The Goon Show series 9 - Revision history

Kurt: /* Harry's laughter defended */

2023-03-19T19:59:54Z

Harry's laughter defended

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 19 March 2023
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	At the start of 1959, Peter Sellers was announced as signing a five year contract to make films with the [[Boulting brothers\|Boulting Brothers]], starting at Shepperton with the trade union comedy [[I'm All Right Jack]]. In the Radio Times on Thursday 9 January, P Swain of Chesterfield responded to the criticism of the show a fortnight earlier: if your correspondent AM Mason could take part in the Goon Show without laughing at some of the lines, I would be most surprised — and how dull the show would be! Though if Mr Mason had grumbled about prolonged laughter from studio audiences I would be inclined to agree.'		At the start of 1959, Peter Sellers was announced as signing a five year contract to make films with the [[Boulting brothers\|Boulting Brothers]], starting at Shepperton with the trade union comedy [[I'm All Right Jack]]. In the Radio Times on Thursday 9 January, P Swain of Chesterfield responded to the criticism of the show a fortnight earlier: if your correspondent AM Mason could take part in the Goon Show without laughing at some of the lines, I would be most surprised — and how dull the show would be! Though if Mr Mason had grumbled about prolonged laughter from studio audiences I would be inclined to agree.'

	An opera recording at the Camden on Sunday 11 January meant [[Who is Pink Oboe?\|Who is 'Pink Oboe'?]] moved to an afternoon recording at the Paris. Shortly before rehearsals, John Browell was informed that Peter had lost his voice. 'I had a couple of hours to find four well-known actors to fill all the parts he left vacant. This was the period when, for convenience, he was partially resident in a hired ambulance,' the producer recalled in 1973. [[Valentine Dyall]] had appeared in previous editions of ''The Goon Show'' and took on the role of Grytpype Thynne in a bizarre rendition of the duet ''Miserere'' from Verdi's ''[[~~Il trovatore\|~~Il trovatore]]'' which became part of [[Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)\|Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better]] from [[Annie Get Your Gun (musical)\|Annie Get Your Gun]]. Material with Bloodnok visiting the [[Windmill Theatre\|Windmill]] was cut, and the remainder of Bloodnok's material was rewritten for the similar military character of Colonel Chinstrip played by [[Jack Train]] who had originated in the wartime comedy [[It's That Man Again\|ITMA]] and previously guested in one of the 1957 episodes, [[Shifting Sands\|The Shifting Sands]]. A Henry Crun/Minnie Bannister sequence was rewritten for the Irish couple of Mr and Mrs O' Toole, the former played by Peter's old friend [[Graham Stark]] who had deputised for Spike in several Goon Shows during 1953; Graham also took on dialogue originally written for [[Bluebottle]], although the bulk of this was deleted from the climax of the script. [[Kenneth Connor]], who had worked on some of Spike and Peter's television shows joined the team to play Willium (with his own version of the "mate" voice) and his Sidney Mincing character from [[Ray's A Laugh]]. John Snagge also pre-recorded another announcement. Again, BBC continuity declined to use the scripted announcement 'Spike Milligan [is appearing] in A Birthday Suit at Pudsey Baths.'		An opera recording at the Camden on Sunday 11 January meant [[Who is Pink Oboe?\|Who is 'Pink Oboe'?]] moved to an afternoon recording at the Paris. Shortly before rehearsals, John Browell was informed that Peter had lost his voice. 'I had a couple of hours to find four well-known actors to fill all the parts he left vacant. This was the period when, for convenience, he was partially resident in a hired ambulance,' the producer recalled in 1973. [[Valentine Dyall]] had appeared in previous editions of ''The Goon Show'' and took on the role of Grytpype Thynne in a bizarre rendition of the duet ''Miserere'' from Verdi's ''[[Il trovatore]]'' which became part of [[Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)\|Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better]] from [[Annie Get Your Gun (musical)\|Annie Get Your Gun]]. Material with Bloodnok visiting the [[Windmill Theatre\|Windmill]] was cut, and the remainder of Bloodnok's material was rewritten for the similar military character of Colonel Chinstrip played by [[Jack Train]] who had originated in the wartime comedy [[It's That Man Again\|ITMA]] and previously guested in one of the 1957 episodes, [[Shifting Sands\|The Shifting Sands]]. A Henry Crun/Minnie Bannister sequence was rewritten for the Irish couple of Mr and Mrs O' Toole, the former played by Peter's old friend [[Graham Stark]] who had deputised for Spike in several Goon Shows during 1953; Graham also took on dialogue originally written for [[Bluebottle]], although the bulk of this was deleted from the climax of the script. [[Kenneth Connor]], who had worked on some of Spike and Peter's television shows joined the team to play Willium (with his own version of the "mate" voice) and his Sidney Mincing character from [[Ray's A Laugh]]. John Snagge also pre-recorded another announcement. Again, BBC continuity declined to use the scripted announcement 'Spike Milligan [is appearing] in A Birthday Suit at Pudsey Baths.'

