Happy birthday, John Browell
Episode four of the second series of the Goon Show was broadcast on 12 February 1952, as per page 26 of that week’s Radio Times. Today...
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The Seagoon Memoirs
Chronicling a 21st century idiot's obsession with a 1950s radio comedy masterpiece.
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Welcome, dear reader - pull up a bollard.
UPDATE: JUNE 2024
I am in the process of transferring this blog to Substack. You'll find me at theseagoonmemoirs.substack.com, where you can read for free and sign up to receive new posts (twice a week) direct to your email.
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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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More wartime experiences
A couple of weeks ago we explored some of the Goons’ wartime experiences. Let’s pick up that theme again. Minister (Sellers): Gentlemen,...
‘Catch him before he gets to the bus stop!’
Episode three of the second series was broadcast on 5 February 1952 at 9:30pm on the BBC Home Service. The listing for the show is on...
Ned of Wales
The second episode of the second series of the Goon Show was broadcast on 29 January 1952 at 9:30pm on the BBC Home Service. Don't...
The earliest recording
The first episode of the second series is also the first episode for which an audio recording exists. Broadcast on 22 January 1952, it...
Series 1 in review
We’re starting on the second series tomorrow. Before we do, I’ve managed to dig out a few reviews and articles about the first series....
The sound effects men
One of the big changes that the Goon Show brought to radio comedy was the advanced use of sound effects. Spike Milligan (and Michael...
'He's fallen in the water!'
[FX: Splash] Little Jim: He's fallen in the water. Grytpype: Neddie, you devil instrument incarnate. Why did you throw that child into...
Catchphrases
When the Goons launched themselves onto the airwaves in 1951, one of the aspects of comedy they wanted to challenge was the idea of...
Naming episodes
Warning: This is a nerd-rant. File this under ‘I don’t wish to know that’. A few days ago I wrote of Roger Wilmut’s Goonography. I’m...
Two honorary Goons
I was alerted by this tweet from the Goon Show Preservation Society (GSPS) of the passing earlier this year of two honorary Goons. Marcel...
The Goonaholic’s Bible
By far the most cited Goon book is Roger Wilmut’s exhaustive The Goon Show Companion: A History and Goonography. I’ve relied heavily on...
The characters - part 2
Here's the rest of the rag-tag bunch of regular characters. See yesterday's post for part 1. Major Denis Bloodnok (Peter Sellers) All...
The characters - part 1
For those less familiar with the voices on the Goon Show, here’s a quick rundown of which idiot is which. I’ll delve a bit more into some...
The Producers
Two influential producers of Goon Shows – Pat Dixon and Charles Chilton – share a birthday. Chilton was born on this day in 1917. He was...
Happy birthday, Stanley Black
Today we come to the final episode, number 17, of the first series. It was broadcast on 20 September 1951 and is listed on page 36 of 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,...
The Stargazers
The 15th episode of the first series was broadcast on 6 September 1951 and can be found on page 28 of the Radio Times. The same issue...
Pickwick
Turn to page 32 of the 24 August 1951 bumper edition of the Radio Times to spot the 14th episode of the first series lurking at 8pm on 30...
Valentine Dyall’s lost weekend
Episode 13 of the first series was broadcast on 23 August 1951. Find it on page 28 of this week’s Radio Times below a rather fetching...
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