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{{short description|English comedian and actor}} | {{short description|English comedian and actor}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Robert Moreton | | name = Robert Moreton | ||
| image = | | image = Robert Moreton.jpg | ||
| imagesize = | | imagesize = | ||
| caption = Signed photo | | caption = Signed photo | ||
| birth_name | | birth_name = Henry Moreton | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|6|25|df=yes}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|1922|6|25|df=yes}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Teddington]], [[Middlesex]], England | | birth_place = [[w:Teddington|Teddington]], [[w:Middlesex|Middlesex]], England | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|1957|7|22|1922|6|25|df=yes}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|1957|7|22|1922|6|25|df=yes}} | ||
| death_place = [[Chelsea, London]], England | | death_place = [[w:Chelsea, London|Chelsea, London]], England | ||
| othername = | | othername = | ||
| spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| Line 21: | Line 20: | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
Born in [[Teddington]], [[Middlesex]], he initially had a successful straight acting career with the [[Old Vic Theatre]], before becoming a scriptwriter for comedians [[Tommy Handley]] and [[Lupino Lane]].<ref name=hudd/> He served in the [[Royal Air Force]], where he performed in [[Gang Show]]s with [[Tony Hancock]] among others.<ref>[http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/uploads/docs/PRH%20Sleeve%20Notes/Hancocks%20Half%20Hour%20Collectibles%20Vol%201%20Sleeve%20Notes%20FINAL%20from%20PRH%20Release.pdf "Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles", ''TonyHancock.org.uk'']. Retrieved 22 December 2020</ref> | Born in [[w:Teddington|Teddington]], [[w:Middlesex|Middlesex]], he initially had a successful straight acting career with the [[w:Old Vic Theatre|Old Vic Theatre]], before becoming a scriptwriter for comedians [[Tommy Handley]] and [[Lupino Lane]].<ref name=hudd/> He served in the [[w:Royal Air Force|Royal Air Force]], where he performed in [[w:Gang Show|Gang Show]]s with [[Tony Hancock]] among others.<ref>[http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/uploads/docs/PRH%20Sleeve%20Notes/Hancocks%20Half%20Hour%20Collectibles%20Vol%201%20Sleeve%20Notes%20FINAL%20from%20PRH%20Release.pdf "Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles", ''TonyHancock.org.uk'']. Retrieved 22 December 2020</ref> | ||
He developed a distinctive character as an amateurish and dithering aspiring comedian. His act involved him looking through his imaginary "Bumper Fun Book" for a joke, trying to tell it but hesitating and getting confused, for instance through turning over the wrong page, before eventually coming up with the punchline. On receiving applause, he would cry out "Get in there, Moreton!", which became a well-known [[catchphrase]].<ref name=hudd/><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=z2U1q1iVHtAC&pg=PA230&lpg=PA230&dq=%22Get+in+there+moreton%22&source=bl&ots=WiLNBYzFU3&sig=ACfU3U2pyJ1BafGA41ltDIvfRQbeB-yjtQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk4KtruLtAhW8QUEAHeW2CY84ChDoATAOegQIERAC#v=onepage&q=%22Get%20in%20there%20moreton%22&f=false Eric Partridge, ''A Dictionary of Catch Phrases'', Rowman & Littlefield, 1986, p.230]</ref> | He developed a distinctive character as an amateurish and dithering aspiring comedian. His act involved him looking through his imaginary "Bumper Fun Book" for a joke, trying to tell it but hesitating and getting confused, for instance through turning over the wrong page, before eventually coming up with the punchline. On receiving applause, he would cry out "Get in there, Moreton!", which became a well-known [[catchphrase]].<ref name=hudd/><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=z2U1q1iVHtAC&pg=PA230&lpg=PA230&dq=%22Get+in+there+moreton%22&source=bl&ots=WiLNBYzFU3&sig=ACfU3U2pyJ1BafGA41ltDIvfRQbeB-yjtQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk4KtruLtAhW8QUEAHeW2CY84ChDoATAOegQIERAC#v=onepage&q=%22Get%20in%20there%20moreton%22&f=false Eric Partridge, ''A Dictionary of Catch Phrases'', Rowman & Littlefield, 1986, p.230]</ref> | ||
After the end of the war, he appeared on radio shows such as ''[[Variety Bandbox]]'' and ''[[Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]''.<ref name=rt>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/140/20?order=asc&q=%22Robert+Moreton%22#search Search, Robert Moreton, ''Radio Times'', BBC]. Retrieved 22 December 2020</ref> In 1950, he appeared in the first series of the popular radio comedy series ''[[Educating Archie]]'', as Archie's tutor. He was replaced in later series by Tony Hancock. Moreton also had his own radio series starting in 1951, ''Bumblethorpe'', scripted by [[Spike Milligan]], in which he would repeatedly search for the eponymous character.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dF9zDXmpsI0C&pg=PT322&lpg=PT322&dq=bumblethorpe&source=bl&ots=fLKRc0Kpg-&sig=ACfU3U3AxQtaVVaC3JriZFEIDJCazaczHQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTuLyKpeLtAhUERxUIHb7bDQU4HhDoATACegQIAhAC#v=onepage&q=%22Robert%20Moreton%22&f=false Humphrey Carpenter, ''Spike Milligan: The Biography'', Hachette, 2011, p.]