The Six-Five Special
On this day in 1957, viewers of BBC television were treated to an episode of the Beeb’s new rock ‘n’ roll programme, Six-Five Special....
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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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A Christmas quiz and custard
This post marks my 200th on this blog. To celebrate, I challenge you all to see if you are as nerdy about the Goons as I am. Post your...
China Story
Greenslade: Listeners and losteners, we present an ancient Chinese play translated from an old Greek soup recipe found engraved on the...
The Ladykillers
On this day in 1955, The Ladykillers opened in UK cinemas. It starred Alec Guinness alongside a young, up-and-coming character comedian...
The Case of the Missing Heir
On 11 January 1955, the Goons investigated ‘The Case of the Missing Heir’ for episode 16 of the fifth series. Readers of the Radio Times...
It's good to be alive in 1985! (part 2)
In yesterday's blog post I began exploring the myriad BBC and cultural references littered throughout the script for...
It's good to be alive in 1985! (part 1)
The Goons welcomed 1955 with arguably their best ever parody, and one of their best shows full stop, in my view at least. Full warning:...
Jack Train
A few days ago - 28 November to be precise - marked the 119th birthday of two-time Goon Show guest star Jack Train. Train slotted...
Where's that blasted telegram?
Maid Marion: Ooh! There's someone crawling under the table. What are you doing under there sir? Winston Churchill: I'm looking for a...
Mixed up Eccleses
And lo, December is upon us. Which can only mean one thing: carol singers. (Carol Singers? Gad, how I love that woman!) As featured in...
Ye Bandit of Sherwood Forest
It’s almost December, which means one thing: pantomime season! Greenslade: Doncaster, late in the 12th century. 'Tis December, and the...
‘The funniest show we’ve ever done’
A few days ago we explored the series five collaboration between Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan, which produced some of the best Goon Show...
Pea soup
In the early 1950s – and in fact for decades before, too – London was plagued by instances of thick fog, dubbed ‘pea soupers’. Air...
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...
The Fall of Neddie Seagoon
Greenslade: Loonies and gentlepogelum, we give you a story specially wrotten for the wireless type of radio set. Secombe: Yes. A story...
Postponed
On this day in 1955, Home Service listeners were supposed to have heard the 10th episode of the sixth series, ‘The Pevensey Bay...
Curry, chips, and more batter puddings
Trawling through some of the Goon-related material available at Neil Pearson Rare Books, I stumbled upon a copy of a script for 'The...
Happy birthday… Major Bloodnok?
Yes, today is the major’s birthday. Seagoon: Right. No mistakes this time. Put this bomb under it. Bloodnok: But they’ll hear it!...
The Spanish Suitcase
Young Ned Seagoon is wintering in Spain when he is approached by Senor Moriarty of the Deuxieme Bureau, who casually mentions that Major...
Cover stars
For those of you listening in 1957, here is a sneak peek at tomorrow’s Radio Times front cover: A better quality version is available on...
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