The Goon Show - Revision history

Kurt: /* Stage */

2024-09-12T00:35:38Z

Stage

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	*'''''Birmingham Comedy Festival'''''		*'''''Birmingham Comedy Festival'''''
	[[Birmingham Comedy Festival]] produced a theatre production as part of their festival in 2014 staging two Milligan Goon Show scripts, ''[[The Canal]]'' and ''[[The Phantom Head Shaver (of Brighton)]]''.<ref>Laws, Roz. [https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-news/birmingham-comedy-festival-gets-under-7838685 "Birmingham Comedy Festival gets under way with a recreation of The Goon Show"], ''Birmingham Mail'', 26 September 2014. Retrieved on 24 April.</ref> The festival produced a second touring production in 2017 featuring two more Milligan scripts, ''[[The House Of Teeth]]'' and ''[[The Jet-Propelled Guided Naafi\|The Jet-Propelled Guided NAAFI]]''.<ref>Sutherland, Gill. [https://www.stratford-herald.com/65957-goons-come-stratford.html "The Goons come to Stratford"], ''Stratford-Upon-Herald'', 8 February 2017. Retrieved on 24 April.</ref> Both runs were sanctioned by Norma Farnes and Spike Milligan Productions.		[[Birmingham Comedy Festival]] produced a theatre production as part of their festival in 2014 staging two Milligan Goon Show scripts, ''[[The Canal]]'' and ''[[The Phantom Head Shaver (of Brighton)]]''.<ref>Laws, Roz. [https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-news/birmingham-comedy-festival-gets-under-7838685 "Birmingham Comedy Festival gets under way with a recreation of The Goon Show"], ''Birmingham Mail'', 26 September 2014. Retrieved on 24 April.</ref> The festival produced a second touring production in 2017 featuring two more Milligan scripts, ''[[The House of Teeth]]'' and ''[[The Jet-Propelled Guided Naafi\|The Jet-Propelled Guided NAAFI]]''.<ref>Sutherland, Gill. [https://www.stratford-herald.com/65957-goons-come-stratford.html "The Goons come to Stratford"], ''Stratford-Upon-Herald'', 8 February 2017. Retrieved on 24 April.</ref> Both runs were sanctioned by Norma Farnes and Spike Milligan Productions.
	Cast:		Cast:
	Sellers - Richard Usher,		Sellers - Richard Usher,

Kurt: /* Lurgi */

2024-09-12T00:31:39Z

Lurgi

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	===Lurgi===		===Lurgi===
	{{anchor\|Lurgy}}		{{anchor\|Lurgy}}
	{{hatnote\|[[Lurgy (river)]] is a small river near [[Kilmacrennan]] in Donegal in Ireland.}}		{{hatnote\|[[Lurgy (river)\|Lurgy]] is a small river near [[Kilmacrennan]] in Donegal in Ireland.}}
	Several of the words and phrases invented for the show soon entered common usage, the most famous being the word [[wikt:lurgy\|lurgi]]. In the episode "[[Lurgi Strikes Britain]]", Spike Milligan introduced the fictional malady of Lurgi (sometimes spelt Lurgy), which has survived into modern usage to mean the common cold, or any miscellaneous or non-specific illness (often preceded by the adjective "dreaded"). The symptoms of Lurgi included the uncontrollable urge to cry "Eeeeyack-a-boo", though even during the episode the ailment proved to be an extortionate attempt to sell [[brass band]] musical instruments. Milligan was later to make up his own definition in ''[[Treasure Island According to Spike Milligan]]'', where Jim Hawkins' mother describes it as "like brown spots of shit on the liver".		Several of the words and phrases invented for the show soon entered common usage, the most famous being the word [[wikt:lurgy\|lurgi]]. In the episode "[[Lurgi Strikes Britain]]", Spike Milligan introduced the fictional malady of Lurgi (sometimes spelt Lurgy), which has survived into modern usage to mean the common cold, or any miscellaneous or non-specific illness (often preceded by the adjective "dreaded"). The symptoms of Lurgi included the uncontrollable urge to cry "Eeeeyack-a-boo", though even during the episode the ailment proved to be an extortionate attempt to sell [[brass band]] musical instruments. Milligan was later to make up his own definition in ''[[Treasure Island According to Spike Milligan]]'', where Jim Hawkins' mother describes it as "like brown spots of shit on the liver".

Kurt: /* Background */

2024-09-12T00:29:11Z

Background

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	The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>		The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>

	There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (~~Goon Show~~)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/><ref name="Spike&Co"/>		There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (s01)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/><ref name="Spike&Co"/>

	==Format==		==Format==

Kurt at 00:22, 12 September 2024

2024-09-12T00:22:32Z

Show changes

Kurt at 12:54, 11 September 2024

2024-09-11T12:54:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:54, 11 September 2024
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	\|date=2 January 2000		\|date=2 January 2000
	\|access-date=12 December 2008		\|access-date=12 December 2008
	}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.~~{{citation needed\|date=July 2017}}~~		}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.

	Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref> or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref> The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>		Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref> or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref> The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>

Kurt: /* Films */

2024-06-30T03:45:56Z

Films

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	===Films===		===Films===
	*'''''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' (2004)'''		*'''''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' (2004)'''
	A recreation of a ''Goon Show'' recording before a studio audience is seen early in the HBO Original Movie, ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'' (2004), with [[Geoffrey Rush]] as Sellers, [[Edward Tudor-Pole]] as Spike Milligan, [[Steve Pemberton]] as Harry Secombe and [[Lance Ellington]] as Ray Ellington. A brief moment from that recreation is seen in the trailer<ref>[http://www.hbo.com/films/petersellers/trailer/quicktime_trailer.html] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022203328/http://www.hbo.com/films/petersellers/trailer/quicktime_trailer.html \|date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> for that film.		A recreation of a ''Goon Show'' recording before a studio audience is seen early in the HBO Original Movie, ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'' (2004), with [[Geoffrey Rush]] as Sellers, [[w:Edward Tudor-Pole\|Edward Tudor-Pole]] as Spike Milligan, [[w:Steve Pemberton\|Steve Pemberton]] as Harry Secombe and [[Lance Ellington]] as Ray Ellington. A brief moment from that recreation is seen in the trailer<ref>[http://www.hbo.com/films/petersellers/trailer/quicktime_trailer.html] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022203328/http://www.hbo.com/films/petersellers/trailer/quicktime_trailer.html \|date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> for that film.

