Tony Holland The Musical Muscleman (Also Titles And End Credits) - Opportunity Knocks
This is from the last edition of the first and last run of "Opportunity Knocks" on ITV. Hughie Green would soon disappear from the limelight and moved on to other variety show work, presenting on the likes of Australian and Irish TV. This final edition featured the best and most famous performers throughout the run, and none more are unforgettable as "The Musical Muscleman" Tony Holland, who first appeared on the show in 1964.
The tune of "Wheel Cha Cha" (composed by Joe Loss in 1961) is synonymous with the bodybuilder's almost muscle hemorrhaging movements to the beat of the music. Those shoulder blades look like they're getting dislocated to move like that, my giddy aunt. Unbelievably, some people couldn't get enough of him, and he won the show six times. Since then, apart from the odd appearance on reminiscing TV shows, he has done work for the local community, running a children's home, becoming a social worker, and a gym worker throughout his lifetime.
Not to mention, Hughie Green's farewell speech, not THAT infamous speech, that probably put him in this situation of saying farewell(Stand Up and Be Counted Speech). Although cut at the beginning, at his over-dramatic best, with instrumental strings playing in the background, thanking all the stars and auditionees over the years as well as the behind-the-scenes staff, and officially declares his retirement from TV. It was thopught
Showing posts with label Light Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Light Entertainment. Show all posts
Monday, 15 March 2010
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Fun In the Sun
peters and lee
This was a variety show, that sort of alternated with the Victorian throw-back "The Good Old Days", although much more president in the summer months of the year, on once a week from June to September. It was 70s kitsch wrapped into a family seaside outing for all. The main show was usually presented in a circus big-top tent with some acts outdoors, if the weather's nice. This clip shows only presenter links from musicians Peters and Lee, and their actual performance, but we do get to see those all-important title for the show, which I can't find anywhere else. Well, the titles aren't that great, a cameraman walks in the way of an on-going act. What's up with that? Plus too much emphasis on women's posteriors. Oh, you'll have a look now won't you!
"Peters and Lee" are a male-female singing duo, most well known for their hit song "Welcome Home". Seaside Special ended in 1979, but came back in the 80s with a less gimmicky beach setting, under "Summertime Special" beginning in 1981, to 1988.
This was a variety show, that sort of alternated with the Victorian throw-back "The Good Old Days", although much more president in the summer months of the year, on once a week from June to September. It was 70s kitsch wrapped into a family seaside outing for all. The main show was usually presented in a circus big-top tent with some acts outdoors, if the weather's nice. This clip shows only presenter links from musicians Peters and Lee, and their actual performance, but we do get to see those all-important title for the show, which I can't find anywhere else. Well, the titles aren't that great, a cameraman walks in the way of an on-going act. What's up with that? Plus too much emphasis on women's posteriors. Oh, you'll have a look now won't you!
"Peters and Lee" are a male-female singing duo, most well known for their hit song "Welcome Home". Seaside Special ended in 1979, but came back in the 80s with a less gimmicky beach setting, under "Summertime Special" beginning in 1981, to 1988.
Monday, 22 February 2010
1950s Grace, Splendour and Mirth in the Golden Days of Variety - Full Episode
Sunday Night at the London Palladium 13-4-58 Part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kbieLuR3f0
"Sunday Night at the London Palladium" was the ratings powerhouse for ITV in the 1950s and 60s, which can be compared of the same ilk as modern ventures like "X-Factor" and "Strictly Come Dancing", but this wasn't some format manipulated or tampered with to garner viewer's votes! This was true variety, not just singing and dancing, but comedians, puppeteers and ventriloquists. This glitzy extravanganza was for ITV produced by regional midlands super-outfit ATV. the programme is best remembered for song, dance and gag man Bruce Forsyth in his early days (early days?) learning his craft and also hosting the show on occasions. The show reached a peak audience of an astonishing 20 million viewers in 1960, shown live.
The link above is the 1st part of the whole show, and this is an ashtonishing and rare upload to have a 1950s show in it's full entirety on Youtube. Also add to that, only 5 episodes of the show's original run survived the "achive wipeout", a common feature in the 1950s. There seems to be a couple more full episodes of the show from the 60s here too.
The show was headlined and presented by Val Parnell (Valentine Parnell) from 1956 to 1965. He was also a big figure in the world of theatre, and is thought to have introduced Julie Andrews (singing star of "Sound of Music" film)into acting fame. He was the managing director of ATV at the same time.
