Christmas, pantomimes and 1861

[JimN]

http://tinyurl.com/ckoupz2

BBC4 showed a documentary, "Michael Grade's History Of The Pantomime Dame", last Thursday at 21:00 (it's still on the iPlayer for those who can get it).

In an hour-long run through the evolution of this most British of theatrical institutions, Michael started off with its origins in seventeenth century Commedia Del'Arte, Harlequin, etc, taking in Joe Grimaldi and Dan Leno on the way.

Referring to the modern reliance on the use of celebs in panto, there was a section on the famous London Palladium offerings of the 1960s, including 1964/65's "Aladdin". Several (still) shots of Cliff and The Shadows with Arthur Askey, but (oddly) this was accompanied by the recording of 1861 (rather than, for instance, Genie With...).

It got me thinking... on Christmas Day 1967, the ITV network showed a made-for-TV version of "Aladdin" with Cliff and The Shadows. I recall that The Shadows' number on the programme was a mimed Snap, Crackle And How's Your Dad?, with John Rostill "playing" the bass part on a toy piano.

It was a Monday, the last Christmas before the 1968 franchise revolution and the programme was networked by Rediffusion London (so probably made at Wembley). I wonder whether it's still in the Archbuild or BFI archives? They hold the Rediffusion rights.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1555566/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Interesting to see the cast - including the Shadows - listed in alphabetical order by surname.

JN

[neil2726]

I note that Wendy padbury was in the cast as "So -Shy" - she was of course married at one time to Melvyn Hayes of Summer Holiday and Wonderful Life fame!

[jimbojet]

Wasn't Melvin Hayes also in the Young Ones, I remembering him making his way through the crowded youth club whilst Cliff and the Shads were playing "got a funny feeling" I seem to remember

[Uncle Fiesta]

Melvyn Hayes was in The Young Ones, as was Teddy Green who was also in Summer Holiday.

Also, Richard O'Sullivan was in TYO and WL.

[GoldenStreet]

Melvyn Hayes was in The Young Ones, as was Teddy Green who was also in Summer Holiday.

Also, Richard O'Sullivan was in TYO and WL.

It was Teddy Green (as Steve) doing the leaping about in Summer Holiday, during the Paris nightclub sequence with the Shads playing Les Girls.

Bill

[drakula63]

I note that Wendy padbury was in the cast as "So -Shy" - she was of course married at one time to Melvyn Hayes of Summer Holiday and Wonderful Life fame!

Ahhh, 'Padders'. Best known for her role as Zoe Herriot in Doctor Who - particularly a certain short sequence in an episode of The Mind Robber...

[JimN]

Melvyn Hayes was in The Young Ones, as was Teddy Green who was also in Summer Holiday.
Also, Richard O'Sullivan was in TYO and WL.

It was Teddy Green (as Steve) doing the leaping about in Summer Holiday, during the Paris nightclub sequence with the Shads playing Les Girls.
Bill

Teddy Green and Una Stubbs were the really skilled dancers in the films in which they each appeared. If I recall correctly, there was no male dancer of that calibre in "Wonderful Life", though Una Stubbs had talent enough to carry all the dancing scenes.

JN

[negninegaw]

why was the Shadows' song 1861 called 1861 ?
e.g. was it played a century later, or is U.S. history involved?

[JimN]

My guess on 1861 is that it came from the lyric of the theme from Australian TV series "Whiplash" (sung by Gormley-stablemate Frank Ifield).

JN

[captainhaddock]

1861, the year that marked the beginning of the U.S. Civil war ?