MISSING PAGE - Tony Hancock

Volume 5 Number 4 October 2011

MISSING PAGETHE

THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE TONY HANCOCK APPRECIATION SOCIETY

GGRREEAATT SSEEAA

MMYYSSTTEERRIIEESS

S. How do you expect the birds to get romantic about you when you’re dolled up like that,you’ve got to jump about a bit, show ‘em your muscles, get into your lightweights

T. What in October?S. This is the Mediterranean boy, it’s 93 degrees in the shade!T. It is still October, I always get into my heavy stuff on the first of October and

I don’t get back into the light stuff until the first of May. Can’t argue with the seasons.

S. But it’s different out here, the climate’s different.T. Don’t argue with me Sid, October is October wherever you are...

The above was sent in by Mick Davis of Brentwood, who in his accompanying letter asks that itbe included to see what our readers’ opinions are in comparing Jack Dee's Lead Balloonto Hancock's Half Hour

The above cutting is from the Daily Mirror -Sent in by Keith Fisher

GOURMET NIGHT AT RAILWAY CUTTINGSOur THAS Video LibrarianIvan Harris recently spottedthe article (left) in his localpaper (The Express and Star - dated July 16 2011) In his accompanying letterIvan states that "if any members are passing Walsall!they can have a prawn cocktail and take a look at the pictures!"

Bournemouth Echo- May 3 2011

Please note that somecuttings have beenadapted to fit TMP’s format.

Welcome to this, our last issue of The Missing Page, before(here’s that dreaded word) Christmas! As I write midSeptember, I’m told by some clever dick on the TV, that it’s

exactly 100 days till that fateful day. However, as it’s highly likelythat our next issue (dated January next year) will be published justbefore the Christmas break, I’ll leave it until then before wishingyou all the merriest of Christmas’s and putting up the decorations“I’ve just spent Thirty Bob having this room done up and I’m nothaving it ruined with stupid little ‘oles all over it!”

Before all that, here’s this issue’s Presidential Address from ourbeloved Dan Peat:

Well I do love the summer, its the best day of the year. I am feeling back to my old selfnow, just like I used to be....No don’t run away, I am fine.

It was great to see Ray Galton and Alan Simpson again at the Lyttelton Theatre, 1stSeptember, they dont change, thank God.When they came on stage,Alan said “Ray and Ihave known each other for years and we still help each other, Ray helps me up the stairs,and I tell him what day it is.” It was such a great night, Christopher Stevens was there, hecompiled the new book thats now out: Ray Galton,and Alan Simpson ‘The Masters of sit-com: from Hancock to Steptoe.’

Also our friend Tessa Le Bars, Gord Bless her, and it is also great to see some of ourmembers there, helping to keep the name of Tony Hancock alive.

The script has been found, ‘The Day off ’, about a hapless bus conductor,who just can’tget anything right.Tony turned it down. It was rediscovered a few years ago when our oldmate Malcolm Chapman found it in Ray Galton’s cellar. Now how great is that.

Looking forward to Christmas, time just flies by, but I dont mind, we’ll be nearer ourBournemouth reunion.This years Birmingham MAC event will be over when you read this,but I am so looking forward to the day with the good friends of ours Damaris Hayman andPhil Glass.

Well let me say keep well and happy, gord bless you all. Dan or Nad Tape.....xxxxThanks Dan and good to read that you continue to get back to your old self. There’s some great articles in this issue, including Mike Brown’s second instalment

of his interview with June Whitfield (who will hopefully be one of our HonouredGuests at next year’s Bournemouth Reunion) along with Mike’s exclusive interviewwith Roger Wilmut, the author of ‘Tony Hancock - Artiste’. Along with various bookreviews and some exciting news about our re-vamped web site, this issue really ischoc-a-block with all the latest news.

The latest news on the Hancock front was something that I suspect many of youmissed on BBC Radio4 on Saturday 10 September. For in the 25 minute programmeentitled ‘iPM’, tucked away right in the final few minutes, was a very moving tribute toHancock from former THAS Archivist, Malcolm Chapman. As the announcer informedus, Malcolm is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and therefore unable to actuallyspeak his own words, so they were read out by an actor, interspaced with variousexcerpts from some classic Hancock moments. I was only informed of the programmemyself a few days before by our old friend Jeff Hammonds (of The Tony HancockArchives). So I hurriedly sent a text round to our committee and posted it on our web-site in the hope that some of you were able to catch it. If you did, I’m sure like me,you would have been moved close to tears to hear Malcolm’s words reminiscingnot only on Hancock, but also talking about his own life and crippling illness thathas stopped him from living his life the way he would have liked. I hope to tran-scribe Malcolm’s words and with his permission, include them in our next issueso all members can read what a fantastic item it was. Well done Malcolm, youwere fully deserving of the “Lifetime Dedicated To Tony Hancock Award’ that youwere presented with in Bournemouth this year.

No takers for the role of THAS Archivist yet, following Keith Mason stepping down,so please give it some thought and write into me with your details if you fancy gettinga bit more involved in this great Society of ours. One person who has got re-involvedis our Publicity Officer; David Miles. You may remember reading a glowing tribute tohim in our last issue, following his decision to step down following this year'sBournemouth Reunion. Well, before the ink dried on the paper, Dave reconsidered hisdecision and climbed back into the saddle, so our thanks go to him and to all of ourreaders in helping to keep the memory alive of that comicgenius; Tony Hancock. See you in December/January

3THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2011

Anthony Aloysius St.John HancockThe Lad Himself (1924-1968)

‘Stone Me, What A Life!’

❉The basic aims of The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society are topromote the works of Tony Hancock for the continued awarenessand enjoyment of the general public and to collect and classify therecorded works of Tony Hancock for the benefit of members. Noactive individual receives payment for service to the Society, whichis a voluntary organisation. All members’ details and informationare covered under The Data Protection Act and cannot be used byany other than the THAS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmit-ted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without prior permisssion in writ-ing of The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. All views, commentsand letters reproduced in this publication are entirely those of theindividual author concerned and in no way reflect the views of thegeneral membership of the THAS. Published by The Tony HancockAppreciation Society. www.tonyhancock.org.uk

Committee Members and Officers

PRESIDENT Dan Peat426 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8DFemail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT & EDITORAndrew Clayden9 Roydon Road,The Maltings Business Centre Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire SG12 8HQ Telephone: 01920 870355 email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYCyrilla Rogers5 Kilnwood Avenue, Hockley, Essex SS5 4PRemail: [email protected]

TREASURERKen Clarke24 Heenan Close, Frimley Green, Camberley,Surrey GU16 6NQ email: [email protected]

LOCAL EVENTS ORGANISER

Keith Fisher26 French’s Well, Horsell,Woking, Surrey GU21 3AS

WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR

Martin Gibbons9 Shelley Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8NSemail: [email protected]

VIDEO LIBRARIANIvan HarrisFlat 6B, Hayes Lane, Lye, Stourbridge DY9 8RDemail: [email protected]

AUDIO LIBRARIANMick Dawson84 Meadway, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 5LBemail: [email protected]

PUBLICITY OFFICERDave Miles33 Raeburn Crescent,Whitburn,West Lothian EH47 8HQemail: [email protected]

MERCHANDISING OFFICERDryden PenningtonThe Old Chapel, Redbridge Road, Nr. Crossways,Dorset DT2 8DY email: [email protected]

ARCHIVES Watch This Space

� When writing to any of the above please enclose anSAE for a reply.

IT IS NOT RAINING HERE ALSOAn introduction to this quarter’s issue from THAS Vice President Andrew Clayden

MMISSINISSINGG PAGEPAGEVolume 5 Number 4 October 2011

THE

THE

Visit our website: www.tonyhancock.org.ukFRONT COVER Illustration:Ted Masters Text: Galton and Simpson from ‘The Cruise’BBC TV 1959

4 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2011

DDeeaarr BBiigghheeaadd HHaannccoocckkI hate you and everybody down our street hates you!

