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REG DIXON
Although born in Coventry, Reg Dixon was classified as a 'northern comedian' because of the accent he developed for his act, especially in the delivery of his catchphrase 'I've been proper poorly'. Dixon was well known through his radio work but stage audiences - and, here, television viewers of the long-running Starlight series - familiar with his gentle voice, were surprised by his six-foot, 16-stone stature.
REG WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.
TAKEN IN THE 1950'S
ELLEN TERRY
born Feb. 27, 1847, Coventry, Warwickshire, Eng.
died July 21, 1928, Small Hythe, Kent
English actress who became one of the most popular stage performers in both Great Britain and North America. For 24 years (1878–1902) she worked as the leading lady of Sir Henry Irving in one of the most famous partnerships in the theatre. In the 1890s she began her famous “paper courtship” with George Bernard Shaw, one of the most brilliant…
Terry Hall (20 November 1926 – 4 April 2007), born Terence Hall, was an English ventriloquist.Spent the last twenty years of his life living in Earlsdon Coventry. He appeared regularly on television with his puppet, Lenny the Lion, with his catchphrase, "Aw, don't embawass me!". Hall is credited as being one of the first ventriloquists to use a non-human puppet.
Hall was born in Chadderton, Oldham, in Lancashire, where his parents ran a working men's club. He was educated at St Patrick's School in Oldham and at De La Salle College in Salford. Hall initially working as a ventriloquist with a boy dummy, named Mickey Finn, winning a talent show aged 15.
Hall created Lenny the Lion in 1954 after he visited the zoo while working at the summer season in Blackpool. Lenny was made from an old fox fur and papier-mâché, with a golf ball for the nose. He origially had a mouthful of fearsome teeth, but they were removed at the suggestion of singer Anne Shelton to avoid scaring children in the audience.
Hall and Lenny first appeared on BBC Television in 1956, in a variety show entitled Dress Rehearsal that also signalled Eric Sykes' television debut. The Lenny the Lion Show ran on from 1957 to 1960, followed by Lenny's Den in 1959 to 1961, and Pops and Lenny in 1962 to 1963. Hall visited Ameria in 1958, making his debut on the Ed Sullivan Show with Lenny that year. Hall and Lenny remained popular throughout the 1960s, appearing on stage in Blackpool and on television. The Beatles made one of their early TV appearances in a 1963 episode of Pops and Lenny, singing "From Me to You" and "Please, Please Me." David Bowie's father, Hayward Jones, worked on the show, and launched the Lenny the Lion Fan Club. Lenny advertised Trebor mints for three years. Hall released a single, "Lenny's Bath Time", in 1963.
Hall and Lenny continued to work in variety through the 1970s, appearing on television in programmes such as Crackerjack. From 1977 to 1980, Hall regularly appeared on children's daytime television, in the television programme Reading With Lenny.
Hall married twice. He had two daughters from his first marriage. He married a second time in 1980, to dance teacher Denise Francis. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease in later life, and died in 2007 in Coventry, West Midlands.
Brian Matthew
Brian Matthew (born 17 September 1928, in Coventry) is a veteran British broadcaster, who became well known in the 1960s. He is still broadcasting on radio for the BBC, having presented Sounds of the Sixties since 1990, often employing the same vocabulary and the same measured delivery he used in previous decades.
Matthew started broadcasting in 1948 in Germany, and trained as an actor at RADA before joining the BBC in 1954. He became popular in the days of the BBC Light Programme, hosting Saturday Club (originally called Saturday Skiffle Club, starting in 1957 and changing to its more familiar name in 1958) and Easy Beat (starting in 1960). At the time, there was little pop music played on BBC Radio, certainly when compared to the huge demand for it among young people, and the shows attracted audiences into the millions. Virtually all the big stars of the era, including The Beatles, appeared on the shows.
On television, he is probably best remembered as the presenter of Thank Your Lucky Stars (ITV 1961-66).
The influence of Easy Beat on radio declined due to the rise of offshore radio from 1964 onwards; when BBC Radio 1 launched in 1967, Easy Beat was axed, and Saturday Club was taken over by another presenter, Keith Skues (formerly of the "pirate" Radio London), before it was also axed in 1969. Later, Brian Matthew returned to prominence as the host of BBC Radio 2's arts magazine Round Midnight, from 1978 to 1990. Since April 1990 he has hosted Sounds of the 60s (a programme first presented in 1983 by Keith Fordyce) on the same network on Saturday mornings, playing many of the records he initially played on Saturday Club and Easy Beat.
