I told you I was ill...

[andy]

There was something on the TV at the weekend about Spike Milligan.. so I pulled out some old DVD's and books as it was a wet Bank Holiday...

I am sorry leaves modern comics standing..

"Today I saw a little worm

wriggling on his belly

Perhaps he'd like to come inside

and see whats on the Telly"

Had me and my 7 year old niece in tears

[moi]

Or this one by Roald Dahl:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

I llive with my brat

In a high-rise flat

So how the hell should I know!

[coco]

both good.

[geezer]

Had the pleasure of meeting Spike when he was recording Jim'll Fix It. That was one hell of an experience!!

One of my favourites of his was:

Dr O'Dell

Fell down a well

And broke his collar bone

But doctors should attend the sick

And leave the well alone.

He was an absolute comic genius.

[moi]

From "The World's Wife" by Carol Ann Duffy:

Mrs Darwin

7 April 1852

Went to the Zoo.

I said to Him -

Something about that chimpanzee over there

reminds me of you.

[andy]

Never heard the Mrs Darwin thing.. quite good.. Love Roald Dahl too.. that is great

I think with Spike you knew it was the tip of the ice berg, his talent was amazing, he has a legacy I think in the poems but I think you have to be into him cos you can hear him in them which I think makes it really special. Never thought he was the best perfomer out of the other Goons, but he wa sthe genious behind them.

I always thougt this was really clever.. I think we did it at school

'Twas midnight in the schoolroom

And every desk was shut

When suddenly from the alphabet

Was heard a loud "Tut-Tut!"

Said A to B, "I don't like C;

His manners are a lack.

For all I ever see of C

Is a semi-circular back!"

"I disagree," said D to B,

"I've never found C so.

From where I stand he seems to be

An uncompleted O."

C was vexed, "I'm much perplexed,

You criticise my shape.

I'm made like that, to help spell Cat

And Cow and Cool and Cape."

"He's right" said E; said F, "Whoopee!"

Said G, "'Ip, 'Ip, 'ooray!"

"You're dropping me," roared H to G.

"Don't do it please I pray."

"Out of my way," LL said to K.

"I'll make poor I look ILL."

To stop this stunt J stood in front,

And presto! ILL was JILL.

"U know," said V, "that W

Is twice the age of me.

For as a Roman V is five

I'm half as young as he."

X and Y yawned sleepily,

"Look at the time!" they said.

"Let's all get off to beddy byes."

They did, then "Z-z-z."

[geezer]

My old man told me some stories of when he recorded some shows with the Goons. Apparently the shows were amazing to be at because for every one show you would usually get three completely different versions each one funnier than the previous. The first rehearsal would go according to the script bar a few improvised additions. The second rehearsal would have several more improvisations and then the actual show would be completely different from the original. My old man told me he would often come home in agony from laughing so much.

He also told me of the time he got an urgent call from Spike asking him to pop round to his flat in Finchley as he had something to show my old man which he wanted to share. Although apprehensive the old man went anyway and Spike was there to greet him at the door. Spike took him through to the bedroom by which time my dad was well apprehensive but as he entered the room he was shocked to see everything, including the windows were painted black. There was just one lightbulb giving off minimum light. "There look at that" said Spike pointing to a picture above the bed. The old man got closer to the picture which was of Jesus nailed to the cross. Scrawled across the picture were the words "To Spike, with love Jesus".

Work that one out because my poor old man never did!!

[andy]

Thats an amazing story geezer ! thanks :-) like I said in my opening post just leaves any modern comedian standing..... would have loved to have known him.

When I first really became aware of him was very late in his career, when he got that life time achievement award and I think Jonothan Ross read out a tribute from Prince Charles at at the end he just said "Grovelling little bar steward" .... I was hooked and seeked out his work since.

[geezer]

In that case I'll tell you some more.

I went with my old man to the TV studios where he was due to record a Jim'll Fix It programme. Much to my delight Spike was to be on the same show.

We went to Spike's dressing room so I could finally meet one of my two all time favourites (the other was Eric Morecambe who I very briefly met a few years later). Spike was lying on his couch staring at a blank wall. "What are you doing?" asked my old man, "I'm waiting for the film to start" said Spike. "It's going to be in braille so Harry Secombe can watch it!!" Classic stuff.

Fair to say Spike didn't seem to have a lot of time for Jimmy Saville because every time Saville came over to speak to Spike the great man would drown out Saville's voice with a rapid fire "di di di di di di di di di di" whilst jabbing his finger in Savilles direction.

Spike took great delight in talking to the kids at the studio. In particular he would identify any kid who was shy and actively give them the confidence to talk. He spotted one kid at the studio who was painfully shy so Spike started working his magic but every time he asked a question this kids Dad would butt in and answer the question. Spike asked one more question then turned towards the kids old man (Spike was by no means a small man and could appear quite intimidating when he wanted to) and said "for f**ks sake shut up, I'm asking the kid not you. Let him speak!!" With that the old man hastily retreated and lo and behold the kid started chatting away. By the end of the session you couldn't shut the little bleeder up!!