	'My personal thanks to you for all the trouble you took to make yesterday's show possible,' John wrote to Spike the next day, while also sending messages of thanks to Valentine, Jack, Graham and Kenneth, as well as thanking [[Peter Eton]] for releasing Graham from work on [[The Army Game]] at Granada.		'My personal thanks to you for all the trouble you took to make yesterday's show possible,' John wrote to Spike the next day, while also sending messages of thanks to Valentine, Jack, Graham and Kenneth, as well as thanking [[Peter Eton]] for releasing Graham from work on [[The Army Game]] at Granada.

	However, Spike's doctors indicated that he was suffering from [[Anxiety disorder\|anxiety neurosis]]; it was unclear if he would be in a fit state to record ''[[The Call of the West]]'' (a spoof of the Western [[~~Gunsmoke\|~~Gunsmoke]] featuring [[Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke)\|Marshall Matt Dillon]] which, as ''Gun Law'', had aired on ITV since December 1955) on Sunday 18 and he certainly would not be able to write a script for the following week. John Browell made arrangements to have a reserve performer standing by for Sunday and also to see if [[Larry Stephens]] could furnish another script. On Thursday 15, Jim Davidson indicated that the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] wanted to extend ''The Goon Show'' by two weeks and ideally wanted a non-audience show like the 1958 special, ''[[The Reason Why]]'', for the end of March which would cover the subject of a manned landing on the moon.		However, Spike's doctors indicated that he was suffering from [[Anxiety disorder\|anxiety neurosis]]; it was unclear if he would be in a fit state to record ''[[The Call of the West]]'' (a spoof of the Western [[Gunsmoke]] featuring [[Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke)\|Marshall Matt Dillon]] which, as ''Gun Law'', had aired on ITV since December 1955) on Sunday 18 and he certainly would not be able to write a script for the following week. John Browell made arrangements to have a reserve performer standing by for Sunday and also to see if [[Larry Stephens]] could furnish another script. On Thursday 15, Jim Davidson indicated that the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] wanted to extend ''The Goon Show'' by two weeks and ideally wanted a non-audience show like the 1958 special, ''[[The Reason Why]]'', for the end of March which would cover the subject of a manned landing on the moon.

	''[[The Call of the West]]'' made reference to various Westerns, including the [[Walt Disney Pictures\|Walt Disney]] incarnation of [[Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (film)\|Davy Crockett]], immortalised by a chart-topping [[The Ballad of Davy Crockett\|ballad]] in early 1956 and the show's rewritten ending (originally Grytpype and Moriarty let Chief Running Nose and his men slaughter everyone in the fort) now referred to the 1940s BBC radio show [[The Happidrome (radio)\|The Happidrome]]. At short notice, [[~~I Want to be Happy\|~~I Want to be Happy]] replaced [[Alte Kameraden\|Old Comrades]] as the closing signature tune on the show, followed by a jazz playout.		''[[The Call of the West]]'' made reference to various Westerns, including the [[Walt Disney Pictures\|Walt Disney]] incarnation of [[Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (film)\|Davy Crockett]], immortalised by a chart-topping [[The Ballad of Davy Crockett\|ballad]] in early 1956 and the show's rewritten ending (originally Grytpype and Moriarty let Chief Running Nose and his men slaughter everyone in the fort) now referred to the 1940s BBC radio show [[The Happidrome (radio)\|The Happidrome]]. At short notice, ''[[I Want to be Happy]]'' replaced [[Alte Kameraden\|Old Comrades]] as the closing signature tune on the show, followed by a jazz playout.

	==No extras for us==		==No extras for us==

Kurt: /* Larry and Maurice and Montgomery */

2023-03-19T19:57:20Z

Larry and Maurice and Montgomery

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:57, 19 March 2023
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	==Larry and Maurice and Montgomery==		==Larry and Maurice and Montgomery==
	''Large as Life'' closed at the Palladium on Saturday 13 December and the following day Harry joined the others to record both Larry and Maurice's [[The Seagoon Memoirs]] and also a message for South African listeners arranged by Derick Simond of [[BBC Transcription Services\|BBC Transcription service]]. Inspired by the publication of the memoirs of [[Bernard Montgomery\|Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery]] at the start of November, ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' made reference to [[~~Bobby Darin\|~~Bobby Darin]]'s [[Splish Splash (song)\|Splish Splash]] hit from August 1958.		''Large as Life'' closed at the Palladium on Saturday 13 December and the following day Harry joined the others to record both Larry and Maurice's [[The Seagoon Memoirs]] and also a message for South African listeners arranged by Derick Simond of [[BBC Transcription Services\|BBC Transcription service]]. Inspired by the publication of the memoirs of [[Bernard Montgomery\|Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery]] at the start of November, ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' made reference to [[Bobby Darin]]'s [[Splish Splash (song)\|Splish Splash]] hit from August 1958.

