The Missing Battleship: Difference between revisions
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*Orchestra: [[Wally Stott]] | *Orchestra: [[Wally Stott]] | ||
*Ellington: ''[[ | *Ellington: ''[[Up Above My Head]]'' | ||
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| production = [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO]] 41935 | | production = [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO]] 41935 | ||
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| Compendium = [[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol7|7]] | | Compendium = [[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol7|7]] | ||
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'''''The Missing Battleship''''' is an episode from [[The Goon Show]]. It is the eighth show in the eighth series. | |||
'''''The Missing Battleship''''' is an episode from [[The Goon Show]]. It is the eighth show in the eighth series. | |||
A pre-recording session (DLO 41935A, to do mainly effects) took place Sunday {{Date|1957-11-17}}, 6.30pm. at [[KOKO (music venue)|The Camden Theatre]], Camden Town, London. The recording for transmission was created later that Sunday evening, at 9.15pm, also at The Camden (TLO 41935). | |||
The ''Vintage Goons'' fourth episode, [[The Giant Bombardon (VG)|The Giant Bombardon]], was recorded the same day as this show. | The ''Vintage Goons'' fourth episode, [[The Giant Bombardon (VG)|The Giant Bombardon]], was recorded the same day as this show. | ||
The first [[BBC Home Service|Home Service]] broadcast was the next day, Monday at 8.30pm {{Date|1957-11-18}}, its ratings were 1.5 million. It was then repeated on the [[BBC Light Programme|Light Programme]] the following Thursday {{Date|1957-11-21}} at 9pm to 2.6 million listeners. | |||
==Transcription Service Synopsis== | |||
If Britain's latest battleship. HMS Boxer (built 1902) were to be stolen, on whom would suspicion fall? A shrewd guess would be [[Count Jim Moriarty|Moriarty]] and [[Hercules Grytpype-Thynne|Grytpype-Thynne]], but inevitably [[Neddie Seagoon]] is incriminated in the plot. He is marooned on the Isle of Alasai which mysteriously starts to sail towards England … As for the rest of the plot, in the words of the Goons. ‘''It's all in the mind you know''’. | |||
==Story== | ==Story== | ||
Light yourself a hammock for our story begins onboard Britain's largest battleship, the 1902 [[ | Light yourself a hammock for our story begins onboard Britain's largest battleship, the 1902 [[HMS Boxer]] , where a broadcast of their favourite programme, ''Variety Awash'', is now in progress. Old jokes ahoy! (And that was nothing like an old joke). But music-hall comic [[Neddie Seagoon|Hairy Seagoon]] can't stop [[Count Jim Moriarty|Captain Jim 'Bilge' Moriarty]]'s piracy and the ship is swiftly flying the ''[[Jolly Roger]]''. Crash landing on a desert island could save them but there are [[Human cannibalism|cannibals]] about. And they're threatening to put [[Bluebottle]] inside. Inside what? Inside them! | ||
==Music== | ==Music== | ||
*The BBC Orchester was conducted by [[Wally Stott]]. | *The BBC Orchester was conducted by [[Wally Stott]]. | ||
*[[Ray Ellington|The Ray Ellington Quartet]] plays ''[[ | *[[Ray Ellington|The Ray Ellington Quartet]] plays ''[[Up Above My Head]]'' {{Small|([[Sister Rosetta Tharpe]])}}. | ||
*Max Geldray's performance was excised due to the show running too long.. | *Max Geldray's performance was excised due to the show running too long.. | ||
==Technical== | ==Technical== | ||
Originally recorded on [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO 41935]] (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at [[ | Originally recorded on [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO 41935]] (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at [[Broadcasting House]]). | ||
The TLO 41935 master tape survived intact in [[BBC Transcription Services|TS]], and has been used for this issue. Max Geldray's number was evidently lost in the editing required to get the performance (listed as over 42' duration in the tape log) down to transmission length, as his credit has been rather crudely excised from the closing announcement.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol7|The Goon Show Compendium Vol 7]] |first=Ted |last=Kendall | author-link=Ted Kendall |date=2012 |page=10|type=Booklet 2 |publisher=BBC Worldwide|ISBN=978-1-4458-9133-0}}</ref> | The TLO 41935 master tape survived intact in [[BBC Transcription Services|TS]], and has been used for this issue. Max Geldray's number was evidently lost in the editing required to get the performance (listed as over 42' duration in the tape log) down to transmission length, as his credit has been rather crudely excised from the closing announcement.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol7|The Goon Show Compendium Vol 7]] |first=Ted |last=Kendall | author-link=Ted Kendall |date=2012 |page=10|type=Booklet 2 |publisher=BBC Worldwide|ISBN=978-1-4458-9133-0}}</ref> | ||
==Show Notes== | |||
*Editing ''The Missing Battleship'' was a nightmare for [[Roy Speer]]. The script had been largely written by [[Larry Stephens]] and had run to 25 pages rather than the usual 19 or 20; as such, the recorded programme ran twelve minutes too long. Even after removing various scenes set in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and of [[Neddie Seagoon|Seagoon]] reading the Life of [[William Kidd|Captain Kidd]], the adventure was still over-length. Sadly Speer took the decision to completely remove [[Max Geldray]]'s [[harmonica]] performance during the afternoon, in readiness for the evening broadcast. Unfortunately neither Speer nor his secretary, Evelyn, were able to contact Geldray to warn him before transmission. Speer was then taken ill for a couple of days, and it was not until Thursday that he was able to write an apologetic letter to Geldray. | |||
