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{{Short description|1949 radio sketch}} | {{Short description|1949 radio sketch}} | ||
"'''Balham, Gateway to the South'''" is a [[comedy sketch]] that [[parody|parodies]] cinema [[travelogue (films)|travelogues]] by presenting the [[South London]] suburb of [[Balham, London|Balham]] as an exotic locale. It was written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] for the short-lived [[BBC]] radio series ''Third Division'' and featured in the second edition broadcast on the [[BBC Third Programme]] on 2 February 1949.<ref name="barfe">{{cite book |last1=Barfe |first1=Louis |title=Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment |date=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Books |isbn=9781848877573 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Turned_Out_Nice_Again/XHbFLkrXezMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=balham+gateway+south&pg=PT49&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> The sketch's depication of Balham as a faraway, desirable location contrasted with the real area during [[Postwar Britain|postwar austerity]].{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=157}}{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=46}} One memorable part of the sketch is the pronunciation of Balham as "Bal-Ham" in an American accent, instead of the British pronunciation "Bal-um". | "'''Balham, Gateway to the South'''" is a [[w:comedy sketch|comedy sketch]] that [[w:parody|parodies]] cinema [[w:travelogue (films)|travelogues]] by presenting the [[w:South London|South London]] suburb of [[w:Balham, London|Balham]] as an exotic locale. It was written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] for the short-lived [[w:BBC|BBC]] radio series ''Third Division'' and featured in the second edition broadcast on the [[w:BBC Third Programme|BBC Third Programme]] on 2 February 1949.<ref name="barfe">{{cite book |last1=Barfe |first1=Louis |title=Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment |date=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Books |isbn=9781848877573 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Turned_Out_Nice_Again/XHbFLkrXezMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=balham+gateway+south&pg=PT49&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> The sketch's depication of Balham as a faraway, desirable location contrasted with the real area during [[w:Postwar Britain|postwar austerity]].{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=157}}{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=46}} One memorable part of the sketch is the pronunciation of Balham as "Bal-Ham" in an American accent, instead of the British pronunciation "Bal-um". | ||
The original sketch was performed by [[Peter Sellers]] as narrator, with others such as [[Benny Hill]] and [[Michael Bentine]] contributing other voices. The script features the narration of exaggerated claims regarding the attractions of the area. The sketch was later performed solo by [[Peter Sellers]], in a parody of the American newsreel-travelogue host [[James A. Fitzpatrick]], on the 1958 [[Parlophone]] record ''[[The Best of Sellers]]'', produced by [[George Martin]].{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=157}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/4th-july-1998/94/radio|title=The cure for SAD-ROM|last=Vestey|first=Michael|date=1998-07-04|work=[[The Spectator]]|access-date=2013-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Peter Sellers – The Best Of Sellers |url=https://www.discogs.com/Peter-Sellers-The-Best-Of-Sellers/release/919883 |website=Discogs |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> The sketch was scored by [[Ron Goodwin]], and that led [[Alfred Hitchcock]] to engage him to do the score for ''[[Frenzy]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gleason |first1=Alexander |title=Ron Goodwin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jan/11/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries |access-date=2018-09-04 |work=The Guardian |date=2003-01-11}}</ref> | The original sketch was performed by [[Peter Sellers]] as narrator, with others such as [[Benny Hill]] and [[Michael Bentine]] contributing other voices. The script features the narration of exaggerated claims regarding the attractions of the area. The sketch was later performed solo by [[Peter Sellers]], in a parody of the American newsreel-travelogue host [[w:James A. Fitzpatrick|James A. Fitzpatrick]], on the 1958 [[w:Parlophone|Parlophone]] record ''[[The Best of Sellers]]'', produced by [[George Martin]].{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=157}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/4th-july-1998/94/radio|title=The cure for SAD-ROM|last=Vestey|first=Michael|date=1998-07-04|work=[[w:The Spectator|The Spectator]]|access-date=2013-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Peter Sellers – The Best Of Sellers |url=https://www.discogs.com/Peter-Sellers-The-Best-Of-Sellers/release/919883 |website=Discogs |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> The sketch was scored by [[w:Ron Goodwin|Ron Goodwin]], and that led [[w:Alfred Hitchcock|Alfred Hitchcock]] to engage him to do the score for ''[[w:Frenzy|Frenzy]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gleason |first1=Alexander |title=Ron Goodwin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jan/11/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries |access-date=2018-09-04 |work=[[w:The Guardian|The Guardian]] |date=2003-01-11}}</ref> | ||