Letters for publication should be sent to the Editor at his address on page 3

Unusual Hancock ArtworkUnearthed

THAS El Presedenti Dan Peat recentlyreceived a letter from a Mrs H. Sarawayof Rottingdean along with a colouredphotocopy of the watercolour, detailprinted below right. In her letter MrsSaraway writes: “This fairly large water-colour (19” x 24”) has been hanging onour wall for yonks and it was only whenwe happened to watch a recent TV documentary relating to (the THAS) andMr Hancock that we wondered if anyonewould be interested in acquiring it from us.”

Although the supplied copy of thewatercolour is not all that clear, thewording relates to a property called ‘ValHeuri in Blindley Heath, Lingfield.

Describing the various owners andnames, it is the final paragraph that is ofparticular interest to Hancock fans as itcarries the following wording:

“Mr Cohen died on the 3rd March1956 and his Executors sold the property- now known as “Val Heuri” - to MrAnthony Aloyisius Hancock on the 24thJune 1958. It is not known when thechange of name took place but probablyit was re-named by Mr Cohen soon afterhe purchased. It is a nice question as towhether or not the name “Val Heuri” is animprovement on its predecessors.Perhaps to its’ horticultural owner it sig-nified ‘The Valley of Flowers’ but it doesgive the impression of an arty-craftyhousehold: poker-work epigrams over themantlepiece and dreadful china gnomesleering across the fountain.

“Furthermore it must be a somewhat difficult name to enunciate over the telephone particularly after a convivialparty. Possibly the new owner maychange the name yet again. What about‘East Cheam’?”

Unfortunately Mrs Saraway hasn’tspecified how much she wants for thislong lost rarity, but if you are interestedthen call her direct on 07407 511832 andmention where you found out about thisunusual find.

Bognor Welcomes You

As a resident of Bognor for 30 years mayI suggest a few places you could try forthe reunion next year. Some you mayhave already tried, but some you may not.The Royal Hotel on the seafront is wherethe front was used in the film, the stepsare just the same, they have a niceroom/s for functions.

The Beachcroft is just outside town,but again has a very good reputation forfunctions etc. A lovely venue is TheRobin Hood on the Shripney Road, Ihave given, and been to many a do there,great food, lovely function room.

Then of course you have Butlins! Theyhire function rooms out - I haven’t beento any - I know people that have and theyare still alive!!!!

Please feel free to contact me shouldyou need any more help or suggestions...happy to help. I would suggest Mother-in-law’s bungalow, but she doesn’t hire itout to mushes like what we are!!!!

The Editor replies:Thanks for that Carole, ourLocal Events Organiser Keith Fisher, has thingswell underway, but I’m sure he’ll keep yourMother-in-Law’s bungalow in mind when lookingat locations!

Carole Symonds via Email

Hancock in Germany

I thought it might be of some interest tothe society that some of the episodes ofHancock’s 1961 series had then (also in1961) been remade in Germany, withGeorg Thomalla playing Hancock’s parts. These episodes have last week come outon DVD in Germany, called KomischeGeschichten mit Georg Thomalla.

The 4 episodes from 1961 were TheBowmans, The Radio Ham, The BloodDonor, and The Lift.

The other Thomalla episodes on theDVD boxset were made in 1971, but Ihaven’t checked whether they too relateto Hancock’s work.

RegardsStefan Kahrs via Email

The Editor replies:Thanks for the info Stefan, hasany reader actually seen of these German episodes?

Bob and Terry

I’ve just ben reading through the excellentcurrent Missing Page issue. Just twothings I’d like to mention.

The first is about the controversy overwho invented The Daleks. It was definitelymy old mate Terry Nation who very suddenly switched from comedy writing(in partnership with John Junkin), to writing about science fiction whichearned him half a million pounds in thefirst year. And that was a lot of moneyback in those days.

At one stage Terry got quite ill andwas unable to write that year’s Daleks

Annual so he called me in to assist him.Under his coaching I managed to writetwo thirds of that book which has nowbecome a collectors’ item. I recently sawa copy on sale on Amazon for £225. All Igot for my six weeks work on the bookwas £189 because the BBC took half theroyalties and the actual designer of TheDaleks took a sizeable share and, ofcourse Terry got a good chunk for writinghis third of the book. But I don’t regret itbecause I really enjoyed my one ventureinto science fiction.

My other comment concerns fellowcomedy writer Bob Block. A lovely fellowwith whom I had the pleasure of writingmany shows. They included eightepisodes of ‘Life With The Lyons’, six TVshows starring Dave King and thirty threeshows in a series called ‘Our House’which starred Hattie Jacques, BernieBresslaw, Hylda Baker and CharlesHawtrey. It later span off into a seriescalled ‘Best Of Friends’ though its starsHylda Baker and Charles Hawtrey refusedto be in any scenes together.

Bob went on to write some greatcomedy series on his own. He was a firstclass writer and certainly deserves morerecognition than he ever got. It was apleasure working with him. I am glad tohear that your Bournemouth do was sucha great success.

Best wishesBrad Ashton via Email

The Editor replies: Always nice to hear from a stalwart supporter of our beloved THAS and agreat comedy writer to boot.Thanks for the infoBrad.


JUNE WHITFIELD: FROM HANCOCK TO NATIONAL TREASURE

The year 1956 saw the beginning ofJune’s association with TonyHancock. His radio series, Hancock’s

Half Hour had been on the air sinceNovember 1954, clocking up 48 shows inthree series by the end of February1956. Before the BBC transferred theformat to television in July, Tony hadbeen in Jack Hylton’s revue The Talk ofthe Town and had agreed to do atelevision series for Hylton on ITV. Theresult was The Tony Hancock Show. Madein two series of six shows each, the firstwas shown before Hancock’s Half Hourdebuted in July. The second seriesended 1956 and started 1957. Thoughnot as well remembered as the HalfHours, the writers had included EricSykes, Larry Stephens (who co-wrotemore than half of the Goon Shows) andRay Galton and Alan Simpson. Thesecond series even departed fromsketches to a single story theme. Junegave the shows an extra cachet. To roundoff what was otherwise an excellent year,she developed appendicitis and had theoffending appendage removed.

As the 1950s drew to a close Junewas established as part of a select groupof character performers with perfect com-edy timing and this ability had takenher, seemingly effortlessly, through amaze of radio and television shows.From working again with Hancock in hisnow established BBC television series inthe episode ‘The Alpine Holiday’, towork with Bernard Braden, BobMonkhouse and Jimmy Edwards in hisfirst big television success, Wack-O.Jimmy, who was the son of a mathematicsprofessor, played the finagling head-master of Chiselbury School (for thesons of gentlefolk!), from 1956 to 1960,with great scripts by Muir and Norden.June popped up as one of the schoolmatrons. Further work with Arthur Askeyand service in The Army Game on ITV ledto two big screen jobs.

Carry on Nurse was the second film inthe series after the moderately success-ful Carry on Sergeant and was written bythirty five year old Norman Hudis, an exRAF man and journalist. A screenwriterfrom 1956, he scripted the first six ‘CarryOn’ films until Carry on Cruising. Carry onNurse was the UK’s top grossing film of1959 and not at all bad for June toappear in, playing Leslie Phillips’s girl-friend, Meg. Hudis moved to Americaand wrote for many television seriesincluding The Man From Uncle and HawaiiFive-O. June would be in a further threeof the series. Her next film was Friendsand Neighbours which united her onscreen with Arthur Askey who played alottery winner. The prize involved havingto entertain two Russian guests in hishome. Made from a play by the Tynesidecomedy writer Austin Steel and scriptedby Val Valentine the prolific screen

writer of The Bells of St. Trinians [and twosequels], the film was described as “This ingenuous piece of broad knock-about” by the BFI. It was directed byGordon Parry who made the film versionof The Navy Lark as well as the greatPeggy Mount comedy Sailor Beware.

