Annotated Goon Show Questions - 1 to 20
Paul Winalski
appreciated. Please post responses to the newsgroup.
-Paul Winalski
===================================================================
1) Show 1/1: The Peter Sellers voice who introduces Jones
is indicated as "Sandy Fields":
Sandy Fields: Here, next to me, standing on the head of
(Sellers) the producer, is our author. We leave him
to tell you his story. Mr. Arnold Fringe.
Jones: My name is Jones. I wrote this programme
(Secombe) strictly for radio--but they said as a radio
show, it was ahead of its time.
Who is/was Sandy Fields?
2) Show 1/1: In the Osric Pureheart sketch, a
Lady Quilter christens the BRM when it's completed. A search
of the Internet turned up a web page for some hunt in southeast
England that lists Lady Quilter as its Honourary Chairman, so
I suspect Lady Quilter may be a real person and not just some
name Spike made up. The question is, who is she and why did
Spike pick on her as the person to christen the BRM. Do any
of you have access to a copy of Burke's Peerage or other such
resources to look up this person?
3) Show 1/1: The Dick Barton sketch ends thusly:
Snowy: Great Scott! It's an atom bomb!
Jock: What'll we do?
Barton: Quick, men, put your fingers in your ears.
GRAMS: (tremendous explosion)
Barton: (fading) You threw an atom bomb in the cellar,
didn't you, Sidney?
Sidney: Yes.
Fagan: And you've blown Mr. Barton into little pieces,
haven't you, Sidney?
Sidney: Yes. Yes.
Timothy: Listen again tomorrow to "Dick Barton's Special
Funeral".
GRAMS: ("Devil's Gallop" up
Sidney: Yes. Yes.
So what is this all about? Who are Sidney and Fagan? It
doesn't seem to have anything to do with Oliver Twist (whose
villain is named 'Fagin', not 'Fagan', anyway). It sounds
like it must be a reference to some other radio programme
or music hall sketch or something of that sort. But what?
4) Show 1/3: The "Adventure Unlimited" sketch starts out
with this Andrew Timothy announcement:
Advertising not being allowed on the BBC, we shall have
to bring tot he listener's notice the new book published
by Arnold Fringe and Company, price seven and sixpence.
It is a tale of stirring adventure in the far-flung
outposts, called "The Empire" by Nat Carson. It tells
of that intrepid adventurer, whose life-story has
already been made into a serial... Colonel Sir...
Who is "Nat Carson"?
5) Show 1/3: Immediately following the opening announcement
is the following line by Sir Harold Porridge (Sellers):
Mmmm, mmmm, Porridge. Colonel Sir Harold Porridge. This
story concerns my battalion in those early days on the
Northwest Fronteir of India, and our great enemy--the Red
Mullah--Byan of the Hundred Eyes, the scourge of the
British, and the despair of opticians. The story commences
with my adjutant, Captain Cloot Wilmington.
What's the "Red Mullah--Byan of the Hundred Eyes" bit about?
Is this a topical reference?
6) Show 1/5: In the "Visit to the Health Clinic" sketch is
this exchange:
Milligan: There we are--nails trimmed and a lovely coat
of our latest rose pink varnish. Now if
you'll take my advice, with this shade
you'll wear a black satin gown and the hair
in a bang over one eye.
Sellers (E. Rose): I don't know--it's going to look a bit
funny down the mines.
The original typescript had this second line as "Peter (Brum)"
but this was struck through and "E. Rose" written in. So
who is this E. Rose?
7) Show 4/3: "The Mount Everest Project" sketch. One of the
Russians has this line:
Our camels... are cleaned and washed every day in Charvil.
They don't smell!
All I've been able to find out about Charvil is that it's a
parish in Berkshire. Why would one wash camels there?
8) Show 4/15: "The Missing Prime Minister" has this line just
after Max's tune:
Seagoon: Just as I thought, Geldray. Report to Sandy
Macpherson for foreign service with Anna Neagle's
dancing bears.