"Balham - Gateway to the South" has entered common usage as a phrase in the United Kingdom.<ref name="newpartridge">{{cite book |last1=Victor |first1=Terry |last2=Dalzell |first2=Tom |title=The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English |date=2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781317372523 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_New_Partridge_Dictionary_of_Slang_an/bbcBCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> It has been invoked in the [[House of Lords]]; by [[Susan Garden, Baroness Garden of Frognal|Baroness Garden of Frognal]] in regards to tourism spending in 2011 and by [[Tony Greaves, Baron Greaves|Baron Greaves]] in a [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliamentary]] debate regarding [[High Speed 2|HS2]] in 2020.<ref name="HS2">{{cite web |title=HS2 |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2020-03-11/lords/lords-chamber/hs2 |website=Parallel Parliament |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref> | "Balham - Gateway to the South" has entered common usage as a phrase in the United Kingdom.<ref name="newpartridge">{{cite book |last1=Victor |first1=Terry |last2=Dalzell |first2=Tom |title=The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English |date=2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781317372523 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_New_Partridge_Dictionary_of_Slang_an/bbcBCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> It has been invoked in the [[w:House of Lords|House of Lords]]; by [[w:Susan Garden, Baroness Garden of Frognal|Baroness Garden of Frognal]] in regards to tourism spending in 2011 and by [[w:Tony Greaves, Baron Greaves|Baron Greaves]] in a [[w:Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliamentary]] debate regarding [[w:High Speed 2|HS2]] in 2020.<ref name="HS2">{{cite web |title=HS2 |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2020-03-11/lords/lords-chamber/hs2 |website=Parallel Parliament |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref> | ||
The sketch was expanded in 1979 to form the script of a short (21-minute) color film of the same name directed by [[Micky Dolenz]] and starring Danny Schiller and Judy Gridley as American tourists and [[Robbie Coltrane]] in several roles, including those originally voiced by Sellers. It was narrated, in an English accent, by [[David de Keyser]] and was released for broadcast in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Balham: Gateway to the South (1979) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f14cb15 |website=BFI Film Forever |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Balham – Gateway to the South |url=http://www.tvcream.co.uk/telly/tv-a-z/a-m/b-is-for/balham-gateway-to-the-south/ |website=TC Cream |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> In 1990, the Triangle Action Group proposed the erection of a statue of Sellers in the centre of Balham due to the sketch's impact on its tourist trade. Upon hearing of this, the writers [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] penned a letter published in the ''[[Evening Standard]]'', stating "for a trifling sum, we would be prepared to go along to the new shopping centre and stand there personally".{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=158}} | The sketch was expanded in 1979 to form the script of a short (21-minute) color film of the same name directed by [[w:Micky Dolenz|Micky Dolenz]] and starring Danny Schiller and Judy Gridley as American tourists and [[Robbie Coltrane]] in several roles, including those originally voiced by Sellers. It was narrated, in an English accent, by [[w:David de Keyser|David de Keyser]] and was released for broadcast in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Balham: Gateway to the South (1979) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f14cb15 |website=BFI Film Forever |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Balham – Gateway to the South |url=http://www.tvcream.co.uk/telly/tv-a-z/a-m/b-is-for/balham-gateway-to-the-south/ |website=TC Cream |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> In 1990, the Triangle Action Group proposed the erection of a statue of Sellers in the centre of Balham due to the sketch's impact on its tourist trade. Upon hearing of this, the writers [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] penned a letter published in the ''[[w:Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]'', stating "for a trifling sum, we would be prepared to go along to the new shopping centre and stand there personally".{{sfn|Muir|1997|p=158}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