In 1960 the 13th and final series ofTake It From Here was recorded and 326glorious comedy shows ended on the3rd March, although the last twentywere written by Eric Merriman and BarryTook. The year also saw what Junedescribes as her greatest production.This was, of course, the birth of herdaughter Susan. June had her chance todo a full radio series with Hancock’sHalf Hour stalwart Sid James at justabout the time that Tony had partedcompany with him. The show was It’s aDeal on BBC radio in 1961. It was writtenby Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesneybefore their huge successes with TheRag Trade and the later On The Buses.Sid’s shady property developer characterhad Denis Price as his partner in crimeand June played a variety of partsincluding Sid’s girlfriend. Twenty twoepisodes resulted. She was given thechance to work again with Tony in the

last batch of his shows to come fromthe pens of Ray and Alan. She was thenurse in ‘The Blood Donor’ and in thefinal episode she played VeronicaStillwell the beatnik intellectual andwould-be wife for Hancock in ‘TheSuccession’.

The 1960s had every prospect ofbeing a busy time for June and they certainly proved to be. She was nowhigh on any producer’s list for radio andtelevision work and appeared in at leastseventeen shows for star name perform-ers including Jimmy Edwards, ArthurAskey, Tony Hancock, Benny Hill,Stanley Baxter, Des O’Connor, FrankieHowerd, Dickie Henderson, TommyCooper, Harry Worth, Jimmy Logan, Dora

Bryan, Dave King and Barry Humphries.Sitcoms were now becoming ever morepopular and June made appearances inabout fifteen including pilot shows andstarred in five series herself.

In The Arthur Askey Show [6 x 30 min.For ITV in 1961] she played Arthur’swife, Emily Pilbeam, although she wastwenty five years younger than him. Theseries was written by Dave Freeman andset in 1910. It was unusual to call a sit-com The Arthur Askey Show as he haddone a sketch series two years earlierwith the same title. Faces of Jim ran from1961 to 1963 [19 x 30 min.] and waswritten by Muir and Norden in the formof separately crafted comedies. Junemade a one-off sitcom with PeterButterworth in 1965 called Porterhouse-Private Eye by the ex Goon Show writerMaurice Wiltshire. A series about aclumsy private detective and his ineptjudo expert daughter, Daffodil (June)was never commissioned. Beggar MyNeighbour was a big success for all concerned and proved to be very popular.This BBC sitcom went to three series [23 x 30min.] between 1966 and 1968and was written by Ken Hoare (withMike Sharland) who was the main writer

for Stanley Baxter on television. Junewas married to Peter Jones in series oneand Desmond Walter-Ellis in two andthree. Reg Varney and Pat Coombsplayed the common but affluent neighbours, while June and Desmondwere posh but poor. The Best Things inLife completed the decade and ran intothe next. This ITV series [13 x 30min.]had June as Mabel, the fiancée foreleven years, of a cockney spiv calledAlfred Wilcox, played by Harry H.Corbett. It was written by BernardBotting who had penned Ray’s a Laughon the radio for four years. Series two ofthis sitcom had four different writers.

Words and Photos by Mike Brown

continued page 6

Part 2

June and Tony in The Tony Hancock Show (ITV)


In the midst of all this television comedywork and much on radio besides, a filmrole came June’s way. It was The SpyWith The Cold Nose made in 1966 by theCanadian director Daniel Petrie, from astory and script by Ray Galton and AlanSimpson. This colour film starredLaurence Harvey, Eric Sykes and LionelJeffries with June playing Elsie Farquhar,the wife of Lionel’s character. She hadtaken over the part from Dora Bryan.The plot concerned a bulldog with aminiature radio transmitter hidden insidehim, given to the Russian Premier. Thefilm was described as a broad, thoroughlyBritish farce with a zany and superblytimed performance from Lionel Jeffries.

June was to work with Tony Hancockfor a final time, giving her the opportu-nity to have worked with him at both thestart and end of his British televisioncareer. This span of twelve years had seenhis meteoric rise in popularity and fame,making both his radio and televisionshows into comedy classics. By 1967,however, his decline was clearly apparent.June was playing the part of EsmeralderStavely-Smythe in the night club formatseries called Hancock’s [6 x 30min inJune/July 1967]. Her character was multi-farious, ranging from ‘bunny girl’ to hat-check girl and Tony was the manager ofthis ‘swinging 60s’ London venue. Thewriting credits went to John Muir andEric Geen who, between them, had written for Des O’Connor, TommyCooper, Dora Bryan, Jim Davidson, LesDawson and The Two Ronnies. Maybe ifTony had been at his best, at least anestimable comedy could have emergedbut Tony was far from his best. Hisimmobility stemmed from a continualneed for teleprompters and his alcoholconsumption meant that even the comicskills of June and Joe Richie, his straightman at the time, could not save theseries. Tony was dead a year later.

Before the end of the of the decade,June popped up in several very success-ful sitcoms including Never a Cross Wordwhich saw Nyree Dawn Porter gain hercomedy acting spurs; a cameo in thethird series of Harry Worth and a chanceto act once again with Jimmy Edwardsin The Fossett Saga [7 x 30min. 1969] setin Victorian Times. The title was a send-up of ‘The Forsyte Saga’. June and familyhad moved from the Holland Park areaof London to Wimbledon in 1963.Situated in the south west of the cityand to the east of Kingston-Upon-Thames the area is only about sevenmiles from central London. In 1969June’s husband Tim was first to see thegreat potential of a larger Victorianhouse nearer to Wimbledon town centreand the family moved in. She still veryhappily lives there today.

As the 1970s opened in her newhome a television partnership, that wasto last for the next seventeen years, was

about to begin. Owen John ‘Terry’ Scottwas born in Watford in 1927. The son ofa postman who later ran a corner shop,Terry had studied accountancy andserved briefly in the navy during the war.He had started in acting at seasiderepertory companies in Grange-Over-Sands in Cumbria and with a liking forcomedy roles he auditioned for the BBCin 1948, getting some radio work. Hewas also learning his craft in clubs andsummer shows, starting at Clacton-on-Sea at the foot of a bill topped by TonyHancock! Terry met Bill Maynard atButlins Holiday Camp at Skegness andwent on to star with him on televisionin Great Scott, it’s Maynard [17 x 30min] in1955/56. Hugh Lloyd also appeared inthis series and he and Terry later madeHugh and I which ran for 79 episodesfrom 1962 until 1968.

Terry Scott had recently made the sixpart series The Gnomes of Dulwich, alsowith Hugh Lloyd, from Dad’s Army writerJimmy Perry. He had also made fourshows for BBC2 in the form of a shortseries of two with two specials, underthe title Scott On.... which were madebetween 1964 and 1968. Series two wascommissioned in 1969 and JuneWhitfield was added to the cast, thisbeing the first time they had workedtogether. It could all have been so different.The first show in December 1964 waswritten for Kenneth Williams who hadbacked out and was replaced by TerryScott. Each episode was in a themedsketch format and series five finished in1972 with a further special in 1974.

June and Terry Scott were now seenas a likeable husband and wife team byviewers and a pilot sitcom called HappyEver After went out in May 1974, with thecouple playing Terry and June Fletcher.Series one followed in July and by theend of 1978, a total of 42 shows hadbeen made and most of them had beenwritten by John Chapman (who had written ‘Hugh and I’) and Eric Merriman.John Kane wrote two episodes. Theseries had struck such a popular notewith the viewing public that in 1979 itwas re-launched with a new name and adifferent main writer. The new name wasTerry and June, who became Mr. andMrs. Medford and John Kane becamechief writer, with credits for 41 of the 65shows in the nine series that followed.Seen as a safe middle-class comedy bythe critics, Terry and June still regularlyattracted ten million viewers until it wasaxed by the BBC in 1987.