This episode does not star Bruce Forsyth, who would later be a pillar for the show's success. It does feature American Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, The Tiller Girls, comedian Tommy Trinder American guitarist and singer Marvin Rainwater, American comedian Dick Shawn and er..string pig puppet singing sensations Pinky and Perky! Singing an Everley Brothers covers of "Bye Bye Love". Along with a host of other puppet animals featuring an Elvis Presley singing cat puppet guitar strummer!
Tommy Trinder also presents the "Beat The Clock" gameshow section of the show. This was later Forsyth's baby too. The format of the gameshow was simple, complete a given task in under 60 seconds and hence, you have beaten the clock! It was originally an American show that ran solo from 1950 and enjoyed a very long run over there. This ran the whole length of the famous variety show, which eventually ended in 1967. The show was asked by TV chief at the the time, Lord Grade, which he later regretted.
Both "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" and "Beat The Clock" enjoyed 80s revivals individually, the former being renamed a few times from "Live at the Palladium" to "Live At Her Majesty's". This lasted for most of the 80s 1982 -1988. The latter in 1987 presented by radio DJ and "Top of the Pops" presenter Mike Smith, for a less impressive run.
Variety died out for a while by the late-80s and especially well into the 90s and 2000s, after another revivial spooned by Bruce Forsyth flopped. However, you could say it's back in a big way now, depending on who you talk to, as you now have "Britain's Got Talent", which suppoesedly cater for all the styles of entertainment you used to see, but not as innocent in it's previous form, taking a winner-takes-all-mentality. I wonder if a plate-spinner will ever win "BGT"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kbieLuR3f0
"Sunday Night at the London Palladium" was the ratings powerhouse for ITV in the 1950s and 60s, which can be compared of the same ilk as modern ventures like "X-Factor" and "Strictly Come Dancing", but this wasn't some format manipulated or tampered with to garner viewer's votes! This was true variety, not just singing and dancing, but comedians, puppeteers and ventriloquists. This glitzy extravanganza was for ITV produced by regional midlands super-outfit ATV. the programme is best remembered for song, dance and gag man Bruce Forsyth in his early days (early days?) learning his craft and also hosting the show on occasions. The show reached a peak audience of an astonishing 20 million viewers in 1960, shown live.
The link above is the 1st part of the whole show, and this is an ashtonishing and rare upload to have a 1950s show in it's full entirety on Youtube. Also add to that, only 5 episodes of the show's original run survived the "achive wipeout", a common feature in the 1950s. There seems to be a couple more full episodes of the show from the 60s here too.
The show was headlined and presented by Val Parnell (Valentine Parnell) from 1956 to 1965. He was also a big figure in the world of theatre, and is thought to have introduced Julie Andrews (singing star of "Sound of Music" film)into acting fame. He was the managing director of ATV at the same time.
This episode does not star Bruce Forsyth, who would later be a pillar for the show's success. It does feature American Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, The Tiller Girls, comedian Tommy Trinder American guitarist and singer Marvin Rainwater, American comedian Dick Shawn and er..string pig puppet singing sensations Pinky and Perky! Singing an Everley Brothers covers of "Bye Bye Love". Along with a host of other puppet animals featuring an Elvis Presley singing cat puppet guitar strummer!
Tommy Trinder also presents the "Beat The Clock" gameshow section of the show. This was later Forsyth's baby too. The format of the gameshow was simple, complete a given task in under 60 seconds and hence, you have beaten the clock! It was originally an American show that ran solo from 1950 and enjoyed a very long run over there. This ran the whole length of the famous variety show, which eventually ended in 1967. The show was asked by TV chief at the the time, Lord Grade, which he later regretted.
Both "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" and "Beat The Clock" enjoyed 80s revivals individually, the former being renamed a few times from "Live at the Palladium" to "Live At Her Majesty's". This lasted for most of the 80s 1982 -1988. The latter in 1987 presented by radio DJ and "Top of the Pops" presenter Mike Smith, for a less impressive run.
Variety died out for a while by the late-80s and especially well into the 90s and 2000s, after another revivial spooned by Bruce Forsyth flopped. However, you could say it's back in a big way now, depending on who you talk to, as you now have "Britain's Got Talent", which suppoesedly cater for all the styles of entertainment you used to see, but not as innocent in it's previous form, taking a winner-takes-all-mentality. I wonder if a plate-spinner will ever win "BGT"?