	===Stage===		===Stage===

Kurt at 03:44, 30 June 2024

2024-06-30T03:44:45Z

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	==Format==		==Format==
	Throughout its history, each episode of ''The Goon Show, ''which usually ran just under 30 minutes, was essentially structured as a comedy-variety programme, consisting of scripted comedy segments alternating with musical interludes.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|116ff}}~~		Throughout its history, each episode of ''The Goon Show, ''which usually ran just under 30 minutes, was essentially structured as a comedy-variety programme, consisting of scripted comedy segments alternating with musical interludes.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>

	The first two series were mostly produced by [[Dennis Main Wilson]]; none of the episodes was given an individual title<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.thegoonshow.net/shows_list_all.asp \|title=The Goon Show Site - All Episodes Listed by Series \|publisher=Thegoonshow.net \|access-date=31 July 2014}}</ref> and these early shows were loosely structured and consisted of four or five unconnected sketches, separated by musical items. According to later producer [[Peter Eton]], the musical segments took up around half the programme.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:113</sup> In this formative phase the show co-starred Milligan (who played only minor roles in the early shows), Sellers, Secombe and [[Michael Bentine]] as the nominal 'hero' of each episode, madcap inventor Dr Osric Pureheart.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:124</sup> Musical performances were by virtuoso jazz harmonica player [[Max Geldray]], singer [[Ray Ellington]] and his quartet (both of whom were recruited by Dixon) and vocal group the Stargazers, but they left after Episode 6 of Series 2, and for the remaining episodes Secombe filled in, singing a straight vocal number.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:124</sup> Incidental, theme and backing music was provided by [[Stanley Black]] and the BBC Dance Orchestra.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:127</sup> Series 2 also saw the first appearances of popular characters Minnie Bannister (Milligan) and Henry Crun (Sellers).		The first two series were mostly produced by [[Dennis Main Wilson]]; none of the episodes was given an individual title<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.thegoonshow.net/shows_list_all.asp \|title=The Goon Show Site - All Episodes Listed by Series \|publisher=Thegoonshow.net \|access-date=31 July 2014}}</ref> and these early shows were loosely structured and consisted of four or five unconnected sketches, separated by musical items. According to later producer [[Peter Eton]], the musical segments took up around half the programme.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:113</sup> In this formative phase the show co-starred Milligan (who played only minor roles in the early shows), Sellers, Secombe and [[Michael Bentine]] as the nominal 'hero' of each episode, madcap inventor Dr Osric Pureheart.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:124</sup> Musical performances were by virtuoso jazz harmonica player [[Max Geldray]], singer [[Ray Ellington]] and his quartet (both of whom were recruited by Dixon) and vocal group the Stargazers, but they left after Episode 6 of Series 2, and for the remaining episodes Secombe filled in, singing a straight vocal number.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:124</sup> Incidental, theme and backing music was provided by [[Stanley Black]] and the BBC Dance Orchestra.<ref name=":0" /><sup>:127</sup> Series 2 also saw the first appearances of popular characters Minnie Bannister (Milligan) and Henry Crun (Sellers).
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	*[[Major Bloodnok\|Major Denis Bloodnok]] (Sellers)		*[[Major Bloodnok\|Major Denis Bloodnok]] (Sellers)

	Secondary characters were the "Indians", Banerjee and Lalkaka, the servant Abdul/Singez Thingz, Willium "Mate" Cobblers, Cyril, Jim Spriggs, Little Jim, Flowerdew and Chief Ellinga/The Red Bladder – both played by Ray Ellington.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|107}}~~ There were also occasional guest stars including senior BBC announcer [[John Snagge]], and actors [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Dick Emery]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Dennis Price]] and [[Bernard Miles]]. The traditional plots involved Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty getting Neddie Seagoon involved in some far-fetched plan, and meeting the other cast members along the way.		Secondary characters were the "Indians", Banerjee and Lalkaka, the servant Abdul/Singez Thingz, Willium "Mate" Cobblers, Cyril, Jim Spriggs, Little Jim, Flowerdew and Chief Ellinga/The Red Bladder – both played by Ray Ellington.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/> There were also occasional guest stars including senior BBC announcer [[John Snagge]], and actors [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Dick Emery]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Dennis Price]] and [[Bernard Miles]]. The traditional plots involved Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty getting Neddie Seagoon involved in some far-fetched plan, and meeting the other cast members along the way.