June’s career continued to diversifyduring the 1970s and she was back on

stage in the play A Bed Full of Foreignersby Dave Freeman, with Terry Scott andDennis Ramsden. It was a comedy set ina French hotel in a small village near theGerman border. The hotel is run in thestyle of Fawlty Towers and the plot iscentred on the eve of a local saint’s festival. The play is a fast moving farcefull of mistaken identities, doublebooked rooms, hasty cover-ups and veryinefficient staff. June was now appearingboth on stage and television as basicallyherself, playing parts where exaggeratedcharacterisation using spectacles, wigsor even accents was not required. Mostactors find it easier to hide behindthese useful traits, so June was nowusing her own personality to muchgreater effect.

In 1971 Graham Stark assembledand directed a film version of the sevendeadly sins entitled The Magnificent SevenDeadly Sins with top comedy writers foreach segment and an amazing array ofacting talent involved. June appearedwith Harry Secombe in the ‘Envy’ storywritten by Dave Freeman, and her abidingmemory is her scene in a bubble bath,with Graham Stark frantically calling for“More bubbles!” Dave Freeman wouldalso write her last film to date. In 1972,though, two more screen roles saw Junefirstly in Carry on Abroad from the pen ofTalbot Rothwell. He had been a townclerk, a policeman and an RAF pilot inhis time and had started writing while aprisoner of war. As a staff writer on the‘Carry On’ films he worked on nineteenof them. His line, “Infamy, infamy!They’ve all got it in for me” from Carryon Cleo, although being voted the greatestone-liner in movie history, was actuallyborrowed from Frank Muir and DenisNorden’s ‘Take It From Here’. Juneplayed the ever demure Evelyn Bluntamid the usual unflagging innuendo,including Kenneth Williams enunciatinghis name “Stuart Farquhar’”and gettingthe predictable come-back from thehotelier, “Stupid what?”

Although Gerald Thomas (1920 -1993)directed 46 films including all thirty‘Carry Ons’ he made nine other comedyfilms from 1956 until 1992. He had, infact, originally trained in medicine. Inthe 1970s film spin-offs from televisionsitcoms were the rule. When Sid James’svery popular Bless This House got the filmtreatment, Gerald directed a DaveFreeman scripted story with the addedtwist of June Whitfield and Terry Scottplaying Vera and Ronald Baines theneighbours of Sid and Jean Abbot. Junewas with Sid and the team again the following year in Carry on Girls, the 25thof the series and, of course, by TalbotRothwell. She played the redoubtableMrs. Augusta Prodworthy, a local coun-cillor and no-nonsense leader of aWomen’s Lib group.

June’s final film of the period was NotNow, Comrade a comedy about the defec-tion of a Russian ballet dancer and waswritten by Ray Cooney who had acted inmany Brian Rix Whitehall farces and hadwritten 29 plays himself including Move

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Photo: A screen shot of June talking about Hancock

SECRETARY’S NOTE


Over Mrs. Markham and Run For Your Wife.June was Janet Rimmington the wife ofCommander Rimmington played byLeslie Philips. Michele Dotrice was theirdaughter Nancy. Harold Snoad the television producer of Keeping upAppearances and The Dick Emery Show wasthe director. June had, of course, actedin straight drama at this time, a goodexample being The Pallisers, adaptedfrom Anthony Trollope’s six Palliser novels written between 1864 and 1879.The BBC made a 26 part series andSusan Hampshire led a cast includingDerek Jacobi and Jeremy Irons, with Juneenjoying a costume role as the wife of

Mr. Bonteen played by Peter Sallis. Roy Hudd from Croydon had first

appeared on radio in 1959 on WorkersPlaytime as a twenty three year oldcomic. This former Butlins Redcoat was,by 1975, an excellent comedy actor andhad started in the long running satiricalnews show The News Huddlines on Radio2. By 1984 Janet Brown, MiriamMargolyes and Alison Steadman hadbeen regular cast members, but wereunavailable. It was June’s accurate butcomical impression of MargaretThatcher that impressed Roy Hudd andChris Emmett and landed her the job forthe next eighteen years. June had, by now,lost her inspirational and much lovedmother who had passed away in 1982 atthe age of eighty seven. She had lived tosee and enjoy June’s hugely successfulprofessional career and had kept up herown interest in amateur dramatics. Ifonly she had lived long enough to seeJune receive her OBE in 1985.

The same year that Georgina died,June’s daughter Suzy graduated indrama and appeared in Ben Jonson’s1606 comedy play Volpone (Italian for slyfox). This satire of greed is his most performed play in which Volpone is agreedy Venetian nobleman. Suzy playedMosca (the fly) his manservant. AnthonyQuale had been a famous Mosca, soSuzy’s acknowledged success was welldeserved. The 1980s saw June tread theboards many more times, from Pantowith Terry Scott to Noel Coward’s SemiMonde and a stint as Mrs. Malaprop withSuzy in Sheridan’s The Rivals. An IdealHusband at Chichester with JoannaLumley was followed by Ring Around theMoon with Googie Withers and MichaelDenison. The decade ended with OverMy Dead Body by Michael Sutton, fromthe 1968 novel ‘The Murder League’.It pays homage to the detective storiesof the 1920s and 30s and ran for sixmonths at the Savoy Theatre. June wascast as a mystery writer and starred withFrank Middlemas, Sir Donald Sindenand Donald’s son Marc.

June had to face personal tragedy in2001 when her husband Tim Aitchisonpassed away following a short illness.The way forward for her was, of course,her acting career and the next ten yearsuntil the present day were just as productive. Of great help has beenJune’s theatrical agent April Young, herself the daughter of the actress JoanYoung who was in films from 1937 andher many television shows included Fast and Loose in which June appeared.

A great joy for June came in 2002with her time in Alan Ayckbourn’s playBedroom Farce at the Aldwych Theatre,with Richard Briers as well as herdaughter Suzy. Many television dramascame her way including The Royals, MissMarple, Midsomer Murders, Harley Streetand Kingdom. Two more successful sit-coms, Last of the Summer Wine and TheGrass is Greener were also enhanced byJune in the last few years, as was Dr. Whoand a memorable cameo role inCoronation Street. She has recentlyappeared in the long running BBC children’s spy adventure series M. I.High, which follows the exploits of threeschool pupils who work as undercoverspies, playing Beryl Bagshot.

I arrived at June’s Wimbledon homeof forty two years, to a restorative cup oftea and an admiring look at her collections of both theatre posters andawards. She showed me her ‘big redbook’ from ‘This Is Your Life’ which contains many photographic memoriesof her tribute programme. After chattingabout her long career whilst demolishinga pot of tea and most of the shortbreadbiscuits offered to me, we settled downto some serious interviewing aboutJune’s life in comedy.

This seems an opportune point to leaveMike's interview with June, until our nextissue - watch this space!

June appeared with Harry Secombein the ‘Envy’ story written by Dave

Freeman, and her abiding memory isher scene in a bubble bath, with

Graham Stark frantically calling for“More bubbles!”

As the 1990s dawned, June’s usualvery varied work load was undiminished.She would appear in the 30th and final‘Carry On’ film. With a screenplay byDave Freeman and, of course, directedby Gerald Thomas, Carry on Columbushad June as Queen Isabella to LesliePhilips’ King Ferdinand of Spain. JimDale played Christopher Columbus and‘Sight and Sound’ magazine declaredthat June and Leslie, as the flirtatiousQueen and petulant King of Spain,delivered a couple of delicious scenes.