*The brandy issue also rumbled on, with Con Mahoney, Assistant Head of Light Entertainment, writing to the absent Speer on Tuesday 19 and noting that a 'previous producer' had assured him that this practice had stopped: '''I can only suggest that you tell your cast in a friendly and understandable fashion the Corporation's attitude towards the conduct that is causing us this bother''’. | |||
*''The Missing Battleship'' mentioned ''Variety Awash'' which was a parody of ''Variety Ahoy'', a popular services entertainment programme of the time. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Goon Shows produced by Roy Speer]] | [[Category:Goon Shows produced by Roy Speer]] | ||
[[Category:Goon Shows co-written by Larry Stephens]] | [[Category:Goon Shows co-written by Larry Stephens]] | ||
[[Category:Goon Shows announced by Wallace Greenslade]] | [[Category:Goon Shows announced by Wallace Greenslade]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:30, 1 March 2023
| "The Missing Battleship" | |
|---|---|
| The Goon Show episode | |
| Episode: no. | Series: 8 Episode: 8 |
| Written by | |
| Announcer | Wallace Greenslade |
| Produced by | Roy Speer |
| Music |
|
| Recording Number | TLO 41935 |
| First broadcast | 18 November 1957 |
| Running time | 29:56 |
The Missing Battleship is an episode from The Goon Show. It is the eighth show in the eighth series.
A pre-recording session (DLO 41935A, to do mainly effects) took place Sunday 17 November 1957, 6.30pm. at The Camden Theatre, Camden Town, London. The recording for transmission was created later that Sunday evening, at 9.15pm, also at The Camden (TLO 41935).
The Vintage Goons fourth episode, The Giant Bombardon, was recorded the same day as this show.
The first Home Service broadcast was the next day, Monday at 8.30pm 18 November 1957, its ratings were 1.5 million. It was then repeated on the Light Programme the following Thursday 21 November 1957 at 9pm to 2.6 million listeners.
Transcription Service Synopsis
If Britain's latest battleship. HMS Boxer (built 1902) were to be stolen, on whom would suspicion fall? A shrewd guess would be Moriarty and Grytpype-Thynne, but inevitably Neddie Seagoon is incriminated in the plot. He is marooned on the Isle of Alasai which mysteriously starts to sail towards England … As for the rest of the plot, in the words of the Goons. ‘It's all in the mind you know’.
Story
Light yourself a hammock for our story begins onboard Britain's largest battleship, the 1902 HMS Boxer , where a broadcast of their favourite programme, Variety Awash, is now in progress. Old jokes ahoy! (And that was nothing like an old joke). But music-hall comic Hairy Seagoon can't stop Captain Jim 'Bilge' Moriarty's piracy and the ship is swiftly flying the Jolly Roger. Crash landing on a desert island could save them but there are cannibals about. And they're threatening to put Bluebottle inside. Inside what? Inside them!
Music
- The BBC Orchester was conducted by Wally Stott.
- The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Up Above My Head (Sister Rosetta Tharpe).
- Max Geldray's performance was excised due to the show running too long..
Technical
Originally recorded on TLO 41935 (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at Broadcasting House).
The TLO 41935 master tape survived intact in TS, and has been used for this issue. Max Geldray's number was evidently lost in the editing required to get the performance (listed as over 42' duration in the tape log) down to transmission length, as his credit has been rather crudely excised from the closing announcement.[1]
Show Notes
- Editing The Missing Battleship was a nightmare for Roy Speer. The script had been largely written by Larry Stephens and had run to 25 pages rather than the usual 19 or 20; as such, the recorded programme ran twelve minutes too long. Even after removing various scenes set in the House of Commons and of Seagoon reading the Life of Captain Kidd, the adventure was still over-length. Sadly Speer took the decision to completely remove Max Geldray's harmonica performance during the afternoon, in readiness for the evening broadcast. Unfortunately neither Speer nor his secretary, Evelyn, were able to contact Geldray to warn him before transmission. Speer was then taken ill for a couple of days, and it was not until Thursday that he was able to write an apologetic letter to Geldray.
- The brandy issue also rumbled on, with Con Mahoney, Assistant Head of Light Entertainment, writing to the absent Speer on Tuesday 19 and noting that a 'previous producer' had assured him that this practice had stopped: 'I can only suggest that you tell your cast in a friendly and understandable fashion the Corporation's attitude towards the conduct that is causing us this bother’.
- The Missing Battleship mentioned Variety Awash which was a parody of Variety Ahoy, a popular services entertainment programme of the time.
References
- ^ Kendall, Ted (2012). The Goon Show Compendium Vol 7 (Booklet 2). BBC Worldwide. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-4458-9133-0.
