Chesney Allen - Revision history

Kurt at 22:47, 21 December 2022

2022-12-21T22:47:45Z

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	{{Short description\|English entertainer of the Second World War period}}		{{Short description\|English entertainer of the Second World War period}}
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Chesney Allen		\| name = Chesney Allen
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	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name = William Ernest Chesney Allen		\| birth_name = William Ernest Chesney Allen
	\| birth_date = {{birth date~~\|df=yes~~\|1894\|04\|05}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1894\|04\|05\|df=yes}}
	\| birth_place = [[Battersea]], [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland\|UK]]		\| birth_place = [[w:Battersea\|Battersea]], [[w:London\|London]], [[w:England\|England]], [[w:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland\|UK]]
	\| death_date = {{death date and age~~\|df=yes~~\|1982\|11\|13\|1894\|04\|05}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1982\|11\|13\|1894\|04\|05\|df=yes}}
	\| death_place = [[Midhurst]], [[Sussex]], [[England]], [[UK]]		\| death_place = [[w:Midhurst]], [[w:Sussex\|Sussex]], [[w:England\|England]], [[w:UK\|UK]]
	\| othername =		\| othername =
	\| occupation = {{hlist\|\|Entertainer\|music hall performer\|comedian\|actor}}		\| occupation = {{hlist\|\|Entertainer\|music hall performer\|comedian\|actor}}
	\| years_active = 1912-1982		\| years_active = 1912-1982
	\| spouse =		\| spouse = {{Marriage\|Aleta Cosette Turner\|1926}}
	\| website =		\| website =
	}}		}}

	'''William Ernest Chesney Allen''' (5 April 1894 – 13 November 1982)<ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography">{{cite web \| url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=64585&back= \| title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography \| publisher=OUP \| accessdate=13 October 2013}}</ref> was a popular [[England\|English]] entertainer of the [[Second World War]] period. He is best remembered for his [[double act]] with [[Bud Flanagan]], [[Flanagan and Allen]].		'''William Ernest Chesney Allen''' (5 April 1894 – 13 November 1982)<ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography">{{cite web \| url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=64585&back= \| title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography \| publisher=OUP \| accessdate=13 October 2013}}</ref> was a popular [[w:England\|English]] entertainer of the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]] period. He is best remembered for his [[w:double act\|double act]] with [[Bud Flanagan]], [[Flanagan and Allen]].

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==
	Allen was born in [[Battersea]], [[London]], in 1894, married Aleta Cosette Turner in [[Leeds]] in 1926 and died in [[Midhurst]], [[Sussex]], England, in 1982.		Allen was born in [[w:Battersea\|Battersea]], [[w:London\|London]], in 1894, married Aleta Cosette Turner in [[w:Leeds\|Leeds]] in 1926 and died in [[w:Midhurst\|Midhurst]], [[w:Sussex\|Sussex]], England, in 1982.

	He began his career in straight acting, making his debut in stock at the [[Wimbledon Theatre]], London, in 1912. Serving in Flanders in the [[First World War]], he made friends with [[Bud Flanagan]], and but they did not work together until 1926, touring with a [[Florrie Forde]] show called "Here's to You".<ref>{{cite book\|title=Rediscovered Dundee\|author=King, Brian\|publisher=Troubador Publishing\|year=2020\|isbn=978-1838591922}}</ref> As [[music hall]] comedians they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were also members of [[Crazy Gang (comedy group)\|the Crazy Gang]] and worked together in that team for many years.		He began his career in straight acting, making his debut in stock at the [[w:Wimbledon Theatre\|Wimbledon Theatre]], London, in 1912. Serving in Flanders in the [[w:First World War\|First World War]], he made friends with [[Bud Flanagan]], and but they did not work together until 1926, touring with a [[w:Florrie Forde\|Florrie Forde]] show called "Here's to You".<ref>{{cite book\|title=Rediscovered Dundee\|author=King, Brian\|publisher=Troubador Publishing\|year=2020\|isbn=978-1838591922}}</ref> As [[w:music hall\|music hall]] comedians they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were also members of [[w:Crazy Gang (comedy group)\|the Crazy Gang]] and worked together in that team for many years.

	Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the war reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like "We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" mocked the German defences ([[Siegfried Line]]), while others like "Miss You" sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs such as their best-known "[[Underneath the Arches (song)\|Underneath the Arches]]" (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly) had universal themes such as friendship, which, again, helped people relate to the subject matter. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse–verse–chorus structure, with a small [[British dance band\|dance band]] or orchestra providing the backing. The vocals were distinctive because, while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.		Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the war reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like "We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" mocked the German defences ([[w:Siegfried Line\|Siegfried Line]]), while others like "Miss You" sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs such as their best-known "[[w:Underneath the Arches (song)\|Underneath the Arches]]" (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly) had universal themes such as friendship, which, again, helped people relate to the subject matter. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse–verse–chorus structure, with a small [[w:British dance band\|dance band]] or orchestra providing the backing. The vocals were distinctive because, while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.

