polling old timey British film comedians

This stuff… as a child I did not like these films being on BBC2; I resented them taking space that could go to something else (idk what, Rathbone Holmes maybe). I've never been able to get over that and never wanted to watch them so I can't vote.

Reading about this world is fascinating & that blog was a joy so thanks for the links daniel (& it reminds me I should read Shepperton Babylon).

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

the crazy gang died of swine flu in paris in the summer of 2009

Formby only 56 when he died. Probably a ripe old age for the times though

Flanagan & Allen are probably the most notable absences from this poll - in terms of acts who were enormously popular. Also, I suppose, Jimmy Hanley, though I think he was more radio than film. I don't know if I've ever seen Jimmy Hanley in anything and not much of Flanagan & Allen - though I remember Bud Flanagan being very London Jewish (openly Jewish you might even say).

Flanagan & Allen were part of the Crazy Gang.

Ah, I wondered about that.

I find the Crazy Gang fascinating. Six comedians, all of whom according to the articles I read had basically interchangeable personas.

Apart from Flanagan & Allen I'd never heard of any the other members of the Crazy Gang. Nor did I know it was made up of three double acts - one of which was Scottish!

"Perhaps the best remembered of their gags is when an attractive girl in a grass skirt is followed across stage by Bud Flanagan wheeling a lawnmower."

:/

i feel when we smugly tut tut a present-day tabloid for headline referencing a 70s sit-com we're forgetting that e.g. likeable 80s TV show shine on harvey moon* was referencing a song written in fkn 1903 lol

(reminded of this bcz "shine on harvest moon" is considered a flanagan & allen song: true pop culture has some tough-as-boots connective tissue) (viz the connective tissue between the crazy gang and hellraiser = kenneth cranham)