	A taped interview with Spike featured on the Monday 15 edition of the Light Programmes' [[Kaleidoscope (UK radio series)\|Kaleidoscope]], and the repeat of ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' on the same channel was promoted in the Radio Times by a photograph of the crazy trio with a cup of tea and the legend "GOONS! (REPEAT) GOONS!" Another Spike script, [[Queen Anne's Rain]], was recorded on Sunday 21 along with a special message to the British research teams in the [[~~Falkland Islands\|~~Falkland Islands]] taped from 4pm to 4.15pm; this would be relayed via the General Overseas Service's ''Calling the Antarctic'' at Christmas.		A taped interview with Spike featured on the Monday 15 edition of the Light Programmes' [[Kaleidoscope (UK radio series)\|Kaleidoscope]], and the repeat of ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' on the same channel was promoted in the Radio Times by a photograph of the crazy trio with a cup of tea and the legend "GOONS! (REPEAT) GOONS!" Another Spike script, [[Queen Anne's Rain]], was recorded on Sunday 21 along with a special message to the British research teams in the [[Falkland Islands]] taped from 4pm to 4.15pm; this would be relayed via the General Overseas Service's ''Calling the Antarctic'' at Christmas.

	On Tuesday 23, Harry opened in an eight week run of ''Large as Life'' at the [[Manchester Opera House\|Opera House]] in [[~~Manchester\|~~Manchester]]. However, one of Harry's contributions to ''The Goon Show'' came in for criticism in the New Year edition of the Radio Times when AM Mason of Chelsea's letter appeared in ''Points from the Post'': 'The Goon Show is being spoilt by having too much laughing by the cast, especially Harry Secombe. I thought it was the listener who was supposed to laugh; not much chance of that with the cast ruining nearly every funny line.'		On Tuesday 23, Harry opened in an eight week run of ''Large as Life'' at the [[Manchester Opera House\|Opera House]] in [[Manchester]]. However, one of Harry's contributions to ''The Goon Show'' came in for criticism in the New Year edition of the Radio Times when AM Mason of Chelsea's letter appeared in ''Points from the Post'': 'The Goon Show is being spoilt by having too much laughing by the cast, especially Harry Secombe. I thought it was the listener who was supposed to laugh; not much chance of that with the cast ruining nearly every funny line.'

	''[[The Battle of Spion Kop]]'' (which occurred in South Africa during the Boer War in January 1900) was taped on Sunday 28. In addition to scripted references to Rex Harrison (then starring in [[~~My Fair Lady\|~~My Fair Lady]] at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane]]), Peter ad-libbed comments about comedy actor [[~~Robert Morley\|~~Robert Morley]] who was appearing in ''Hook, Line and Sinker'' at the [[Piccadilly Theatre\|Piccadilly]].		''[[The Battle of Spion Kop]]'' (which occurred in South Africa during the Boer War in January 1900) was taped on Sunday 28. In addition to scripted references to Rex Harrison (then starring in [[My Fair Lady]] at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane]]), Peter ad-libbed comments about comedy actor [[Robert Morley]] who was appearing in ''Hook, Line and Sinker'' at the [[Piccadilly Theatre\|Piccadilly]].

	Drama critic Ian Rodger of [[The Listener (magazine)\|The Listener]] turned his attention to ''The Goon Show'' in the first edition of 1959, commenting, 'Like the Foreign Office spokesman commenting on the first sputnik, I am afraid that the programme "is rather out of my sphere." The [[Vintage Goons\|vintage Goon]] programmes earlier in the year show that the Goons now have, in contrast, no feet on the ground at all. They seem to be in free fall and their humour expanding into realms of intergalactic space. At one time, Mr Greenslade held the guy ropes of the balloon, but he too now seems to be in orbit. The programme is still great, but there are moments when it terrifies me.'		Drama critic Ian Rodger of [[The Listener (magazine)\|The Listener]] turned his attention to ''The Goon Show'' in the first edition of 1959, commenting, 'Like the Foreign Office spokesman commenting on the first sputnik, I am afraid that the programme "is rather out of my sphere." The [[Vintage Goons\|vintage Goon]] programmes earlier in the year show that the Goons now have, in contrast, no feet on the ground at all. They seem to be in free fall and their humour expanding into realms of intergalactic space. At one time, Mr Greenslade held the guy ropes of the balloon, but he too now seems to be in orbit. The programme is still great, but there are moments when it terrifies me.'

	Harry returned to London for Sunday's taping of [[Ned's Atomic Dustbin]] with a bad cold, but soldiered on with another script inspired by the hydrogen bomb tests conducted up to September 1958. The show offered references to bandleader [[~~Billy Cotton\|~~Billy Cotton]] and his long-running Light Programme show ('''Wakey Wakey''') plus a newly created sound effect called 'Bloodnok's Stomach' conjured up by Dick Mills and Jimmy Burnett of the newly formed [[~~BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|~~BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]. This time John Snagge was able to pre-record the special announcement in Spike's script.		Harry returned to London for Sunday's taping of [[Ned's Atomic Dustbin]] with a bad cold, but soldiered on with another script inspired by the hydrogen bomb tests conducted up to September 1958. The show offered references to bandleader [[Billy Cotton]] and his long-running Light Programme show (''Wakey Wakey'') plus a newly created sound effect called 'Bloodnok's Stomach' conjured up by Dick Mills and Jimmy Burnett of the newly formed [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]. This time John Snagge was able to pre-record the special announcement in Spike's script.

