BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins

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BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins

26 Mar 04 - 06:24 PM (#1147066)
Subject: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Menolly

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?

26 Mar 04 - 07:25 PM (#1147108)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST,pdc

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.

27 Mar 04 - 12:07 AM (#1147290)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Allan C.

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".

27 Mar 04 - 01:32 AM (#1147339)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST

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

27 Mar 04 - 04:33 AM (#1147396)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: John MacKenzie

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

10 Apr 04 - 09:48 PM (#1158959)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: GUEST,Ross

It should be double dozen double damask dinner napkins

11 Apr 04 - 12:03 PM (#1159262)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Stilly River Sage

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

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

Lee Shubert

At Home Abroad

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

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

SRS

11 Apr 04 - 12:30 PM (#1159280)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Amos

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

A

11 Apr 04 - 02:08 PM (#1159329)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mrs.Duck

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

11 Apr 04 - 02:13 PM (#1159332)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Nigel Parsons

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

There again, I could be wrong.

Nigel

11 Apr 04 - 05:37 PM (#1159409)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mr Red

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

11 Apr 04 - 05:54 PM (#1159421)
Subject: RE: BS: A dozen double damask dinner napkins
From: Mr Red

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.