June had been in the sketch showFrench and Saunders in 1988. WhenJennifer was casting the part of hermother for the pilot show of AbsolutelyFabulous in 1991, she offered the part toJune and another major television success fell into place for all concerned.Series one came in six parts at the endof 1992 on BBC2 and when series twowas screened at the start of 1994, theshow’s huge popularity had moved it toBBC1. A further six completed seriesthree in 1995 and Jennifer Saundersshelved the show. She did write The LastShout, parts 1 & 2 in 1996, but we had towait five years for series four, plus a special, in 2002. The last six shows comprised series five in 2003. Seen asone of the BBC’s best ever comedies,‘Women Behaving Badly’ could haveworked as its alternative title.

The decade ended with honours andaccolades for June. In 1995 she was oneof the very few people to receive a second This Is Your Life tribute, nineteenyears and many hundreds of actingparts on radio, television, stage andfilm, later. A well deserved CBE was, in1998, added to her 1985 OBE and herinduction into The Royal TelevisionSociety’s Hall of Fame came in 1999 followed by her Women in Film andTelevision Lifetime Achievement Award.The new millennium started so well withMirrorball from the ‘Ab Fab’ team, but

It has been a strange but eventfulyear for me so far. I’ve been doing alot of DIY and the house is still standing! I’ve changed my hair justwish I could change my brain! Forthose of you who have asked mequestions and not received a reply Iapologise.

Please email me if you have anemail address

[email protected] I WILL get these as they come directlyto my phone wherever I am. I willendeavour to reply within 24 hours.I have changed my home telephonenumber as this was appearing on theinternet (lucky me) but it resulted ina lot of unsolicited calls which wasdriving me mad.Therefore the onlycontact number I have is07960135636.

Just a very quick reminder that itwill soon be renewal time again! So

pens and cheques at the ready! Forthose who wish to pay by SO this isattached to the renewal form as previously. One thing can I please askthat you return the WHOLE page tome so that I can send the SO to thebank and keep a record until the bankstatement is received.Another important point to mention is that you let us know if youhave an email address, as providing itwill enable us to keep in touch withyou more efficiently and also to keepyou up to date with all the latestnews. So please enter it on the supplied form when renewing yourmembership.Thanks!

I know we are in a tight situationmoneywise again but please re-join ifyou can. It only works out at 3.42pence per day! What can you buy withthat? Answers on a postcard please!

Best wishes, Cyrilla


THAS Audio Librarian MickDawson, recently received a largeReel To Reel Tape and the

following letter from Don Gray:

“I recently acquired a batch of recordedreel to reel tapes and one of them couldpossibly be of interest. In brief, it’s aHancock solo on stage (with band) interspersed with clips from an interview(not Freeman). Here’s some clues - the‘show’ is announced as ‘The Man BehindThe Man’ and ref is made to the ‘TheatreRoyal’ (no location). Hancock makes anoblique ref to the Rolling Stones sayingit’s ‘alright as long as you don’t have agarage’ (this must refer to the infamousincident when the Stones urinated on agarage forecourt 0n 18 March 1965.Hancock also makes passing ref to ThePretty Things (would have been topical64/65), He also makes ref to a ‘new’ song“which is better than ‘Help’. This turnsout to be Knees Up Mother Brown. ‘Help’was also 1965 At another point Tony hassome banter with the band who wanthim to impersonate Nat King Cole. Theyget him to sing ‘Let There Be Love’(badly!) In the interview there is a ref toTony having appeared on the ‘EamonnAndrews’ TV show (no clue to date) and apassing ref to the controversial politicianGeorge Brown (Wilson government).

Hope this makes some sort of sense.The recordings on all the tapes I acquiredwere, by the way, off the radio or TV e.g.episodes of (Steptoe, Goons, Hancocketc - no rarities yet as far as I can tell!)Reverse of this tape is (mainly) a JulieAndrews//Harry Belafonte NBC TV specialbroadcast 1969. Awful - must have been

better to see! As I mentioned, Hancock isonly on one side and it’s clear from thebeginning which this is. The other side ismainly a dreadful Julie Andrews NBCSpecial (apologies if you're a fan!) Theother thing to mention is that part waythrough the performance some back-ground 'interference' starts up (as Irecall, it sounds operatic). This onlyseems to be present during Tony's performance segments. You can still hearTony OK - it's just annoying. The inter-view clips are not affected by this.Following the show, there is a recordingof a BBC 'Hancock' edition of 'The RadioHam'. The rest of the tape is a completecacophony. Sounds like two films/pro-grammes going on at the same time. Ilistened to it all to make sure I didn'tmiss anything worthwhile - I didn't! Youcan safely fast forward through all this. Iwould be interested to know in timewhether anything on the tape was ofinterest. My personal feelings are thatthere will be nothing new here for you -but you never know. Anyway, I'd muchrather pass it on to the Society firstrather than bin it! Please let me know ifany of this is remotely meaningful (oreven helpful!). If so, I'll mail you theactual Reel To Reel Tape All the best,Don"

Mick is still trying to locate a large ReelTo Reel Player in order to actually discover as to whether there is anythingon the tape that is rare and relevant toHancock fans. So if you are able to helpin any way with the loan of such amachine, please get in touch with Mickat his address on page 3 in this issue.

We are grateful to THAS memberAnthony Green, who spotted the following in The Daily Telegraph in July.

Ventriloquist dummy Archie Andrews,whose radio show ‘Educating Archie’ attracted 15 million listeners and featuredco-stars like Tony Hancock, is returning tothe British stage after 50 years.

Archie Andrews, who was once Britain’sbest-loved ventriloquist dummies, is being

allowed out of his retirement suitcase tomake a return to the stage almost 50 yearssince his final bow.

Archie Andrews and ventriloquist PeterBrough were big stars in the 1950s onradio and television and had a fan club boasting 250,000 members.

The radio show was also instrumentalin helping launch the early careers of guestperformers such as Julie Andrews, MaxBygraves and Tony Hancock.

Hancock, who played the dummy’stutor, would greet Archie with a weary“Oh, it’s you again” and always replied to aput-down with the retort:“flipping kids”.The radio programme later transferred totelevision, appearing on ITV in 1958.

The royal family were fans of the showand Brough regularly appeared at the RoyalVariety Performance and, even after retiring,continued to perform privately at WindsorCastle.

The show came to an end in 1958 andfollowing Brough’s death, in 1999, the 64-year-old dummy has been in the hands of aprivate collector.

Now Archie is entertaining crowds

once more at the Cromer Pier SeasideSpecial - exactly 50 years since Brough andArchie performed at the same venue.

Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett said:“Archie insists he has no plans to updatehis 1950s’ garb - cap, scarf, stripy blazer -nor his 1950s’ attitudes, so it’s been a bit ofa headache in the wardrobe department.”

Archie was bought at auction by ventriloquism fan Colin Burnett-Dick in 2005,who paid £34,000 for the 4ft wooden doll.

Hewlett said:“Colin and PaulineBurnett-Dick have kindly entrusted Archieto work with me for the entire summerseason. I am thrilled.Archie less so, as untillast week he was enjoying his tranquilretirement in France.”

Hancock was not the only famoustutor.The show also introduced comediansBenny Hill, Harry Secombe, Dick Emery,Bernard Bresslaw, and Bruce Forsythtogether with a young Julie Andrews as thegirlfriend of Archie. Later, Beryl Reid tookthis role, playing the St.Trinian-esqueMonica with catch-phrases,“jolly hockey-stick” and “as the art-mistress said to thegardener”.

GALTON & SIMPSON INCONVERSATION WITH...Christopher StevensInterview with audience questions and answers

Thursday 25th AugustThe Red House Museum,ChristchurchThursday 1st SeptemberThe Lyttleton, National TheatreSunday 2nd OctoberThe Bristol Festival Wednesday 12th OctoberThe Cheltenham Literary Festival

We realize that some of theabove dates have already passed,but include them in the hope thatif you were lucky enough to haveattended them, you'll write inwith your views and commentsfor our readership

EXCITING NEWS FROM THE AUDIO LIBRARY!

