Spike Milligan

Subject: Spike Milligan
From: Bert
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 12:02 PM

It has been suggested that Spike Milligan deserves a thread of his own.

So here it is. Let's talk about that genius who created 'The Goons'.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bagpuss
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 12:12 PM

Is "I'm walking backwards for christmas" or "Ying-tong-yiddle-aye-po" in the DT??

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 12:33 PM

The Goon Show was indeed wonderful, but I shall always remember Milligan ( and Peter Sellars )for the following dialogue from an obscure British comedy film "The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn"

"Look here, Inspector, an impression of a heel!"

"Very clever, I'm sure, sergeant, but we've no time for your impressions right now"

Murray

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bert
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 12:37 PM

What is not generally realised is that 'Our Spike' was the genius behind Sellars, Bentine, Seycombe and all the other Goons. That's why they all sound so similar, they all copied Spike.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 12:56 PM

THE BEST! ("Gad that sun is hot!" "Don't touch it then.")

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Fiolar
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 01:12 PM

From one of the great Goon Shows: "Careful - he has never been the same since the Fall of France." "Why"? "It fell on me, that's why." M

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,The Invisible Blazoona
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 01:21 PM

A "must read" for all fans of Spike is his novel "Puckoon" set in the fictional Irish village of the same name. Hilarious!

Some fans have even put up a "Puckoon Daily News" website.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bert
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 01:49 PM

Does anyone remember him as 'Paki Paddy' on an old TV show?

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 01:59 PM

And, of course, the French knight in "Monty Python & the Holy Grail".

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 02:33 PM

I once had the privelege of having lunch with Spike Milligan.......one of my fondest memories........not only is he funny, he is also charming and kind.And actually Bert, Spike will tell you, and it's well documented, that the genius of the Goon Show was a combined effort, at least to begin with and both Sellars and Secombe had invented the voices and the characters long before they met him.That's what made it so inspired, they were all quite mad.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: sophocleese
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 02:59 PM

"She's the best poker player in Battersea. Give her a poker and she'll play any tune you like." "Henry!!!"

Grew up listening to a couple of goon Show albums and now have some on tape. Gotta get more. I'm involved in the terrible crime of passing on the delight to my children as my son loves listening to them as well.

I read Spike's war memoirs years ago and thought them funny, sad, bitter and very revealing about the source of some of his zaniness.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Dave Swan
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 02:59 PM

I read somewhere that three good frineds were Milligan, Sellars, and Paddy Maloney. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when the three of them got together.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: okthen
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 03:05 PM

on hearing (aged 8) the line "it got right on me lionels" I didn't understand, years later I got the joke (rhyming slang, taken a stage further) anyone out there explain it?

from goon show, "we're outnumbered ten to one, ten to one? time for lunch"

on a chat show Spike shook hands and embraced 3 wartime friends, as he hugged the last one he said "there, now we've all got it"

celebrate him,

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bernard
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 03:06 PM

I once had an interesting discussion with Spike on the merits of using a circular piano to play the opening of Grieg's piano concerto - the ultimate in perpetual motion...

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bert
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 03:17 PM

Lucky you Morty, what a wonderful memory. I bow to your first hand knowledge. 'I' still think he's the greatest though.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 05:34 PM

Morticia, will you bear my children?

Soph, I have many on tape. Glad to loan 'em to ya. Oh, will you bear my children as well? I'm sure if I had any, I couldn't bear 'em!

Moriarty: "Gritpype! What kind of fishing is this? Here we are sitting next to Loch Loman, we've got no rods!

Gritpype- Thinne: Moriarty, do you see those fish in the Loch?

Moriarty: I see them!

Gritpype-Thinne: Well they've got to die sometime. When they do, we'll be waiting!

YOU'VE GOT TO GO AOUWWWWWWW!

Rick

P.S.

Min: "Henry, this skull is five million years old!

Henry Crun: "Happy biruthdayyyy to youuuuuu.

P.P.S

Colonel Bloodnock: You there! German spy!

German: I'm not a spy, I'm a shephard!

Colonel Bloodnock: Ahahh! a shephard's pie eh? Are you married?

German: Nein!

Colonel Bloodnock: Do you have any children?

German: Nein!

Colonel Bloodnock: Nine! Why you filthy swine!

Jeezus! sorry, I'll go now!