</ref> | After the end of the war, he appeared on radio shows such as ''[[w:Variety Bandbox|Variety Bandbox]]'' and ''[[w:Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]''.<ref name=rt>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/140/20?order=asc&q=%22Robert+Moreton%22#search Search, Robert Moreton, ''Radio Times'', BBC]. Retrieved 22 December 2020</ref> In 1950, he appeared in the first series of the popular radio comedy series ''[[Educating Archie]]'', as Archie's tutor. He was replaced in later series by Tony Hancock. Moreton also had his own radio series starting in 1951, ''[[Bumblethorpe]]'', scripted by [[Spike Milligan]], in which he would repeatedly search for the eponymous character.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dF9zDXmpsI0C&pg=PT322&lpg=PT322&dq=bumblethorpe&source=bl&ots=fLKRc0Kpg-&sig=ACfU3U3AxQtaVVaC3JriZFEIDJCazaczHQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTuLyKpeLtAhUERxUIHb7bDQU4HhDoATACegQIAhAC#v=onepage&q=%22Robert%20Moreton%22&f=false Humphrey Carpenter, ''Spike Milligan: The Biography'', Hachette, 2011, p.]</ref> | ||
He failed to maintain the momentum of his career in subsequent years, [[Roy Hudd]] suggesting that "the public tired of [his] one-joke approach".<ref name=hudd/> However, he appeared in several comedy films, including ''[[One Wild Oat]]'' (1951) and ''[[The Time of His Life]]'' (1955). He also appeared in the pilot series of the radio show ''[[The Clitheroe Kid]]'' in 1956.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/866d16932a5645e08be520fac8a59838 ''Radio Times'', Issue 1693, 24 April 1956, p.24]</ref> | He failed to maintain the momentum of his career in subsequent years, [[Roy Hudd]] suggesting that "the public tired of [his] one-joke approach".<ref name=hudd/> However, he appeared in several comedy films, including ''[[w:One Wild Oat|One Wild Oat]]'' (1951) and ''[[w:The Time of His Life|The Time of His Life]]'' (1955). He also appeared in the pilot series of the radio show ''[[The Clitheroe Kid]]'' in 1956.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/866d16932a5645e08be520fac8a59838 ''Radio Times'', Issue 1693, 24 April 1956, p.24]</ref> | ||
Moreton killed himself in 1957, aged 35, after suffering depression from his lack of work.<ref name=hudd>Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, pp.125-126</ref> | Moreton killed himself in 1957, aged 35, after suffering depression from his lack of work.<ref name=hudd>Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, pp.125-126</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 14:45, 23 December 2022
Robert Moreton | |
|---|---|
 Signed photo | |
| Born | Henry Moreton 25 June 1922 Teddington, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 22 July 1957 (aged 35) Chelsea, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor |
| Years active | 1940s–1957 |
Robert Moreton (born Henry Moreton; 25 June 1922 – 22 July 1957) was an English comedian and actor.
Biography
Born in Teddington, Middlesex, he initially had a successful straight acting career with the Old Vic Theatre, before becoming a scriptwriter for comedians Tommy Handley and Lupino Lane.[1] He served in the Royal Air Force, where he performed in Gang Shows with Tony Hancock among others.[2]
He developed a distinctive character as an amateurish and dithering aspiring comedian. His act involved him looking through his imaginary "Bumper Fun Book" for a joke, trying to tell it but hesitating and getting confused, for instance through turning over the wrong page, before eventually coming up with the punchline. On receiving applause, he would cry out "Get in there, Moreton!", which became a well-known catchphrase.[1][3]
After the end of the war, he appeared on radio shows such as Variety Bandbox and Workers' Playtime.[4] In 1950, he appeared in the first series of the popular radio comedy series Educating Archie, as Archie's tutor. He was replaced in later series by Tony Hancock. Moreton also had his own radio series starting in 1951, Bumblethorpe, scripted by Spike Milligan, in which he would repeatedly search for the eponymous character.[5]
He failed to maintain the momentum of his career in subsequent years, Roy Hudd suggesting that "the public tired of [his] one-joke approach".[1] However, he appeared in several comedy films, including One Wild Oat (1951) and The Time of His Life (1955). He also appeared in the pilot series of the radio show The Clitheroe Kid in 1956.[6]
Moreton killed himself in 1957, aged 35, after suffering depression from his lack of work.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, ISBN 1-86105-206-5, pp.125-126
- ^ "Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles", TonyHancock.org.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2020
- ^ Eric Partridge, A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, Rowman & Littlefield, 1986, p.230
- ^ Search, Robert Moreton, Radio Times, BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2020
- ^ Humphrey Carpenter, Spike Milligan: The Biography, Hachette, 2011, p.
- ^ Radio Times, Issue 1693, 24 April 1956, p.24
