by Mark Cousins
Originally published – June 2020
The Goons
Julie Warren’s great book Its All In The Mind was the subject of a virtual book
launch. Here’s some readings……
The Larry Stephens Mystery
Chapter 18
Chapter 33
Julie Warren’s book on her relative and friend of interest to all fans of The
Goons and Larry Stephens, has now been released! It’s All In The Mind: The
Life and Legacy of Larry Stephens will finally assure Larry’s place as the
writer who wrote for The Goons, Tony Hancock, Peter Sellers, Jon Pertwee,
Dick Emery and loads more British comedy stars.
Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine all started their careers at
The Windmill Theatre in London. Here’s what the British press had to say when it closed in 1964 – on Here’s Looking At You
The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler – Part 1 The Apollo Theatre Club
– on Facebook
How Peter Sellers and ‘The Goon Show’ Paved the Way for the Comedy Podcast
at filmschoolrejects.com
Here’s a Goon Show Discography
at docplayer.net
This interview with Goon Show producer Dennis Main Wilson runs for more than 6 hours!
at historyproject.org.uk
Michael Bentine
Just some of the programmes Michael Bentine made.
at www.screenonline.org.uk
With a limited amount of new material on Michael Bentine I thought it would be good to take a look at Getty’s library. Some great Goons shots here too!
at gettyimages.co.uk
A fascinating look at London reviews including Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine – at issuu.com
Bentine awarded a BAFTA in 1962
video at gettyimages.co.uk/
Bachelor Of Arts – at reelstreets.com
Spike Milligan
A very brief sample of ‘A Look At The Australian Fringe Theatre
With Spike Milligan’ (but with a full transcript)
at alexanderstreet.com
Famous Last Words – 1986 – on facebook.com
This one is a really nice find – Spike Milligan Takes A Look At Young Australia – 1971
Nationwide October 1970
Clip from an interview with Russell Harty in 1974
Meet The Author – Norma Farnes – at www.bbc.co.uk
A poem by Spike! – Have A Nice Day!
at www.brookes.ac.uk
Spike Milligan with Woody Herman on The Parkinson Show in 1977
at www.facebook.com
Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Joanna Lumley 20th October 1989
A profile of Harry – at televisionheaven.co.uk
Andy Secombe remembers his father
at www.walesonline.co.uk
Harry at Christmas – turn the pages yourself!
at issuu.com
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast Harry Secombe’s Goon Abroad in five parts
at www.bbc.co.uk
A fascinating look at London reviews including Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine
at issuu.com
Peter Sellers
In case you missed it, the BBC’s new documentary on Peter Sellers on Saturday 9 May
at www.comedy.co.uk
If you have to be in lockdown, then I can think of worse places to be doing it than this! No sign of Basil Fawlty here!
at www.dorchestercollection.com
Clearly we’re all related to Peter Sellers
We may have drawn your attention to this site before, but its worth another look given its rich content
at flashbak.com
For lovers of lists, here’s one of Sellers’ films and TV programmes
at thefrakkinlist.wordpress.com
On 20th April in Blu-Ray Battle Of The Sexes was reissued on BluRay
at www.amazon.co.uk
The Oldie talks to Joe McGrath
at www.theoldie.co.uk
Jim Henson looks at Sellers in The Muppet Show
at www.henson.com
Victoria Sellers from 2009
at www.pressreader.com
Peter Sellers in three famous roles
The death was announced of The Countess of Stockton in March. As Miranda Quarry she was Peter Sellers’ third wife
at peeragenews.blogspot.com
If you were unable to see “The Undiscovered Peter Sellers” a while ago… here it is! – at vimeo.com
Here’s a recently added movie to the wonderful “Reel Streets” database: Penny Points To Paradise
at www.reelstreets.com
And another: The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
at www.reelstreets.com
A clip from In Town Today with Peter Sellers
on www.facebook.com
Broadcast quite a while ago “Sellers In The Attic” is still available on the BBC’s iPlayer
at www.bbc.co.uk
A clip from Margaret: The Rebel Princess
on www.townandcountrymag.com
New York Girls – a couple of lively versions of the song that Peter Sellers performed with Steeleye Span. Here together with the lyrics and a bit of the recent history of the song.
at mainlynorfolk.info
Interview with Sellers’ assistant Sue Wood – formerly Sue Evans
at www.dailybulletin.com
A video interview with Joe McGrath
at historyproject.org.uk
A video interview with Ron Goodwin who did all the music for Sellers LPs
at historyproject.org.uk
Some of the lowdown on the Beatles’ relationship with Peter Sellers
at rockonvinyl.blogspot.com
Peter Sellers was the subject of programmes in the second series of programme in Sky TV’s Comedy Legends series fronted by Barry Cryer. Series 2 includes 12 episodes and features many American stars but also includes Terry-Thomas, Billy Connolly and Sid James.
(Watch out for a new BBC profile later in the year)
at www.comedy.co.uk/
Conversations with Jerzy Kosinski – author of Being There
at books.google.co.uk
Following various screenings in London in January, the US theatrical release of The Ghost Of Peter Sellers was in New York on 27 March and LA in early April. The company releasing the film in the US was to have been 1091 Entertainment, but I understand that this has now changed to Circle Collective.
at www.facebook.com
Here’s the trailer
And the release information at www.1091.tv
The Goon Show Preservation Society 