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Help: Shirley Abicaire

Michael in Swansea 18 Nov 00 - 07:23 AM
The Shambles 18 Nov 00 - 09:45 AM
The Shambles 18 Nov 00 - 09:49 AM
Doctor John 18 Nov 00 - 05:35 PM
The Shambles 18 Nov 00 - 07:18 PM
John Routledge 18 Nov 00 - 08:36 PM
GUEST,Colwyn Dane 19 Nov 00 - 10:17 AM
GUEST,Colwyn Dane 19 Nov 00 - 10:49 AM
John Routledge 19 Nov 00 - 02:05 PM
The Shambles 19 Nov 00 - 03:30 PM
Michael in Swansea 20 Nov 00 - 03:56 AM
Trevor 20 Nov 00 - 05:48 AM
The Shambles 20 Nov 00 - 06:53 AM
Michael in Swansea 20 Nov 00 - 07:54 AM
Doctor John 20 Nov 00 - 01:21 PM
The Shambles 20 Nov 00 - 05:36 PM
Anglo 21 Nov 00 - 02:20 AM
Rick Fielding 21 Nov 00 - 02:52 AM
Steve Parkes 21 Nov 00 - 03:33 AM
Steve Parkes 21 Nov 00 - 03:39 AM
Michael in Swansea 21 Nov 00 - 04:00 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 21 Nov 00 - 04:20 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 21 Nov 00 - 04:24 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 21 Nov 00 - 04:28 AM
Steve Parkes 21 Nov 00 - 05:38 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 21 Nov 00 - 05:42 AM
Michael in Swansea 21 Nov 00 - 07:16 AM
Snuffy 21 Nov 00 - 09:41 AM
Steve Parkes 21 Nov 00 - 10:30 AM
Michael in Swansea 21 Nov 00 - 10:47 AM
Trevor 21 Nov 00 - 12:54 PM
Doctor John 21 Nov 00 - 01:41 PM
The Shambles 21 Nov 00 - 02:28 PM
Snuffy 21 Nov 00 - 03:26 PM
MARINER 21 Nov 00 - 04:19 PM
Rick Fielding 21 Nov 00 - 05:35 PM
Doctor John 22 Nov 00 - 01:36 PM
The Shambles 22 Nov 00 - 04:59 PM
Doctor John 24 Nov 00 - 02:54 AM
The Shambles 24 Nov 00 - 07:21 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 24 Nov 00 - 08:33 AM
Snuffy 24 Nov 00 - 08:34 AM
Steve Parkes 24 Nov 00 - 09:34 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 24 Nov 00 - 09:49 AM
Snuffy 24 Nov 00 - 05:36 PM
Doctor John 25 Nov 00 - 07:03 AM
Snuffy 26 Nov 00 - 05:08 AM
The Shambles 26 Nov 00 - 06:26 AM
GUEST,Roger the skiffler 27 Nov 00 - 06:02 AM
Steve Parkes 27 Nov 00 - 11:47 AM
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Subject: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 07:23 AM

At rehearsals last night our illustrious leader, Cap'n Hand, brought along Harvey Andrew's Otter song.
"What's that got to do with sea shanties?" we asked
"It's got water in it" he replied.
This brought up other songs with "water in it" including one of my childhood favourites "Little boy fishing off a wooden pier"
Which brings up the subject of this thread. What has become of Shirley Abicaire? Is she still alive? Where's she living? Are any of her recordings available? Anyone know anything? Shirley, if you're out there, just to let you know you are fondly remembered, not forgotten.
I'll be back on the 'Cat on Monday, (I'm not on line at home, only in work), and I would be dreadfully disappointed if no-one remembered her and her zither.

Mike, a not so secret fan of Shirley Abicaire.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:45 AM

When I was about 5, she was the most sexy thing on TV.

Phew! Time for a cold shower now, I think.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:49 AM

This was sadly all I could find on Google HERE


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 05:35 PM

Shambles, I'm afraid I only heard her on BBC radio; seems I missed something! All I can recall is Australian lady, lovely voice, played the zither. I guess she (and Elton Hayes) got me onto folk music all those infant school years ago: I just liked the style, the sound. She sang "Willie Can You Cook" if I recall; hardly folk music I feel but she still gave it that direct simple sound. I did ask about her on a thread some time ago but no ones seems to remember. Dr John


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 07:18 PM

Well to be honest at that time, there was not much competition and I was easy to please. Always was a sucker for that 'flick-up' hair style.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: John Routledge
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 08:36 PM

To Micheal in Swansea

We remember Shirley. She had a major part in a Norman Wisdom movie - He fell for her I think. She was a real sex symbol - certainly to a ten year old.

