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Bob Grant (actor)
Robert St Clair Grant (14 April 19328 November 2003) was an English actor, comedian and writer, best known for playing bus conductor Jack Harper in the television sitcom ''On the Buses'', as well as its film spin-offs and stage version. Early life Grant was born in Hammersmith, West London, on 14April 1932, the son of Albert George Grant (19091985) and Florence (19092001), . He was educated at Aldenham School. Early career Grant trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, working in his spare time as a frozen food salesman and also (coincidentally, in view of his later career) as a bus driver. After doing national service in the Royal Artillery, he made his stage debut in 1952 as Sydney in ''Worm's Eye View'' at the Court Royal, Horsham. In 1954, he married Jean Hyett; the marriage would end in divorce. Grant's first London appearance was in ''The Good Soldier Schweik'' at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1956, and he spent several years at the Theatre Royal S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
On The Buses
''On the Buses'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom that was broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 1969 to 1973. It was created by Chesney and Wolfe, Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, who wrote most of the episodes. It spawned three spin-off feature films and a stage version. Despite the writers' previous successes with ''The Rag Trade'' and ''Meet the Wife (TV series), Meet the Wife'' with the BBC, the corporation rejected ''On the Buses'', not seeing much comedy potential in a bus depot as a setting. The comedy partnership turned to Frank Muir, Head of Entertainment at London Weekend Television (LWT), who loved the idea; the show was accepted, and despite a poor critical reception became a hit with viewers. The series is centred on the working-class life of Stan Butler and Jack Harper, who are the crew of the Number 11 bus at the Luxton and District Motor Traction Company. The action mostly takes place at the Butler home and at the bus depot. Network On Air descr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duke Of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by the architect Walter Emden, it opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, and was renamed to Trafalgar Theatre in 1894. The following year, it became the Duke of York's to honour the future King George V. The theatre's opening show was comic opera ''The Wedding Eve'' by Frédéric Toulmouche. One of the earliest musical comedies, ''Go-Bang'', was a success at the theatre in 1894. In 1900, Jerome K. Jerome's ''Miss Hobbs'' was staged as well as David Belasco's ''Madame Butterfly'', which was seen by Puccini, who later turned it into the famous opera. This was also the theatre where J. M. Barrie's ''Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'' debuted on 27 December 1904. Many famous British actors have appeared here, includ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Brown, Baron George-Brown
George Alfred George-Brown, Baron George-Brown, (2 September 1914 – 2 June 1985) was a British Labour Party politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1960 to 1970 and held several Cabinet roles under Prime Minister Harold Wilson, including Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. After leaving school at the age of 15, Brown began work as a clerk, before joining the Transport and General Workers' Union. He rose quickly through the union ranks as an organiser, and shortly before the 1945 election he was chosen as the Labour Party candidate for the seat of Belper. He defeated the Conservative incumbent and went on to hold the seat until his own defeat at the 1970 election. He briefly served in the Attlee government as Minister of Works in 1951. After Labour lost office he was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet, and came to be regarded as a leader of the trade-union-supporting faction on the right of the Labour Party. Following the sudden dea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mrs
Mrs. (American English) or Mrs (British English; standard English pronunciation: ) is a commonly used English honorific for women, usually for those who are married and who do not instead use another title (or rank), such as ''Doctor'', ''Professor'', ''President'', ''Dame'', etc. In most Commonwealth countries, a full stop (period) is usually not used with the title. In the United States and Canada a period (full stop) is usually used (see Abbreviation). ''Mrs'' originated as a contraction of the honorific ''Mistress'' (the feminine of ''Mister'' or ''Master'') which was originally applied to both married and unmarried women. The split into ''Mrs'' for married women and ''Miss'' for unmarried began during the 17th century; the 17th century also saw the coinage of a new unmarked option '' Ms'' with a return of this usage appearing in the 20th century. It is rare for ''Mrs'' to be written in a non-abbreviated form, and the unabbreviated word lacks a standard spelling. In lite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Robbins
Michael Anthony Robbins (14 November 1930 – 11 December 1992) was an English actor and comedian best known for his role as Arthur Rudge in the TV sitcom and film versions of ''On the Buses'' (1969–73). Career Michael Robbins was born in Croydon, Surrey, to Percival W. Robbins (1899–1956) and Bertha May ''née'' Sindall (1900–1997), who outlived him. From 1939 to 1944 Robbins was a pupil at St Michael's College, a Catholic school for boys, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. He then went on to work as a bank clerk and later became an actor after appearing in amateur dramatic performances also in Hitchin, where he and his family lived at the time. Robbins made his television debut as the cockney soldier in ''Roll-on Bloomin' Death''. Primarily a comedy actor, he is best remembered for the role of Arthur Rudge, the persistently sarcastic husband of Olive (Anna Karen), in the popular sitcom ''On the Buses'' (1969–73). Robbins and Karen provided the secondary comic storyline to R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Till Death Us Do Part (film)