I know who Sandy Macpherson and Anna Neagle are. What I
don't understand is the reference to dancing bears.
9) Show 4/15: "The Missing Prime Minister" has this Eccles
line:
(approaches, singing) I travel the road, I'm coming along
to oil my pledge...
Clearly an Eccles-type mangled song lyric. But to what song?
What's "oil my pledge" all about?
10) Show 4/18: "The Siege of Khartoum" sketch has this Abdul
line:
(approaching) Coming, sir, coming! Long live Rule
Britannia, hooray for Johnny Williams, poor old Hec,
bang, wallop, crash, nine, ten, out.
What exactly is this referring to? I found a reference to
an American boxing coach named Hec Knowles, so perhaps this
is a reference to some boxing match in the early 1950s?
11) Show 4/19: Bluebottle, as Mad Houdini, has this line:
Oh, woe is me! TO think that I should guide the rozzers to
my unsuspecting comrades. Oh, the agony. I have brought
dishonour to my fair name. They will take away my pretty
cow [??] badge. I'll never be allowed to join again no matter
how many box tops I save. Ayyy! (Pulls out dirty
handkerchief. WIpes snowdrop off nose.)
I can't quite make out the words before 'badge', but it sounds
like "pretty cow". This is clearly an allusion to one of those
offers on Ovaltine or children's breakfast cereal boxes, where
you can get a badge by sending in a certain number of box tops.
But exactly which product is Bluebottle referring to?
12) Show 4/20: "The Toothpaste Expedition" sketch has this
joke sequence involving Dick Barton and Ellinga:
Ellinga: My master, the great Rags Tariches, he send me here
to guide you safely back to your old country.
Barton: That's very decent of him. Anything we can do in
return for this . . . this great Rags Tariches?
Ellinga: Yes, white man. You can join me in singing the
praises of my master.
Barton: Right.
Ellinga: Ready? One, two . . . (sings, accompanying self
on bongos) I've been and gone from rags to
riches . . . .
Can anyone identify this song with they lyric "I've been and gone
from rags to riches" (or something similar)?
13) Show 4/24: There's this dialogue after Seagoon arrives
in South America:
Bloodnok: Well, you... you're like a midget.
Seagoon: There's a very good reason for that.
Bloodnok: What?
Seagoon: I can't stand heights.
Bloodnok: Spoken like a pygmy. And talking of pygmies,
have you any brandy with you?
I don't get it. What do pygmies have to do with brandy?
14) Show 4/26: When the character Wild Bill (Sellers with an
Alec Guinness voice) is introduced to Sheriff Seagoon, the
latter remarks:
Wild Bill? New deputy? Then . . . you're the famous
Wild Bill Mortoncock.
This would seem to be a pun on Wild Bill Hickock and someone
named Bill Morton. So who is/was Bill Morton?
15) Show 4/26 has this Seagoon line:
Sheriff: What? Drain Crun, the scourge of Lemonton Spa?
What is Lemonton Spa?
16) Show 4/26: Crun and Eccles sing thus while riding the trail:
We're riding along, westerly way . . . Nellie Dean . . .
Sweet memory . . . (gibberish)
I know what "Nellie Dean" is, but what about the other two song
snatches?
17) Show 4/26: The tag line mentions "the Videophonic Company".
What is/was the Videophonic Company?
18) Show 4/29: Bluebottle's entrance line:
I heard you call me. I heard you call me et cetera et
cetera et cetera et cetera. Gets it quick over this week
as I'm late for the Leighton County High School Old Boys
Football Club fish supper. Yes, it is I, "Show Us Your
Weasel" Bluebottle. What do you want, my lovely capitan?
As if I didn't know.
What's "Show Us Your Weasel" all about?
19) Show 5/9
I've discovered that London Transport issued special commemorative
"Last Tram Week" tickets in July 1952 when the last of London's
tramways was shut down and replaced by busses. Does anyone know
if there actually *was* a Last Tram Ceremony, and if so, did it
involve the presentation of a marble clock to the driver?