	Many characters had regular catchphrases which quickly moved into the vernacular; among the best known are:		Many characters had regular catchphrases which quickly moved into the vernacular; among the best known are:
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	\|date=2 January 2000		\|date=2 January 2000
	\|access-date=12 December 2008}}{{dead link \|date=July 2015}}</ref>		\|access-date=12 December 2008}}{{dead link \|date=July 2015}}</ref>
	Many of the sequences have been cited as being visionary in the way that they challenged the traditional conventions of comedy.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| pages = 161, 168 \| chapter = Eric Sykes' Story \| quote = p161 ... The Goon Show was a new departure in comedy ... seemingly free-form style of humour ... p168 ... presented scenes of seemingly uncontrolled anarchy \| no-pp = true}}</ref> In the [[Monty Python\|Pythons]]' autobiography, [[Terry Jones]] states "The Goons of course were my favourite. It was the surreality of the imagery and the speed of the comedy that I loved - the way they broke up the conventions of radio and played with the very nature of the medium."<ref name=PythonsbythePythons/>~~{{rp\|73}}~~ This is reiterated by [[Michael Palin]] and [[John Cleese]]. Cleese recalls listening to ''The Goon Show'' as a teenager in the mid-1950s "and being absolutely amazed by its surreal humour. It came at a key stage in my own development and I never missed a show".<ref name= MilliganHisPartInOurLives/>~~{{rp\|150}}~~		Many of the sequences have been cited as being visionary in the way that they challenged the traditional conventions of comedy.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| pages = 161, 168 \| chapter = Eric Sykes' Story \| quote = p161 ... The Goon Show was a new departure in comedy ... seemingly free-form style of humour ... p168 ... presented scenes of seemingly uncontrolled anarchy \| no-pp = true}}</ref> In the [[Monty Python\|Pythons]]' autobiography, [[Terry Jones]] states "The Goons of course were my favourite. It was the surreality of the imagery and the speed of the comedy that I loved - the way they broke up the conventions of radio and played with the very nature of the medium."<ref name=PythonsbythePythons/> This is reiterated by [[Michael Palin]] and [[John Cleese]]. Cleese recalls listening to ''The Goon Show'' as a teenager in the mid-1950s "and being absolutely amazed by its surreal humour. It came at a key stage in my own development and I never missed a show".<ref name= MilliganHisPartInOurLives/>

	===Music and sound effects===		===Music and sound effects===
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	\| pos = right		\| pos = right
	}}		}}
	Orchestral introductions, links and accompaniment were provided by a hand-picked [[w:big band\|big band]] made up of London-based session musicians.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|47}}~~ The arrangements and musical direction were done by [[Angela Morley\|Wally Stott]] from the third to the 10th series. Stott produced many arrangements and link passages, further improved by the first-class sound quality the BBC engineers managed to achieve.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|81}}~~ Members of the band featured prominently in the comedy proceedings, particularly jazz trombonist [[George Chisholm (musician)\|George Chisholm]] who frequently played Scots characters. The show's concluding music was usually either "[[Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead]]" or a truncated and ironic rendition of the ''[[Alte Kameraden]]'' (Old Comrades') march, followed by Max Geldray and the Ray Ellington Quartet playing "[[Crazy Rhythm]]" as play-out music. Other theme tunes used included "Goons' Gallop", a play on [[w:Devil's Galop\|Devil's Galop]], "[[I Want to Be Happy]]" and "Lucky Strike", which the cast sang over at the conclusion of the episode called "[[The Great Bank Robbery]]".		Orchestral introductions, links and accompaniment were provided by a hand-picked [[w:big band\|big band]] made up of London-based session musicians.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/> The arrangements and musical direction were done by [[Angela Morley\|Wally Stott]] from the third to the 10th series. Stott produced many arrangements and link passages, further improved by the first-class sound quality the BBC engineers managed to achieve.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/> Members of the band featured prominently in the comedy proceedings, particularly jazz trombonist [[George Chisholm (musician)\|George Chisholm]] who frequently played Scots characters. The show's concluding music was usually either "[[Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead]]" or a truncated and ironic rendition of the ''[[Alte Kameraden]]'' (Old Comrades') march, followed by Max Geldray and the Ray Ellington Quartet playing "[[Crazy Rhythm]]" as play-out music. Other theme tunes used included "Goons' Gallop", a play on [[w:Devil's Galop\|Devil's Galop]], "[[I Want to Be Happy]]" and "Lucky Strike", which the cast sang over at the conclusion of the episode called "[[The Great Bank Robbery]]".

