Originally published – March 2021
by Mark Cousins
The Goon Show
Part 1 & 2 of Apollo Theatre Company and Spike Milligan Productions’ UK touring production of ‘The Goon Show’. Recorded at the Leicester Square
Theatre on 11 November 2018. Featuring The Lance Ellington Quartet.
Michael Bentine
Some festive fun with Potty Time and Father Christmas
A rare Shell advert featuring Michael Bentine, Dick Emery and Clive Dunn
on Facebook
Spike Milligan
When Spike unveiled a plaque to his old friend Peter Sellers…
BBC News
Here’s a marvellous look back at Spike’s Q series, including some great colour photos
at archivetvmusings.blog
Pob’s Programme – parts 1 & 2
Spike was heard in 1965’s The Naughty Navy Show in December
at www.bbc.co.uk
1995 Have I Got News For You with Spike Milligan
Ever wondered what programmes and films Spike had made? Well, here they all are! Mention is made of his appearance in A Kid For Two Farthings – who knew!
at IMDB
Spike Milligan with Gay Byrne on Irish TV
on Facebook
Spike Milligan with Denis Norden on Looks Familiar (with Bernard Miles and Percy Edwards). Watch this one for BM’s story about a landlady and Spike’s reaction.
Spike: A Documentary
Spike profiled by Bob Monkhouse in What A Performance
Harry Secombe
Raspberries & Turkey – at The Downstairs Lounge
A rare Harry Secombe colour short film from 1964 for what used to be known as the Stars Organisation for Spastics. A term not used now, but still a worthy cause – at Wellcome Collection
A Goon Goes To Hospital – Haywards Heath 1959
https://vimeo.com/426966809
A nice collection of all things Secombe! – at reelrundown.com
Peter Sellers
Here’s the theme tune from the TWA adverts together with the lyrics so you can sing along, even though you probably can’t travel and couldn’t fly with TWA anyway!
at Brandedskies.com
Find the original flexi disc/sheet music here (search on this page for Taste of Europe) – http://twamuseumguides.blogspot.com
This is TWA’s own Skyliner magazine from 1975 with a summary of the ads
at digital.shsmo.org
The script for The Party! – at www.worthpoint.com
Here’s the transcript of the entire film! – at www.script-o-rama.com
If you fancy a good rummage over the holiday period you could do a lot worse than starting at this fascinating website, where you’ll find lots of great information on all your favourites!
nostalgiacentral.com
If you’re short of something to watch, then you could do worse than taking a look at these…
Flying Down To Brighton – Julie Andrews and Peter Sellers
Carol For Another Christmas – A discussion on the 1964 TV movie
at www.spyculture.com
Another audio discussion on the film
Some more on the subject – at crackedrearviewer.wordpress.com
In November the death was announced of actor John Fraser. Fraser appeared with Sellers in Waltz Of The Toreadors in 1962 as well as being seen in classic films such as The Dam Busters
The Guardian – Daily Mail – The Telegraph
Wouldn’t it be great to see I’m All Right Jack in colour? Well, you can… Just check out eBay… search for: ‘I’M ALRIGHT JACK. Peter Sellers. In
Colour DVD’
This fascinating article is mostly on Peter Sellers’ cars. This is Part 7 of a series which ran in the Indian film magazine Filmfare in 1965. Has anyone seen any of the other parts? – at archive.org
A selection of photos and an article about Peter Sellers –
at joycestake.blogspot.com
A collection of writings on Peter Sellers – at dangerousminds.net
Here’s some info on a couple of Peter Sellers’ homes…
Peter Sellers’ apartment – House & Garden 1967
at www.houseandgarden.co.uk
Liz Fraser on Peter Sellers – at www.pressreader.com
Split-screen interview with George C Scott and Peter Sellers to promote Dr Strangelove
Dr Strangelove – Introduced by critic Barry Norman –
at vhistory.wordpress.com
Did you know that an extended version of the Casino Royale LP was released in 2013? Here it is with Peter Sellers on the record label
at teleport-city.com
There’s no apparent Peter Sellers connection in this new Blue Ray release of The Strange World of Gurney Slade until you look at the bonus features to find an edition of Saturday Spectacular which included Sellers alongside Anthony Newley
at networkonair.com
If you’ve ever wondered about the inspiration for the classic Peter Sellers recording of Balham, Gateway To The South (written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden) then take a look at this and you’ll find a few of the classic American travel talks by James Fitzpatrick
at www.goon.org
If you’re a Beatles fan and also a fan of Peter Sellers you’ll want to know about the latest book written by my good friend David Stark. David is a part of the Mendoza dynasty and therefore a relative of Peter Sellers.
The main focus of It’s All Too Much is on the Beatles and the many encounters David has had with them over the years. It’s a really fascinating read with heaps of stories about his close encounters with the fab four. In the process, you’ll
read about how David blagged his way into the premiere of The Magic Christian, met John Lennon outside and got his autograph on the official premiere programme! It all reads like David made it all up as it sounds too good to be true, but he really didn’t which makes reading it all the more
fascinating. – www.itsalltoomuch.net
Recollections of Peter Sellers – Richard Dysart, James B. Harris and Steve Franken briefly talk about working with him
If you’re interested in the progress of the restoration of the three shorts that were originally released in 1957, you’ll want to take a look at this update
at www.kickstarter.com
Unbelievably, Sellers in The Attic was made ten years ago. If you missed it, it can still be found on BBC iPlayer
A lengthy interview with Joe McGrath by James Bond Radio!
at jamesbondradio.com
The late great Sir George Martin produced many of Peter Sellers’ records as well as an album for Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine. Listen to him on Desert Island Discs on 29 July 82
If you’re interested in The Windmill Theatre (where it all started for Peter Sellers and others) then take a look at this from a couple of years ago
at flickr.com
The Windmill’s board:
go to www.alamy.com and search for Windmill Honours Board. The board bears the heading: ‘Stars of today who started their careers in this theatre’ and includes: 1946 – Harry Secombe and 1948 – Peter Sellers
The Goon Show Preservation Society 