Hi Folks!
Once again we present another stash of gems by Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine (sorry no Harry Secombe this time!) So let’s get rolling!
Peter Sellers
A clip from Peter Sellers & Anthony Newley: Saturday Spectacular Show, 1960
A sketch from The Campbells Are Coming 1974 and starring Sellers with Omar Sharif
Next a Sellers sketch about Napoleon at Waterloo written by Spike Milligan and first performed by Sellers on Southsea pier in 1953. Here from an American programme The Flip Wilson Show in 1974
SpyHards Podcast – 111. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
on podfollow.com
Some great photos of Sellers including many previously unseen contact prints
on iconiclicensing.net/
Cinema Talk 13: Peter Sellers Lost and Found – 2020
Now some “stray” books about Sellers recently uncovered on Amazon. I know nothing about any of them except that they seem very brief and therefore may be quite superficial.
Five Conversations About Peter Sellers: Hybrid Play/Essay Paperback – 30 Mar. 2023 68 pages
Peter Sellers & Britt Ekland: The Shocking Truth Paperback by Henry Secombe – 11 Mar. 2020 92 pages
I Just Freaking Love Peter Sellers: Blank Lined Notebook, Journal, Diary For Peter Sellers Fans | 6×9 Inches | 110 Pages Paperback – 15 Feb. 2022
Sellers car collection… or at least a small part of it! at www.carhp.com
It’s never too late to own one of Peter Sellers’ cars. Here’s his Lotus Elan. But you’ll have to hurry as it is auctioned on 25th February 2023
at www.the-saleroom.com
| For those of you who have bought the latest Goons and Sellers CD, “An Album Called Fred” you might like to know a bit more about the rare Sellers content and correct some of the errors in the description of their sources. at jasmine-records.co.uk  Look Me In The Eye – Home demo 1949 The song is actually called “Can You Look Me In The Eye?” He’s clearly doing an impression which is probably Reg Dixon (another ex Gang Show member) best known for the tune “Confidentially”.. which Sellers also performed in character. Here’s the sheet music with Ted Ray on the cover at www.sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk I Haven’t Told Her… Variety Bandbox 1949. This is incorrect. In fact, This is a clip from “Sellers Market” which was feature written by Muir and Norden within bandleader Geraldo’s “Starlight Hour” 22 November 1948. See BBC Genome (Note: In these early days Sellers’ name wasn’t always listed in the Radio Times) I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts – Variety Bandbox 22 January 1950 Correct! He sings it as Max Miller – Some copies of the sheet music for this have Sellers name as “Sellars” on the cover. at www.johnsbookshop.com – on BBC Genome Llanfair PG – Variety Bandbox 19 September 1949 This actually comes from his first appearance in the show which was on this date, but in 1948. See BBC Genome It is claimed that all the above are from Sellers’ personal collection. Ying Tong – (Show Called Fred) 1956 A recording of this (not the Decca record) was used to open every edition of A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred. However, the recording on this CD is longer than those found in the surviving programmes! Jump Into A Dustbin and Dance – May 1956 This comes from Show 5 of A Show Called Fred broadcast on Wednesday 30 May 1956 Wormwood Scrubs Tango – stereo alternate take This is NOT an alternate take, but is identical to the record release In addition to many music tracks by Harry Secombe, The Ray Ellington Quartet, Max Geldray, George Chisholm, Wally Stott Lucky Strike and Crazy Rhythm were both used as themes for The Goon Show, and I’m Alright Jack and Two Way Stretch were both themes from Peter Sellers films of the same names. Finally, the last two tracks Sous Les Toits De Paris and You’re Dancing On My Heart are both pieces that were used and sent up in editions of The Goon Show! |
The Goons
An interesting piece, originally from 1954, on BBC announcers including Andrew Timothy and Wallace Greenslade and John Snagge
at transdiffusion.org
A Goon Becomes King! – The full Charles Bluebotte film made when he was in the RAF starting in March 1971 and finishing in 1974. He trained first as a jet pilot and was then in helicopters. It was in 1973 when he was on helicopters that the film was made and was probably inspired by the recently broadcast The Last Goon Show Of All.
A nice stash of photos of The Goons! at www.imago-images.com
Here’s a brief clip from The Goons’ routine Les Trois Charlies, dreamed up by Eric Sykes and originally performed by them at Coventry in 1955. This is from 1966.
Spike Milligan
Robert Robinson interviews Spike Milligan
A whole bunch of DVDs featuring Spike Milligan. Have you got them all?
at networkonair.com
A handful of rarely seen photos of Spike, some with his last wife Shelagh
at iconiclicensing.net
Spike is included in this first Kaleidopod Podcast – 24 Jan 64 Omar Khyam Show Ep 5 and a rare clip from Sykes!
listen at anchor.fm
Michael Bentine
The Golden Silents – clip “You Must Take Off Your Moustache”
The Most Haunted House in Britain by Michael Bentine as performed by the GSPS’s very own thespian Richard Usher.
The Goon Show Preservation Society 