20) Show 5/10:
Crun: No, no, no, buddy. Our price is fifty pounds. You
pay it or we don't sell. Take your pick.
Seagoon: All right, George Dawson, fifty pounds.
I know that "Take Your Pick" was a ITV television quiz show (with
the famous Yes/No Interlude), but who is George Dawson? Michael
Miles hosted "Take Your Pick".
======================================================
-----------
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-----------
MartinS
> 15) Show 4/26 has this Seagoon line:
>
> Sheriff: What? Drain Crun, the scourge of Lemonton Spa?
>
> What is Lemonton Spa?
Leamington Spa - Warwickshire.
> 16) Show 4/26: Crun and Eccles sing thus while riding the trail:
>
> We're riding along, westerly way . . . Nellie Dean . . .
> Sweet memory . . . (gibberish)
>
> I know what "Nellie Dean" is, but what about the other two song
> snatches?
"Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave" - signature tune of Ralph
Reader's Gang Show, 1932-1960s.
--
Martin S.
MartinS
> 19) Show 5/9
>
> I've discovered that London Transport issued special commemorative
> "Last Tram Week" tickets in July 1952 when the last of London's
> tramways was shut down and replaced by busses. Does anyone know
> if there actually *was* a Last Tram Ceremony, and if so, did it
> involve the presentation of a marble clock to the driver?
The last tram ran from Woolwich to New Cross on 5 July 1952.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/7/newsid_2963000/2963092.stm
According to the above, the last tram was driven by the deputy chairman
of LT, a former tram driver. No mention of marble clocks.
Sometime after, Michael Flanders, Donald Swann and Ian Wallace recorded
a nostalgic song, entitled "The Tram Driver's Lament".
When the busy streets are silent, have you wondered at the sight
Of a little group outside the terminus
By the dark deserted London Transport depot every night?
Don't wonder any longer 'cos it's us.
Three broken-hearted tram drivers with nothing else to do
But lift our weary heads to heaven above;
And sing for all to hear, as we wipe away a tear
With the corner of an old tram driver's glove.
Goodbye, old tram, no matter where I am,
I'll think of you until my memory fails.
We'd drive through fog or shower at fifteen miles per hour,
And yet you'd always keep us on the rails.
Now worn and scarred, towards the breaker's yard,
You have journeyed where they issue no returns.
Old pal of mine, they've started digging up the line.
Goodbye, old tram.
Diving down the Kingsway tunnel, like the gaping jaws of hell,
To the River where you'd give 'er all you've got.
Oh, the sight of sparks a-flying, oh, the jangling of the bell,
Oh, the scent of wooden brake blocks running hot.
From Woolwich Park to Camberwell, from Highgate Hill to Bow,
On to Wapping only stopping by request.
Down the hill or round the bend, we would drive at either end,
And we never knew which end we loved the best.
Goodbye, old tram, in every traffic jam,
You'd patiently endure your heavy load.
Wheresoe'er the tram wires led, drawing power from overhead,
You took us down the middle of life's road.
L.P.T.B. has signed your R.I.P.,
And here we mourn your passing down the line,
Until some day we'll drive you through the Milky Way,
Goodbye, old tram.
They won't get us to drive their bloody trolleybus!
Goodbye, old tram.
Sniff!
--
Martin S.
David Samuel Barr
>
> Any elucidation you can provide as to these questions is gratefully
> appreciated. Please post responses to the newsgroup.
>
> -Paul Winalski
> ===================================================================
>
> joke sequence involving Dick Barton and Ellinga:
>
> Ellinga: My master, the great Rags Tariches, he send me here
> to guide you safely back to your old country.
> Barton: That's very decent of him. Anything we can do in
> return for this . . . this great Rags Tariches?
> Ellinga: Yes, white man. You can join me in singing the
> praises of my master.
> Barton: Right.
> Ellinga: Ready? One, two . . . (sings, accompanying self
> on bongos) I've been and gone from rags to
> riches . . . .
