Robb Wilton - Revision history

Kurt at 15:43, 18 January 2023

2023-01-18T15:43:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 18 January 2023
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	{{short description\|British comedian}}		{{short description\|British comedian}}
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Robb Wilton		\| name = Robb Wilton
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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the [[w:Everton, Liverpool\|Everton]] district of [[w:Liverpool\|Liverpool]] on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor [[Robin Askwith]].		Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the [[w:Everton, Liverpool\|Everton]] district of [[w:Liverpool\|Liverpool]] on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor [[w:Robin Askwith\|Robin Askwith]].

	==Career==		==Career==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote}}~~
	* {{IMDb name\|0934367}}		* {{IMDb name\|0934367}}
	* [http://www.tvclick.ru/channel/retromusica/15146/ Robb Wilton.The Policeman] Video at TV-Click

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	~~{{authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Robb}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Robb}}

Kurt: /* Career */

2022-08-25T14:45:20Z

Career

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:45, 25 August 2022
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	Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[w:northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.		Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[w:northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.

	He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[w:Jeffrey Richards\|Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[w:situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.		He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[w:Jeffrey Richards\|Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[w:situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[w:British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.

	Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>		Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>

Kurt at 14:42, 25 August 2022

2022-08-25T14:42:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:42, 25 August 2022
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	\| birth_name = Robert Wilton Smith		\| birth_name = Robert Wilton Smith
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1881\|8\|28\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1881\|8\|28\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Liverpool\|Liverpool]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1957\|05\|01\|1881\|8\|28\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1957\|05\|01\|1881\|8\|28\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[London]], England		\| death_place = [[w:London\|London]], England
	\| occupation = Comedian, actor		\| occupation = Comedian, actor
	\| relatives = [[Robin Askwith]] (grand-nephew)		\| relatives = [[w:Robin Askwith\|Robin Askwith]] (grand-nephew)
	}}		}}

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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the [[Everton, Liverpool\|Everton]] district of [[Liverpool]] on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor [[Robin Askwith]].		Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the [[w:Everton, Liverpool\|Everton]] district of [[w:Liverpool\|Liverpool]] on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor [[Robin Askwith]].

	==Career==		==Career==
	Wilton had a dry [[Lancashire accent]], which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. His first theatre work was as a villain in [[melodrama]]s, but he soon found himself getting laughs from his audience and, by 1909, was touring [[music hall]]s as a comedian.<ref name=foster/>		Wilton had a dry [[w:Lancashire accent\|Lancashire accent]], which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. His first theatre work was as a villain in [[w:melodrama\|melodrama]]s, but he soon found himself getting laughs from his audience and, by 1909, was touring [[w:music hall\|music hall]]s as a comedian.<ref name=foster/>

	Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.		Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[w:northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.

	He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.		He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[w:Jeffrey Richards\|Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[w:situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.

	Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>		Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>

	Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the fire station sketch, in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw Street... no, don't tell me... oh, I could walk straight to it..." The sketch would finish with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"		Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the fire station sketch, in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw Street... no, don't tell me... oh, I could walk straight to it..." The sketch would finish with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"

	Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent [[Justice of the Peace\|J.P.]] from the fictional village of Nether Backwash, appeared in a number of radio series during the 1930s and 1940s and was known for the phrase "You shouldn't have done that!" He would also frequently make the comment: "Ee, what a to-do!" The [[BBC radio]] programme ''Mr Muddlecombe JP'' was first broadcast in January 1937, and went through several series, culminating as ''Councillor Muddlecombe JP'' in 1948. The scripts were mostly written by Wilton with producer [[Max Kester]].<ref name=foster>Andy Foster and Steve Furst, ''Radio Comedy 1938-1968: A Guide to 30 Years of Wonderful Wireless'', Virgin, 1996, {{isbn\|0-86369-960-X}}, pp.7-10</ref>		Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent [[w:Justice of the Peace\|J.P.]] from the fictional village of Nether Backwash, appeared in a number of radio series during the 1930s and 1940s and was known for the phrase "You shouldn't have done that!" He would also frequently make the comment: "Ee, what a to-do!" The [[w:BBC radio\|BBC radio]] programme ''Mr Muddlecombe JP'' was first broadcast in January 1937, and went through several series, culminating as ''Councillor Muddlecombe JP'' in 1948. The scripts were mostly written by Wilton with producer [[Max Kester]].<ref name=foster>Andy Foster and Steve Furst, ''Radio Comedy 1938-1968: A Guide to 30 Years of Wonderful Wireless'', Virgin, 1996, {{isbn\|0-86369-960-X}}, pp.7-10</ref>

	He was also a stand-up comedian and one of his jokes was: "A bloke went into a pub and asked, "What soft drinks have you got, barman?". Barman says, "I've got some without vanilla, some without lime, some without lemon. Ah, and one with peppermint!" "Oh, damn", says the customer, "That's the very one I wanted without!"		He was also a stand-up comedian and one of his jokes was: "A bloke went into a pub and asked, "What soft drinks have you got, barman?". Barman says, "I've got some without vanilla, some without lime, some without lemon. Ah, and one with peppermint!" "Oh, damn", says the customer, "That's the very one I wanted without!"