Monday, 8 February 2010
The Night "Guinevere" Broke Down on The National Lottery
The National Lottery Live - 30/11/1996
Remember when the live National Lottery Draw was a hour-long extravaganza with the bells and whistles, before the 10 minute economy branded 2000s version? Mini-games, challenges and music acts all took place under the bright lights of "National Lottery". Wll here's a memorable segment presented by our old friend Bob Monkhouse, after much musings with the audience, and a "random" member of the audience to press the "button" to initiate the start of the balls...er, the rolling of the balls...er..when viewers at home will soon know if their numbers come up. Alan Dedicated, the "voice from above" announcer, is almost close to climaxing as the balls are about to get drawn...nothing happens! The lottery ajudicator looks at the back of the machine, because that's how it really starts, not the button on the far away platform.
Monkhouse does well dealing with the situation, being the consumate professional that he is. He even steals a line from Reeve's and Mortimer's catchphrase from then, quite new gameshow "Shooting Stars", which was "We really want to see those fingers!". This clip shows the show having to end as "Casualty" was looming. The show came back later, after "Casualty". Oh, what joy it was.
"The National Lottery Live" show began in 1994 and finished or rather, evolved in 1998, to "The National Lottery Big Ticket". The show was first presented by Noel Edmonds and co-presnted sometimes by former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner, and the other notable of course being Monkhouse. The show was built up quite brilliantly by the wondrous appearance of psychic/astrologer Mystic Meg. She appears at the end of the clip, with much jokes about Meg having predicted the breakdown. Yeah, the case is out on that one. Mystic Meg, with her ever so creepy, weirdly attractive voice would tell us, as she corresses her crystal ball, "I see a carpenter, of middle age" etc. She would also predict perhaps a workplace winning big, and what star signs could be lucky this week.
Remember when the live National Lottery Draw was a hour-long extravaganza with the bells and whistles, before the 10 minute economy branded 2000s version? Mini-games, challenges and music acts all took place under the bright lights of "National Lottery". Wll here's a memorable segment presented by our old friend Bob Monkhouse, after much musings with the audience, and a "random" member of the audience to press the "button" to initiate the start of the balls...er, the rolling of the balls...er..when viewers at home will soon know if their numbers come up. Alan Dedicated, the "voice from above" announcer, is almost close to climaxing as the balls are about to get drawn...nothing happens! The lottery ajudicator looks at the back of the machine, because that's how it really starts, not the button on the far away platform.
Monkhouse does well dealing with the situation, being the consumate professional that he is. He even steals a line from Reeve's and Mortimer's catchphrase from then, quite new gameshow "Shooting Stars", which was "We really want to see those fingers!". This clip shows the show having to end as "Casualty" was looming. The show came back later, after "Casualty". Oh, what joy it was.
"The National Lottery Live" show began in 1994 and finished or rather, evolved in 1998, to "The National Lottery Big Ticket". The show was first presented by Noel Edmonds and co-presnted sometimes by former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner, and the other notable of course being Monkhouse. The show was built up quite brilliantly by the wondrous appearance of psychic/astrologer Mystic Meg. She appears at the end of the clip, with much jokes about Meg having predicted the breakdown. Yeah, the case is out on that one. Mystic Meg, with her ever so creepy, weirdly attractive voice would tell us, as she corresses her crystal ball, "I see a carpenter, of middle age" etc. She would also predict perhaps a workplace winning big, and what star signs could be lucky this week.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Belgians? And Comedy? Noooooo...oh I see, they're only the Punchline
Comic Relief Belgians quiz
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
Monday, 25 January 2010
From "That's Life!" And Something About Carrots Mimicking Rude Objects!
Robotic Dancing Competition - UK TV, 1983 - RARE!
A very weird and rare segment from the Sunday magazine show "That's Life!", presented by our very toothy but lovely Esther Rantzen. Although sadly, We don't get to see some more creepiness from our zillions of winning Robotic dancers doing their solo's as the tape ends. Metal Mickey, a small-ish robot with a stolen R2D2's head, with a smiley face on it, had his own children's show at the time, (I'm sure I've seen him on Mike Reid's "Runaround" too)voiced and controlled by Johnny Edward. Here we see robotic dancers, young and old, some still affected by the New Romanticism bug, trying to win this bloody thing. End up, Metal Mickey pops up and cruelly zaps the losers, with hundreds still left, being proclaimed winners. A stupid-ending segment, but it's still interesting to see how different we were back then.
