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Robb Wilton
Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His trademark was to put his hand over part of his face at the punchline. Early life Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the Everton district of Liverpool on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor Robin Askwith. Career Wilton had a dry Lancashire accent, which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. His first theatre work was as a villain in melodramas, but he soon found himself getting laughs from his audience and, by 1909, was touring music halls as a comedian. Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of northern comedians Frank Randle and George Formby, Sr. He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a poli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.24 million. On the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, Liverpool historically lay within the ancient hundred of West Derby in the county of Lancashire. It became a borough in 1207, a city in 1880, and a county borough independent of the newly-created Lancashire County Council in 1889. Its growth as a major port was paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution. Along with general cargo, freight, and raw materials such as coal and cotton, merchants were involved in the slave trade. In the 19th century, Liverpool was a major port of departure for English and Irish emigrants to North America. It was also home to both the Cunard and White Star Lines, and was the port of registry of the ocean li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Handley
Thomas Reginald Handley (17 January 1892 – 9 January 1949) was an English comedian, best known for the BBC radio programme ''It's That Man Again'' ("''ITMA''") which ran between 1939 and 1949. Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Handley went on the stage in his teens and after military service in the First World War he established himself as a comedian and singer on the music hall circuit. He became nationally known as a pioneer broadcaster. From 1924 onwards he was frequently heard on BBC variety programmes as a solo entertainer and an actor in sketches. In the 1930s Handley frequently performed on air with the comedian Ronald Frankau in a popular comedy act as " Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom". Handley's greatest success came in 1939 with the BBC radio comedy show ''It's That Man Again'', which, after an uncertain start, caught the British public's imagination and reached an unprecedentedly large audience. He starred as the good-natured, fast-talking anchor-man around whom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Calling The Tune
''Calling the Tune'' was a 1936 British musical drama film directed by Reginald Denham and Thorold Dickinson and starring Adele Dixon, Sally Gray and Sam Livesey. It was based on a play written by the Irish MP and novelist, Justin Huntly McCarthy first published in 1913. It was made at Ealing StudiosWood p.85 The film's sets were designed by the art director R. Holmes Paul. Cast * Adele Dixon as Julia Harbord * Sally Gray as Margaret Gordon * Sam Livesey as Bob Gordon * Eliot Makeham as Stephen Harbord * Donald Wolfit as Dick Finlay * Clifford Evans as Peter Mallory * Lewis Casson as John Mallory * Ronald Simpson as Bramwell * H. F. Maltby as Stubbins * Robb Wilton as Jenkins * Reginald Forsyth as Himself * Charles Penrose as Himself * George Robey as Himself * Students of the R.A.D.A. as Themselves * Sir Henry Wood as Himself * Pat Fitzpatrick as Boy * Cedric Hardwicke Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (19 February 1893 – 6 August 1964) was an Engl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
It's Love Again
''It's Love Again'' is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews, Robert Young and Sonnie Hale. In the film, a chorus girl masquerades as a big game hunter to try to boost her showbiz career. The film was made at the Lime Grove Studios, with art direction by Alfred Junge. Plot Under pressure to come up with a story, gossip columnist Peter Carlton (Robert Young) invents the imaginary socialite and big game hunter "Mrs. Smythe-Smythe." This glamorous lady spends her time hunting tigers, jumping out of airplanes and driving men wild with her beauty. Carlton is somewhat taken aback when the real lady turns up in person, impersonated by aspiring actress Elaine Bradford (Jessie Matthews), in search of her big break. Cast * Jessie Matthews as Elaine Bradford/Mrs. Smythe-Smythe * Robert Young as Peter Carlton * Sonnie Hale as Freddie Rathbone * Ernest Milton as Raymond * Robb Wilton as Boys - Butler * Sara Allgood as Mrs. Hopkins ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Look Up And Laugh
''Look Up and Laugh'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Basil Dean and starring Gracie Fields, Alfred Drayton and Douglas Wakefield. The film is notable for featuring an appearance by Vivien Leigh in an early supporting role. Plot Gracie Pearson (Fields) is a singer/comedian who returns home to enjoy a little holiday, but there is trouble brewing. First, she has to use all of her hard-earned money to pay for part of what her brother owes to a money lender. Then when they go to see their father, they find he has collapsed due to the Plumborough Market (where he has a stall) is threatened with demolition to make way for a department store. She receives a telegram offering a West End singing job, but decides to try to save the market instead. As time runs out, Gracie rallies the stall keepers together through a series of ever more hilarious schemes in their attempts to save their livelihoods. Cast * Gracie Fields as Gracie Pearson * Vivien Leigh as Marjorie Belfer * Dougla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Secret Of The Loch