* {{cite book | last = Muir | first = Frank | author-link = Frank Muir | year = 1997 | title = A Kentish Lad | location = London | publisher = [[Bantam Press]] | isbn = 0-552-14137-2 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/kentishladautobi0000muir }} | * {{cite book | last = Muir | first = Frank | author-link = Frank Muir | year = 1997 | title = A Kentish Lad | location = London | publisher = [[w:Bantam Press|Bantam Press]] | isbn = 0-552-14137-2 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/kentishladautobi0000muir }} | ||
* {{cite book | last = Sikov | first = Ed | title = Mr Strangelove; A Biography of Peter Sellers | year = 2002 | publisher = [[Sidgwick & Jackson]] | author-link = Ed Sikov | location = London | isbn = 978-0-283-07297-0 }} | * {{cite book | last = Sikov | first = Ed | title = Mr Strangelove; A Biography of Peter Sellers | year = 2002 | publisher = [[w:Sidgwick & Jackson|Sidgwick & Jackson]] | author-link = Ed Sikov | location = London | isbn = 978-0-283-07297-0 }} | ||
{{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
Revision as of 13:56, 21 December 2022
"Balham, Gateway to the South" is a comedy sketch that parodies cinema travelogues by presenting the South London suburb of Balham as an exotic locale. It was written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden for the short-lived BBC radio series Third Division and featured in the second edition broadcast on the BBC Third Programme on 2 February 1949.[1] The sketch's depication of Balham as a faraway, desirable location contrasted with the real area during postwar austerity.[2][3] One memorable part of the sketch is the pronunciation of Balham as "Bal-Ham" in an American accent, instead of the British pronunciation "Bal-um".
The original sketch was performed by Peter Sellers as narrator, with others such as Benny Hill and Michael Bentine contributing other voices. The script features the narration of exaggerated claims regarding the attractions of the area. The sketch was later performed solo by Peter Sellers, in a parody of the American newsreel-travelogue host James A. Fitzpatrick, on the 1958 Parlophone record The Best of Sellers, produced by George Martin.[2][4][5] The sketch was scored by Ron Goodwin, and that led Alfred Hitchcock to engage him to do the score for Frenzy.[6]
"Balham - Gateway to the South" has entered common usage as a phrase in the United Kingdom.[7] It has been invoked in the House of Lords; by Baroness Garden of Frognal in regards to tourism spending in 2011 and by Baron Greaves in a parliamentary debate regarding HS2 in 2020.[8]
The sketch was expanded in 1979 to form the script of a short (21-minute) color film of the same name directed by Micky Dolenz and starring Danny Schiller and Judy Gridley as American tourists and Robbie Coltrane in several roles, including those originally voiced by Sellers. It was narrated, in an English accent, by David de Keyser and was released for broadcast in 1981.[9][10] In 1990, the Triangle Action Group proposed the erection of a statue of Sellers in the centre of Balham due to the sketch's impact on its tourist trade. Upon hearing of this, the writers Frank Muir and Denis Norden penned a letter published in the Evening Standard, stating "for a trifling sum, we would be prepared to go along to the new shopping centre and stand there personally".[11]
References
- ^ Barfe, Louis (2008). Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment. Atlantic Books. ISBN 9781848877573.
- ^ a b Muir 1997, p. 157.
- ^ Sikov 2002, p. 46.
- ^ Vestey, Michael (1998-07-04). "The cure for SAD-ROM". The Spectator. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
- ^ "Peter Sellers – The Best Of Sellers". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- ^ Gleason, Alexander (2003-01-11). "Ron Goodwin". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- ^ Victor, Terry; Dalzell, Tom (2015). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317372523. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "HS2". Parallel Parliament. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Balham: Gateway to the South (1979)". BFI Film Forever. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- ^ "Balham – Gateway to the South". TC Cream. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- ^ Muir 1997, p. 158.
Sources
- Muir, Frank (1997). A Kentish Lad. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 0-552-14137-2.
- Sikov, Ed (2002). Mr Strangelove; A Biography of Peter Sellers. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0-283-07297-0.