A modern day example of that today would be, an urban dance contest. Perhaps better than what could've been a 90's version of a fad dance, "The Macarena".
Robotic dancing was invented in the late-60's by Charles "Robot" Washington, at the time of the soul and funk movement in the US. It was popularised by the teenaged "Jackson Five" in the late-70's in the song "Dancing Machine". It tied in well, with the breakdancing explosion in the early 80's, and also, people in the 80's became obsessed with technology and the future of technology, as electronic gadgets started to be rolled out at breakneck speeds, compared to the more barren 1970's.
And let's not forget "That's Life!". Running from 1973 - 1994 - a nice long run - always presented by Esther Rantzen, frequenting at the weekends. I remember it being mostly on Sunday evenings, it was mostly on Saturday's. It was like a more entertaining, fluffy wuffy version of "Watchdog". The aim of the show was to protect consumer rights, as well as light-hearted elements, like talking dog, vegetables that seemed to make funny faces or looked like a "meat and two veg". It would sometimes try to charm our socks off with amusing anecdotes read from a person's letter, a bit like "Points of View" except less moaning. There was also some Arts thrown in, with poetry by Pam Ayres and comedy songs by Richard Stilgoe.
Esther would be be the main star, while the other 2 (3?) presenters would be behind desks reading the letters from sad and happy aspects of life. There were many that came and went. The ones I most remember are Adrian Mills and Gavin Campbell, In the older 70's version, you had comedian Cyril Fletcher with his gimmick of sitting in a comfy chair with a large book reading "odd odes" and amusing misprints.
Right I won't go on much longer about this, there will be other "That's Life!" here on this nostalgia blog. I liked the show enough, and it was never really replaced, but it was criticised for being dated and now too old fashioned. As cheesy as it was, strangely entertaining, profiling the absurdities of life. Can't see it being revived.
A very weird and rare segment from the Sunday magazine show "That's Life!", presented by our very toothy but lovely Esther Rantzen. Although sadly, We don't get to see some more creepiness from our zillions of winning Robotic dancers doing their solo's as the tape ends. Metal Mickey, a small-ish robot with a stolen R2D2's head, with a smiley face on it, had his own children's show at the time, (I'm sure I've seen him on Mike Reid's "Runaround" too)voiced and controlled by Johnny Edward. Here we see robotic dancers, young and old, some still affected by the New Romanticism bug, trying to win this bloody thing. End up, Metal Mickey pops up and cruelly zaps the losers, with hundreds still left, being proclaimed winners. A stupid-ending segment, but it's still interesting to see how different we were back then.
A modern day example of that today would be, an urban dance contest. Perhaps better than what could've been a 90's version of a fad dance, "The Macarena".
Robotic dancing was invented in the late-60's by Charles "Robot" Washington, at the time of the soul and funk movement in the US. It was popularised by the teenaged "Jackson Five" in the late-70's in the song "Dancing Machine". It tied in well, with the breakdancing explosion in the early 80's, and also, people in the 80's became obsessed with technology and the future of technology, as electronic gadgets started to be rolled out at breakneck speeds, compared to the more barren 1970's.
And let's not forget "That's Life!". Running from 1973 - 1994 - a nice long run - always presented by Esther Rantzen, frequenting at the weekends. I remember it being mostly on Sunday evenings, it was mostly on Saturday's. It was like a more entertaining, fluffy wuffy version of "Watchdog". The aim of the show was to protect consumer rights, as well as light-hearted elements, like talking dog, vegetables that seemed to make funny faces or looked like a "meat and two veg". It would sometimes try to charm our socks off with amusing anecdotes read from a person's letter, a bit like "Points of View" except less moaning. There was also some Arts thrown in, with poetry by Pam Ayres and comedy songs by Richard Stilgoe.
Esther would be be the main star, while the other 2 (3?) presenters would be behind desks reading the letters from sad and happy aspects of life. There were many that came and went. The ones I most remember are Adrian Mills and Gavin Campbell, In the older 70's version, you had comedian Cyril Fletcher with his gimmick of sitting in a comfy chair with a large book reading "odd odes" and amusing misprints.
