. And we'll be waiting to seeing our lions on the big screen too.
What celebrities have you spotted in Notts - and what mundane things were they up to? Comment below, and join our Facebook page for more.
SEE MORE:
- 50 more lost chocolates we miss - or not - from our festive tubs as Bounty is 'banned' from Celebrations
- Fish and chips, dead bodies and special times - the fascinating history of Nottingham street corner
- Nostalgic photos of Northern soul all-day dancers at The Palais
- Nostalgic photos of Nottingham's Raleigh bikes tearing up UK streets as Tuff Burner returns
- See more history and nostalgia here!