ARCHIE RETURNS AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Thanks to the following for their contributions to thisissue: Brad Ashton, Chris Billington, Mike Brown,Mick Davis, Mick Dawson, Keith Fisher, Anthony Green,Ivan Harris, Stefan Kahrs,Ted Masters, David Miles,Ian Payne, Dan Peat, Cyrilla Rogers, Andy Smith andCarole Symonds

“

“


THE LOST HANCOCK SCRIPTSBy Ray Galton & Alan SimpsonWell Members, here we are a book review,first one I have ever done, and you areblessed to read it.

One sunny morning I received a parcel,opened it, and to my astonishment itwas a book on Tony Hancock. Wow, Ithought to myself, who sent me this?(Time for another bite of me croissant).Attached was a note from Jonny atAurum Press Limited asking if I’d like toreview this book? Would I!!! (Coffeerefill)...

The book is beautifully printed andpresented, has a wonderful cover, on thefront is Tony with that fantastic in mid-flow expression and on the back is themost wonderful colour photograph ofRay and Alan I have ever seen.

Now to the book, as the title suggests‘The Lost Scripts’, (and we all knowabout that subject don’t we!) If you are anewcomer to the Society and TonyHancock in general I will inform you...Inthe mists of time...no that’s taking it a little too far. Basically the BBC decidedto save some money and record over filmand sound tape of well known showswhich included some of Tony’s shows.Being aware many recordings of theshows were lost or destroyed. (Out of 102radio shows and 63 television shows

originallymade, only37 TV and80 Radioshows stillexist). Sofor Ray andAlan toreconstructthese gems is absolutelyfantasticand wesalute youGentlemen.

Wonderful scriptwriting includingbackground information (very interestingindeed) and they have added annota-tions too! There is a foreword by MattLucas and David Walliams. The book alsofeatures some cracking photographs ofTony and the gang.

There are ten scripts in all...‘The Hancock Festival’ (Series 1, no.5)

Nov 1954‘The Election’ (Series 2, no.2) May

1955‘A Winter’s Tale’ (Series 3, no.5) Nov

1955‘The Breakfast Cereal’ (Series 3,

no.15) Jan 1956‘The Newspaper’ (Series 3, no.17) Feb

1956‘The Bequest’ (TV Series 1, no.4) Aug

1956‘East Cheam Repertory Company’ (TV

Series 2, no.1) Apr 1957

B O O K R E V I E W‘The Great Detective’ (TV Series 3,

no.2) Oct 1957‘The Drama Teacher’/Elocution

Teacher (TV Series 3, no.1/8??) Nov 1957‘The Italian Maid’ (TV Series 1, no.5)

Nov 1957The following is an excerpt from ‘A

Winter’s Tale’Hancock is summoned to the boss’s

office............Kenneth:Ah yes Hancock, come in. Sit down.

Do you know why I’ve asked you to come andsee me?

Tony: No I don’t sir. I hope you’re satisfiedwith my work.

Kenneth: Of course.You’re easily the bestlift attendant we’ve ever had.

Tony: Thank you sir. Of course you realisemy working for you is only a temporaryarrangement. Just to tide me over while I’mresting between stage and film engagements toconcentrate on me radio work.

Kenneth: Of course. How long have youbeen with us now?

Tony:Two years sir.Kenneth: Capital. Now let me get to the

point. I’ve been looking through your attendance card and I find you haven’t hadyour annual holiday yet.

Tony: No sir.Kenneth: But I don’t understand Hancock.

We closed the the whole firm down for a fort-night’s holiday in July.

Tony: So that’s why the place was deserted.Well, well, well, I thought they were all usingthe stairs/

Classic stuff indeed!!!All these episodes, as usual, are

beautifully written as only Ray and Alancan, very funny, what else can I say?

Published by JR BOOKS and priced at£16.99 (ISBN 978 1 906779 88 7)

GO FORTH AND BUY THIS BOOKIMMEDIATELY!!!! It’s a must for the collection and the boys have promised ifthe book sells really well we can havesome more.

Dave Miles

Members of the Society mayremember me, as a member of theOld Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic

society, (Ohads for short), in our productionof “Hancock”. Not only was it reviewed in“The Missing Page”, but I was alsohonoured to be presented with a THASaward at the 2010 Bournemouth Reunion.Readers may be interested to know thatour performance of “Hancock” receivedthree nominations in last year’s Richmondupon Thames “Swan Drama Awards”, andI was fortunate to receive the award for“Best Actor” in my portrayal of Tony.Thedirector of “Hancock”,Tony Medawar, andI are avid Hancock enthusiasts, and aremembers of THAS, and your support ofour labour of love that resulted in“Hancock” was much appreciated by us.

At the end of his review, Keith Masonwrote that “I hope that Andy,Tony andOhads will present a further selection of“Hancock’s Half Hour” scripts soon.Well,you know the phrase about “bewareof what you wish for”…! We are delightedto let you know, before anyone else, thatAlan, Ray and their agent Tessa haveallowed us to put on another series of“Hancock’s Half Hour” recreations.Theshow will be called “Hancock at Christmas”.

The shows will run from Monday 12thto Saturday 17th December 2011 and willbe performed at the Drama Studio,Riverside Arts Centre, Lower Sunbury,Middlesex.The theatre has a fully stockedbar, and is easily found on Lower SunburyHigh Street.The studio has a larger capacitythan that of the Hampton Hill Playhouse,and can seat 80 audience members.As youmay know, last year’s production sold outevery night, and we are hoping that this latest selection of Hancock’s Half Hourswill prove to be as popular.

As last time, the cast will perform sixshows.These shows will consist of two studio “Half Hour” recreations of the classicradio series in the first half of the evening,followed by a fully dramatised show drawn

from the TV series.This year, our twodrama productions are the classic “TheLift” and “ The Reunion Party”.We have avery strong cast in place, and I again havebeen given the honour of portraying Tonyin “The Lift” and the “Reunion Party”.Aswe are performing the shows close toChristmas, we have included two Christmasshows amongst our repertoire, one ofthem being the relatively little known“Department Store Santa” half hour, whichis a real gem.

The details are as follows:Monday 12th December @ 7.45 pm Wednesday 14th December @ 7.45 pm Friday 16th December @ 7.45 pm Saturday 17th December @ 2.45 pm (matinee) “A Sunday Afternoon at Home” “Hancock’s Happy Christmas” “The Lift”

Tuesday 13th December @ 7.45 pm Thursday 15th December @ 7.45 pm Saturday 17th December @ 7.45 pm “The Wild Man of the Woods” “The Department Store Santa” “The Reunion Party”

Tickets for the show will be £10, but inview of all of the assistance and enthusiasmwhich you have given to us, we would liketo offer an exclusive deal to THAS members. Upon quoting the THAS membership number, all members will payonly £9, a saving of 10%.All enquiries fortickets should be addressed to Mr. BernardWigginton, who can be contacted on 0208 979 4596.

At our last production a special programme was produced to accompanythe “Hancock” shows.This included a specially written introduction by Ray and

THE OHADS PRESENT 'HANCOCK AT CHRISTMAS' Andy Smith

continued page 10


story of the Jewish contribution toBritish entertainment from Victorianmusic hall to the stars of today.

The Introduction reads: “Jewish entertainers have brightened our lives fordecades - in music, stage and screen.We areall familiar with TV and movie stars such asPeter Sellers, Sid James or Simon Astell, as wellas famous directors and writers like Mike Leighand Harold Pinter behind the scenes, andsingers from Frankie Vaughan and Alma Coganto Marc Bolan and Amy Winehouse...the classicEnglish Ealing comedies were created byMichael Balcon, the son of Jewish immigrants”.

James was born in Hillbrow,Johannesburg, South Africa (althoughthe Television Heaven website says hisbirthplace was Newcastle, Natal) toJewish parents, Laurie and Reine Cohen,who lived on Hancock Street! He wasgiven thenamesSolomonJoel but forvariousreasonsthischanged toSidney Joeland finallyto SidneyJames.