	In keeping with the [[w:Variety show\|variety]] requirements of the BBC's "light entertainment" format, ''The Goon Show'' scripts were structured in three acts, separated by two musical interludes. These were provided by the [[Ray Ellington]] Quartet – who performed a mixture of [[w:jazz\|jazz]], [[w:rhythm & blues\|rhythm & blues]] and [[w:Calypso music\|calypso]] songs – and by harmonica virtuoso [[Max Geldray]] who performed mostly middle of the road numbers and jazz standards of the 30s and 40s accompanied by the big band. Both Ellington and Geldray also made occasional cameo appearances; Ellington was often drafted in to play stereotypical "black" roles such as a tribal chieftain, native bearer or Major Bloodnok's nemesis (and counterpoint to Bloodnok's affliction) "The Red Bladder".		In keeping with the [[w:Variety show\|variety]] requirements of the BBC's "light entertainment" format, ''The Goon Show'' scripts were structured in three acts, separated by two musical interludes. These were provided by the [[Ray Ellington]] Quartet – who performed a mixture of [[w:jazz\|jazz]], [[w:rhythm & blues\|rhythm & blues]] and [[w:Calypso music\|calypso]] songs – and by harmonica virtuoso [[Max Geldray]] who performed mostly middle of the road numbers and jazz standards of the 30s and 40s accompanied by the big band. Both Ellington and Geldray also made occasional cameo appearances; Ellington was often drafted in to play stereotypical "black" roles such as a tribal chieftain, native bearer or Major Bloodnok's nemesis (and counterpoint to Bloodnok's affliction) "The Red Bladder".
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	It was in its use of pre-recorded and live sound effects that ''The Goon Show'' broke the most new ground.<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref name="Life&DeathofSellers"/> Part of the problem was that "not even Milligan knew how to capture electronically the peculiar sounds that came alive in his head – he just knew when it had not yet happened".<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup> An example of this comes from an often cited story of Milligan filling his two socks with custard in the Camden Theatre canteen, in an attempt to achieve a squelching effect. Milligan asked the BBC canteen ladies to make some custard; they thought he must have some stomach trouble so lovingly made him a fresh custard – which he accepted with thanks and immediately poured into his sock, much to their horror. Secombe recalled "Back in the studio, Spike had already placed a sheet of three-ply near a microphone." One after the other, he swung them around his head against the wood, but failed to produce the sound effect he was seeking ("So, a sock full of custard and no sound effect!").<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup><ref name="Ventham19">Harry Secombe, in Ventham (2002) p.19. The socks-filled-with-custard story has been frequently cited since at least the 1970s, when it was reiterated in newspaper articles</ref> Secombe noted that "Spike used to drive the studio managers mad with his insistence on getting the sound effects he wanted. In the beginning, when the programme was recorded on disc, it was extremely difficult to achieve the right sound effect. There were, I think, four turntables on the go simultaneously, with different sounds being played on each – chickens clucking, Big Ben striking, donkeys braying, massive explosions, ships' sirens – all happening at once. It was only when tape came into use that Spike felt really happy with the effects."<ref name="Ventham19"/> An FX instruction in one script read "Sound effect of two lions walking away, bumping against each other. If you can't get two lions, two hippos will do". Over time, the sound engineers became increasingly adept at translating the script into desired sounds, assisted from the late 1950s onwards by specialists in the BBC's newly formed Radiophonic Workshop.<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup>		It was in its use of pre-recorded and live sound effects that ''The Goon Show'' broke the most new ground.<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref name="Life&DeathofSellers"/> Part of the problem was that "not even Milligan knew how to capture electronically the peculiar sounds that came alive in his head – he just knew when it had not yet happened".<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup> An example of this comes from an often cited story of Milligan filling his two socks with custard in the Camden Theatre canteen, in an attempt to achieve a squelching effect. Milligan asked the BBC canteen ladies to make some custard; they thought he must have some stomach trouble so lovingly made him a fresh custard – which he accepted with thanks and immediately poured into his sock, much to their horror. Secombe recalled "Back in the studio, Spike had already placed a sheet of three-ply near a microphone." One after the other, he swung them around his head against the wood, but failed to produce the sound effect he was seeking ("So, a sock full of custard and no sound effect!").<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup><ref name="Ventham19">Harry Secombe, in Ventham (2002) p.19. The socks-filled-with-custard story has been frequently cited since at least the 1970s, when it was reiterated in newspaper articles</ref> Secombe noted that "Spike used to drive the studio managers mad with his insistence on getting the sound effects he wanted. In the beginning, when the programme was recorded on disc, it was extremely difficult to achieve the right sound effect. There were, I think, four turntables on the go simultaneously, with different sounds being played on each – chickens clucking, Big Ben striking, donkeys braying, massive explosions, ships' sirens – all happening at once. It was only when tape came into use that Spike felt really happy with the effects."<ref name="Ventham19"/> An FX instruction in one script read "Sound effect of two lions walking away, bumping against each other. If you can't get two lions, two hippos will do". Over time, the sound engineers became increasingly adept at translating the script into desired sounds, assisted from the late 1950s onwards by specialists in the BBC's newly formed Radiophonic Workshop.<ref name="Spike&Co"/><sup>:205</sup>

	Milligan's relationship with BBC managers preparing for the recording of episodes was often acrimonious and resulted in rows, and Milligan later agreed that he was a diva during this time, adding "I was trying to shake the BBC out of its apathy. Sound effects were a knock on the door and tramps on gravel– that was it, and I tried to transform it.".<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|44}}~~		Milligan's relationship with BBC managers preparing for the recording of episodes was often acrimonious and resulted in rows, and Milligan later agreed that he was a diva during this time, adding "I was trying to shake the BBC out of its apathy. Sound effects were a knock on the door and tramps on gravel– that was it, and I tried to transform it.".<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>

	Many of the sound effects created for later programmes featured innovative production techniques borrowed from the realm of ''[[w:musique concrète\|musique concrète]]'', and using the then new technology of magnetic tape. Many of these sequences involved the use of complex multiple edits, echo and reverberation and the deliberate slowing down, speeding up or reversing of tapes. One of the most famous was the legendary "Bloodnok's Stomach" sound effect, created by the [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]] to represent the sound of Major Bloodnok's digestive system in action, which included a variety of inexplicable gurgling and explosive noises. Lewis (1995, p. 218) states Bloodnok's stomach "was achieved by overlaying burps, whoops from oscillators, water splashes, cork-like pops, and light artillery blasts".<ref name="Life&DeathofSellers"/>		Many of the sound effects created for later programmes featured innovative production techniques borrowed from the realm of ''[[w:musique concrète\|musique concrète]]'', and using the then new technology of magnetic tape. Many of these sequences involved the use of complex multiple edits, echo and reverberation and the deliberate slowing down, speeding up or reversing of tapes. One of the most famous was the legendary "Bloodnok's Stomach" sound effect, created by the [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]] to represent the sound of Major Bloodnok's digestive system in action, which included a variety of inexplicable gurgling and explosive noises. Lewis (1995, p. 218) states Bloodnok's stomach "was achieved by overlaying burps, whoops from oscillators, water splashes, cork-like pops, and light artillery blasts".<ref name="Life&DeathofSellers"/>

Kurt: /* Background */

2024-06-30T03:43:35Z

Background

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	}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.{{citation needed\|date=July 2017}}		}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.{{citation needed\|date=July 2017}}

	Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref>~~{{rp\|37}}~~ or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref>~~{{rp\|13}}~~ The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>		Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref> or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref> The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>