>
> Can anyone identify this song with they lyric "I've been and gone
> from rags to riches" (or something similar)?
There's a well-known song written by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross (who
also wrote the musicals, "The Pajama Game" and "Damn Yankees", and many
other songs) called "Rags to Riches"; Tony Bennett had a huge hit with
it in 1953, charting 25 weeks, 8 of them at #1. If I had a soundbite of
the exchange transcribed above, I could easily tell you whether or not
that is the song Eccles is singing. (The actual opening lyric is "I
know I'd go from rags to riches", but Milligan frequently misquoted song
lyrics in Eccles's voice.)
James Prescott
> 4) Show 1/3: The "Adventure Unlimited" sketch starts out
> with this Andrew Timothy announcement:
>
> Advertising not being allowed on the BBC, we shall have
> to bring tot he listener's notice the new book published
> by Arnold Fringe and Company, price seven and sixpence.
> It is a tale of stirring adventure in the far-flung
> outposts, called "The Empire" by Nat Carson. It tells
> of that intrepid adventurer, whose life-story has
> already been made into a serial... Colonel Sir...
>
> Who is "Nat Carson"?
? A partial reference to Kit Carson, US Wild West character?
> 7) Show 4/3: "The Mount Everest Project" sketch. One of the
> Russians has this line:
>
> Our camels... are cleaned and washed every day in Charvil.
> They don't smell!
>
> All I've been able to find out about Charvil is that it's a
> parish in Berkshire. Why would one wash camels there?
? A reference to "Javelle water"?
> 11) Show 4/19: Bluebottle, as Mad Houdini, has this line:
>
> Oh, woe is me! TO think that I should guide the rozzers to
> my unsuspecting comrades. Oh, the agony. I have brought
> dishonour to my fair name. They will take away my pretty
> cow [??] badge. I'll never be allowed to join again no matter
> how many box tops I save. Ayyy! (Pulls out dirty
> handkerchief. WIpes snowdrop off nose.)
>
> I can't quite make out the words before 'badge', but it sounds
> like "pretty cow". This is clearly an allusion to one of those
> offers on Ovaltine or children's breakfast cereal boxes, where
> you can get a badge by sending in a certain number of box tops.
> But exactly which product is Bluebottle referring to?
The "Vintage Goons" version (not the original 4/19) clearly has
"Roy Rogers badge". But you may have known that.
> 18) Show 4/29: Bluebottle's entrance line:
>
> I heard you call me. I heard you call me et cetera et
> cetera et cetera et cetera. Gets it quick over this week
> as I'm late for the Leighton County High School Old Boys
> Football Club fish supper. Yes, it is I, "Show Us Your
> Weasel" Bluebottle. What do you want, my lovely capitan?
> As if I didn't know.
>
> What's "Show Us Your Weasel" all about?
? A puerile penile reference?
Jim "GaSPerS" Lungwort
Garry Law
> this exchange:
>
> Milligan: There we are--nails trimmed and a lovely coat
> of our latest rose pink varnish. Now if
> you'll take my advice, with this shade
> you'll wear a black satin gown and the hair
> in a bang over one eye.
> Sellers (E. Rose): I don't know--it's going to look a bit
> funny down the mines.
>
> The original typescript had this second line as "Peter (Brum)"
> but this was struck through and "E. Rose" written in. So
> who is this E. Rose?
>
>
were friends.
Paul Webster
>2) Show 1/1: In the Osric Pureheart sketch, a
>Lady Quilter christens the BRM when it's completed. A search
>of the Internet turned up a web page for some hunt in southeast
>England that lists Lady Quilter as its Honourary Chairman, so
>I suspect Lady Quilter may be a real person and not just some
>name Spike made up. The question is, who is she and why did
>Spike pick on her as the person to christen the BRM. Do any
>of you have access to a copy of Burke's Peerage or other such
>resources to look up this person?