Matthew announced at the end of his show on 26 August 2006 that due to an undisclosed illness he would be taking several weeks off his Radio 2 show, for the first time in sixteen years. Johnnie Walker was the main host in his absence, with recordings of Matthew's A to Z of the Beatles feature also being employed to maintain his presence in the programme. Sandie Shaw, Joe Brown and Suzi Quatro were also guest hosts. Matthew returned to the show on 10 February 2007, informing the listeners that a viral infection contracted while in hospital for a minor operation had required an extended period of time in hospital, followed by several weeks of recuperation at ho
T.E.DUNVILLE
T E Dunville was one of the leading eccentric comedians on the music-hall stage. He was born in Coventry on 29 July 1867, the son of a tailor, and his real name wasn't Dunville, but Thomas Edward Wallen. Nearly everyone called him Tommy, though he liked to be called Teddie by his friends. He adopted the stage name 'Dunville' from the whisky firm of that name.
He built up a successful reputation in the north before coming to London in 1890, where he first appeared at the Middlesex Music Hall in Drury Lane, Gatti's Charing Cross, and Foresters', Mile End. He was an immediate success with his main song being 'Lively on, lively off' by Charles Osborne. Acrobatics and legmania were a feature of his act, and he was billed as an 'eccentric comedian and contortionist'. He had a game arm, though no-one noticed it when he was at work. Off stage, however, it was useless to him.
'Mr T E Dunville's drollery is as effective as ever, and he has added a ditty of the most absurd sort to his list. He assumes the attire of a Highlander, and, with his tall figure and long legs, his appearance is alone sufficient to create hearty laughter. He tells, in patter and song, of his adventures in the ranks, and, extravagant as some of his fun is, it seems not a whit too eccentric for the patrons of the Alhambra who reward Mr Dunville with a very hearty round of applause at the conclusion of his popular turn. He is certainly both original and innately comical.' (Alhambra report, in 'Era', 6 April 1895)
His last appearance was at the Grand, Clapham, on 20 March 1924. The following day he disappeared, and on 22 March his body was found in the Thames at Caversham Lock near Reading.
His autobiography 'The Autobiography of an Eccentric Comedian' was published by Everett & Co in about 1911.
He made five commercial recordings for the phonograph, five Edison cylinders:
Enquire within Edison cylinder 13023
Nine gallant highlanders Edison cylinder 13024
Scoot Edison cylinder 13025
The volunteer fireman Edison cylinder 13036
The 3 stages of women Edison cylinder 13037
Tony Barker adds a footnote to his biographical article:
'There is now a very real danger that T E Dunville's cylinders no longer exist - if any of them do turn up they should be committed to tape or microgroove as soon as possible, the fragility of wax cylinders making such a step particularly necessary. Should they have parted company with their original boxes, the only identification on the cylinders themselves may well be the Edison serial number ... would anyone knowing of the existence of any Dunville cylinders please arrange for them to be transferred electrically to a more permanent 'record'. How tragic it would be if the voice of one of the premier examples of the 'eccentric comedian' were allowed to slip into oblivion.'
Larry Grayson (21 August 1923 – 7 January 1995), born William White, was an English stand-up comedy and gameshow host of the late 1970s and 1980s. He is best remembered for hosting the BBC's popular gameshow The Generation Game and for his high camp, and English music hall humour
Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire in 1923 to unmarried parents, (he never met his father), ten days after he was born he was adopted by Alice and Jim Hammond, a working-class coal mining family in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. His foster mother died when he was six years old and he was brought up by his eldest foster sister, Flo. When he was eight he discovered that his mysterious Aunt Ethel was in fact his natural mother, though he always considered Flo as his mother.
He left school at the age of 14 and was soon working professionally under the name of Billy Breen as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit and over the next thirty years he toured the UK not only in male revues and drag shows, but also in variety shows.
Grayson was one of the first television comedians to suggest an openly gay persona. He did not achieve stardom until he was in his fifties and had his own television show. An early TV appearance in the 1950s had led to many complaints about his act being too outrageous and Grayson had resigned himself to a career off television. He was very popular in review and working men's clubs with a unique and very gentle anecdotal style of comedy. It was usually based around his various 'friends' such as Everard, Apricot Lil, Slack Alice and the postman 'Pop it in Pete'. A lot of this was observational. Grayson's family owned the only telephone on the street when he was a child, and he used to listen to his neighbours using the phone.