Right I won't go on much longer about this, there will be other "That's Life!" here on this nostalgia blog. I liked the show enough, and it was never really replaced, but it was criticised for being dated and now too old fashioned. As cheesy as it was, strangely entertaining, profiling the absurdities of life. Can't see it being revived.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
BA-BEH BA-BEH!
paul shane pebble mill you've lost that loving feeling the whole song
Watch if you dare!
This is the whole act in all it's horrid entirety. The backing singers are terrible, the accompanying singer is terribly trying too hard amongst all this. Paul Shane gives us his version of the song, and you know what, he really looks like he's putting all his heart into it here. Nobody delivers BABEH-BABEH like he does, you can give him that.
I wonder how much you could pay him to sing Amy Grant's early 90's hit "Baby Baby"? I don't think there would be a single dry eye in the audience.
I always have a good laugh at this. So bad it's good! I was seriously compelled not to put this in my music genre, because I can imagine someone searching through the music section going "The Pogues..yep..Depeche Mode...yep...Jimmy Hendrix...yep...Paul Shane...no, just NO. It would've been too cruel to put it in the Comedy section, so here it is, in Light Entertainment, and anyhow, Paul Shane is a very versatile performer, in acting, Pantomine, singing and dancing.
You may know Paul Shane mostly as Ted Bovis in the 80's comedy sitcom "Hi-De-Hi". Damn, he's a good singer.
Watch if you dare!
This is the whole act in all it's horrid entirety. The backing singers are terrible, the accompanying singer is terribly trying too hard amongst all this. Paul Shane gives us his version of the song, and you know what, he really looks like he's putting all his heart into it here. Nobody delivers BABEH-BABEH like he does, you can give him that.
I wonder how much you could pay him to sing Amy Grant's early 90's hit "Baby Baby"? I don't think there would be a single dry eye in the audience.
I always have a good laugh at this. So bad it's good! I was seriously compelled not to put this in my music genre, because I can imagine someone searching through the music section going "The Pogues..yep..Depeche Mode...yep...Jimmy Hendrix...yep...Paul Shane...no, just NO. It would've been too cruel to put it in the Comedy section, so here it is, in Light Entertainment, and anyhow, Paul Shane is a very versatile performer, in acting, Pantomine, singing and dancing.
You may know Paul Shane mostly as Ted Bovis in the 80's comedy sitcom "Hi-De-Hi". Damn, he's a good singer.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Jim Fixes it for London School in 1983...
Culture Club Boy George on Jim'll Fix It
A very "enthusiastic" East Barnet School welcome the surprise offering of Boy "Is it a he? Is it a she?" George, lead singer of Culture Club thanks to Jimmy Saville of "Jim'll Fix It" Fame. The show that is always on the tongues of some retro-loving TV personalities of today, oh the joy. Not to mention the countless Jimmy Saville impressions throughout the 80's and 90's from the likes of Bobby Davro and others.
Anyway, back to the clip. The children are all looking rather despondent(maybe they were expecting "Cowboy George"? - A-Team in-joke there), but we can be assured for some it was shock, as highlighted in a comment below the video. Just double-click on the video to go to that particular youtube page. Meanwhile, the teachers are looking exhilarated as this was the year "Karma Chameleon" became one of the hottest hits of the 80's so far and became a Singles No.1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic for six weeks in UK, and three weeks in the US.
No Jimmy? Well, we'll be seeing more of "Jim'll Fix It" in our Light Entertainment genre, in the months to come.
Also, what I forgot to say was, back in the early 80's, it was a unique era where it was OK for men to wear make-up, and we're talking more than a little "manliner" like what you get today! The music culture of the early 80's, set Boy George as an icon for fad wave called "New Romanticism". A fashon sense that had an androgynous and creative - not clothing simply bought from big brand stores- and was laced with the new technology of synth/electro music that became mainstream. Boy George worked at "Blitz" nightclub that started it all off, along with boss Steve Strange. however, you say David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" music video started it all off.
A very "enthusiastic" East Barnet School welcome the surprise offering of Boy "Is it a he? Is it a she?" George, lead singer of Culture Club thanks to Jimmy Saville of "Jim'll Fix It" Fame. The show that is always on the tongues of some retro-loving TV personalities of today, oh the joy. Not to mention the countless Jimmy Saville impressions throughout the 80's and 90's from the likes of Bobby Davro and others.