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Allan Warfield
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 05:39 PM

The text I am itching to get hold of, is the sketch where Bluebottle had the time and it was" written on a piece of Paper". If anyone can help this poor sad demented fool, contact me on [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 05:53 PM

All time favourite book - Hitler, my part in his downfall. The exploits of Plunger Bailey got me thrown out of a railway carriage, helpless with laughter!

Eccles: I'm going to get da job too, you know why? Cos I'm wearing a Cambride tie!

Seagoon: You, Eccles, you were at Cambridge?

Eccles: Duh,, yes.

Seagoon: What were you doing?

Eccles: Duh, buying a tie!

And the time telling bit is available in one of the script books, can't place my hand on one just now, and takes too long to write out.....

Neeeeahhhh! You can't do that to me, I'm a East Finchley type boy Scout so I am!

Don't get us started on this, we could be here for weeks!!

And my favourite Milliginism? When given the lifetime achievement award for comedy - the first ever awarded - Prince Charles sent a letter of congratulations. On live TV it was introduced, and on live TV Spike said 'what does the grovelling bastard want now?!'

LTS

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 05:58 PM

Eccles to Bluebottle locked in a cellar
"Turn the knob on your side" Bluebottle " I have not got a knob on my side"
There is a web site somewhere with scripts on.
KJ

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: wildlone
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 06:21 PM

A quick search has turned up these

Goon show Depositry .

Goon show Archives .

Goon mp3's .
Watch out for Fred Nurke if you are not careful he will get y..........

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 07:42 PM

Get up lad, get up!! It's a beautiful morning...........'Uncle Neddy,it's tipping down! Where are you phoning from?'........Australia!! I have two albums on vinyl........that's my lot, but what riches!
Rick,darling, whilst I bow to no-one in my respect for your ability,talent and knowledge, I don't do children.......at least, I have done,and have no further desire so to do.........I quite like the bit that comes before it though *BG*.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: sophocleese
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 07:53 PM

Rick, I'll check and see which ones I have and then we can talk.

Umm... about the other thing, can I get back to you on that? Actually better not, I guess. *As big a grin as Morty's wearing*.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: wildlone
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 08:08 PM

Yet another link for you poor sad people spike .
found using copernic 2000 pro
by a sad person sitting in front of his computer at 1am instead of either sleeping or getting rat-arsed

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: okthen
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 08:13 PM

dear wildlone

thankyou thankyou thankyou

i will be exploring these links for ever

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: wildlone
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 08:22 PM

BTW the clicking on any of the link I have posted will cause your head to implode
OH NO TO LATE,
"but its never to late" {says he in an Eccles type voice}

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 12:12 AM

From the LP, Goon But Not Forgotten - "I now pronounce you man and wife - and I leave it to you to decide which is which."

Guest Blazoona, or anyone - is Puckoon in print and available in the U.S.? I've got to read it! Thanks.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Fiolar
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 05:12 AM

Don't forget the 1972 movie "Adolph Hitler - My Part in his Downfall" in which Spike is played by Jim Dale and Spike plays his own father. M

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Micca
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:04 AM

Chanteyranger, if you cant find a copy I might have a spare.. and can Mail it to you....PM me...

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: sophocleese
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 08:36 AM

Spike also plays the husband of Racquel Welsh in The Three Musketeers. I had forgotten that till just now.

Gorilla?

No thanks I'm trying to quit.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 11:59 AM

"I've got the sea in my blood"
"I can see where it gets in!"



"Time to repel boarders!"
"How do you repel boarders!"
"Stop changing the bedlinen!!"


(My favourite of all) -- BLUEBOTTLE: "(rolling chords) Be WARNED, Moriarty! I was trained in judo by the great Bert! Using the body as a counterpivot, I use the great Bert's method of throwing the opponent to his DEATH!!! Be warned, Moriarty!! One false move and you die by Bert's METHOD!!!"

MORIARTY: "TAKE THAT!" (Sound of blow)

BLUEBOTTLE: "OWWW....WAIT TILL I SEE THAT TWIT BERT!!"

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Trevor
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 02:34 PM

'Min, Min, put the kettle on Min' (grunts & groans) 'But Henry, it won't fit'

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: little john cameron
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 05:05 PM

This is great stuff,ah'm in knots here laughin.They'll be missed. ljc

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:39 PM

oh,Min, the wick in the engine's gone out or, and I am stunned no-one else has mentioned this....all together now He's fallen in the water!