Following a hit run of guest spots on ATV variety shows in the 1970s, he was rewarded by Lew Grade with his own award winning show, Shut That Door! (1975).
Grayson's popularity peaked when he moved over to the BBC to present The Generation Game in 1978.
Attracting audiences of over 18 million each week, the show became even more popular and ran until 1981. Grayson was aided and abetted by Isla St Clair, whom he always referred to as "my lovely Isla". Despite its popularity, The Generation Game was being beaten in the ratings by its ITV rival Game for a Laugh and the BBC took the decision to end the series in early 1982. Accepting this decision philosophically, Grayson went into semi-retirement, enjoying time on his own at his bungalow with his beloved dogs.
He also made two memorable cameo appearances in the Midlands-based soap opera Crossroads, as a flouncing, difficult customer at the Crossroads Motel, and as the chauffeur at the wedding of Meg Richardson (played by his close friend Noele Gordon). Ironically, Grayson couldn't drive.
Grayson moved with Flo (his adoptive mother, who also happened to be his older sister) to Torquay, Devon as part of his semi-retirement, but moved back to Nuneaton after just a couple of years.
Grayson always refused to speak about his sexuality. Grayson was celibate, although near the end of his life he did 'come out' as being gay.
It was said that he had been incensed at an objection by one councillor at a Nuneaton town council meeting to the idea of a monument for Grayson in the town. Apparently the comments made were unpleasantly homophobic. Grayson asked his family to ensure that no memorial to him was ever to be erected there.
LARRY GRAYSON A TRIBUTE
ALAN RANDALL BORN IN BEDWORTH WARWICKSHIRE
Variety artist Alan Randall, known to millions for his George Formby impressions, has died after a long illness, aged 71.
Alan Randall
Renowned for his musical expertise, he was a formidable solo instrumentalist, playing the vibraphone, ukulele and piano but it was his recreation of George Formby’s music and singing for which he became world famous.
He first performed a George Formby song on stage at the Windmill Theatre in London in the fifties and went on to appear in countless summer seasons, cabaret shows and TV programmes all over the world. He appeared in seven productions for the royal family, including two Royal Variety Shows and devised and wrote the musical Turned Out Nice Again: The George Formby Story.
In Las Vegas he appeared with Perry Como and Liza Minelli and also played in concerts with Cliff Richard and The Rolling Stones. Randall also featured in the closing scene of the historic Beatles reunion video for their last hit single Free As a Bird.
He had been suffering from motor neurone disease and died at his home in Nuneaton on April 10. A full obituary will appear in a future issue of The Stage
THE BEATLES -- FREE AS A BIRD
FEATURING ALAN RANDALL AT THE END OF THE
VIDEO ON STAGE DOING HIS GEORGE FORMBY
IMPERSONATION
The India Rubber Man
Born in Sunderland, Nat Jackley first appeared on stage with the Eight Lancashire Lads Clog Dancing Troupe, as did, many years before, Charlie Chaplin. He then had dance act with his sister and then a comedy double act with Jack Clifford. Nat started as the straight man until it became obvious he was the funny one and from then on he never looked back.
His slightly off beat delivery combined with a genius for eccentric dancing made him a firm favourite on the Halls and it was only a matter of time before John E Blakeley hired him to appear in Mancunian films. He twice shared the bill with Norman Evans and Betty Jumel, firstly in Demobbed (1944) and then Under New Management (1945).Lived in Coventry for most of his life and appeared regularly at Coventry theatre.
He later went on to work with the Beatles in Magical Mystery Tour (1967) and underwent something of a renaissance as a television actor until his death in 1988
NAT APPEARED IN THE BEATLES FILM MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR HERE IS SHOWN IN THE CLIP AFTER 2mins 50secs
NAT IN THE 1981 TV DRAMA
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Richard Keys
Born 23 April 1957 (1957-04-23) (age 51)
Coventry, England.
Occupation Television presenter
Richard Keys born April 23, 1957 in Coventry, England, is a television presenter on the British sports channel Sky Sports. In the mid to late 1980s, he co-presented TV-am, a breakfast show on the ITV network, with Anne Diamond. He also occasionally commentated on football matches for the ITV network.