Theexhibitionis on until8th January2012 and themuseum is in Albert Street, LondonNW1. Contact their website for details:www.jewishmuseum.org.uk or telephonethem on 020 7284 7384.

“For you see I am not Martha”.

While checking on James’s birth details,although there are discrepencies (forexample, his birth year is given as 1913and elsewhere as 1915) I looked up othermembers of the cast and the possibilityof name changes.

Hattie Jacques was the only otherand it was a nickname that stuck. Shewas born Josephine Edwina and, at theage of twenty, started performing at thePlayers Theatre. In one production, aMinstrel show, she appeared blacked-upand was likened to African-Americanactress Hattie McDaniel from ‘Gone WithThe Wind’ and she was known as thisfrom then on.

No such changes for messrs. Hancock,Williams and Kerr but I was amused tosee that the latter was billed as WeeWillie Kerr, when a boy, in various touringshows in Australia.

While on the subject it seems to methat Galton and Simpson loved names.For example the middle names bestowedon Tony, Sid and Bill, ie AloysiusSt.John, Balmoral and Montmorencyrespectively. Gladys is a name they havea fondness for, appearing often, as doesthe surname Biggs (I think there’s a wholefamily of those dotted about). There’sGrizelda, of course, which Alan Simpsonsays was adopted for a cheap laugh,

Ephraim Hardcastle in the Daily Mail(August 5th) wrote the following piece.

“Gloomy Canadian singer Leonard Cohenhas become a fan of the late comedian TonyHancock after discovering the man from EastCheam via a member of his tour crew. Soenamoured is he by the Sixties’ sitcom that,Cohen, 76, recently sent Hancock’s scriptwriter

Ray Galton abottle ofwhiskey signed‘Thanks for thelaughs’, as amark of hisappreciation.Ironically it wasHancock’s fond-ness for thehard stuff whichled to his suicidein 1968, but afriend of Galton,

80, tells me he’s touched all the same.”So another musician joins us in our

appreciation of Tony and his writers,although no mention of Alan Simpson inthe above.

Laughing Cohen

Gloomy is not an adjective you wouldapply to the man we know as Sid James.His smiling face peers out from a televi-sion set (reminiscent of the RuskinSpear painting shown in the August2010 issue of TMP), on the front cover ofa booklet from the Jewish MuseumLondon promoting an exhibition,‘Entertaining The Nation’. It tells the

Gloomy Cohen

with the name sounding like grizzly. Thenthere’s Mrs Cravatte (none in my localdirectory) and my favourites, Clark andRosita from ‘A Sunday Afternoon’. Thelast two take a lot of beating for the mostunlikely names of a couple next door.

Silly Bercow

Reading the tabloid press one could notbe unaware of the Common’s Speaker’swife, Sally Bercow, appearing in ‘CelebrityBig Brother’. I glossed over it all but myeye caught a letter in the ‘London EveningStandard’, the following of which is theopening paragraph.

“Far from sashaying in her bedsheet into atired old format, Doolally Sally should star in herown sitcom. Like Hancock and Hyacinth Bucket,she sees herself entirely differently from how therest of the world see her.”

There might be something in thatthought, although how about hubby joining her in, not a sitcom but a soap, ‘The Bercows - an everyday story of simplepeople’?

Ted Masters

R A I L W A YCUTTINGS

Alan, who were good enough to come andsee the show and were very kind about ourefforts. I have a number of these programmesleft, and would like to donate them toTHAS, to be used as THAS see fit,(possibly as a gift for all THAS members?).

If you have any queries about theChristmas shows, please do not hesitate tocontact me on 0208 941 2495, or 07889617996 (mobile). I hope that as many THASmembers can come along to see theseshows, it will be great to see you all.

‘Hancock at Christmas’ contd from page 9

Galton & Simpson: The Masters of Sitcom -From Hancock toSteptoe Just released is this impressivehardback book, compiled byChristopher Stevens. The sleevenote states that the book “collects together the funniestscenes and sketches fromGalton & Simpson's unrivalledcareer...to tell the story of themost inspirational scriptwritersin history”. The book also drawson in depth interviews with Ray

& Alan themselves as well asanecdotes from other actorsinvolved and some of today's writers.Hardcover: 328 pages Publisher: Michael O'Mara BooksAvailable Now!! Price£20.00ISBN-13: 978-1843176336


Mike Brown

ROGER WILMUT - COMEDY GURU

If you are a member of the GoonShow Preservation Society or theTony Hancock Appreciation Society,

or in my case both of these venerableinstitutions, it is more than likely thatthe most thumbed books in your comedysection are by Roger Wilmut. His firsttwo books, The Goon Show Companion(1976) and Tony Hancock-‘Artiste’ (1978)have become landmark publications inthe history of post war comedy. His out-put in the next four ranged From Fringeto Flying Circus and the history ofTheatrical Variety to the origins anddevelopment of Alternative Comedy anda 680 page, two volume work containingevery hilarious word from all forty fiveMonty Python shows. The IllustratedHancock was added in 1986, as weretwo additional books of comedy scripts.

Roger hails from Stratford-on-Avonand is the son of a teacher who taughtat the King Edward The Sixth School inStratford. His own education was atWarwick School and his ability to succeedin both science and music (the choralsociety and school orchestra both beingwell attended) led him to a life-longinterest in music. The start of seriousrecord collecting and the pursuit ofpurer hi-fi, fortunately for us all, ledRoger to a career at the BBC. After leavingschool in 1961 he became a technicaloperator in Bush House control roomwhere he learned disc-cutting, taperecording and editing. A move to soundmixing as a studio manager was to follow.

As part of the celebrations to markthe 60th anniversary of the first broad-cast Goon Show on the 28th May 1951,Roger Wilmut’s ‘The Goon ShowCompanion’ was chosen by the GSPS tobe our commemorative book to markthe plaque unveiling. All of our hon-oured guests had signed the book onthe day, so a trip to Roger’s home inLondon was requested, and soonarranged, for the author’s signature. Sohow did this BBC sound engineer cometo write what are regarded by the fans ofboth Hancock and the Goons as beingtheir literary ‘bibles’? The only way tofind out was to ask him.

Q: You were nine years old when the Goon Show started. How did you discover the show?

A: Not then! I didn’t come across ituntil about 1954 or 1955 and I was putonto it by my friends who were goingaround quoting the thing. I didn’t hearthings like that until the weekendrepeats, so I would get it quoted at meduring the week and I’d hear the actualshow at the weekend. I suppose that Ipicked it up somewhere round the sixthseries. My father hated the Goon Showand forbade me to listen to it, so mostof my listening was done illicitly on a

crystal set while lying in bed with ablanket stuffed in my mouth to stop melaughing. Silly really, and it got to thestage where, even though I’d supposedlystopped listening to it, I’d keep quotingfrom it.

Q: Was Goon-type crazy humouralways your favourite or did the showsconvert you to this style of comedy?

A: Well they probably did. In thecomedy area, I was brought up largelyon the BBC comedy series like Life WithThe Lyons and Educating Archie in theearly 1950s and I picked up Hancock’sHalf Hour somewhere around 1956 whichwas about the time that Hattie Jacquesjoined the show. I didn’t hear the earlyones, though. We also listened toSaturday night variety programmes, so alot of it was very straight comedy. TheGoon Show appealed to me because itwas silly and noisy and I suppose thatwould have led me more into offbeathumour, but there wasn’t so much off-beat stuff apart from the Goon Show. Soit was their show for quite some time.

Q: So your parents were aware of theGoon Show at the time?

A: They were only aware of it when Istarted repeating the jokes in the sillyvoices. My mother didn’t care one wayor the other and my father got very irritated! He did have a sense ofhumour and he did like ordinary comedyshows, but not that one.