	Several of the Goons' nonsense songs were recorded in the late 1950s such as the "[[Ying Tong Song]]", number 3 in the [[w:UK Singles Chart\|UK Singles Chart]] in 1956. The radio show had high audience ratings in Britain at its peak; tickets for the recording sessions at the BBC's Camden Theatre (now known as [[KOKO (venue)\|KOKO]]) in London were constantly over-subscribed and the various character voices and [[w:catchphrase\|catchphrase]]s from the show quickly became part of the vernacular.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| chapter = Harry Secombe's Story \| quote = ... people used to fight to get in there, fight to get tickets for the recording at the Camden Theatre}}</ref>~~{{rp\|96}}~~ The series has remained consistently popular ever since, with the show being broadcast weekly by Australia's [[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] network as late as 2012.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816050741/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/ \|date=16 August 2014 }}</ref> The show is also broadcast on [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072vdz\|title=The Goon Show - BBC Radio 4 Extra\|website=BBC}}</ref>		Several of the Goons' nonsense songs were recorded in the late 1950s such as the "[[Ying Tong Song]]", number 3 in the [[w:UK Singles Chart\|UK Singles Chart]] in 1956. The radio show had high audience ratings in Britain at its peak; tickets for the recording sessions at the BBC's Camden Theatre (now known as [[KOKO (venue)\|KOKO]]) in London were constantly over-subscribed and the various character voices and [[w:catchphrase\|catchphrase]]s from the show quickly became part of the vernacular.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| chapter = Harry Secombe's Story \| quote = ... people used to fight to get in there, fight to get tickets for the recording at the Camden Theatre}}</ref> The series has remained consistently popular ever since, with the show being broadcast weekly by Australia's [[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] network as late as 2012.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816050741/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/ \|date=16 August 2014 }}</ref> The show is also broadcast on [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072vdz\|title=The Goon Show - BBC Radio 4 Extra\|website=BBC}}</ref>

	[[File:Blue plaque - Last Goon Show.jpg\|thumbnail\|The blue plaque from the old Camden Theatre, now Koko, the site of the recording of ''[[The Last Goon Show of All]]'' in 1972.]]		[[File:Blue plaque - Last Goon Show.jpg\|thumbnail\|The blue plaque from the old Camden Theatre, now Koko, the site of the recording of ''[[The Last Goon Show of All]]'' in 1972.]]
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	The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>		The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>

	There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (Goon Show)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|101}}~~<ref name="Spike&Co"/>		There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (Goon Show)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/><ref name="Spike&Co"/>

	==Format==		==Format==

Kurt at 03:42, 30 June 2024

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	The show's chief creator and main writer was [[Spike Milligan]], who performed the series alongside [[Harry Secombe]], [[Peter Sellers]] and (for the first two series) [[Michael Bentine]]. The scripts mixed ludicrous plots with [[w:surreal humour\|surreal humour]], puns, catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects. There were also light music interludes. Some of the later episodes feature electronic effects devised by the fledgling [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], many of which were reused by other shows for decades. Many elements of the show satirised contemporary life in 1950s Britain, parodying aspects of show business, commerce, industry, art, politics, diplomacy, the police, the military, education, class structure, literature and film.		The show's chief creator and main writer was [[Spike Milligan]], who performed the series alongside [[Harry Secombe]], [[Peter Sellers]] and (for the first two series) [[Michael Bentine]]. The scripts mixed ludicrous plots with [[w:surreal humour\|surreal humour]], puns, catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects. There were also light music interludes. Some of the later episodes feature electronic effects devised by the fledgling [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], many of which were reused by other shows for decades. Many elements of the show satirised contemporary life in 1950s Britain, parodying aspects of show business, commerce, industry, art, politics, diplomacy, the police, the military, education, class structure, literature and film.