''Till Death Us Do Part'' is a 1968 British comedy film directed by Norman Cohen, written by Johnny Speight, and starring Warren Mitchell and Dandy Nichols. It was based on the BBC television series of the same name. Speight was the creator of the television version. The film was considered successful enough at the box office that a sequel, ''The Alf Garnett Saga'', followed in 1972. Plot The film begins in September 1939 shortly before World War II begins. Alf Garnett, a dockyard worker, and his wife Else have been married for only a few weeks, and are already weary of one another. Alf gets called up for military duty but is turned down because he's in a reserved occupation. The film depicts their lives during the London Blitz. Else eventually gets pregnant to Alf and Else's shock, and they have a baby daughter, Rita, in 1942. The war ends in 1945 with a huge street party and Alf, characteristically, gets drunk. Midway through the film it advances from the end of World War II ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stephen Lewis (actor)
Stephen Lewis (17 December 1926 – 12 August 2015), credited early in his career as Stephen Cato, was an English actor, comedian, director, screenwriter and playwright. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in ''On the Buses'', Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' and Harry Lambert in ''Oh, Doctor Beeching!'', although he also appeared in numerous stage and film roles. Early life Lewis was born at All Saints Maternity Hospital in Poplar, London, England. He worked as a bricklayer, electrician's mate and carpenter, and also joined the Merchant Navy, before turning to acting. He was persuaded to go to a performance by the Theatre Workshop, under its director Joan Littlewood. It was common, after these performances, to invite members of the audience to meet the cast. He was invited to an audition, landed the part, and left the sea to become a member of the company. Stage Lewis made his West End theatre debut with the transfer of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sparrows Can't Sing
''Sparrows Can't Sing'' is a 1963 British kitchen sink comedy film. Based on a 1960 play, ''Sparrers Can't Sing'', it was directed by Joan Littlewood and was from a story by Stephen Lewis. The producer was Donald Taylor and the original music by James Stevens, incidental music was composed by Stanley Black. The play, also by Stephen Lewis, was first performed at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Play The film is loosely based on the stage musical Fings Ain't Wot They Used To Be, written by Frank Norman with music by Lionel Bart, at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1960, using members of the Theatre Workshop company, many of whom later appeared in the film. While the screenplay for the film was by Stephen Lewis, the stage version was partially developed using improvisational theatre techniques during performance. In common with much of Joan Littlewood's direction, it was an ensemble piece. The production made a successful transfer to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laurie Holloway
Laurence Holloway (born 31 March 1938) is an English pianist and composer from Oldham, Lancashire, England. He is perhaps best known as the Musical Director for Michael Parkinson's chat show, firstly on the BBC then ITV. He also was Musical Director for the first three series of ''Strictly Come Dancing'' on the BBC. Biography Holloway has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops Orchestra as both conductor and lead pianist. His TV work has included composing several well-known TV theme tunes such as '' Wicked Women'', '' Maggie and Her'', ''Blind Date'' and ''Beadle's About''. He also composed "Hook, Line and Sinker" for the 1970 LWT fishing series ''Casting Around''. In 1990, Holloway accompanied Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, on the piano for a recording the two made of Scottish childhood songs at Buckingham Palace for the 90th birthday of their mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Instant Marriage
''Instant Marriage'' is a musical with music by Laurie Holloway and words by Bob Grant. It premiered at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on 1 August 1964, playing for 366 performances. The cast featured Joan Sims, Paul Whitsun-Jones, Bob Grant, Stephanie Voss, Rex Garner, Harold Goodwin and Wallas Eaton. There was an Australian production in 1965, playing at the Tivoli Theatre in each of Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ... and Sydney. References 1964 musicals British musicals West End musicals {{musical-theat-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, London, England. Early years Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A. Stone for Edward Laurillard, its simple façade conceals a grandiose Art Deco interior designed by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet, with a 1,232-seat auditorium decorated in shades of pink. Gold and green are the dominant colours in the bars and foyer, which include the original light fittings. Upon its opening on 27 April 1928, the theatre's souvenir brochure claimed, "If all the bricks used in the building were laid in a straight line, they would stretch from London to Paris." The opening production, Jerome Kern's musical ''Blue Eyes'', starred Evelyn Laye, one of the most acclaimed actresses of the period. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West End Theatre
West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes, "West End" in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Famous screen actors, British and international alike, frequently appear on the London stage. There are a total of 39 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre – built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan – was entirely lit by electricity in 1881. Opening in October 2022, @sohoplace is the first new West End theatre in 50 years. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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