Davie O'Neill works at Sainsbury's Central, 9-10 St Andrews Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AF
Born: July 1952 in Carnoustie (or Carsnooty as it is often known)
Q: When/why did you first start drinking in the Tynecastle Arms?
A: It must have been about 1968. I was 16. You had to be 16 to get on the Hearts supporters bus. I got stuck in the corner of the pub at the back because I was under-age
Q: Why do you keep going in?
A: I'm in the pub's dominoes and crib teams, as are many of my friends. I like the friendship of the bar
Q: What is your favourite song/band?
A: My favourite live band are Dr. Hook. Favourite live singer, Alison Moyet. I don't have a favourite song but I love listening to all the hi-nrg and dance remixes of songs from the musicals - ie 'Deadwood Stage,' and the 'Trolly Song' from 'Meet Me in St Louis.' At my funeral, I'd like them to play, 'When Will I See You Again' by the Three Degrees because if you believe there's a hereafter, though I'm not sure, it's very appropriate. There'll be no hymns at my funeral. It'll be all disco music. The first record I ever bought was The Toys 'Lovers Concerto' in 1965 and I still have it. I can bring you in the 7" if you have a turntable. I've still got all my old vinyl records
Q: What is your favourite film?
A: My favourite films are all musicals. I grew up with my gran who loved musicals - all the Busby Berkeley, Judy Garland, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy ones. They're still my favourites and I can watch them any time. I queued for 10 hours to get front row seats for 'Cats' with David Essex and Brian Blessed. A good musical is what I really love. If they showed 'Easter Parade' every day, I'd watch it. I've got all the musicals' soundtracks, videos and now the DVD's. Put me in a cinema for 10 hours watching old musicals that have all been digitally remastered now. I might be 51 but I'm an old musical buff. My musical-loving granny used to go to all the vaudeville shows and I had it ground into me from the age of 5. I've managed to see Liza Minnelli and her half-sister, Lorna Loft at the London Palladium. I think my favourite movie of all time, though, is 'San Francisco' when Alice Faye and Tyrone Power walk through the earthquake singing, 'San Francisco.' Or 'Gold-diggers of '33' for 'Lullaby of Broadway' when Ginger Rodgers makes her first movie appearance. Also like the Carry On and Ealing comedies and Almodovar.
Q: What place in Edinburgh do you think every visitor to the city should see?
A: The Royal Mile (click here for live webcam) from the Castle to Holyrood Palace, is a fantastically historical and beautiful walk. Since I moved to Edinburgh in 1971 I've not wanted to live anywhere else.
Q: What don't you like about Edinburgh?
A: It's too tourist-focused. The Council don't look after the locals day-in, day-out. Of course, the reverse of the coin is that's what's keeps us all going and keeps everyone in a job.
Davie's Top 5 Horror Films
(in reverse order)1. 'An American Werewolf in London' - seeing the amazing special effects for the first time was so brilliant
4. 'Interview With the Vampire'
3. 'Day of the Living Dead'
2. 'Creepshow'
1. 'The Exorcist' - For the psychological horror, the thrills, the images on the kitchen door. They all make you think in different ways and really get into your subconscious, even though it's not a classic horror film.
Davie's 5 Best Baseball Teams
1. The Boston Redsocks 5 times. They are much better than the Yankees or Oakland Raiders. BOSTON ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES. I subscribe to 'Sports Illustrated.' I love baseball because I was lucky enough to go to the US in 1977 to visit an aunt who lives there and fell in love with it. Went to see the Boston Redsocks and have been hooked ever since. I check the results on the teletext every day
MISSING - Presumed Drunk
Interviewees may nominate up to 2 old friends they would like to get in touch with again
Davie nominated:
Eddie McCabe - He will know me as Frannie/Francis/Nelly. We went to school together between the ages of 5-18. He went to Dundee University and I came to Edinburgh and we lost touch in about 1979/80. His eyesight was deteriorating at the time. He got promoted and moved to Leamington Spa. I think I also got married. He'll be 50 this year and is one of my oldest friends. If anyone knows what he's up to, I'd love to hear. At one point, when his eyesight was deteriorating, he used to help people to train guide dogs