	==Harry's laughter defended==		==Harry's laughter defended==

Kurt at 19:42, 19 March 2023

2023-03-19T19:42:26Z

Show changes

Kurt: /* Tension in the ranks */clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

2023-01-22T00:47:22Z

Tension in the ranks: clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:47, 21 January 2023
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	==Tension in the ranks==		==Tension in the ranks==
	In April 1958, relationships between the [[~~w:BBC\|~~BBC]] and two stars of ''The Goon Show'' were somewhat strained. In his live BBC TV show, ''The April 8th Show'', [[Peter Sellers]] had significantly deviated from his script and his ad-libs had included barbs about [[Tom Sloan (television executive)\|Tom Sloan]], the Acting Head of Television Light Entertainment; the subsequent dispute led to Peter announcing that he would no longer work with [[w:BBC Television\|BBC Television]]. Meanwhile, [[Spike Milligan]], who wrote most of the shows, had been nearing exhaustion from having to write new scripts for the 1957/58 series and adapt earlier editions to be re-recorded for [[w:Canada\|Canada]] by [[BBC Transcription Services]]. When negotiating for another run of 26 episodes for ''The Goon Show'', Spike outlined certain demands: he wanted former producer Peter Eton to return, more time preparing sound effects, fresh musical links, plus opportunities to bring in other actors and develop new characters. Spike was due to visit [[w:Australia\|Australia]] over the summer, and proposed that the early scripts for the new autumn season could be written in his absence by colleagues from his agency, [[Associated London Scripts]] (ALS); he would then take over at the start of 1959. This was not what the BBC wanted and at the end of April the Corporation announced that they would not continue with ''The Goon Show''. Spike's agent quickly informed the Corporation that Spike could write the scripts, and the BBC swiftly issued a revised statement that the series would continue.		In April 1958, relationships between the [[BBC]] and two stars of ''The Goon Show'' were somewhat strained. In his live BBC TV show, ''The April 8th Show'', [[Peter Sellers]] had significantly deviated from his script and his ad-libs had included barbs about [[Tom Sloan (television executive)\|Tom Sloan]], the Acting Head of Television Light Entertainment; the subsequent dispute led to Peter announcing that he would no longer work with [[w:BBC Television\|BBC Television]]. Meanwhile, [[Spike Milligan]], who wrote most of the shows, had been nearing exhaustion from having to write new scripts for the 1957/58 series and adapt earlier editions to be re-recorded for [[w:Canada\|Canada]] by [[BBC Transcription Services]]. When negotiating for another run of 26 episodes for ''The Goon Show'', Spike outlined certain demands: he wanted former producer Peter Eton to return, more time preparing sound effects, fresh musical links, plus opportunities to bring in other actors and develop new characters. Spike was due to visit [[w:Australia\|Australia]] over the summer, and proposed that the early scripts for the new autumn season could be written in his absence by colleagues from his agency, [[Associated London Scripts]] (ALS); he would then take over at the start of 1959. This was not what the BBC wanted and at the end of April the Corporation announced that they would not continue with ''The Goon Show''. Spike's agent quickly informed the Corporation that Spike could write the scripts, and the BBC swiftly issued a revised statement that the series would continue.

	On Sunday 4 May, Spike arrived in Melbourne aboard the RMS Arcadia to be mobbed by 400 university students who were Goon fans. Spike had been contracted for three months by [[w:History of ABC Radio (Australia)\|ABC Radio]] to write and appear in ''[[The Idiot Weekly\|The Idiot's Weekly]]'' and now launched a tirade against the broadcaster that had helped him to international fame, indicating that he might stop ''The Goon Show'': 'The BBC doesn't tell me anything. I haven't even heard what my ratings are for two years. I could have been playing to a herd of kangaroos for all / know. I hate bureaucracy and I'd rather go out of work than stand for it. I'm experimental and the BBC is not. I want to improve the show but they do not.' He also complained about not being informed about the [[w:Duchess of Kent#Duchesses of Kent (United Kingdom, 1934–present)\|Duchess of Kent]]'s visit to a Goon Show recording in December.		On Sunday 4 May, Spike arrived in Melbourne aboard the RMS Arcadia to be mobbed by 400 university students who were Goon fans. Spike had been contracted for three months by [[w:History of ABC Radio (Australia)\|ABC Radio]] to write and appear in ''[[The Idiot Weekly\|The Idiot's Weekly]]'' and now launched a tirade against the broadcaster that had helped him to international fame, indicating that he might stop ''The Goon Show'': 'The BBC doesn't tell me anything. I haven't even heard what my ratings are for two years. I could have been playing to a herd of kangaroos for all / know. I hate bureaucracy and I'd rather go out of work than stand for it. I'm experimental and the BBC is not. I want to improve the show but they do not.' He also complained about not being informed about the [[w:Duchess of Kent#Duchesses of Kent (United Kingdom, 1934–present)\|Duchess of Kent]]'s visit to a Goon Show recording in December.

