BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins

Subject: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Menolly
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 06:24 PM

I was out for a meal tonight with two friends and a girl of 10. The cutlery came wrapped in a paper napkin and a paper napkin ring, with the pubs name printed on it. The girl wanted to know what the paper ring was - and one thing lead to another and I found myself remembering an old monologue about "a dozen double damask dinner napkins". None of my companions remembered it at all and a search on the web has found references to it, but no transcript.
Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 07:25 PM

I remembered it as being a Noel Coward sketch that my mother loved, but all I could find was this:

Lee Shubert used the Great Depression as an excuse to seize full control of the family business. With his tasteless brother Jacob left on the sidelines, Lee produced several quality revues. At Home Abroad (1935 - 198) had Bea Lillie singing about "Paree" and attempting to order "a dozen double damask dinner napkins" -- a routine she would repeat for decades to come.

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Allan C.
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 12:07 AM

You might find that routine on a CD of Layne Littlepage who offers her recreation of many of Bea Lillie's best known routines. The CD includes the piece, "Paree" which I suspect will include the "napkins" routine. See "An Evening With Beatrice Lillie".

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 01:32 AM

Menolly,
         Try looking it up under TWO dozen etc., or under Cicely Courtneidge, and you might have more luck.

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:33 AM

Yes I remember Cecily Courtneidge [she was Australian you know!]doing it, it was one of the regular humourous tracks that appeared on Two Way family Favourites. [Not that I remember the programme of course!]
John

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST,Ross
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 09:48 PM

It should be double dozen double damask dinner napkins

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 12:03 PM

Here is someone's memory of the routine on Broadway.

From this page comes this paragraph that PDC also cited above:

- Lee Shubert used the Great Depression as an excuse to seize full control of the family business. With his tasteless brother Jacob left on the sidelines, Lee produced several quality revues. At Home Abroad (1935 - 198) had Bea Lillie singing about "Paree" and attempting to order "a dozen double damask dinner napkins" -- a routine she would repeat for decades to come.

The only reference to "double" dozen, etc. came with this short request on some neighborhood association newsletter, reiterating an Australian source:

Wanted

Does anyone have or know where to get a copy of the recording of Cicely Courtnedge's comic sketch, "Double Dozen Double Damask Dinner Napkins" from the 1930's or 40's.

So, after all of that, is this piece anywhere as good as "Who's On First?"

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Amos
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 12:30 PM

Beautiful stuff, SRS! I can just see that punchline going over -- "Tallulah! What the f**k are you doing here? " LOL!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 02:08 PM

It was used in a film but I can't remember which one. Could have been Passport to Pimlico

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 02:13 PM

I have a vague recollection of it being in The Marx Brothers "The Big Store"

There again, I could be wrong.

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 05:37 PM

Wasn't it popularised by Jan de Casalis ('scuse spelling) and from the sound of the recording I would put it between the wars.

Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 05:54 PM

25 Oct 1937 · Mon 9pm (10 mins)
Mrs Feather's Christmas Party 24 Dec 1948 · Fri 8pm (60 mins)

try on the bbc website

the Christmas party would be the right context.