	The show was released internationally through the [[BBC Transcription Services]] (TS).<ref name="Wilmut1976">{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 }}</ref>~~{{rp\|54}}~~ It was heard regularly from the 1950s in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Canada, although these TS versions were frequently edited to avoid controversial subjects.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|54}}~~ In the United States, [[w:NBC\|NBC]] began broadcasting the programme on its radio network from the mid-1950s.<ref name="Firezine_Goons">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|title=FIREZINE #4: Under the Influence of the Goons \|publisher=Firezine.net \|date=Winter 1997–1998 \|access-date=28 October 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627180615/http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|archive-date=27 June 2006 \|url-status=live }}</ref>		The show was released internationally through the [[BBC Transcription Services]] (TS).<ref name="Wilmut1976">{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 }}</ref> It was heard regularly from the 1950s in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Canada, although these TS versions were frequently edited to avoid controversial subjects.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/> In the United States, [[w:NBC\|NBC]] began broadcasting the programme on its radio network from the mid-1950s.<ref name="Firezine_Goons">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|title=FIREZINE #4: Under the Influence of the Goons \|publisher=Firezine.net \|date=Winter 1997–1998 \|access-date=28 October 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627180615/http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|archive-date=27 June 2006 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	[[w:Subversive\|Subversive]] and absurdist, ''The Goon Show'' exercised a considerable influence on the development of British and American comedy and popular culture. It was cited as a major influence by [[w:the Beatles\|the Beatles]], the American comedy troupe [[w:the Firesign Theatre\|the Firesign Theatre]],<ref name="Spike&Co">{{cite book \| last = McCann \| first = Graham \| title = Spike & Co. \| year = 2006 \| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton \| location = London \| isbn = 0-340-89809-7 }}</ref><sup>:4,5,61</sup> and the British comedy troupe [[Monty Python]].<ref name="ScudamoresMilliganbio">{{cite book \| last = Scudamore \| first = Pauline \| title = Spike Milligan: A Biography. \| year = 1985 \| publisher = Granada \| location= London \| isbn= 0-246-12275-7}}</ref><ref name="MilliganHisPartInOurLives">{{cite book\|last=Ventham\|first=Maxine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cndElmCstZ0C&q=spike\|title=Spike Milligan: His Part In Our Lives.\|publisher=Robson\|year=2002\|isbn=1-86105-530-7\|location=London\|access-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="PythonsbythePythons">Chapman, G., Cleese, J., Gilliam, T., Idle, E., Jones, T., & Palin, M. (2004). Edited by Bob McCabe. ''The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons''. London: Orion. Chapman's posthumous input via collateral sources. {{ISBN\|0-7528-6425-4}}</ref><ref name="CalciumMadeInteresting">{{cite book \| first=Graham \| last=Chapman \| year=2006 \| title=Calcium Made Interesting: Sketches, Letters, Essays & Gondolas \| editor=Jim Yoakum \| publisher=Pan Books \| location=London}} {{ISBN\|978-0-330-43543-7}}; {{ISBN\|0-330-43543-4}}</ref>		[[w:Subversive\|Subversive]] and absurdist, ''The Goon Show'' exercised a considerable influence on the development of British and American comedy and popular culture. It was cited as a major influence by [[w:the Beatles\|the Beatles]], the American comedy troupe [[w:the Firesign Theatre\|the Firesign Theatre]],<ref name="Spike&Co">{{cite book \| last = McCann \| first = Graham \| title = Spike & Co. \| year = 2006 \| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton \| location = London \| isbn = 0-340-89809-7 }}</ref><sup>:4,5,61</sup> and the British comedy troupe [[Monty Python]].<ref name="ScudamoresMilliganbio">{{cite book \| last = Scudamore \| first = Pauline \| title = Spike Milligan: A Biography. \| year = 1985 \| publisher = Granada \| location= London \| isbn= 0-246-12275-7}}</ref><ref name="MilliganHisPartInOurLives">{{cite book\|last=Ventham\|first=Maxine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cndElmCstZ0C&q=spike\|title=Spike Milligan: His Part In Our Lives.\|publisher=Robson\|year=2002\|isbn=1-86105-530-7\|location=London\|access-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="PythonsbythePythons">Chapman, G., Cleese, J., Gilliam, T., Idle, E., Jones, T., & Palin, M. (2004). Edited by Bob McCabe. ''The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons''. London: Orion. Chapman's posthumous input via collateral sources. {{ISBN\|0-7528-6425-4}}</ref><ref name="CalciumMadeInteresting">{{cite book \| first=Graham \| last=Chapman \| year=2006 \| title=Calcium Made Interesting: Sketches, Letters, Essays & Gondolas \| editor=Jim Yoakum \| publisher=Pan Books \| location=London}} {{ISBN\|978-0-330-43543-7}}; {{ISBN\|0-330-43543-4}}</ref>

Kurt at 19:00, 29 January 2023

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	{{Short description\|BBC Radio show broadcast from 1951 to 1960}}		{{Short description\|BBC Radio show broadcast from 1951 to 1960}}
	~~{{Use British English\|date=July 2014}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox radio show		{{Infobox radio show
	\| show_name = The Goon Show		\| show_name = The Goon Show
	\| image = ~~The_Goon_Show_~~(~~cast_photo~~).jpg		\| image = The Goon Show (cast photo).jpg
	~~\| imagesize = 250px~~
	\| caption = [[Peter Sellers]] (top), [[Spike Milligan]] (left) and [[Harry Secombe]] (right) in a 1950s [[BBC]] publicity shot		\| caption = [[Peter Sellers]] (top), [[Spike Milligan]] (left) and [[Harry Secombe]] (right) in a 1950s [[BBC]] publicity shot
	\| format = [[w:Radio comedy\|Comedy]]		\| format = [[w:Radio comedy\|Comedy]]
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	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[w:Literary nonsense\|Literary nonsense]]
	*''[[The Milligan Papers]]'' – A BBC Radio comedy from 1987, often called "A Goon Show for the '80s".
	*[[Goon Show Preservation Society]]		*[[Goon Show Preservation Society]]
	~~{{Portal\|1950s\|BBC}}~~
	*[[List of The Goon Show episodes]]		*[[List of The Goon Show episodes]]

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	}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.{{citation needed\|date=July 2017}}		}}{{dead link\|date=May 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }} "Writing the third season of The Goon Show in 1952, he suffered a relapse. 'I went into a psychiatric home and even while I was there I kept on writing these bloody shows. I had a wife and two kids to support, you see. That was the bottom line.' Inside, he had a full manic episode, including a hallucination that a lion was sitting on the wardrobe."</ref> The BBC however made sure he was surrounded by accomplished radio comedy writers — Sykes, Stephens, Antrobus, Wiltshire, and Grafton — so many of the problems caused by his ill health were skilfully covered over by composite scripts.{{citation needed\|date=July 2017}}

	Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref>~~{{rp\|37}}~~ or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref>~~{{rp\|13}}~~ The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>		Many senior BBC staff were variously bemused and befuddled by the show's surreal humour and it has been reported that senior programme executives erroneously referred to it as ''The Go On Show''<ref name=Spike&Co/><ref>{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 \| chapter = The Birth of the Goons \| quote = ...one puzzled planner was heard to ask, 'What is this "Go On Show" people are talking about? }}</ref> or even ''The [[w:List of ethnic slurs#C\|Coon]] Show''.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Milligan \| first = Spike \| title = More Goon Show Scripts \| orig-year = 1973 \| year = 1974 \| publisher = Sphere Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-7221-6077-1 \| chapter = Interview \| quote = Goon. What's a Goon? D'you mean The Coon Show...? }}</ref> The show's title was inspired, according to Spike Milligan, by [[w:Alice the Goon\|Alice the Goon]], a character from the ''[[w:Popeye#Thimble Theatre and Popeye comic strips\|Popeye]]'' comic.<ref name=Ayto2006>{{citation \|year=2006 \|author=Ayto, John \|place=Oxford, UK \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|title=Movers and Shakers: A chronology of words that shaped our age \|page=144 \|isbn=0-19-861452-7 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfb4NIo3d20C&q=%22spike+milligan%22&pg=PA144 \|access-date=23 August 2010}} Alternative {{ISBN\|978-0-19-861452-4}}</ref>