It is not entirely relevant but Norman Wisdom is still alive. GB


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Colwyn Dane
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 10:17 AM

G'day,

I too remember Shirley but I can't find out what became of her.
The only information that I found,is that which relates to her recordings
and here it is: some Shirley Abicaire recordings

Bcnu, Colwyn.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Colwyn Dane
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 10:49 AM

G'day,

I too remember Shirley but I can't find out what became of her.
The only information that I found,is that which relates to her recordings
and here it is: some Shirley Abicaire recordings

Bcnu, Colwyn.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 02:05 PM

Apologies to Norman Wisdom

Sorry Norman.

It is VERY relevant to you that you are still alive.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 03:30 PM

And to Albania.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 03:56 AM

Oh well, thanks anyway.
Colwyn, interesting looking site. I'll have a proper look at lunchtime.
That's good news about Sir Norman

Mike


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Trevor
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 05:48 AM

I remember her - I hated 'Little boy.....' but loved her. She seemed to be a regular on CRACKERJACK (I can't type loud) in the days of Eamonn Andrews, Double or Drop and does anybody remember the gorgeous (to my 10 year old mind)girl who used to look after the contestants - I think her name was Gillian Comber. Sorry about the thread creep but the Shirley Abicaire connection has transported me. I can almost smell dinner cooking in the house where I grew up.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 06:53 AM

CRACKERJACK!!!

Yes I remenber. Time for yet another cold shower.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 07:54 AM

Oh yes, she could have given me a cabbage anytime

Mike


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 01:21 PM

If you miss Shirley, there's always Isla StClair. Gorgeous!
Dr John


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 05:36 PM

You could always 'Double or drop'?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Anglo
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 02:20 AM

http://www.abc.net.au/sundayarts/s102954.htm says:

She was very well known on childrens programs and as a folk singer - the "zither girl" - in the nineteen fifties. Later on in the sixties she became friends with Ken Kesey and joined his bohemian community of writers and musicians in Oregon in the United States. In those days Shirley was frequently seen driving her gold Cadillac down Americas west coast.

A quick google search doesn't come up with anything recent. The Norman Wisdom movie was "One Good Turn."

If you do more web searching, remember the spelling is "Abicair." (no final e)


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 02:52 AM

Damn, this is getting interesting. I hope SOMEBODY comes up with a picture of the lady. Heck I'll enjoy looking at the Zither as well!

Rick


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 03:33 AM

I've been waiting patiently too for someone to come up with a pic, Rick. I saw one of her with fellow Aussie Frank Ifield (who I'm reliably informed was also very sexy, but I can't say I noticed) on some BBC tv show about 1960 or just after.

Those were grand days for female vocalists, weren't they? Remember Alma Cogan? The sound of Eartha Kitt's voice still sends shivers down my, er, spine; it would be most unsgentlemanly of me to say she's,looking her age now. If I'd been an adolescent instead of a little lad int he fifteis, I think I'd have had many restless nights!

Steve


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 03:39 AM

And Astrud Gilberto (Girl from Ipanema, 1964): a little late for our period (and I was and adolescent by then!). Such an awful singer, but such a sexy voice!


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:00 AM

Dr John,

Say Isla's name with reverence, I'm absolutely potty about her. Sang with her in Scarborough (but I've metioned that before).
Getting back to Shirley, there has be, there must to be, someone out there who can help in the quest.

Mike


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:20 AM

Text, interview, photos (including zither) at this site:
http://www.whirleygig-tv.co.uk/
Click Here
Also found reference to another site but her entry seemed empty (http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~csinclair/Shirley_Abicair.htm)
RtS (memories, memories- radio ones for me- we didn't have a tv until I finished college)


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:24 AM

...and of course I ballsed it up "whirligig" (i not y) SORRY!Clic here
RtS


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:28 AM

Ever had one of those days?
Click here
RtS (Fumble fingers slinks off to shoot himself)


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:38 AM

Roger, you'll only make a pig's ear of it -- let me do it!


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:42 AM

Thanks, Steve, I knew I could rely on you in my hour of need!
RtS


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 07:16 AM

Roger, Steve,

Thank you, the most success so far, the page is bookmarked. Looks veeeerrrrrry nostalgic

May you always walk in sunshine.

Ok then so where is she NOW? She'd only be about 70, that's not ancient! I mean Elizabeth Cotton was still performing in her 90's well late 80's anyway.
br>

Yes Steve, Alma Cogan, "the girl with the laugh in her voice". Another victim of the big C (when was it, 1965?). I've got her greatest hits Vol 1 album.