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 12:50 AM

"Eccles, Why are you wearing that wellington boot on your head?"
"Because it fits"

Seagoon " Major Bloodnock, it was very good of you to meet me at the railway station"
Bloodnock "It was the least I could do sir, a quantity I specialise in"

Seagoon, "......They buried him this morning"
Gridpipe "What was the trouble?"
Seagoon "Well, he'd been lying on his back for three days"
Gridpipe "But that doesn't mean a man's dead!"
Seagoon "It did this time; he was at the bottom of the lake!"

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 03:06 AM

Thanks, Micca. A generous offer! After I posted I went to Amazon.com's site and found it. Thanks again.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 04:53 AM

NEeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh - You flicked my knee!

you dirty rotted swine you!!

I've got several tapes, and some vinyl, gets me funny looks when I play the tapes on the tube!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 09:28 AM

I believe that Spike Milligan would have (as he should have) been given a gong (knighthood), had he not been Irish. I also believe he's a genius, in both of the strict senses of the word.

Garry

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 09:36 AM

Didn't stop them giving one to Bob Geldorf, did it? And Spike's dad served in the British Forces in India.He was always very good friends with the Prince of Wales....I wonder if that was the problem?Maybe the PoW's mummy didn't like them playing together?

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Micca
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 10:07 AM

"You Can't get the wood, you know" and chanteyranger, WARNING, do NOT read it on public transport, or when drinking anything,as it can cause said beverage to descend the nose.
" Ah tis the Lovely Mrs O'Toole, do you have acol libation for a thirsty traveller" said Milligan " Piss off " said the lovley Mrs O'Toole

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Micca
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 10:08 AM

read "cool" must prufrede

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 10:26 AM

'And when she saw a sign saying MEMBERS ONLY she thought of him........'Also Puckoon.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 09:19 PM

Thanks for the warning, Micca. I'll be sure to drink Vick's Nasal Spray when I'm reading it, so if it happens, it won't be a problem.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:34 AM

Neddy: "You're mad, mad I tell you!"
Bluebottle: "Little does he know that I'm as sane as the next man."
Eccles: "Little does HE know that I'm the next man!"
Seamus

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: okthen
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:09 AM

Einstein once said

"In years to come people will wonder if such a man, truly, did exist"

but he was talking about Gandhi

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bagpuss
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:03 AM

Do any Brits remember a kids tv programme on sunday lunchtimes on channel 4 - called Pob's Programme. It was completely loopy and Spike Milligan was a guest on it a few times.

I have to say I feel for the friends and family of Spike, as he suffers from Bipolar Disorder. My grandad suffers with it too, and it's not the easiest thing to cope with.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:56 AM

Ah yes, there is a curse on the house of Moriarty

what is it?

The East Grinstead Building Society.....

quick nurse, the screens!

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:15 PM

Ah, but he wasn't Irish was he? he was born in India ...

Why are you carrying that chicken, Henry?
Because chickens can't see in the fog, Min, unless it's a Fog Chicken, and there's no such thing as a Fog Chicken.
But it isn't foggy, Henry!
But it isn't a Fog Chicken!!

And there's surely no such thing as a Favourite Milliganism? They're ALL favourites!

Steve

P.S. And another thing - what's Spike's e-mail address? I've been meaning to write him a long rambling letter since about 1965, but I don't know where to send it ...

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:30 PM

Maitre D' in fancy hotel to Neddy Seagoon: "Your cab is waiting outside sir.

Neddy: "Why thank you".

Maitre D': "Would you please move it!"

**************

Neddy Seagoon, after coming in to his Uncle's mansion in Scotland...having walked all the way from London:

Neddy: You must be my Uncle, Laird MacGool.

Uncle: Come in Neddy, ye must be cold, here, put on this porridge and warm yourself by this roaring candle!

Neddie: Ahhh real Scots' hospitality!

Rick

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 07:25 PM

Seagoon - having just drunk vast quantities of Loch Ness - I feel faint

Grytpyppe-Thynne - here, Neddy, drink this glass of water!!

gets me every time...

Someone's just thrown a batter pudding at me!

