Michael Hope (historian)
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Michael Hope (historian)
Mike Hope (born Michael Gerard Harrison; 17 June 1935 – 12 April 2019) and Albie Keen (born Thomas Albert Henry Harrison; 4 June 1935 – 2 March 2020) were a British comedy double act. They were first cousins, the sons of British Variety comedians Syd and Max HarrisonRoy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, , p.84 and first formed their act, as singers, dancers and acrobats, in 1956. They were the hosts of ''Hope and Keen's Crazy House'' and other British television and radio shows. History In 1971 they were engaged for the West End show ''Meet Me In London'' at the ''Adelphi Theatre''. This was a ten-week ‘fill-in’- put on by impresario Harold Fielding after ''Charlie Girl'' closed at short notice and he was getting together a production of ''Show Boat''. Hope and Keen had a spot in the first half. When the other star of this part of the show, Clodagh Rodgers, walked out fifteen minutes before curtain-up on the fi ...
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Comedy Bandbox
''Comedy Bandbox'' is a British TV show that was produced in Manchester by ABC Television from 1962 to 1966. Four series and 54 episodes were produced. It had a revue format in which a variety of comedians performed stand-up and sketches. The last series was hosted by David Nixon and so was retitled ''David Nixon's Comedy Bandbox''. Several famous stars made their TV debut on the show including Jimmy Tarbuck and Mike Yarwood. See also * Variety Bandbox ''Variety Bandbox'' is a BBC Radio variety show transmitted initially in the General Forces Programme and then the Light Programme. Featuring a mixture of comic performances and music, the show helped to launch the careers of a number of leadi ... References External links * * 1960s British comedy television series 1962 establishments in the United Kingdom Television shows produced by ABC Weekend TV {{UK-comedy-tv-prog-stub ...
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Charlie Girl
''Charlie Girl'' is a musical comedy which premiered in London’s West End at the Adelphi Theatre on December 15, 1965; it became one of the more successful theatre shows of the day running for 2,202 performances. It closed on 27 March 1971. Productions Original production The original stars were Joe Brown (Joe Studholme), Christine Holmes (Charlie Hadwell), Anna Neagle (Lady Hadwell), Derek Nimmo (Nicholas Wainwright), Hy Hazell (Kay Connor), Jean Lloyd Grant Mostyn and Stuart Damon (Jack Connor). When Joe Brown left the show in 1968, he was replaced by Gerry Marsden (of Gerry & The Pacemakers). Production credits included: * Directed by Wallace Douglas * Choreographed by Alfred Rodriques * Setting by Tod Kingman * Costumes by Cynthia Tingey * Orchestrations by Arthur Wilkinson * Musical Direction by Kenneth Alwyn Neagle took the show to Australia in 1971 where English co-star Derek Nimmo appeared with popstar John Farnham co-starring as Joe Studholme. Revival The sho ...
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ITV (TV Network)
ITV, legally known as Channel 3, is a British free-to-air public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television network. It is branded as ITV1 in most of the UK except for central and northern Scotland, where it is branded as STV (TV channel), STV. It was launched in 1955 as Independent Television to provide competition to BBC Television (established in 1936). ITV is the oldest commercial network in the UK. Since the passing of the Broadcasting Act 1990, it has been Legal name, legally known as Channel 3 to distinguish it from the other analogue channels at the time: BBC1, BBC2 and Channel 4. ITV was, for decades, a network of separate companies that provided regional television services and also shared programmes among themselves to be shown on the entire network. Each franchise was originally owned by a different company. After several mergers, the fifteen regional franchises are now held by two companies: ITV plc, which runs ITV1, the ITV1 cha ...
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ABC Weekend TV
ABC Television Limited, popularly known as ABC Weekend TV, was a British broadcaster which provided the weekend service in the Midlands and Northern England regions of the Independent Television (ITV) network from 1956 to 1968. It was one of the " Big Four" companies that between them produced the majority of ITV networked programmes during this period. Originally created as Associated British Cinemas (Television) Ltd, ABC was one of a number of commercial television companies established during the 1950s by cinema chain companies, in an attempt to safeguard their business by becoming involved with television, which was taking away their cinema audiences. In this case, the parent company was the Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)—owner of ABC Cinemas—which initially did not wish to become involved with the new broadcasting system, but was persuaded to do so by the Independent Television Authority (ITA) and the manager of its Pathé News subsidiary Howard Tho ...
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Variety Club Of Great Britain
Variety, the Children's Charity is a charitable organization founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1927. History On October 10, 1927, a group of eleven men involved in show business set up a social club which they named the "Variety Club". On Christmas Eve 1928, a small baby was left on the steps of the Sheridan Square Film Theatre, owned by John H. Harris, with a note reading: Please take care of my baby. Her name is Catherine, named after my grandmother. I can no longer take care of her. I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of showbusiness people and pray to God that you will look after her. Signed, a heartbroken mother. Since efforts to trace the mother failed, the members of the Variety Club named the child Catherine Variety Sheridan after the location in which she was found, and undertook to fund the child's living expenses and education. Later the club decided to raise funds for other disadv ...
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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). Its sister organisation is The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings, which includes female performers and family members. History 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 b ...
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