Kurt: clean up, replaced: Home Service → Light Programme (2)

2023-01-22T00:41:40Z

clean up, replaced: Home Service → Light Programme (2)

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:41, 21 January 2023
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Harry Secombe opened in ''Large as Life'', his second London's [[w:London Palladium\|Palladium]] revue, on Friday 23 May, appearing with his friend [[Eric Sykes]]; meanwhile, BBC TV wanted a regular vehicle for Harry but none attracted his agent, [[Jimmy Grafton]]. By late June, BBC radio planned a six week solo series for Peter, but his agent Dennis Selinger indicated that his client was engaged on film and television work; Peter rehearsed on ''Brouhaha'' from Monday 30 June, planning to open in Brighton at the end of July.		Harry Secombe opened in ''Large as Life'', his second London's [[w:London Palladium\|Palladium]] revue, on Friday 23 May, appearing with his friend [[Eric Sykes]]; meanwhile, BBC TV wanted a regular vehicle for Harry but none attracted his agent, [[Jimmy Grafton]]. By late June, BBC radio planned a six week solo series for Peter, but his agent Dennis Selinger indicated that his client was engaged on film and television work; Peter rehearsed on ''Brouhaha'' from Monday 30 June, planning to open in Brighton at the end of July.

	The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[w:BBC ~~Home Service~~\|~~Home Service~~]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.		The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.

	==The fear of low wages==		==The fear of low wages==
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	'My personal thanks to you for all the trouble you took to make yesterday's show possible,' John wrote to Spike the next day, while also sending messages of thanks to Valentine, Jack, Graham and Kenneth, as well as thanking [[Peter Eton]] for releasing Graham from work on [[The Army Game]] at Granada.		'My personal thanks to you for all the trouble you took to make yesterday's show possible,' John wrote to Spike the next day, while also sending messages of thanks to Valentine, Jack, Graham and Kenneth, as well as thanking [[Peter Eton]] for releasing Graham from work on [[The Army Game]] at Granada.

	However, Spike's doctors indicated that he was suffering from [[w:Anxiety disorder\|anxiety neurosis]]; it was unclear if he would be in a fit state to record ''[[The Call of the West]]'' (a spoof of the Western [[w:Gunsmoke\|Gunsmoke]] featuring [[w:Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke)\|Marshall Matt Dillon]] which, as ''Gun Law'', had aired on ITV since December 1955) on Sunday 18 and he certainly would not be able to write a script for the following week. John Browell made arrangements to have a reserve performer standing by for Sunday and also to see if [[Larry Stephens]] could furnish another script. On Thursday 15, Jim Davidson indicated that the [[w:BBC ~~Home Service~~\|~~Home Service~~]] wanted to extend ''The Goon Show'' by two weeks and ideally wanted a non-audience show like the 1958 special, ''[[The Reason Why]]'', for the end of March which would cover the subject of a manned landing on the moon.		However, Spike's doctors indicated that he was suffering from [[w:Anxiety disorder\|anxiety neurosis]]; it was unclear if he would be in a fit state to record ''[[The Call of the West]]'' (a spoof of the Western [[w:Gunsmoke\|Gunsmoke]] featuring [[w:Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke)\|Marshall Matt Dillon]] which, as ''Gun Law'', had aired on ITV since December 1955) on Sunday 18 and he certainly would not be able to write a script for the following week. John Browell made arrangements to have a reserve performer standing by for Sunday and also to see if [[Larry Stephens]] could furnish another script. On Thursday 15, Jim Davidson indicated that the [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] wanted to extend ''The Goon Show'' by two weeks and ideally wanted a non-audience show like the 1958 special, ''[[The Reason Why]]'', for the end of March which would cover the subject of a manned landing on the moon.

	''[[The Call of the West]]'' made reference to various Westerns, including the [[w:Walt Disney Pictures\|Walt Disney]] incarnation of [[w:Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (film)\|Davy Crockett]], immortalised by a chart-topping [[w:The Ballad of Davy Crockett\|ballad]] in early 1956 and the show's rewritten ending (originally Grytpype and Moriarty let Chief Running Nose and his men slaughter everyone in the fort) now referred to the 1940s BBC radio show [[The Happidrome (radio)\|The Happidrome]]. At short notice, [[w:I Want to be Happy\|I Want to be Happy]] replaced [[Alte Kameraden\|Old Comrades]] as the closing signature tune on the show, followed by a jazz playout.		''[[The Call of the West]]'' made reference to various Westerns, including the [[w:Walt Disney Pictures\|Walt Disney]] incarnation of [[w:Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (film)\|Davy Crockett]], immortalised by a chart-topping [[w:The Ballad of Davy Crockett\|ballad]] in early 1956 and the show's rewritten ending (originally Grytpype and Moriarty let Chief Running Nose and his men slaughter everyone in the fort) now referred to the 1940s BBC radio show [[The Happidrome (radio)\|The Happidrome]]. At short notice, [[w:I Want to be Happy\|I Want to be Happy]] replaced [[Alte Kameraden\|Old Comrades]] as the closing signature tune on the show, followed by a jazz playout.