There is a Lady Quilter Cup presented by the British Parachute
Association and Sir Raymond Quilter is cited as working in wartime
parachute design
http://www.eliteforces.freewire.co.uk/Fallshirmjager/Parachutes.htm
... so this might be the right lineage
>7) Show 4/3: "The Mount Everest Project" sketch. One of the
>Russians has this line:
>
> Our camels... are cleaned and washed every day in Charvil.
> They don't smell!
>
>All I've been able to find out about Charvil is that it's a
>parish in Berkshire. Why would one wash camels there?
Maybe related to Eau De Javelle ... term still used in France
from http://www.bartleby.com/65/ja/Javellew.html
Javelle water or Javel water (both: zhvl´) (KEY) , Fr. eau de Javelle,
aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hypochlorite. It was
originally made near the French town of Javelle (now part of Paris)
and was the first chemical bleach, a use first demonstrated by C. L.
Berthollet in 1785. It was produced by passing chlorine gas through a
water solution of potash (potassium carbonate). After the invention of
bleaching powder Javelle water was sometimes produced by reacting the
bleaching powder with potash or soda ash (sodium carbonate). Now
usually sodium hypochlorite solution, it is used in bleaching and as a
disinfectant.
--
Rgds
Paul Webster
MartinS
>> 7) Show 4/3: "The Mount Everest Project" sketch. One of the
>> Russians has this line:
>>
>> Our camels... are cleaned and washed every day in Charvil.
>> They don't smell!
>>
>> All I've been able to find out about Charvil is that it's a parish in
>> Berkshire. Why would one wash camels there?
>
> ? A reference to "Javelle water"?
Or maybe Persil? (Washing powder)
--
Martin S.
Paul Winalski
<TOopr...@MUChtelusplanetJUNk.net> wrote:
>> 11) Show 4/19: Bluebottle, as Mad Houdini, has this line:
>>
>> Oh, woe is me! TO think that I should guide the rozzers to
>> my unsuspecting comrades. Oh, the agony. I have brought
>> dishonour to my fair name. They will take away my pretty
>> cow [??] badge. I'll never be allowed to join again no matter
>> how many box tops I save. Ayyy! (Pulls out dirty
>> handkerchief. WIpes snowdrop off nose.)
>>
>> I can't quite make out the words before 'badge', but it sounds
>> like "pretty cow". This is clearly an allusion to one of those
>> offers on Ovaltine or children's breakfast cereal boxes, where
>> you can get a badge by sending in a certain number of box tops.
>> But exactly which product is Bluebottle referring to?
>
>The "Vintage Goons" version (not the original 4/19) clearly has
>"Roy Rogers badge". But you may have known that.
Yes, this is one of the bits that got rewritten for the Vintage Goons
version, unfortunately. The recording of 4/19 is in very poor
condition, and with Blunebottle mispronouncing everything anyway, this
bit is very hard to make out.
-Paul W.
----------
Remove 'Z' to reply by email.
Paul Winalski
<paul.w...@spidersweb.freeserve.spammenot.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Javelle water or Javel water (both: zhvl´) (KEY) , Fr. eau de Javelle,
>aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hypochlorite. It was
>originally made near the French town of Javelle (now part of Paris)
>and was the first chemical bleach, a use first demonstrated by C. L.
>Berthollet in 1785. It was produced by passing chlorine gas through a
>water solution of potash (potassium carbonate). After the invention of
>bleaching powder Javelle water was sometimes produced by reacting the
>bleaching powder with potash or soda ash (sodium carbonate). Now
>usually sodium hypochlorite solution, it is used in bleaching and as a
>disinfectant.
I think you've got the answer here. Thanks!
Derek Wills
my life):
http://www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk/
Derek
nylon.net
13) Show 4/24: There's this dialogue after Seagoon arrives
in South America:
Bloodnok: Well, you... you're like a midget.
Seagoon: There's a very good reason for that.
Bloodnok: What?
Seagoon: I can't stand heights.
Bloodnok: Spoken like a pygmy. And talking of pygmies,
have you any brandy with you?
