Emperor of the Universe
| "Emperor of the Universe" | |
|---|---|
| The Goon Show episode | |
| Episode: no. | Series: 7 Episode: 14 |
| Written by | |
| Announcer | Wallace Greenslade |
| Produced by | Pat Dixon |
| Music |
|
| Recording Number | TLO 19237 |
| First broadcast | 3 January 1957 |
| Running time | 29:30 |
Emperor of the Universe is an episode from The Goon Show. It is the fourteenth show in the seventh series.
The recording for transmission was created at 7pm on Sunday 23 December 1956, at The Camden Theatre, Camden Town, London (TLO 72138).
The first Home Service broadcast was the following Thursday at 8.30pm on Monday 3 January 1957, its ratings were 2.6 million. The show was repeated Monday 5pm, 7 January 1957, on the Light Programme to 4.1 million listeners.
Synopsis
Grytpype-Thynne, acting Foreign Secretary, gives Bulldog Seagoon his first case: the mysterious disappearance of Englishmen. In one year, twenty-five million have disappeared and it's because of eggs…
Music
- The BBC Radio Orchestra was conducted by Wally Stott
- Max Geldray plays Exactly Like You (Dorothy Fields / Jimmy Mchugh)
- The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Boum! (Charles Trenet)
Technical
Originally recorded on TLO 19237 (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at Broadcasting House). The TLO 19237 master tape no longer exists, and the version of the show included on The Goon Show Compendium Vol 6 was compiled from the TGS disc and a domestic recording of the original transmission.[1]
Note
This show was a spoof of the British hero Bulldog Drummond featured in numerous books and novels since 1920). The show –which included references to the petrol rationing brought on by the Suez Crisis - also featured a character called Professor Jampton, later referred to as Hugh Jampton whose name was dubious cockney rhyming slang (Huge Hampton – Hampton Wick = prick). The cast were also in high spirits, joining in with the playout music, and making reference to their off-stage imbibing during the music numbers with calls of ‘Round the back for the brandy’, bottles of milk laced with brandy were smuggled into the Camden Theatre by the trio, a practice that was hugely frowned upon by senior BBC management.
References
- ^ Kendall, Ted (2012). The Goon Show Compendium Vol 6 (Booklet 2). BBC Worldwide. p. 13. ISBN 978-1408-468548.