Kurt: clean up, replaced: Light Programme → Light Programme

2023-01-22T00:38:25Z

clean up, replaced: Light Programme → Light Programme

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:38, 21 January 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:

	'Well now, ladies and gentlemen, tonight at eight thirty sees the return of ''[[The Goon Show]]''. There's not much I can tell you about the story of the first episode, except to say that a nude Welshman is holding a rice pudding in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and an atom bomb will be dropped on him. What will be the effect? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Anyhow, the story is called ''[[The Sahara Desert Statue]]'', which doesn't mean a thing, for – after all – it's all in the mind, you know…'		'Well now, ladies and gentlemen, tonight at eight thirty sees the return of ''[[The Goon Show]]''. There's not much I can tell you about the story of the first episode, except to say that a nude Welshman is holding a rice pudding in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and an atom bomb will be dropped on him. What will be the effect? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Anyhow, the story is called ''[[The Sahara Desert Statue]]'', which doesn't mean a thing, for – after all – it's all in the mind, you know…'

Line 15:		Line 14:
	Harry Secombe opened in ''Large as Life'', his second London's [[w:London Palladium\|Palladium]] revue, on Friday 23 May, appearing with his friend [[Eric Sykes]]; meanwhile, BBC TV wanted a regular vehicle for Harry but none attracted his agent, [[Jimmy Grafton]]. By late June, BBC radio planned a six week solo series for Peter, but his agent Dennis Selinger indicated that his client was engaged on film and television work; Peter rehearsed on ''Brouhaha'' from Monday 30 June, planning to open in Brighton at the end of July.		Harry Secombe opened in ''Large as Life'', his second London's [[w:London Palladium\|Palladium]] revue, on Friday 23 May, appearing with his friend [[Eric Sykes]]; meanwhile, BBC TV wanted a regular vehicle for Harry but none attracted his agent, [[Jimmy Grafton]]. By late June, BBC radio planned a six week solo series for Peter, but his agent Dennis Selinger indicated that his client was engaged on film and television work; Peter rehearsed on ''Brouhaha'' from Monday 30 June, planning to open in Brighton at the end of July.

	The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[w:BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[w:BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.		The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[w:BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.

	==The fear of low wages==		==The fear of low wages==

Kurt: /* References */

2022-11-04T04:01:47Z

References

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:01, 3 November 2022
Line 116:		Line 116:
	[[Category:The Goon Show series\|9]]		[[Category:The Goon Show series\|9]]
	[[Category:The Goon Show]]		[[Category:The Goon Show]]
			[[Category:Goon Show history]]

Kurt: /* No extras for us */

2022-11-04T03:56:55Z

No extras for us

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	'''Programme notes and cast biographies researched and written by Andrew Pixley'''		'''Programme notes and cast biographies researched and written by Andrew Pixley'''

			==References==
			{{reflist}}

			{{Goons}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Goon Show series 9, The}}
			[[Category:The Goon Show series\|9]]
			[[Category:The Goon Show]]

Kurt at 21:07, 27 October 2022

2022-10-27T21:07:42Z

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	'~~We//~~ now, ladies and gentlemen, tonight at eight thirty sees the return of ''[[The Goon Show]]''. There's not much I can tell you about the story of the first episode, except to say that a nude Welshman is holding a rice pudding in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and an atom bomb will be dropped on him. What will be the effect? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Anyhow, the story is called ''[[The Sahara Desert Statue]]'', which doesn't mean a thing, for — after all — it's all in the mind, you know…'		'Well now, ladies and gentlemen, tonight at eight thirty sees the return of ''[[The Goon Show]]''. There's not much I can tell you about the story of the first episode, except to say that a nude Welshman is holding a rice pudding in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and an atom bomb will be dropped on him. What will be the effect? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Anyhow, the story is called ''[[The Sahara Desert Statue]]'', which doesn't mean a thing, for – after all – it's all in the mind, you know…'

	==Tension in the ranks==		==Tension in the ranks==

Kurt: /* The fear of low wages= */

2022-10-26T23:41:47Z

The fear of low wages=

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	The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[w:BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[w:BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.		The BBC assessed ''The Goon Show'' situation on Friday 18 July. The hope was to record seventeen shows with an option on nine more. Recording would commence on 2 November and overlap with Harry's theatre commitments. The nine episode extension was dropped since Harry would be on holiday from the start of March and Peter was hoping that ''Brouhaha'' would transfer to New York. By now, [[John Browell]] - formerly a studio manager on the series from 1952 to 1955 and recently producer on ''Music for Sweethearts'', ''Good Evening Each'' and ''The Show Band Show'' - had been appointed as producer and was informed by Jim Davidson that the new shows would run on the [[w:BBC Home Service\|Home Service]] as before on Mondays at 8.30pm from the start of November 1958 with a [[w:BBC Light Programme\|Light Programme]] repeat at 9.31pm on Wednesdays.