	Several of the Goons' nonsense songs were recorded in the late 1950s such as the "[[Ying Tong Song]]", number 3 in the [[w:UK Singles Chart\|UK Singles Chart]] in 1956. The radio show had high audience ratings in Britain at its peak; tickets for the recording sessions at the BBC's Camden Theatre (now known as [[KOKO (venue)\|KOKO]]) in London were constantly over-subscribed and the various character voices and [[w:catchphrase\|catchphrase]]s from the show quickly became part of the vernacular.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| chapter = Harry Secombe's Story \| quote = ... people used to fight to get in there, fight to get tickets for the recording at the Camden Theatre}}</ref>~~{{rp\|96}}~~ The series has remained consistently popular ever since, with the show being broadcast weekly by Australia's [[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] network as late as 2012.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816050741/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/ \|date=16 August 2014 }}</ref> The show is also broadcast on [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072vdz\|title=The Goon Show - BBC Radio 4 Extra\|website=BBC}}</ref>		Several of the Goons' nonsense songs were recorded in the late 1950s such as the "[[Ying Tong Song]]", number 3 in the [[w:UK Singles Chart\|UK Singles Chart]] in 1956. The radio show had high audience ratings in Britain at its peak; tickets for the recording sessions at the BBC's Camden Theatre (now known as [[KOKO (venue)\|KOKO]]) in London were constantly over-subscribed and the various character voices and [[w:catchphrase\|catchphrase]]s from the show quickly became part of the vernacular.<ref>{{cite book \| editor = Farnes, Norma\| title=The Goons: The Story \| date=6 November 1997\| publisher=Virgin Publishing \| location=London \| isbn=1-85227-679-7 \| chapter = Harry Secombe's Story \| quote = ... people used to fight to get in there, fight to get tickets for the recording at the Camden Theatre}}</ref> The series has remained consistently popular ever since, with the show being broadcast weekly by Australia's [[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] network as late as 2012.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816050741/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/comedy/goons/ \|date=16 August 2014 }}</ref> The show is also broadcast on [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra\|BBC Radio 4 Extra]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072vdz\|title=The Goon Show - BBC Radio 4 Extra\|website=BBC}}</ref>

	[[File:Blue plaque - Last Goon Show.jpg\|thumbnail\|The blue plaque from the old Camden Theatre, now Koko, the site of the recording of ''[[The Last Goon Show of All]]'' in 1972.]]		[[File:Blue plaque - Last Goon Show.jpg\|thumbnail\|The blue plaque from the old Camden Theatre, now Koko, the site of the recording of ''[[The Last Goon Show of All]]'' in 1972.]]
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	The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>		The scripts exist mostly in fan-transcribed versions via dedicated websites. Although three books<ref name= MoreGoonShowScripts/><ref name="thegoonshowscripts">Milligan, Spike. (1973) ''[[The Goon Show Scripts]]''. London: Sphere</ref><ref name="thelostgoonshows">Milligan, Spike. (1987) ''[[The Lost Goon Shows]]''. London: Robson</ref> were published containing selected scripts, they are out of print, and typically available only in libraries or second-hand. Some more recent biographical books contain selected scripts.<ref name= TheEssentialSpikeMilligan>{{cite book \| last = Games \| first = Alexander \| title = [[The Essential Spike Milligan]] \| year = 2003 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-717103-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| last = Farnes \| first = Norma \| title = The Compulsive Spike Milligan \| year = 2004 \| publisher = Fourth Estate \| location = London \| isbn = 0-00-719543-5 }}</ref>

	There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (Goon Show)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|101}}~~<ref name="Spike&Co"/>		There were 10 series in total, plus an additional series called ''Vintage Goons'', recorded at the same time as the eighth series, which featured recordings of re-developments (by Milligan) of short sketches from early shows which had not been recorded by transcription services. The first series had 17 episodes plus one special, ''[[Cinderella (Goon Show)\|Cinderella]]'' (1951); the second series had 25 episodes, (1952); the third series had 25 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Coronation Special]]'' (1952–53); the fourth series had 30 episodes plus one special, ''[[Archie In Goonland]]'' (1953–54); the fifth series had 26 episodes plus one special - ''[[The Starlings]]'' (1954–55); the sixth series had 27 episodes plus three specials, (1955–56); the seventh series had 25 episodes plus two specials, (1956–57); the eighth series had 26 episodes, (1957–58); the ''Vintage Goons'' were re-performances of 14 episodes from series four; the ninth series had 17 episodes, (1958–59); and the tenth series had six episodes, (1959–1960).<ref name="Wilmut1976"/><ref name="Spike&Co"/>

	==Format==		==Format==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 29 June 2024
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	The show's chief creator and main writer was [[Spike Milligan]], who performed the series alongside [[Harry Secombe]], [[Peter Sellers]] and (for the first two series) [[Michael Bentine]]. The scripts mixed ludicrous plots with [[w:surreal humour\|surreal humour]], puns, catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects. There were also light music interludes. Some of the later episodes feature electronic effects devised by the fledgling [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], many of which were reused by other shows for decades. Many elements of the show satirised contemporary life in 1950s Britain, parodying aspects of show business, commerce, industry, art, politics, diplomacy, the police, the military, education, class structure, literature and film.		The show's chief creator and main writer was [[Spike Milligan]], who performed the series alongside [[Harry Secombe]], [[Peter Sellers]] and (for the first two series) [[Michael Bentine]]. The scripts mixed ludicrous plots with [[w:surreal humour\|surreal humour]], puns, catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects. There were also light music interludes. Some of the later episodes feature electronic effects devised by the fledgling [[w:BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], many of which were reused by other shows for decades. Many elements of the show satirised contemporary life in 1950s Britain, parodying aspects of show business, commerce, industry, art, politics, diplomacy, the police, the military, education, class structure, literature and film.