	Flanagan and Allen stopped performing together with Chesney Allen's retirement on health grounds in the late 1950s following the penultimate season of the Crazy Gang's show at the [[Victoria Palace Theatre]] in London (his place for the final season was taken by [['Monsewer' Eddie Gray]]), although he continued working in theatrical management and returned to make occasional guest appearances. His last recording was for the album of the stage show ''Underneath the Arches'' in 1982.		Flanagan and Allen stopped performing together with Chesney Allen's retirement on health grounds in the late 1950s following the penultimate season of the Crazy Gang's show at the [[w:Victoria Palace Theatre\|Victoria Palace Theatre]] in London (his place for the final season was taken by [['Monsewer' Eddie Gray]]), although he continued working in theatrical management and returned to make occasional guest appearances. His last recording was for the album of the stage show ''Underneath the Arches'' in 1982.

	~~[[Chesney Hawkes]] is named after Chesney Allen~~.

	==Selected filmography==		==Selected filmography==

Kurt: /* Notes */

2022-12-14T21:58:35Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 14 December 2022
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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Chesney}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Chesney}}

Kurt at 18:54, 19 September 2022

2022-09-19T18:54:55Z

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	{{Short description\|English entertainer of the Second World War period}}		{{Short description\|English entertainer of the Second World War period}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}
	~~{{more footnotes needed\|date=March 2013}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Chesney Allen		\| name = Chesney Allen

Kurt at 18:53, 19 September 2022

2022-09-19T18:53:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 19 September 2022
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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Chesney Allen		\| name = Chesney Allen
	\| image = ~~Chesney_Allen_in_1938~~.~~jpg~~		\| image = Chesney Allen.gif
	\| caption = ~~Chesney Allen in 1938.~~		\| caption =
	\| birth_name = William Ernest Chesney Allen		\| birth_name = William Ernest Chesney Allen
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|df=yes\|1894\|04\|05}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|df=yes\|1894\|04\|05}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-09-19T18:47:45Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:47, 19 September 2022
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en>Wisdom-inc: /* Life and career */

2022-06-16T21:50:28Z

Life and career

New page

{{Short description|English entertainer of the Second World War period}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chesney Allen
| image = Chesney_Allen_in_1938.jpg
| caption = Chesney Allen in 1938.
| birth_name = William Ernest Chesney Allen
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1894|04|05}}
| birth_place = [[Battersea]], [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|UK]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1982|11|13|1894|04|05}}
| death_place = [[Midhurst]], [[Sussex]], [[England]], [[UK]]
| othername =
| occupation = {{hlist||Entertainer|music hall performer|comedian|actor}}
| years_active = 1912-1982
| spouse =
| website =
}}

'''William Ernest Chesney Allen''' (5 April 1894 – 13 November 1982)<ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography">{{cite web | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=64585&back= | title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=OUP | accessdate=13 October 2013}}</ref> was a popular [[England|English]] entertainer of the [[Second World War]] period. He is best remembered for his [[double act]] with [[Bud Flanagan]], [[Flanagan and Allen]].

==Life and career==
Allen was born in [[Battersea]], [[London]], in 1894, married Aleta Cosette Turner in [[Leeds]] in 1926 and died in [[Midhurst]], [[Sussex]], England, in 1982.

He began his career in straight acting, making his debut in stock at the [[Wimbledon Theatre]], London, in 1912. Serving in Flanders in the [[First World War]], he made friends with [[Bud Flanagan]], and but they did not work together until 1926, touring with a [[Florrie Forde]] show called "Here's to You".<ref>{{cite book|title=Rediscovered Dundee|author=King, Brian|publisher=Troubador Publishing|year=2020|isbn=978-1838591922}}</ref> As [[music hall]] comedians they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were also members of [[Crazy Gang (comedy group)|the Crazy Gang]] and worked together in that team for many years.

Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the war reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like "We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" mocked the German defences ([[Siegfried Line]]), while others like "Miss You" sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs such as their best-known "[[Underneath the Arches (song)|Underneath the Arches]]" (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly) had universal themes such as friendship, which, again, helped people relate to the subject matter. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse–verse–chorus structure, with a small [[British dance band|dance band]] or orchestra providing the backing. The vocals were distinctive because, while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.

Flanagan and Allen stopped performing together with Chesney Allen's retirement on health grounds in the late 1950s following the penultimate season of the Crazy Gang's show at the [[Victoria Palace Theatre]] in London (his place for the final season was taken by [['Monsewer' Eddie Gray]]), although he continued working in theatrical management and returned to make occasional guest appearances. His last recording was for the album of the stage show ''Underneath the Arches'' in 1982.

[[Chesney Hawkes]] is named after Chesney Allen.

==Selected filmography==
* ''[[Wild Boy (film)|Wild Boy]]'' (1934)
* ''[[O-Kay for Sound]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Alf's Button Afloat]]'' (1938)
* ''[[We'll Smile Again]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Theatre Royal (film)|Theatre Royal]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Dreaming (1944 British film)|Dreaming]]'' (1944)
* ''[[Here Comes the Sun (film)|Here Comes the Sun]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Dunkirk (1958 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Life Is a Circus (1960 film)|Life Is a Circus]]'' (1960)

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0020366|name=Chesney Allen}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Chesney}}
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:English entertainers]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:People from Brighton]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:British military personnel of World War I]]