	==The fear of low wages===		==The fear of low wages==
	In Australia, Spike wrote to Jim Davidson on Wednesday 16 July, returning unsigned the proffered contract and insisting that he should be on parity with [[Galton and Simpson\|Ray Galton and Alan Simpson]], the writers of ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'': 'I write the Goon Show alone, does this mean that less work is done on the script? Do I not work twice as hard, alone, and the strain twice as great, have not Galton and Simpson the pleasure of each other's help?' Spike gave the BBC a two week deadline for a better offer and threatened to extend his contract with the ABC. Harry's agent al$o requested a rise in salary, and Peter's followed suit. Variety Booking Manager Patrick Newman confirmed on Friday 25 July that Spike's script fee could be increased, and believed that Peter and Harry would accept only a nominal raise. The BBC's 'take it or leave it' offer was initially rejected, but by mid-August both Harry and Peter's agents acquiesced. However, to cut costs the BBC felt that only one musical act as opposed to two might be needed. With the series booked, six of the [[Vintage Goons\|Vintage Goon]] recordings taped for the Canadian market were selected as a lead-in to the new series from mid-September.		In Australia, Spike wrote to Jim Davidson on Wednesday 16 July, returning unsigned the proffered contract and insisting that he should be on parity with [[Galton and Simpson\|Ray Galton and Alan Simpson]], the writers of ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'': 'I write the Goon Show alone, does this mean that less work is done on the script? Do I not work twice as hard, alone, and the strain twice as great, have not Galton and Simpson the pleasure of each other's help?' Spike gave the BBC a two week deadline for a better offer and threatened to extend his contract with the ABC. Harry's agent al$o requested a rise in salary, and Peter's followed suit. Variety Booking Manager Patrick Newman confirmed on Friday 25 July that Spike's script fee could be increased, and believed that Peter and Harry would accept only a nominal raise. The BBC's 'take it or leave it' offer was initially rejected, but by mid-August both Harry and Peter's agents acquiesced. However, to cut costs the BBC felt that only one musical act as opposed to two might be needed. With the series booked, six of the [[Vintage Goons\|Vintage Goon]] recordings taped for the Canadian market were selected as a lead-in to the new series from mid-September.

	Having dropped out of the comedy film ''[[Too Many Crooks]]'', Peter Sellers opened as the Sultan in ''Brouhaha'' at the [[w:Aldwych Theatre\|Aldwych]] on Wednesday 27 August. Peter's performance received rave reviews, but the play achieved a lukewarm reception. By September, he was shooting [[Carlton-Browne of the F.O.\|Carlton-Browne of the FO]] at [[w:Shepperton Studios\|Shepperton Studios]]. Harry meanwhile recorded an appearance in one of his old radio shows, ''[[Educating Archie]]'', on Thursday 21 August for transmission on Sunday 28 September.		Having dropped out of the comedy film ''[[Too Many Crooks]]'', Peter Sellers opened as the Sultan in ''Brouhaha'' at the [[w:Aldwych Theatre\|Aldwych]] on Wednesday 27 August. Peter's performance received rave reviews, but the play achieved a lukewarm reception. By September, he was shooting [[Carlton-Browne of the F.O.\|Carlton-Browne of the FO]] at [[w:Shepperton Studios\|Shepperton Studios]]. Harry meanwhile recorded an appearance in one of his old radio shows, ''[[Educating Archie]]'', on Thursday 21 August for transmission on Sunday 28 September.

	==FX==		==FX==

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	==Larry and Maurice and Montgomery==		==Larry and Maurice and Montgomery==
	''Large as Life'' closed at the Palladium on Saturday 13 December and the following day Harry joined the others to record both Larry and Maurice's [[The Seagoon Memoirs]] and also a message for South African listeners arranged by Derick Simond of [[BBC Transcription Services\|BBC Transcription service]]. Inspired by the publication of the memoirs of [[Bernard Montgomery\|Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery]] at the start of November, ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' made reference to [[~~Bobby Darin\|~~Bobby Darin]]'s [[Splish Splash (song)\|Splish Splash]] hit from August 1958.		''Large as Life'' closed at the Palladium on Saturday 13 December and the following day Harry joined the others to record both Larry and Maurice's [[The Seagoon Memoirs]] and also a message for South African listeners arranged by Derick Simond of [[BBC Transcription Services\|BBC Transcription service]]. Inspired by the publication of the memoirs of [[Bernard Montgomery\|Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery]] at the start of November, ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' made reference to [[Bobby Darin]]'s [[Splish Splash (song)\|Splish Splash]] hit from August 1958.