Since 1992, he has been presenting Sky Sports' flagship live Premiership football programme on Sunday afternoons, Super Sunday. He previously also presented another live football programme on Sky Sports, Monday Night Football. Ian Payne took over Monday Night Football in 2003, which coincided with Sky gaining live rights for the UEFA Champions League.
He attended Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School in Whitley, Coventry.
He will present coverage of Euro 2008 for Al Jazeera Sports.
Controversy
Keys was involved in controversy while presenting The Faroe Islands against Scotland in a Euro 2008 qualifier on 6 June 2007 on Sky Sports. Shortly before closing the programme when he thought he was off-air he said "Nay promos, can't be arsed, that’s it, see ya. Come on. Yeah see ya. Daft little ground, silly game, fuck off." The feed was accidentally broadcast live on the Sky High Definition channel. Sky later apologized, noting that Keys was at the end of a six hour shift and was directing his comments towards the Faroe Islands' "quirky" stadium in Toftir rather than Scottish football. Richard Keys retained his position at Sky Sports.
Gabby Logan
Born April 24, 1973 (1973-04-24) (age 35)
Leeds, England
Nationality British
Education
Stivichall Primary School Green Lane Coventry
Bishop Ullathorne School Coventry
Cardinal Heenan Roman Catholic High School
Notre Dame Sixth Form College
Alma mater Hild Bede College, Durham University
Occupation BBC TV presenter
Employers BBC Sport
Home town Leeds, England
Known for TV presenter
Spouse Kenny Logan
Children Reuben, Lois
Parents Terry Yorath
Notes
UEFA Champions League
2003 Rugby World Cup
Gabby Logan (born Gabrielle Nicole Yorath on 24 April 1973) is a British television presenter and former Welsh international gymnast. She currently presents for BBC Sport, mainly on football.
She is the daughter of former Wales international football player and manager Terry Yorath. Aged 10, she decided she wanted to present the BBC's nightly news programme Newsnight. After attending Cardinal Heenan High School, and Notre Dame Sixth Form College in Leeds, Logan's university education was at Hild Bede College, Durham University, where she read Law.
Logan played netball for the school and at university, competed at high jump, but the peak of her sporting career was when she gained eighth place in Rhythmic gymnastics representing Wales at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. She had to retire from gymnastics aged 17 due to sciatica. Logan married the former Scotland international rugby player Kenny Logan on 19 July 2001.
After undergoing IVF treatment, on 28 July 2005 Logan gave birth to twins - Reuben McKerrow, born at 11.40pm; Lois Maya, born 12 minutes later. McKerrow is the maiden name of Kenny's mother Elizabeth.
After university she presented on Metro Radio in Newcastle, from where she was offered a job as a presenter on Sky Sports.
Logan's career came to notice when she fronted On the Ball for ITV. After ITV lost the terrestrial rights to the FA Premier League, she has presented ITV's UEFA Champions League football coverage, including the 2006 final, between Arsenal and Barcelona. She has also presented other programmes including ITV's 2005 Super Bowl coverage.
After the birth of her twins and the return of Steve Rider to ITV, she was given a co-host role. This included ITV's coverage of the 2006 World Cup, on which she later commented: "I interviewed David Beckham but I didn't see a single game. It dented my confidence and made me question my abilities. If you've got ambition and you want to do well, it's obviously disappointing."
In August 2006 when Champions League returned to ITV, Logan was not present and it was announced that Rider would front with Jim Rosenthal as deputy. Under the ITV team section of the ITV football website, it announced that Logan would front ITV's UEFA cup coverage.
Logan now fronts Inside Sport an all new sports news show, and covers live sport events. She also works on BBC Radio 5 Live. She currently presents the Gabby Logan show on Sunday mornings. Logan started presenting on BBC Sport on 27 January 2007, presenting the FA Cup fourth round tie between Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers.
Logan also made a few appearances on Match of the Day, covering for Gary Lineker. However contrary to popular belief, she was not the first female presenter of Match Of The Day, BBC's flagship football show. This honour went to Celina Hinchcliffe in 2005. However Hinchcliffe is now predominantly seen presenting the sports news during BBC News bulletins, having presented the BBC's womens football coverage for a few years.
Following her switch to the BBC in 2007, she agreed to take part in Strictly Come Dancing in the same year. One of her opponents for the competition was her husband, Kenny Logan. Kenny was paired with professional dancer Ola Jordan and Gabby was partnered with Ola's husband James Jordan. Gabby was voted out of the series in week 4.