	The show was released internationally through the [[BBC Transcription Services]] (TS).<ref name="Wilmut1976">{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 }}</ref>~~{{rp\|54}}~~ It was heard regularly from the 1950s in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Canada, although these TS versions were frequently edited to avoid controversial subjects.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/>~~{{rp\|54}}~~ In the United States, [[w:NBC\|NBC]] began broadcasting the programme on its radio network from the mid-1950s.<ref name="Firezine_Goons">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|title=FIREZINE #4: Under the Influence of the Goons \|publisher=Firezine.net \|date=Winter 1997–1998 \|access-date=28 October 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627180615/http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|archive-date=27 June 2006 \|url-status=live }}</ref>		The show was released internationally through the [[BBC Transcription Services]] (TS).<ref name="Wilmut1976">{{cite book \| last = Wilmut \| first = Roger \|author2=Jimmy Grafton \| title = The Goon Show Companion - A History and Goonography \| year = 1976 \| publisher = Robson Books \| location = London \| isbn = 0-903895-64-1 }}</ref> It was heard regularly from the 1950s in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Canada, although these TS versions were frequently edited to avoid controversial subjects.<ref name="Wilmut1976"/> In the United States, [[w:NBC\|NBC]] began broadcasting the programme on its radio network from the mid-1950s.<ref name="Firezine_Goons">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|title=FIREZINE #4: Under the Influence of the Goons \|publisher=Firezine.net \|date=Winter 1997–1998 \|access-date=28 October 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627180615/http://www.firezine.net/issue4/fz4_13.htm \|archive-date=27 June 2006 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	[[w:Subversive\|Subversive]] and absurdist, ''The Goon Show'' exercised a considerable influence on the development of British and American comedy and popular culture. It was cited as a major influence by [[w:the Beatles\|the Beatles]], the American comedy troupe [[w:the Firesign Theatre\|the Firesign Theatre]],<ref name="Spike&Co">{{cite book \| last = McCann \| first = Graham \| title = Spike & Co. \| year = 2006 \| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton \| location = London \| isbn = 0-340-89809-7 }}</ref><sup>:4,5,61</sup> and the British comedy troupe [[Monty Python]].<ref name="ScudamoresMilliganbio">{{cite book \| last = Scudamore \| first = Pauline \| title = Spike Milligan: A Biography. \| year = 1985 \| publisher = Granada \| location= London \| isbn= 0-246-12275-7}}</ref><ref name="MilliganHisPartInOurLives">{{cite book\|last=Ventham\|first=Maxine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cndElmCstZ0C&q=spike\|title=Spike Milligan: His Part In Our Lives.\|publisher=Robson\|year=2002\|isbn=1-86105-530-7\|location=London\|access-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="PythonsbythePythons">Chapman, G., Cleese, J., Gilliam, T., Idle, E., Jones, T., & Palin, M. (2004). Edited by Bob McCabe. ''The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons''. London: Orion. Chapman's posthumous input via collateral sources. {{ISBN\|0-7528-6425-4}}</ref><ref name="CalciumMadeInteresting">{{cite book \| first=Graham \| last=Chapman \| year=2006 \| title=Calcium Made Interesting: Sketches, Letters, Essays & Gondolas \| editor=Jim Yoakum \| publisher=Pan Books \| location=London}} {{ISBN\|978-0-330-43543-7}}; {{ISBN\|0-330-43543-4}}</ref>		[[w:Subversive\|Subversive]] and absurdist, ''The Goon Show'' exercised a considerable influence on the development of British and American comedy and popular culture. It was cited as a major influence by [[w:the Beatles\|the Beatles]], the American comedy troupe [[w:the Firesign Theatre\|the Firesign Theatre]],<ref name="Spike&Co">{{cite book \| last = McCann \| first = Graham \| title = Spike & Co. \| year = 2006 \| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton \| location = London \| isbn = 0-340-89809-7 }}</ref><sup>:4,5,61</sup> and the British comedy troupe [[Monty Python]].<ref name="ScudamoresMilliganbio">{{cite book \| last = Scudamore \| first = Pauline \| title = Spike Milligan: A Biography. \| year = 1985 \| publisher = Granada \| location= London \| isbn= 0-246-12275-7}}</ref><ref name="MilliganHisPartInOurLives">{{cite book\|last=Ventham\|first=Maxine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cndElmCstZ0C&q=spike\|title=Spike Milligan: His Part In Our Lives.\|publisher=Robson\|year=2002\|isbn=1-86105-530-7\|location=London\|access-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="PythonsbythePythons">Chapman, G., Cleese, J., Gilliam, T., Idle, E., Jones, T., & Palin, M. (2004). Edited by Bob McCabe. ''The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons''. London: Orion. Chapman's posthumous input via collateral sources. {{ISBN\|0-7528-6425-4}}</ref><ref name="CalciumMadeInteresting">{{cite book \| first=Graham \| last=Chapman \| year=2006 \| title=Calcium Made Interesting: Sketches, Letters, Essays & Gondolas \| editor=Jim Yoakum \| publisher=Pan Books \| location=London}} {{ISBN\|978-0-330-43543-7}}; {{ISBN\|0-330-43543-4}}</ref>