''The Secret of the Loch'' is a 1934 British film about the Loch Ness Monster. It is the first film made about the monster. Charles Bennett said the film was based on his original idea. He later admitted it was "terrible... but amusing".Tom Waver, ''Double Feature Creature Attack: A Monster Merger of Two More Volumes of Classic Interviews'' McFarland, 2003 p 18-19 Plot Professor Heggie is determined to prove to a sceptical scientific community the existence of a dinosaur in Loch Ness. Young London reporter Jimmy Anderson believes him and offers to help. He also falls in love with Angela, the professor's granddaughter. Jimmy finally plucks up the courage to enter the Loch himself, and comes face to face with the monster. Cast Production Charles Bennett and Billie Bristow visited Loch Ness in December 1933 to research the film. The film was known as ''Sinister Deeps''. The film was shot over four weeks. Critical reception ''TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Love, Life And Laughter (1934 Film)
''Love, Life and Laughter'' is a 1934 British comedy drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gracie Fields, John Loder and Ivor Barnard Ivor Barnard (13 June 1887 – 30 June 1953) was an English stage, radio and film actor. He was an original member of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he was a notable Shylock and Caliban. He was the original Water Rat in the first L .... Plot summary Nell, the daughter of an English pub owner falls in love with the visiting Prince of Granau. Cast References Bibliography * Low, Rachael. ''Filmmaking in 1930s Britain''. George Allen & Unwin, 1985. * Perry, George. ''Forever Ealing''. Pavilion Books, 1994. * Sutton, David R. ''A Chorus of Raspberries: British Film Comedy 1929-1939''. University of Exeter Press, 2000. * Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute, 1986. External links * 1934 films British romantic comedy-drama films British musical comedy-drama films British romantic mu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grand Order Of Water Rats
The Grand Order of Water Rats is a British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organisation based in London. Founded in 1889 by the music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, the order is known for its high-profile membership and benevolent works (primarily within the performing industries). Origin In 1889, two British music hall performers, Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, owned a trotting pony called "Magpie". As the pony was a regular race winner, its owners decided that they would use the profits to help performers who were less fortunate than themselves.Charlie Chester, ''The Grand Order of Water Rats: A Legend of Laughter'' – W.H. Allen, London (1984) pg 12 One day, as Elvin was driving the pony back to its stables in the pouring rain, a passing bus driver called out, "Wot yer got there, mate?" "Our trotting pony!" replied Elvin. Observing the bedraggled, soaked condition of the pony, the driver shouted back, "Trotting pony? Looks more like a bleedin' water r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Love Match
''The Love Match'' is a 1955 British black and white comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Arthur Askey, Glenn Melvyn, Thora Hird and Shirley Eaton. A football-mad railway engine driver and his fireman are desperate to get back in time to see a match. It was based on the 1953 play by Glenn Melvyn, one of the stars of the film. A TV spin-off series ''Love and Kisses'', appeared later in 1955. Cast * Arthur Askey as Bill Brown * Glenn Melvyn as Wally Binns * Thora Hird as Sal Brown * Shirley Eaton as Rose Brown * James Kenney as Percy Brown * Edward Chapman as Mr. Longworth * Danny Ross as Alf Hall * Robb Wilton as Mr. Muddlecombe * Anthea Askey as Vera * Patricia Hayes as Emma Binns * Iris Vandeleur as Mrs. Entwhistle * William Franklyn as Arthur Ford * Leonard Williams as Aggressive Man * Peter Swanwick as Mr. Hall * Dorothy Blythe as Waitress * Reginald Hearne as Police Constable Wilfred * Maurice Kaufmann as Harry Longworth * Janet Davies as Motorist Rele ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey, (6 June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature (5' 2", 1.58 m) and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation and catchphrases including "Hello playmates!", "I thank you" (pronounced "Ay-thang-yaw") and "Before your very eyes". Askey achieved prominence in the 1930s in the BBC's first radio comedy series ''Band Waggon'' and subsequently starred in several Gainsborough Pictures comedy films during the Second World War including ''Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt'' (1940) and ''The Ghost Train (1941 film), The Ghost Train'' (1941). His Novelty song, novelty recordings for His Master's Voice include "The Bee Song" (1938), a lasting part of his act. From the 1950s, Askey was a prominent television presence and made regular appearances on the BBC's long-running music hall programme ''The Good Old Days (UK TV series), The Good Old Days''. Askey was made an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phonofilm
Phonofilm is an optical sound-on-film system developed by inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case in the early 1920s. Introduction In 1919 and 1920, Lee De Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patents on a sound-on-film process, DeForest Phonofilm, which recorded sound directly onto film as parallel lines. These parallel lines photographically recorded electrical waveforms from a microphone, which were translated back into sound waves when the movie was projected. Some sources say that DeForest improved on the work of Finnish inventor Eric Tigerstedt — who was granted German patent 309.536 on 28 July 1914 for his sound-on-film work — and on the Tri-Ergon Exchange, patented in 1919 by German inventors Josef Engl, Hans Vogt, and Joseph Massole. The Phonofilm system, which recorded synchronized sound directly onto film, was used to record vaudeville acts, musical numbers, political speeches, and opera singers. The quality of Phonofilm was poor at first, improved ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Max Kester
Max Kester Dodgson (11 December 1901 – 14 December 1991), known professionally as Max Kester, was a British scriptwriter and lyricist. Biography He was born in Leeds, the son of James Dodgson, an artist who drew cartoons for ''The Yorkshire Post'' under the pseudonym "Kester". Max Kester Dodgson started work on the ''Yorkshire Post'',"Obituary: Max Kester", ''The Times'', 4 January 1992 Retrieved 7 April 2021 and wrote and edited early radio programmes for the in Leeds in 1926, as Max Kester. He moved to London by the late 1920s, and worked for |