Spike is Irish, by inclination and self proclaimation, if not birth. Read the memoirs, the Irishness comes over very strongly, esp in presence of whiskey/Catholic priests. And the sheer bloody mindedness of the man to keep doing what he does.

LTS

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Yum Yum
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 08:55 PM

Upon the hill there stood a cow,

It must have moved, it's not there now!

sheer poetry!!!

Yum Yum

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 06:05 PM

You could also have a look at alt.fan goons

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Bob Bolton (outback - hiding from the Olympi
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 12:23 AM

G'day all,

I will bring this thread back to a (sort of) folk music connection. Goon Show tapes probably kept me alive in my bush band days - I have some 108 of them on cassette tapes (sneaked of the regular Saturday noon playings on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) and I relied on them to keep me alert and alive driving (sometimes for hours) after finishing a gig at midnight, packing all the gear up and driving away at 1.00 am or later.

I am sure that zany humour (instead of the deadly "easy listening" music of past midnight) was the only reason I survived about fifteen years of that.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 04:57 AM

Milligan was no mean jazz trumpet player. When the Goons underran the alloted half-hour the Wallace Greenslade Orchestra (including many jazz players like George Chisholm on trombone) used to jam till the time ran out, often Spike's trumpet was featured.
More musical Goons trivia: Ray Ellington's group, who played the half time music, often included jazz pianist Dick Katz and tv chef Ainsley Harriott's dad.
With the total recall of youth we used to repeat episodes practically word for word in the school playground next day.
Now, of course, it toook me a minute to remember Wally Greenslade's name! All radio comedies of the era seemed to have a musical number half way through (Alma Cogan in Take it from here, the Fraser Hayes Four in the Kenneth Horne shows etc.)
RtS (still a silly twisted boy at heart)

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 06:32 AM

G'day to you Bob,

I was fascinated by your account of how Goon Show tapes kept you awake while driving the bandwagon back from gigs. I've never used them for that purpose - most of my gigs are less than half an hour's drive from home. But I've found them very effective as an antidote to the end-of-festival blues people were talking of recently in another thread.

After a weekend (or maybe even a week) on a continuous high of music, dance, song and good company, the long haul back to what passes for reality on most of this planet can be very depressing. That's the time to push a cassette of "Tales of Old Dartmoor", or "The Siege of Fort Night" into the slot under the dashboard.

Thereafter, your only problem is continuing to drive safely while laughing hysterically. So, thank you Spike. And Harry, and Peter, and Michael, and Ray and Max, and Wallace ... and everyone else who contributed to those marvellous half-hours.

I wish there was anything half as good on our airwaves today. The only contemporary radio show that gets me anywhere near that state of euphoria is Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion." Lucky America! Why can't the BBC run it regularly over here, instead of slotting an occasional issue into the schedules every couple of years?

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Micca
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 07:55 AM

Mikeof Northumbria, dont you get "I'm sorry I haven't a clue"??? which has to be one of the current best funnies on radio,for a clue to how bad for a person it can be Click here

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: AndyG
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 09:26 AM

Micca, If you like ISIHAC perhaps you should try a href="http://madeira.physiol.ucl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/crescent/mornington.pl ">Mornington Crescent ?

( And, for those who can't get enough limericks !

Limericks I
Limericks II
Limericks III
Limericks IV
Limericks V
Limericks VI
Limericks VII
Limericks VIII
Limericks IX
Limericks X )

AndyG

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: AndyG
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 09:30 AM

Sorry,
lost the LT in th C&P, Mornington Crescent

AndyG

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 08:06 PM

Re the musical interlude - it was a BBC rule that there had to be a certain amount of music in every hour, a bit like the certain amount of commercials shown every hour, and the unions (musicians union are very militant) got really upset if their members didn't get the airtime. And these were days when you couldn't get a job with any decent orchestra unless you were in the union. Not for nothing does Terry Pratchetts Musicians Guild of Ankh Morepork have it's own assassins.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Tone d'F
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 07:38 AM

Instructions for lighting a match

Take a match out of booklet and strike on bottom

"by the light of my burning trousers"

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 06:28 PM

Seagoon - Here, climb up on my shoulders, and then pull me up... (grunts and groans)

Eccles - I'd like to see them do this on TV....