Anyway, back to the clip. The children are all looking rather despondent(maybe they were expecting "Cowboy George"? - A-Team in-joke there), but we can be assured for some it was shock, as highlighted in a comment below the video. Just double-click on the video to go to that particular youtube page. Meanwhile, the teachers are looking exhilarated as this was the year "Karma Chameleon" became one of the hottest hits of the 80's so far and became a Singles No.1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic for six weeks in UK, and three weeks in the US.
No Jimmy? Well, we'll be seeing more of "Jim'll Fix It" in our Light Entertainment genre, in the months to come.
Also, what I forgot to say was, back in the early 80's, it was a unique era where it was OK for men to wear make-up, and we're talking more than a little "manliner" like what you get today! The music culture of the early 80's, set Boy George as an icon for fad wave called "New Romanticism". A fashon sense that had an androgynous and creative - not clothing simply bought from big brand stores- and was laced with the new technology of synth/electro music that became mainstream. Boy George worked at "Blitz" nightclub that started it all off, along with boss Steve Strange. however, you say David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" music video started it all off.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
A Hip, Hip and a Ho, Ho and gather your Top Hat at The Leeds City Varieties Theatre!
Hinge & Bracket On The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days, could also be a subtitle for this yearning-for-nostalgia blog. Makes us feel old, but we are rewarded as you see some programmes you haven't seen in a long time, and it triggers off a strong positive memory, you may have from back then and when!
The Good Old Days, could also be a subtitle for this yearning-for-nostalgia blog. Makes us feel old, but we are rewarded as you see some programmes you haven't seen in a long time, and it triggers off a strong positive memory, you may have from back then and when!
"The Good Old Days" was a traditional variety show, with a cutesy Victorian theme. It ran for a very long time. The show, produced by the BBC, ran from 1953-1983. The audience would be dressed in Victorian clothing, and the sketches and songs would be based on the same time period. The show ended about the time traditional Variety began to die out, as alternative comedy came into the mainstream, and talent shows like "New Faces" and "Opportunity Knocks" finished some years ago.
"Hinge & Brackett" were 2 classical female impressionists that usually jousted with musical comedy as seen in this clip, played by Englishman Patrick Fyffe and Glaswegian George Logan, with the stage names Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket. They did make convincing women actually, as well as their voices. In this age of innocence, some thought they were real women. Genteel humourous songs were their forte. Each episode of the show composed of a varied cast, along with host Leonard Sachs, who you see at the beginning of this clip.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Christmas Saturday offering from BBC + Ol' Brucie
BBC Weather & Start of Generation Game
"Life is the name of the game,
And I wanna play the game with you,
Life can be terribly tame,
If you don’t play the game with two,
And I wanna play the game with you"
The classic theme from the classic show of "The Generation Game", and I believe the 90's version of the theme to be the best. I can't find it anywhere, but on this clip, which has been re-uploaded several (sigh - at youtube).
This was simply for me, the perfect Saturday prime-time early evening show. It was a behemoth of Saturday night viewing in the 70's and in it's resurrection in the 1990's. The games, the cameos, the making cakes/craftwork, the theatrical display usually at the end. Watching ordinary people being fast-tracked to follow dance acts, and crafts that needed the most nimblest of fingers, were laughed at, but in a good sense, as it wasn't too cruel.
I really like the set in this version of the show, doesn't look tacky at all, with the closing and opening doors. All these shapes moulded onto the doors and at the side, we don't know what the hell they're supposed to represent, but at least it's nice to look at. Bruce's cathphrase "Nice to see you, to see you, NICE!" was changed in this clip for a Christmas version. Brucie starts off the show with his usual puns/jokes a you do, and then introduces the glamourous assitant at the time, Rosemary Ford, which led to Brucie's "What's on the Board, Miss Ford!". Introduced next are 2 couple, sometimes man and wife, but we like to see the old ones getting into to sticky situations, so alot of parent and son/daughter couples.
Sadly, this is not a full episode.
"Life is the name of the game,
And I wanna play the game with you,
Life can be terribly tame,
If you don’t play the game with two,
And I wanna play the game with you"
The classic theme from the classic show of "The Generation Game", and I believe the 90's version of the theme to be the best. I can't find it anywhere, but on this clip, which has been re-uploaded several (sigh - at youtube).
This was simply for me, the perfect Saturday prime-time early evening show. It was a behemoth of Saturday night viewing in the 70's and in it's resurrection in the 1990's. The games, the cameos, the making cakes/craftwork, the theatrical display usually at the end. Watching ordinary people being fast-tracked to follow dance acts, and crafts that needed the most nimblest of fingers, were laughed at, but in a good sense, as it wasn't too cruel.