	A taped interview with Spike featured on the Monday 15 edition of the Light Programmes' [[Kaleidoscope (UK radio series)\|Kaleidoscope]], and the repeat of ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' on the same channel was promoted in the Radio Times by a photograph of the crazy trio with a cup of tea and the legend "GOONS! (REPEAT) GOONS!" Another Spike script, [[Queen Anne's Rain]], was recorded on Sunday 21 along with a special message to the British research teams in the [[~~Falkland Islands\|~~Falkland Islands]] taped from 4pm to 4.15pm; this would be relayed via the General Overseas Service's ''Calling the Antarctic'' at Christmas.		A taped interview with Spike featured on the Monday 15 edition of the Light Programmes' [[Kaleidoscope (UK radio series)\|Kaleidoscope]], and the repeat of ''The Seagoon Memoirs'' on the same channel was promoted in the Radio Times by a photograph of the crazy trio with a cup of tea and the legend "GOONS! (REPEAT) GOONS!" Another Spike script, [[Queen Anne's Rain]], was recorded on Sunday 21 along with a special message to the British research teams in the [[Falkland Islands]] taped from 4pm to 4.15pm; this would be relayed via the General Overseas Service's ''Calling the Antarctic'' at Christmas.

	On Tuesday 23, Harry opened in an eight week run of ''Large as Life'' at the [[Manchester Opera House\|Opera House]] in [[~~Manchester\|~~Manchester]]. However, one of Harry's contributions to ''The Goon Show'' came in for criticism in the New Year edition of the Radio Times when AM Mason of Chelsea's letter appeared in ''Points from the Post'': 'The Goon Show is being spoilt by having too much laughing by the cast, especially Harry Secombe. I thought it was the listener who was supposed to laugh; not much chance of that with the cast ruining nearly every funny line.'		On Tuesday 23, Harry opened in an eight week run of ''Large as Life'' at the [[Manchester Opera House\|Opera House]] in [[Manchester]]. However, one of Harry's contributions to ''The Goon Show'' came in for criticism in the New Year edition of the Radio Times when AM Mason of Chelsea's letter appeared in ''Points from the Post'': 'The Goon Show is being spoilt by having too much laughing by the cast, especially Harry Secombe. I thought it was the listener who was supposed to laugh; not much chance of that with the cast ruining nearly every funny line.'

	''[[The Battle of Spion Kop]]'' (which occurred in South Africa during the Boer War in January 1900) was taped on Sunday 28. In addition to scripted references to Rex Harrison (then starring in [[~~My Fair Lady\|~~My Fair Lady]] at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane]]), Peter ad-libbed comments about comedy actor [[~~Robert Morley\|~~Robert Morley]] who was appearing in ''Hook, Line and Sinker'' at the [[Piccadilly Theatre\|Piccadilly]].		''[[The Battle of Spion Kop]]'' (which occurred in South Africa during the Boer War in January 1900) was taped on Sunday 28. In addition to scripted references to Rex Harrison (then starring in [[My Fair Lady]] at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane]]), Peter ad-libbed comments about comedy actor [[Robert Morley]] who was appearing in ''Hook, Line and Sinker'' at the [[Piccadilly Theatre\|Piccadilly]].

	Drama critic Ian Rodger of [[The Listener (magazine)\|The Listener]] turned his attention to ''The Goon Show'' in the first edition of 1959, commenting, 'Like the Foreign Office spokesman commenting on the first sputnik, I am afraid that the programme "is rather out of my sphere." The [[Vintage Goons\|vintage Goon]] programmes earlier in the year show that the Goons now have, in contrast, no feet on the ground at all. They seem to be in free fall and their humour expanding into realms of intergalactic space. At one time, Mr Greenslade held the guy ropes of the balloon, but he too now seems to be in orbit. The programme is still great, but there are moments when it terrifies me.'		Drama critic Ian Rodger of [[The Listener (magazine)\|The Listener]] turned his attention to ''The Goon Show'' in the first edition of 1959, commenting, 'Like the Foreign Office spokesman commenting on the first sputnik, I am afraid that the programme "is rather out of my sphere." The [[Vintage Goons\|vintage Goon]] programmes earlier in the year show that the Goons now have, in contrast, no feet on the ground at all. They seem to be in free fall and their humour expanding into realms of intergalactic space. At one time, Mr Greenslade held the guy ropes of the balloon, but he too now seems to be in orbit. The programme is still great, but there are moments when it terrifies me.'

	Harry returned to London for Sunday's taping of [[Ned's Atomic Dustbin]] with a bad cold, but soldiered on with another script inspired by the hydrogen bomb tests conducted up to September 1958. The show offered references to bandleader [[~~Billy Cotton\|~~Billy Cotton]] and his long-running Light Programme show ('''Wakey Wakey''') plus a newly created sound effect called 'Bloodnok's Stomach' conjured up by Dick Mills and Jimmy Burnett of the newly formed [[~~BBC Radiophonic Workshop\|~~BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]. This time John Snagge was able to pre-record the special announcement in Spike's script.		Harry returned to London for Sunday's taping of [[Ned's Atomic Dustbin]] with a bad cold, but soldiered on with another script inspired by the hydrogen bomb tests conducted up to September 1958. The show offered references to bandleader [[Billy Cotton]] and his long-running Light Programme show (''Wakey Wakey'') plus a newly created sound effect called 'Bloodnok's Stomach' conjured up by Dick Mills and Jimmy Burnett of the newly formed [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]. This time John Snagge was able to pre-record the special announcement in Spike's script.

	==Harry's laughter defended==		==Harry's laughter defended==