I don't get it. What do pygmies have to do with brandy?
--
I think it's just that ANYTHING makes Bloodnok think of brandy.
--
nylon.net
Sabrina: http://sabrinastuff.com
Goons: http://nylon.net/goons
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me either.
Just leave me the hell alone.
Arcaton
David Simpson <faro...@picknowl.com.au> wrote in message
news:4o4t00lt9g7r9uk21...@4ax.com...
> On 20 Jan 2004 13:43:03 GMT, Paul Martin <p...@zetnet.net> typed
> furiously:
>
> >In article <400c7ce4$0$14480$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au>,
> > nylon.net wrote:
> >> Paul Winalski wrote:
> >
> >> 13) Show 4/24: There's this dialogue after Seagoon arrives
> >> in South America:
> >
> >> Bloodnok: Well, you... you're like a midget.
> >> Seagoon: There's a very good reason for that.
> >> Bloodnok: What?
> >> Seagoon: I can't stand heights.
> >> Bloodnok: Spoken like a pygmy. And talking of pygmies,
> >> have you any brandy with you?
> >
> >> I don't get it. What do pygmies have to do with brandy?
> >
>
> Leave Brandy out of this. She didn't do anyfing.
Yes she did
She came and she gave without taking...
and he sent her away!
Arcaton
>
Paul Winalski
<faro...@picknowl.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>They're short people. Brandy is a "short" too.
>
>Leave Brandy out of this. She didn't do anyfing.
I don't wish to know that. Kindly leave the newsgroup.
-Paul W.
Ophelia
"Paul Winalski" <pr...@ZAnkh-Morpork.mv.com> wrote in message
news:eodu0010j2hucaf21...@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 01:27:36 +1030, David Simpson
> <faro...@picknowl.com.au> wrote:
>
> >>
> >>They're short people. Brandy is a "short" too.
> >
> >Leave Brandy out of this. She didn't do anyfing.
>
> I don't wish to know that. Kindly leave the newsgroup.
Ooerrr..... dat Paul has a bossy badge on... I want one!!!
Roger the Saurus
"Ophelia" <ophelia...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote
> Ooerrr..... dat Paul has a bossy badge on... I want one!!!
We all thought you already had one, cunningly disguised as a length of
knicker elastic
--
Roger the Saurus
(remove bollix to reply)
Ophelia
"Roger the Saurus" <ro...@bollix3stevenson.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:buot4n$nf4$1...@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "Ophelia" <ophelia...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote
> > Ooerrr..... dat Paul has a bossy badge on... I want one!!!
>
> We all thought you already had one, cunningly disguised as a length of
> knicker elastic
Who told you??
Huh.. is nuffing sacred around here?
O
Judith Jacobs
The Sacred Knickie 'lastic! Better than the Holy Hand Grenade!
--Judith
Ophelia
"Judith Jacobs" <jeja...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:40104144...@comcast.net...
LOL this is true:)) We don't have to chant to the 'lastic!
Fred
Relayed from the GSD:
From: absentmindedgenius
Posted: 21st Jan, 2004 09:02 Post subject: Re: Questions for old timers
circa the 1950s
>16) Show 4/26: Crun and Eccles sing thus while riding the trail: We're
riding
>along, westerly way . . . Nellie Dean . . . Sweet memory . . .
(gibberish) I
>know what "Nellie Dean" is, but what about the other two song snatches?
Is the first one "We're riding along on the crest of a wave"? If so, it's
an old song, very popular as a closing tune to gang shows (Guide and Scout
productions). It seems to crop up a lot in the goon show, either as
snatches, or the complete version.
From: One Man Bucket
Posted: 21st Jan, 2004 13:41 Post subject:
The 'riding along on the crest of a wave' was the Gang Show Theme song.
Sellers was, breifly, in the Gang Show in about 1946. He occasioanllyd id a
parody of Gang Show leader Ralph Reader - most notably in the playout of
'The End or Confessions of a Secret Sennapod Drinker' at the end of the
fith series.