I really like the set in this version of the show, doesn't look tacky at all, with the closing and opening doors. All these shapes moulded onto the doors and at the side, we don't know what the hell they're supposed to represent, but at least it's nice to look at. Bruce's cathphrase "Nice to see you, to see you, NICE!" was changed in this clip for a Christmas version. Brucie starts off the show with his usual puns/jokes a you do, and then introduces the glamourous assitant at the time, Rosemary Ford, which led to Brucie's "What's on the Board, Miss Ford!". Introduced next are 2 couple, sometimes man and wife, but we like to see the old ones getting into to sticky situations, so alot of parent and son/daughter couples.
Sadly, this is not a full episode.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Youtube Light Entertainment Sweepstake
Sixth edition of the Sweepstake series.
Note: Telethon events like "Children In Need" and "Comic Relief" are also included in this section, for future reference.
Susan Boyle's 1995 audition for My Kind of People - and kiss with Michael Barrymore
This clip came to light after Susan Boyle's phonomenal rise to fame, as an auditionee for ITV's "Britain's Got Talent". Hang on a minute, what's "Britain's Got Talent". We don't do 2000s TV unless it's from a nostalgic viewpoint! Anyway, Boyle's been at it for years with the tonsil-tickling, but what interests me most is Barrymore's vacuous actions here. I mean, i like the guy, but rather went too far here, looking up Subo's skirt, and a good eyeful...lucky git.
The show, "My Kind of People" ran from 1998 to 2002. It feels a lot longer than that. This was a sort of a love/hate show, on whether you liked Barrymore or not. Yes, it was about fresh-faced members of the public too for the ones on that love/hate boundary, but with the countless times, the camera going back to Barrymore, and his constant stealing of the limelight, must've turned viewers off even more. The show was a good laugh, but was an almost pioneer to shows like "Pop Idol", "X-Factor" and so forth, giving us a look at the bad and good auditionees.
The Jackson 5 on the 1972 Royal Variety Performance
Pretty much self-explanatory here. The Jackson 5 sing a great medley of "I Want You Back", "ABC", "Rockin' Robin" and then a brief acapella of "Thank You" to the audience, and then "The Love You Save". Classic really.
Other stars that featured in this Royal Variety Performance of the same year:
LOS DIABLOS DEL BOMBO
DICKIE HENDERSON
MIKE YARWOOD
ELTON JOHN
DANNY LA RUE
LIBERACE
TRIO HOGANAS
ROD HULL & EMU
JACKSON 5
JACK JONES
KEN DODD
TILL DEATH DO US PART
- WARREN MITCHELL, ANTHONY BOOTH,
UNA STUBBS, DANDY NICHOLS
CAROL CHANNING
Noel's House Party: Phillip Schofield v Gordon The Gopher
This show will be featured aplenty in the Light Entertainment section. Featuring here is one of my favourite shows within another favourite show of mine's. "Noel's House Party" presenter Noel Edmonds introduces the famed duo off Saturday morning's kids 3 hour-ish marathon of a magazine-type show "Going Live!", presenter Phillip Schofield and his ever-haunting(where's Gordon, Phillip?) puppet sidekick Gordon the Gopher. "Noel's House Party" was a Saturday evening high-rating juggernaut (especially in the early 90's, as shown in the clip) that aimed to out-step or embarrass ordinary people and the celebrities of the time. Some pretty original concepts, but not this one.
Absolutely obsessed with gunge, usually to be shown on kid's Saturday morning "Tiswas" or "Crackerjack", this was gunging gone mainstream, and somewhat neatly packed away at the top of the most wonderfully decorated glass cases. "Noel's House Party" had this format marketed to a tee, giving the celebrity maximum "but all in the name of harmless fun" humiliation possible. And if that's not all, Noel takes it to a phone vote against you and another celebrity, and you'll also get to know the public kind of..hate you, if you're polling the lowest vote.
Well, what's the point of the phone vote really, when in the end, Schofield and Gopher get gunged. Genuine sorrow is felt from Noel towards a custard-creamed Gordon, which is really just a hand in a fur glove. These magazines for those type of things, you know. I'm afraid to say Gordon the Gopher probably died that night, i hate to tell you that, it was covered up from all the newspapers at the time. There's no way that would come out in the wash. So Gordon was replaced with a Gordon look-a-like.
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