by Mark Cousins
Originally published – December 2020
The Goons
If you’re a fan of The Goon Show and other British radio comedy, you might like to give this a try! – britishcomedyradio.org
This one is the only colour photo I’ve seen from any of ‘The Fred Shows’ – it’s from Son Of Fred from 1956 – at Getty Images
The Goon Show: The Whistling Spy Enigma
Tales of Men’s Shirts (made up of bits apparently) introduced by our new member, John Cleese.
The Great Larry Stephens Mystery
Michael Bentine
Here’s some more on The Bumblies
at turnipnet.com and at sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk
This is an unusual photo of Michael Bentine – at diomedia.com
Brains behind the SAS: How he inspired the SAS to take on its role as the world’s leading anti-terrorist squad – in The Independent
Drats: a play, sketch or monologue from ‘Make Em Laugh’ website
A Goon gone potty. About Michael B after the Goons. Nice article.
at downstairslounge.wordpress.com
Spike Milligan
The Great McGonagal – what happened at the film premiere
in the Dundee Courier
Haikus in honour of Spike: Spaikus. Who’d have thought?
Courtesy of BBC Radio 7
Harry Secombe
Highway – 1985 Strathaven – on Facebook
Highway – 1992 Chepstow
HS on Good Morning with Eamonn Holmes
A new three-disc DVD set of The Bruce Forsyth Show features many British comedy favourites, including Harry Secombe – at Amazon.co.uk
If that isn’t enough, then there’s a selection of other old TV shows featuring Harry which you can subscribe to! – at networkonair.com
Peter Sellers
Film Star Peter Sellers – a small clip from a rare 1967 television interview
Clouseau is sent to verify the ex-Peter Sellers Ferrari 275
If you scroll through the first few photos at this link site you’ll find quite a few of Peter Sellers during his ‘Peace Bombing’ in Belfast in 1971
at Getty Images
Bobbie Wygant interviews Peter Sellers in 1980:
at UNT Digital Libraries
Here’s a picture of Peter Sellers with Ravi Shankar and George Harrison that I’ve never seen before. The info says that it was 1961, but it clearly wasn’t. Any ideas? 1968? – at asianculturevulture.com
Hundreds of images of Peter Sellers – at Pinterest
A great selection of photos from Peter Sellers’ many films.
at showcase.onthedemo.com
Some great Sellers material here…
at www.tumbral.com/blog/richardhenrysellers
Extensive coverage of Peter Sellers – at dangerousminds.net
A profile of Sellers – at www.filmreference.com
This month the BBC have been broadcasting editions of Ray’s A Laugh
at bbc.co.uk
A massive collection of material on Peter Sellers – at denniscooperblog.com
The Image Collection -– Peter Sellers – at imagecollect.com
Marvellous source of some great Sellers photos
– at richardhenrysellers.tumblr.com
Chris Guest of Spinal Tap fame on Peter Sellers (1st minute only)
CDG Movie Night – Being There with Costume Designer May Routh
Peter Sellers in a rare moment out of character while with Hal Ashby filming Being There – on Criterion Daily at Twitter.com
Burt Kwouk at The Cinema Museum 2010
Here’s a couple of ‘new’ pictures you may not have seen before. The first is a nice colour photo from 1954’s And So To Bentley
– at Getty Images
The RAF News reviewed Philippa Brownsword’s book in their latest issue (see page 25) – download the pdf at www.rafnews.co.uk
Orders Are Orders – the complete film
Here’s more! at www.chortle.co.uk
I’m sad to report the death of song writing legend Herbert Kretzmer. As well as being the co-writer of songs recorded by Peter Sellers: Goodness Gracious Me and Bangers and Mash, he was a personal friend of Peter Sellers and often wrote
about him during his time as a journalist. He was probably best known as the lyricist for Les Miserables. I was fortunate enough to meet this song writing giant and spend time with him chatting about song writing and his friend Peter
Sellers. He was a master talent and a true gentleman.
www.bbc.co.uk – www.local10.com– abcnews4.com – herbertkretzmer.com
Sellers’ first big film The Ladykillers has been the subject of a 4K restoration to be in cinemas from 23 October, with 4K UHD 5-disc collector’s edition released on 9 November. It will be available as a single disc or five disc collector edition!
at Amazon.co.uk – at www.theartsshelf.com
Here is a review and clip… – at www.theguardian.com
Here’s a wonderful set of photos from the set of The Ladykillers at www.theguardian.com
Here’s some photos from the 1969 Magic Christian trip to New York on the QE2
at www.cruiselinehistory.com
Peter Sellers and Susan George in Disneyland. Any ideas when this was?
at TheSusanGeorge on Twitter
Philippa Brownsword discovered some rare footage of Peter Sellers performing in the Gang Show. (see below) You can watch it at www.iwm.org.uk
Another photo archive. This one has a few interesting shots including one from a deleted scene from Murder by Death with Sellers as a taxi driver. Plus a couple of pictures of Peter Sellers with Frank Sinatra
at www.mptvimages.com
Making Being There
Hal Ashby on making Being There
The Goon Show Preservation Society 