Originally published – November 2017
Welcome to another rummage through the internet for interesting goodies on Peter Sellers and The Goons.
This time, let’s start with… The Goons
Here’s an American Goon Show radio promo from 1975!
Many of you will have seen some or all of the Goon Show originally staged on TV for use in Secombe and Friends in 1966. In the end only some of the recording was used. Here’s a restored version of just some of the footage
Just in case any of you haven’t seen the 1968 Thames TV Goon Show – Tales of Men’s Shirts with John Cleese as announcer, here it is (albeit in not very good quality). It was made by Goon Show producer Peter Eton’s production company in 1968, directed by Joe McGrath and shown by Thames Television.
Next….The Goon Show Producers
We don’t often hear much about the producers who were an important part of The Goon Show…so, here’s a few to start the ball rolling…
John Browell – Obituary in the Independent
Dennis Main Wilson – on Wikipedia – Obituary in the Independent – Interview on Screenonline
Peter Eton – on Wikipedia
Pat Dixon – on Wikipedia
Jacques Brown – on Wikipedia
Charles Maxwell – on Wikipedia – Obituary in the Independent
Talking of Producers…. Part 1 of a new biography of George Martin is just out. As well as producing The Beatles he was also at the helm of many records by Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers – on Amazon
Now it’s the turn of… Spike Milligan
My September Love was recorded by Spike Milligan with George Martin producing. Have a picture!
Now have the audio!
It appears, according to Amazon, that someone has released the LP starring Sellers, Milligan, Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore, Bridge on The River Wye as CD for the first time. – at amazon.co.uk
Here’s a rare edition of the BBC’s Face Y our Image with Spike Milligan from 1975 which includes clips with Jimmy Grafton, John Antrobus and Peter Sellers.
Next up is an excellent 1996 BBC documentary on Spike.
Now for another rare interview with Spike Milligan by James
Whale.
Spike Milligan’s The Bed Sitting Room starring Paul Merton, Derek Jacobi, Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate and John Antrobus was repeated by the BBC on Radio 4 on 10th June. It was adapted for radio by John Antrobus and Paul Merton. at bbc.co.uk
Let’s continue with… Harry Secombe
Secombe and other stars at a film premiere in 1957
A stage production about Harry Secombe from a few years ago…
at www.nestofboxes.co.uk
Secombe left Britain for Broadway in 1965 to star in Pickwick
on Broadway. Here he is appearing on America’s Ed Sullivan Show with Roy Castle in full costume performing a scene from Pickwick and singing If I Ruled The World!
Here’s a good documentary about Handsome Harry Secombe.
Over now to… Michael Bentine
…and the SAS! – at the Independent
Here’s a lovely rare clip from The Bumblies…
Suns, Spaceships & Bug-eyed Monsters was the title of a TV programme from December 1977. The audio from this programme has survived and here it is!
Finally here’s …. Peter Sellers
Some interesting notes on Sellers film roles….
at crawleyscastingcalls.com
One of Sellers’ last interviews was done for The Today Show in America while he was promoting Being There. Although it has been available on the internet for a long time, this is more complete and better quality than other versions.
Belated auction news. A macabre life mask taken of Sellers came up for auction in February – at www.the-saleroom.com
In June Sellers’ Porche 911 came up for sale. Did you buy it?
at www.bonhams.com
Back in August 2016 yet another variation of Fool Britannia was released. This double disc edition also includes music from the era including items from the film Scandal which dramatises events from the Profumo Affair. Other material includes tracks by Mandy Rice-Davis, who was at the centre of the scandal, as well as tracks from Anthony Newley’s stage musical Stop The World I Want To Get Off. They’ve even included Sellers’ hit with Sophia Loren Goodness Gracious Me. The sleeve also boasts more content from The Establishment and That Was The Week That Was, but only 1 track is listed.
at amazon.co.uk
Geoffrey Bayldon better known in Britain as Catweazle from the 1970s TV series of the same name – or for his role with Jon Pertwee in Worzle Gummage, died at the age of 93 in May. He appeared with Sellers in The Pink Panther Strikes A gain having previously been seen in Casino Royale as well as in Inspector Clouseau in which Alan Arkin appeared as Clouseau.
at www.theguardian.com
Fascinating to see Stanley Kubrick’s notes on possible titles for Dr Strangelove.
at conelradstation.tumblr.com
The Goon Show Preservation Society 