Earliest TV Comedies remembered

[Hughie]

For me the earliest was perhaps Arthur Haines who was before his time. And I can't help but think that the Aussie Crocodile Dundee (Paul Hogan) used the Arthur Haines format to launch his early career into comedy.

What are your recollections on TV's early comedies?

[Jim McCreadie]

Harry Worth, Norman Wisdom, Billy Bunter.

[michaelm]

As far as earliest comedy tv show memories go I vaguely remember watching "The One O'clock Gang" in the early 60's on the black and white tv we had at the time. I was still just a nipper then so probably didn't "get" many of the jokes.
Don't think there were too many day-time shows on tv at that time so the only other tv alternative was watching the test card!
I think just before The One O'clock Gang came on screen the test card played background music like ... 'Charlie is My Darling' and 'Wi' a Hundred Piper's an aw an aw' etc.

[Meg]

Michael - The One o'clock Gang Show on STV was hosted by Larry Marshall with singers Dorothy Paul, Moira Briody, Charlie Sim (sometime comedian) and Jimmy Nairn (Sim's Straight man) - I think Jimmy Nairn is father to Nick Nairn, Chef.

You're right about the music that started STV's daytime shows.

I went to see Dorothy Paul's one woman show in the Gaiety a few years back - great show!

[down south]

I saw all sorts of famous comedies at an early age; I can have been no more than five when I remember watching Hancock's Half Hour, since it finished in 1961; I liked Sid the best. And I have vague memories of seeing Sergeant Bilko similarly young, though I can't possibly have followed the ingenious plots; on maturer viewing, one of my all-time favourites.

I was so taken with The Rag Trade ( Reg Varney, Miriam Karlin, Sheila Hancock etc ) that I used to go round with a tape measure round my neck, though I remember nothing else about it now. I was also a great fan of Harry Worth's bumbling mishaps, and Hugh and I with Hugh Lloyd and Terry Scott.

And then there were the American imports of the mid-sixties; The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Get Smart ( a spy spoof sending up The Man from Uncle ), and re-runs of I Love Lucy. Great days; they just don't seem to make them like that any more.

Susan

[bonzo]

For me it would be 70s comedies spike milligans Q, monty python, love thy neighbour,it ain half hot mum, the goodies,the likely lads and of course fawlty towers.

[Catherine Belle]

I Love Lucy and the Honeymooners were my favourites.

[John Donnelly]

Michael - The One o'clock Gang Show on STV was hosted by Larry Marshall with singers Dorothy Paul, Moira Briody, Charlie Sim (sometime comedian) and Jimmy Nairn (Sim's Straight man) - I think Jimmy Nairn is father to Nick Nairn, Chef.

You're right about the music that started STV's daytime shows.

I went to see Dorothy Paul's one woman show in the Gaiety a few years back - great show!

Didn't Dorothy Paul go on to be one of the main cast in TW3 with David Frost?
JD.

[Penny Tray]

JD,

I think you're thinking of Millicent Martin, a key figure in That Was The Week That Was (for the sake of the younger folk )

[John Donnelly]

Dead right Lawrence.
I was right though, in that they were both women.
JD.

[Bruce]

I think just before The One O'clock Gang came on screen the test card played background music like ... 'Charlie is My Darling' and 'Wi' a Hundred Piper's an aw an aw' etc.

“Scotlandia”, by Geraldo and his Orchestra!


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[michaelm]

Bruce - the music brought it all back to me there - especially at the end.