Q: How was it that Jimmy Graftonapproached you while you were writingthe first draught?

A: I was trying to remember thatrecently. I’ll give you a run-down on howthe whole thing happened. It’s a slightlycomplicated story and it didn’t start offas being a book. At some time in themid 1960s I had managed to collectabout twenty three Goon Shows off airand it had got to the point where Iwanted to know the dates and whichshows I was missing, so I decided to tryand research the things, though I don’tremember much of how I managed todo this. I was in broadcast engineering atthe time and I know that my immediateboss wouldn’t have approved of mydoing this ‘extra-curricular’ activity if hehad known. I managed to talk my wayinto the script library and into theProgrammes as Broadcast Department’slists, which are kept for copyright reasons.They have minute details of everybroadcast going right back to the begin-ning. In those days they were still onreal paper and later on I worked onthem when they were on micro film.

They wouldn’t let me see the scriptsat that time because they were veryjumpy, as the Goon Show had been offthe air for only about five years and theywere being pestered by people who

wanted to have a look at them. I managedto convince the ‘powers that be’, who letme into the Contract Department tolook at things not available to non-staff,because they knew that they had somecontrol over me and that I wouldn’trepeat what I saw regarding fees, etc. Idid manage to produce a typed list withcarbon copies and that was supposed tobe the end of it. About ten years later,after I had got hold of a lot more shows,I decided to update the lists with thehelp of a couple of friends. We did a lotmore typed research, photo-copied itand sent a copy to Prince Charles. This

was just after Robson Books had published The Book of The Goons (1974)so I decided to take a chance and take itto them to see if they were interested.

Well, they were interested and whatmust have happened was that JimmyGrafton had approached them with hisown memoirs of the show. So RobsonBooks said that we should put the twotogether. I had a nasty feeling thatJimmy Grafton was going to take overthe whole operation and in a way he didbecause he took a lot of my early stuffand I insisted on having it back. This iswhy the first few pages of my writing area bit flat because he had already usedsome of the stuff telling his story. Wherehe did come in very useful was after heand I had argued a bit about the splitand he wanted an agent. Even thoughhe was an agent himself (he representedHarry Secombe for many years), he didn’twant to represent his own work. So heasked his friend Roger Hancock to represent us. I suddenly found myselfon the books of a leading literary agent.This then led to my Tony Hancock book,as it was his brother Roger who suggest-ed the idea to me. It could not havebeen more accidental as I was not tryingto write a book when this started. Wethen spent another two years or sodoing a lot more research to get thebook together. The result is what youknow.

Q: Can you describe what GoonShow memoirs that Jimmy Grafton had?Did he have an archive of material orjust written notes?

A: I’ve no idea at all. He presentedwhat he had written for the book and

continued page 12

FOR SALE

Unique Hancock Original Vinyl 12" LP on BBC Records (REB150M)£10.00 (inc. p&p)

Pieces of Hancock Original Vinyl 12" LP on (plum coloured) Pye label(NPL 18054) Very rare and in Good Condition£15.00 (inc.p&p)

Giant Hancock Poster Enormous Black and White Poster measuring 4'8" x 3'2" featuring Hancock to promote PhilCollins single 'Something Happened on the Way toHeaven'. Extremely rare in Fair Condition £20.00(inc.p&p) All the above items are available from:Andrew Clayden, 33 Gilpins Gallop, StansteadAbbotts, Herts. SG12 8BA

LPsTHE WORLD OF TONY HANCOCK [MissingPage,The Reunion Party] - Decca Records HANCOCK'S HALF-HOUR [Sid's Mystery toursand The Poetry Society] - BBC Records HANCOCK'S HALF-HOUR [Scandal Magazine andThe Last of the McHancocks] - BBC Records HANCOCK'S HALF-HOUR [The Lift and TwelveAngry Men] - BBC Records HANCOCK'S HALF-HOUR [The Americans HitTown and The Unexploded Bomb] - BBC Records The Best Of Sellars [PETER SELLERS] - EMI£50.00 for the lot! All proceeds to church inStaffordshire.Ian Payne, 8 Thornbury Road,Walsall WS2 8JL01922 - 627522

Hancock's Half Hour Chad Valley BoardGame In excellent nick, all the bits present £100 plus postage – email [email protected]

WANTED

Does anyone have an original Hancock Mug thatthey are willing to sell? Featuring a cartoon on its'side - I used to have one, but it got broken! I havebeen trying for ages to find a replacement sowould be willing to buy 1 or 2 if the price is right.Please reply to: Chris Billington, 66 Farndale Avenue,Palmers Green, London N13 5AG Telephone: 0208 482 4498 - Mobile: 07849 622476

HANCOCK FILM FUN CARTOONSI wish to get hold of any of the above and wouldwillingly pay for photocopies of the original comics.I've never seen them in The Missing Page and wouldlike to track some down for my Hancock [email protected]

'MISSING PAGE' BINDERPlease let me know your price & P+P Dave Jones, 49 Swan Street, Llantrisant, Pontyclun,Mid Glamorgan CF72 8ED


DECEMBER 3Next TMP out in January contributions please to the Editor by theabove date. It would be helpful if members submitting material onCD could supply a hard copy of the disk contents.Thank you.

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ROGER WILMUT contd from page 11

that’s all I know and I don’t recall himever showing me anything. I don’t thinkthat Jimmy ever wrote an autobiography,or I’ve never heard of one.

Q: Did you and Jimmy sit down andre-write the book together, or is it mainlyyour original text?

A: No, we didn’t collaborate in thatway. I submitted my text, but what wassubmitted to Robsons in the first placewas only my typed lists plus the notesas they are at the back of the book. Thisdid not include all the extra transmis-sions and paragraphs, just the actualGoon Show series lists. They showedenough interest to give me the go-aheadto write the book, but Jimmywrote his part and I wrotemine. He must have seen mypart and he did import someof my material into his scriptand some of it I did manageto get back. We must havehad discussions but we didn’t co-write in that senseat all.

I did have input from twoparticular friends, Tim Smithand Peter Copeland. Theyboth helped with theresearch. Peter was verygood at getting hold of allsorts of relevant material andTim proof read the manuscript becausehe is an excellent sub-editor. So it was-n’t exactly collaborative but it was donewith help.

Q: I never met Jimmy Grafton, sohow would you describe him?

A: Well, it was thirty five years ago.He was slightly ex-military, fairly stockyand quite genial to talk to, but we didn’tmeet much because we weren’t collaborators. We were both contributingto the final book.

Q: Considering all the lost or missingGoon Show – all of series 1, 2 & 3 andsome of series 4 (apart from two showsin series 2), have you ever tracked downany of these?

A: No, never. I have every show fromthe beginning of series five to the endand the quality varies from top qualityprofessional down to horrible. I’ve got afew from the fourth series and the twoearly ones from the second series. I’msure that the others don’t exist, thoughyou can never say never, but if anythingwas going to turn up it would have doneby now. The early shows would have hadto be recorded by amateurs sticking amicrophone in front of a radio. Openreel tape recorders were very specialised

things and not many peoplehad them, so the chances ofanything surviving areextremely low. The earlyshows were recorded ondiscs and these were notkept. The TranscriptionService didn’t pick up untilthe fifth series, so we haveall of them.

Q: Why did you choose touse Larry Stephens’ sevenfull page cartoon drawings inThe Goon Show Companion?Was it you or Jimmy Graftonwho suggested it?

A: I didn’t choose themand had nothing to do with

their use. It must have been RobsonPublisher’s choice and probably from asuggestion from Jimmy. I turned upsome of the photographs they used, butthat’s as far as it went.

There we must end this first instalment of this interesting interview.In our next issue Roger talks aboutthe Harry Secombe frontedHancock's Half Hour episodes.

MISSING PAGE - Tony Hancock

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