Originally published – March 2022
Here we go with another round of goodies to delight your pallet for all things Goon!
The Goon Show
An interesting website with a short piece on The Goons plus the complete Bridge On The River Wye. Also, a clip dated 1966, of which it is said:
This rare clip of the Goons is from the ATV show ‘Secombe & Friends’. It was thought to be wiped from TV history, but this small section is rumoured to have been found in the Peter Sellers film collection. Unconfirmed.
https://www.mislaidcomedyheroes.com/thewonderful-wit-of-wireless
For the River Wye film head for Bumf, then Audio & Video and scroll down till you reach the heading: Milligan, Sellers, Miller & Cook. Do be careful though, you could be stuck on this website for hours.
What’s So Funny? – The Six Degrees of The Goon Show – at
evergreenpodcasts.com
Now for a treat for Max Conks Geldray fans!
And now, some words from the illustrious President of The Goon Show Preservation Society
https://flashbak.com/the-story-of-prince-charlescomedy-from-the-goons-to-nowhere-15455/
You’ll have seen it before, but here it is again in readiness for its 50th anniversary next year. The Last Goon Show Of All!
Time to remind you of Tyler Adams’ excellent weekly home for all things Goon which goes by the title of GoonPod which is tailor-made for all those of you interested in all things Goon. Simply wind up your internet connection and point it to: anchor.fm
Ed’s extra:
Herewith, an excellent website on The Goon Show. Beautifully laid out and full of well written, well researched fact-giving articles and excellent links. Big thanks and congratulations to the maker: Nick Reeve:
www.theseagoonmemoirs.com
And, in alphabetical order by first name:
Harry Secombe
Midlands News from August 1957. Presentation of university chair to Harry Secombe – at www.macearchive.org
A Royal Celebration, 40 Years of Peace, 1985 with Sir Harry starting at about 1hr 35 mins
The Royal Variety Performance 1978 – Sir Harry can be seen at around 45 minutes in and again at 1hr 3mins in and 1hr 7 mins – no longer available on YouTube
Here’s a very interesting piece written by Harry’s son David – [we met him at the September meeting, remember?] – at adrinkershistoryoflondon.com
Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine’s Potty Time – Father Christmas
Back in July, while I wasn’t looking, a new DVD (and BluRay) of the film Rentadick was released. Amongst the plethora of British comedy types are a certain Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine in a script credited to and blamed upon Graham Chapman and John Cleese with additional dialogue by John Fortune and John Wells- at Amazon
Peter Sellers
Hoffman – limited edition Blu-ray (World Blu-ray premiere) Released: 17th January 2022 – www.powerhousefilms.co.uk
Here’s a complete transcript of the movie! – subslikescript.com
List of 73 Peter Sellers movies ranked best to worst. [No1 – Dr Strangelove!] – www.throughtheclutter.com
The Blockhouse – Limited Edition Blu-ray (World Blu-ray premiere) Release date: 17 January 2022 – www.powerhousefilms.co.uk
Sellers TV Obit TV coverage
Did you spot Peter Sellers in the new Peter Jackson Beatles Disney Channel sensation Get Back? Poor quality footage of this nondescript encounter has been on YouTube for a while so it’s nice to see at least a part of it restored with good sound quality. There will probably be a commercial release of this three-part six-hour Beatles epic next year.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/178028482246705/
He also has a page in the book of the same name. – on Amazon
Spike Milligan
First, an interview with Father Christmas
Midlands News: 22.05.1962: Giant postcard to Spike Milligan – at www.macearchive.org
1986: Famous Last Words: Spike Milligan
Idiot’s Weekly – Seven shows from Spike’s Australian radio series – at archive.org
and The Omar Khayyam Show at archive.org
BBC Archive – #OnThisDay 1970: Spike Milligan was playing it straight for Nationwide as he lamented the neglect of a building, St Albans in Hampton. [Nothing to do with Hertfordshire] at archive.org
An episode of BBC’s Meet the Author, but, ‘an interview with the author’s editor’ following the launch of her latest (at the time) accumulation of works by Spike, as described at the start of the programme. An interview with Norma Farnes. – on bbc.co.uk
The Goon Show Preservation Society 