Mike


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:41 AM

When I was a kid I always thought it was Al McCogan


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 10:30 AM

Can I borrow it?!


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 10:47 AM

Can you borrow what?
Going home now speak tomorrow.

Mike


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Trevor
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:54 PM

What a brilliant clicky. I think I'm going to cry!

When I was a kid I thought that Marry O'Lanza was an Irishman.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:41 PM

Thanks for finding that site RtS. There was a programme on BBC1 Radio a few years ago now, "Hello Children Everywhere", about the "Children's Favourites" programs on BBC radio in the 40's and 50's. In two parts but I only taped the second part. I'm sure shirley Abicaire was featured: must check if I can find the tape. Dr John


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 02:28 PM

Was 'Big Billy Goat Gruff' on it?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 03:26 PM

I have a double cassette of "Hello Children ...Everywhere" issued by EMI in the late 80's. It has "Little Boy Fishing" and "Billy Goats Gruff"


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: MARINER
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:19 PM

Did Al McCogan make records around the same time as the Calypso singer Arabella Fontaine?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:35 PM

Thank you Roger, you may fumble over your "blue clickys" but I got to see the obviously much appreciated Shirely!

Yep.....she's got IT! OH my, I'll have to forget that by now she's in her 60s......or that I'm in my 50s!

Rick


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:36 PM

Damn it: she must have been on vol 1 which I didn't tape. However on vol 2 which I did (both introduced and written by Jeremy Nicholls, which amused fond affection) was Alma Cogan, whom someone mentioned above and who sadly died young; cowboy singers Tes Ritter and Roy Rogers; folkoids Vernon Delhart and Elton Hayes; Bing sound-a-like Michael Holliday who did a lot of folkish stuff; as well as skifflers, LD, Johnnie Duncan, Nancy Whiskey and Don Lang and the Frantic Five (Over The Points...). Memories!
Dr John
So was Mandy Miller: no prizes for guessing what she sang!


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 04:59 PM

'Nellie the elephant'.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 02:54 AM

Ok OK you've won an elephant. Coming by snail mail. Dr John


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 07:21 AM

Who sang the Billy Goat Gruffs?

Whoever answers can have my elephant. Quick before it arrives.


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 08:33 AM

Burl Ives? I want to send the elephant on to Steve Parkes for the cricket joke!
RtS


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 08:34 AM

I'll check when I get home from work, but I think it might have been Danny Kaye.

Wassail! V


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 09:34 AM

If you can make that two elephants -- I could us e an extra pair of trunks if it starts raining again!

I'm pretty sure it qasn't Dany Kaye. It was an American male (or Canadian possibly); I don't remember him doing anything else in the UK. I do remember seeing Caroll (sp?) Levis on ITV when I was very small and thinking "Where's Carol? Why doesn't this man get off and let her on the stage?".

Steve

P.S. Who did "Sparky's [no relation] Magic Piano"?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 09:49 AM

I hated Sparky and Tubby the tuba (that one was> Danny Kaye wasn't it?), probably heard them too many times!
I do remember being part of a large choir oof schoolkids in B'ham town hall backing a Burl Ives soundalike (and lookalike- well he had a bandana and a checked shirt!)on Big Rock Candy Mountain, can't remember the other songs,maybe Billy GoatGruff as well, some sort of junior promenade concert thing- as usual, I was told just to mime!
RtS


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 05:36 PM

I was wrong - not Danny Kaye! On the tape liner it says Three Billy Goats Gruff was by Frank Luther.

Wassail! V


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Doctor John
Date: 25 Nov 00 - 07:03 AM

You mean you've got a copy!
Dr John
PS ..er..you haven't got a copy of "The Laughing Policeman" of those barking dogs, have you?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Snuffy
Date: 26 Nov 00 - 05:08 AM

"The Laughing Policeman" sung by Charles Penrose is on side III, track 4, but you've lost me with the dogs there!

Wassail! V


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: The Shambles
Date: 26 Nov 00 - 06:26 AM

Was this the dogs singing (barking), from 'The Lady and the Tramp'?


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 06:02 AM

My researches also point to Frank Luther, NOT Burl Ives for Billy Goat Gruff, and yet the name still rings no bells in my fading memory. BTW, Arlo Guthrie recorded it more recently.
RtS


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Subject: RE: Help: Shirley Abicaire
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 11:47 AM

Ah, the Singing Dogs! I can only remember them doing "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man", but then maybe they all sounded like "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man"?

I've got a 78 by Musical Dawson's Choir of Canaries! They don't actually do a tune, they just sing over the orchestra. But this man made a living out of it!


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