	In October 1928, he appeared in a short film, ''The Fire Brigade'', made in the [[Phonofilm]] sound-on-film process. He then appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the [[Arthur Askey]] vehicle ''[[The Love Match]]'' in 1955.		In October 1928, he appeared in a short film, ''The Fire Brigade'', made in the [[w:Phonofilm\|Phonofilm]] sound-on-film process. He then appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the [[Arthur Askey]] vehicle ''[[The Love Match]]'' in 1955.

	Wilton was inducted into the exclusive entertainers' fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as its "King Rat" in 1947.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/261\|title=Biography of a Water Rat\|publisher=}}</ref>		Wilton was inducted into the exclusive entertainers' fraternity, the [[w:Grand Order of Water Rats\|Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as its "King Rat" in 1947.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/261\|title=Biography of a Water Rat\|publisher=}}</ref>

	==Death==		==Death==
	On 1 May 1957, Wilton died in [[London]] at the age of 75.		On 1 May 1957, Wilton died in [[w:London\|London]] at the age of 75.

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

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-24T21:39:12Z

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← Older revision	Revision as of 16:39, 24 August 2022
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en>Philip Cross: ce

2022-07-14T11:03:19Z

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{{short description|British comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robb Wilton
| image = Comedian_Robb_Wilton.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Wilton in 1932
| birth_name = Robert Wilton Smith
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1881|8|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1957|05|01|1881|8|28|df=y}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| occupation = Comedian, actor
| relatives = [[Robin Askwith]] (grand-nephew)
}}

'''Robert Wilton Smith''' (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as '''Robb Wilton''', was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His trademark was to put his hand over part of his face at the punchline.

==Early life==
Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the [[Everton, Liverpool|Everton]] district of [[Liverpool]] on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor [[Robin Askwith]].

==Career==
Wilton had a dry [[Lancashire accent]], which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. His first theatre work was as a villain in [[melodrama]]s, but he soon found himself getting laughs from his audience and, by 1909, was touring [[music hall]]s as a comedian.<ref name=foster/>

Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[northern England|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.

He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[British Home Guard|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.

Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>

Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the fire station sketch, in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw Street... no, don't tell me... oh, I could walk straight to it..." The sketch would finish with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"

Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent [[Justice of the Peace|J.P.]] from the fictional village of Nether Backwash, appeared in a number of radio series during the 1930s and 1940s and was known for the phrase "You shouldn't have done that!" He would also frequently make the comment: "Ee, what a to-do!" The [[BBC radio]] programme ''Mr Muddlecombe JP'' was first broadcast in January 1937, and went through several series, culminating as ''Councillor Muddlecombe JP'' in 1948. The scripts were mostly written by Wilton with producer [[Max Kester]].<ref name=foster>Andy Foster and Steve Furst, ''Radio Comedy 1938-1968: A Guide to 30 Years of Wonderful Wireless'', Virgin, 1996, {{isbn|0-86369-960-X}}, pp.7-10</ref>

He was also a stand-up comedian and one of his jokes was: "A bloke went into a pub and asked, "What soft drinks have you got, barman?". Barman says, "I've got some without vanilla, some without lime, some without lemon. Ah, and one with peppermint!" "Oh, damn", says the customer, "That's the very one I wanted without!"

In October 1928, he appeared in a short film, ''The Fire Brigade'', made in the [[Phonofilm]] sound-on-film process. He then appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the [[Arthur Askey]] vehicle ''[[The Love Match]]'' in 1955.

Wilton was inducted into the exclusive entertainers' fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as its "King Rat" in 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/261|title=Biography of a Water Rat|publisher=}}</ref>

==Death==
On 1 May 1957, Wilton died in [[London]] at the age of 75.

==Selected filmography==
* ''The Fire Brigade'' (short) (1928)
* ''[[Love, Life and Laughter (1934 film)|Love, Life and Laughter]]'' (1934)
* ''[[The Secret of the Loch]]'' (1934)
* ''[[Look Up and Laugh]]'' (1935)
* ''[[It's Love Again]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Calling the Tune]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Two's Company (film)|Two's Company]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Stars on Parade (1936 film)|Stars on Parade]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Mother, Don't Rush Me]]'' (1936)
* ''[[The Interrupted Honeymoon]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Fine Feathers (1937 film)|Fine Feathers]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Take My Tip]]'' (1937)
* ''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'' (1939)
* ''[[The Love Match]] '' (1955)

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0934367}}
* [http://www.tvclick.ru/channel/retromusica/15146/ Robb Wilton.The Policeman] Video at TV-Click

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Robb}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:Comedians from Lancashire]]
[[Category:Comedians from Liverpool]]
[[Category:Male actors from Liverpool]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:45, 25 August 2022
Line 25:		Line 25:
	Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[w:northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.		Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of [[w:northern England\|northern]] comedians [[Frank Randle]] and [[George Formby, Sr.]] He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently went about their work, his humour embodying the inherent absurdity of everyday life.

	He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[w:Jeffrey Richards\|Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[w:situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.		He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians [[Ken Dodd]] and [[Les Dawson]], and the film historian [[w:Jeffrey Richards\|Jeffrey Richards]] has cited him as a key influence for the TV [[w:situation comedy\|sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband, who wryly takes part in the [[w:British Home Guard\|Home Guard]]. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous [[Walmington-on-Sea]] platoon.

	Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>		Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with [[Tommy Handley]], one of the highest profile radio comedians in Britain during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]].<ref name=foster/>