Originally published – September 2024
After Mark Cousins’ decision not to continue compiling this series, we’ve managed to cobble another edition together. For a change, our first subject is:
Max Geldray
Here’s a good summary of Max’s life from an Australian harmonica site.
at harmonicariffraff.blog
The obituary from The Guardian, October, 2004: www.theguardian.com
… and from The Independent: www.independent.co.uk
… The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk
… and from the BBC, with interesting quotes from his friend, Angela Morley:
news.bbc.co.uk
The First Harmonica Jazz Player, by Art M Daane from The Harmonica Archivist:
at www.the-archivist.co.uk
Trivia from IMDb… no really. It’s good too. – www.imdb.com
Here he is playing Peanut Vendor – quite magnificent
Nothing majorly interesting from The British Comedy Guide, but it is something else; a brief summary of radio and television appearances. at www.comedy.co.uk
Another history of… at alchetron.com
Adler vs Geldray and harmonica vs mouth organ at www.theguardian.com
Harmonica vs mouth organ. One anonymous reference says this: A harmonica has one high quality reed per note, while a mouth organ has two reeds per note. Using Larry Adler again as a reference: at patmissin.com
Apparently a harmonica is a type of mouth organ?: at www.quora.com
One from Mark Cousins, can’t keep a good man down… can one?
Peter Sellers
Here’s one… it includes some interesting on-set shots of Sellers filming Casino Royale: at www.granger.com
Peter Seller’s lost two films: Insomnia is Good for You and Dearth of a Salesman were 4k restored at Akın Telesine Istanbul.
Some commercials from Peter Sellers
A new Pink Panther film? at pinkpanther.fandom.com
Written by Graham McCann and published online on 11th August, 2024. He who wrote the book about ALS and the early Goon days: Spike & Co:
at www.comedy.co.uk
For those who want to look at back copies of the TV Times in digital form and are willing to pay, here’s the site for you!
at www.themagazinearchive.com
Harry Secombe
Re the last one for Peter Sellers above:
As a special treat, they’re giving free access to an edition with Harry Secombe on the cover! at www.themagazinearchive.com
Just came across this and thought you might like to know… Hancock’s Half Hour: A Visit to Swansea: A lost episode of the classic radio comedy and more: Audio CD, due out: 3rd October, 2024 – at www.amazon.co.uk
Spike Milligan
Here’s Paul McCartney singing to Spike!
Late Late Show comedy clips with Brendan Grace and Spike Milligan… switch off after the first one.
Robert Gillespie on working with Spike Milligan at The Mermaid in Treasure Island: year uncertain.
Sunday Night at the London Palladium: Jimmy Tarbuck vs Spike Milligan. F/fwd to 27:38 and again to 33:30 and finally 40:34. Worth a look.
An American presenter watches a bit of a Q: ‘Where Does it Hurt’ … goes on a bit:
The Goon Show
Photo libraries to be searched for all the usual suspects! But are not for use… No.
imsvintagephotos.com
www.mauritius-images.com
www.pond5.com
Have you ever been worried that you’re possibly pronouncing the words ‘The Goon Show’ incorrectly? Well this link will help you make sure that you are:
at www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
See below for 270 authentic ‘photographs, pictures and images’ belonging to Getty Images. Meaning that nobody else can use them without paying. If
you want to use it ‘large’ that’s £375 please… www.gettyimages.co.uk
This is a bit like someone’s opened the tap on the bottom of the Goon Show tank and left it fully open… at high speed flow:
at www.threads.net
This should be under the Spike Milligan heading… but it’s here instead. How to be sure that you’re pronouncing Spike Milligan correctly. Don’t worry, I’m not going to put all them in:
at www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
The Goon Show Preservation Society 