March in Goonland
Orme Court update - Michael Bentine - Griff Rhys Jones on Goon Pod - Hancock's Half Hour - Spike Down Under - Angela Morley - An Album...
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The Seagoon Memoirs
Chronicling a 21st century idiot's obsession with a 1950s radio comedy masterpiece.
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time capsule
Welcome, dear reader - pull up a bollard.
On 28 May 1951, four young men took to the airwaves on the BBC's Home Service to launch their unique brand of comedy on an unsuspecting world.
In the mid-1990s, an even younger idiot was introduced to recordings of their broadcasts - and there began a strange obsession crossing decades and generations.
The Seagoon Memoirs is an attempt to channel this obsession into something creative, chronicle the show's history, development and legacy, and in some small way contribute to preserving this masterpiece of British radio comedy.
Listen to me waffle on about the Goons on the excellent Goon Pod here. Alternatively, listen to more interesting people on other episodes of Goon Pod, including Jane Milligan, Al Murray, Dirk Maggs, and the cast of 'Spike!', the new Milligan/Goon-themed play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.
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Happy birthday Michael Bentine
Goon Show co-founder Michael Bentine was born on this day in 1922, exactly a century ago. I think it’s fair to say Bentine is something...
Third Division debuts
The issue of the Radio Times published on this day in 1949 carried a preview of a new series of shows on the BBC's Third Programme. No...
Michael Bentine
On this day in 1996, Michael Bentine died at the age of 74 from prostate cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. The obituaries...
Going Round the Bend
On this day in 1958, the Radio Times carried a preview supplement letting readers know the entertainment highlights they could expect...
Return of Bentine
‘The Giant Bombardon’ was the subject of episode 13 of series four, broadcast on Boxing Day 1953 at the much earlier time of 4:30pm, as...
Recommended viewing, part… err… 4?
I’ve lost count of how many of these I’ve done already. Here are a few short clips featuring various Goons for your entertainment. First...
Exit Bentine
‘I Was A Male Fan Dancer’, the third episode of the third series of the Goon Show, was broadcast on 25 November 1952. It can be found on...
Origins: Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine was a fascinating character. Born in 1922, his father was Peruvian while his mother was British. He grew up in Folkestone...
Happy birthday, Charlotte Mitchell
Today marks the actress and poet Charlotte Mitchell’s 95th birthday. She starred in two Goon Show episodes, throwing herself into the...
The impact of war
Episode 16 of the first series was broadcast on 13 September 1951 and can be found on page 32 of the Radio Times. Grytpype: Now then,...
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