Been laughing myself stupid here watching Spike Milligan on youtube. A lot of youngster these days wouldn't appreciate just how funny Spike and many of his contemporaries were. Much of what passes for humour these days (mostly American) is completely banal and soulless. There are a few good ones around, but they hardly shine a candle to the old timers.
Been laughing myself stupid here watching Spike Milligan on youtube. A lot of youngster these days wouldn't appreciate just how funny Spike and many of his contemporaries were. Much of what passes for humour these days (mostly American) is completely banal and soulless. There are a few good ones around, but they hardly shine a candle to the old timers.
My mother gave me a book of his poetry, Unspun Socks from a Chicken's Laundry I think it is, that still makes me smile when I look through it. One of a kind.
Spike was the man for sure. A lot of the old comedians had some clever stuff, even the Americans.
Do a youtube search for Dean Martin, Foster Brookes and the airline pilot skit or any of the Dean Martin ' Roasts'. Some brilliant comedy there.
Years ago a friend gave me a cd with 54 Goon shows in mp3 format. I listen to them still and each time I play it new interpretations and humour come to light.
Thank you Goons for what you did to English language humour.
This thread as had me thinking about comedy 20-30 years or more ago.
In this day and age the Carry On movies wouldn't get passed the censors with all the PC.
The comedians I like are
Hattie Jaques
Syd James
Tony Hancock
Kenneth Williams
Eric Sykes
Norman Wisdom (also good singer)
Frankie Howard (Up Pompeii)
Thanks for this thread, does it bring back memories, does anyone remember a one season tv show called The Telegoons. My memory is a little hazy but the show was in a cartoon style format but featured all the characters "we" had come to know and love, Eccles, Mini etc. etc.
As for U.S.A. comedians of the time, my favourite was Red Skelton, playing the hobo. Jacky Gleason and Art Carney in the Honeymooners were flamin' funny too, ahhh , the list goes on, brings a smile to the dial just thinking about the laughs to be had, usually at someone else' expense.
Good Ol' Spike:):)