LTS

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bert
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 06:40 PM

Aaaaargh, ..."With the total recall of youth we used to repeat episodes practically word for word in the school playground next day." Roger we used to do that. Especially with 'Take it from here'.

Ron (Dick Bentley), as a young caveman - 'Daaaad, why don't you try standing upright?'
Sound effects - 'BONK'
Ron, - 'NOT in the CAVE Dad'
Jimmy Edwards as Dad - 'Well it's a good way to keep your hat on'

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 07:04 PM

G-T: Welcome Neddy, have a gorilla.

N. No thanks, I'm trying to quit.

G-T: Well have one of these monkeys then.

Moriarty: Excuse my filthy hands, Neddy, but I've been washing my face!

G-T: Quiet, steaming Frank, and take off your shoe so I can read the want ads!

Neddy: Do you have newspaper in your boots?

G-T: He always was a natty dresser.

*************************************

Jim Spriggs: hello jeeIMMMMM!

Rick

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 01:53 AM

G'day again MikeofNorthumbria,

You have hit the double here ... at the other end of the gig, by wonderful programming, Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion was broadcast on Saturday nights from something like 6.30 pm, so I could get to hear about half of a programme on my way to a Saturday night gig, before I had to start setting up gear.

In regard to driving distances, Sydney is a big place, so it is quite possible to have an hour's drive home ... and the band I was in during the '70s had a habit of taking jobs as far afield as Bathurst - about 210 km west of Sydney and over the Great Dividing Range!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 11:08 AM

And then there was "Silly Verse for Kids" of which these were my two favourites:

There are holes in the sky where the rain comes in/But they're evr so small - that's why rain is thin.

...and

I eat my peas with honey/I've done it all my life/It makes the peas taste funny/But it keeps them on the knife.

Sic transit...

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 03:48 PM

I wondered who'd resurrected this one, but as you did and gave me a laugh, have this one on me:
I must go down to the sea again
To the lonely sea and the sky
I left my shoes and socks down there
I wonder if they're dry?

BJ

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 10:09 PM

Let us not forget his poetry. For example:

Tiny termite Found some wood Tasted it And it was good And that is why your Auntie Mae Fell through the parlor floor today.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Guest-Again
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 11:26 PM

A tiny Sardine saw his first submarine and he smiled as looked through a peep hole O come come come said the sardines mum its only a tin full of people

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: fogie
Date: 19 Jul 02 - 05:31 AM

Weren't they great? I'll never forget M. Bentine had a kids TV prog. I must have been about 8 He had this string puppet called Dreary Weary, which was very crudely made, and kept coming apart to a background commentary like Andy Pandy. Eventually the arms were on one side of the screen ,the head was on the floor, and the legs were going out both sides. It must have been funny to remember it so long ago.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie
Date: 19 Jul 02 - 08:02 AM

Bloodnock: "Just look at those sun-drenched mountains!" Bloodnock: "OUTSIDE! I never allow them in the house!"

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 05:29 PM

BBC2 (Wales) showed a tribute to Harry Seccombe & "The Last Goon Show of All" this evening.
Unfortunately iPlayer shows the Goon Show as 'unavailable', but the Harry Seccombe tribute is Here

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Effsee
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 10:41 PM

I seem to remember one of his "poems" that went something like this:-

I am six feet tall,
When I sit down I am four feet tall,
Do they really cut sown 50 feet tall trees,
To make me look shorter?

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 05:10 AM

I was in his office with Dominic Behan, sometime in the 1960s when someone asked Spike if he knew what the population of London was. Spike opened the window and started counting "0ne, two, three ....".

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 11:02 AM

I watched 'The Last Goon Show' again (I've got it on cassette). Nice to actually see Max Geldry play, though it's shame that he doesn't ever seem to have recorded with Django.

Subject: RE: Spike Milligan
From: Will Fly
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 11:35 AM

Geldray was a great player - Dutch by birth, lived for a spell in England then, I believe, went to live in the US as some kind of church evangelist. Ray Ellington was a great drummer and singer as well - I always thought his singing was a bit like Louis Prima.

When we first lived in Bayswater, we had a bedsit in Westbourne Grove Terrace and used the launderette* in Queensway to do the weekly wash. Ellington used to come in to do his laundry. His underpants were monogrammed "RE" - always made us laugh as his real name was Henry Brown!

*The first coin-operated launderette in Britain - and still there!