"A Show Called Fred" and "Son Of Fred"

[Ben Walker]

Does anyone know how much of the Goon TV shows "A Show Called Fred" and "Son Of Fred" still exist?

I've seen maybe 3 minutes worth of clips of varying quality in numerous Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers documentaries...

[Andrew Doherty]

Apparently, no complete shows from the two 1956 series, 'A Show Called Fred' and 'Son Of Fred' exist. However, sufficient existed for a compilation show to be produced called 'Best Of Fred'.

Yours,

[emitron]

The BFI hold ASCF 2/5/56, 9/5/56 and 30/5/56 plus undefined material from the sequel SOF.

[Deleted]

Anyone from the BFI in the know reading this who can enlighten us further as to what exists of these two shows? I have wondered about these for ages. The Fred series were long held up as being influential although no footage was supposed to survive. Many years ago I wrote to the BFI asking for info as to saying he had no idea at all!

[Phil Leach]

There are shot listings for the material they hold on the BFI database. Quite detailed in fact! For example this is what it says for the first one:

COMEDY SKETCH. Sketches from at least two episodes of the comedy series. Spike Milligan walking through television studio corridor dragging papers on a stick behind him (24). Opening credits over sketch with Peter Sellers, Graham Stark and Milligan, based on striking of gong that introduces Rank films. The Goons' 'Ying Tong Song' used as title music. Opening credits read as follows: "PETER SELLERS IN A SHOW CALLED FRED BY SPIKE MILLIGAN With a well known cast of Thespian Actors including VALENTINE DYALL GRAHAM STARK KENNETH CONNOR Directed by DICK LESTER And a cast of thousands" (56). 'Musicians in closet' sketch (Sellers, Milligan, the Alberts and an unidentified participant) (66). 'Reading book' sketch with Valentine Dyall, leading into hunting sketch with Dyall, Stark, Patti Lewis, Kenneth Connor, and John Vyvyan (113). 'Idiot's Post Bag' sketch with Milligan and Sellers answering viewers' problem letters, also featuring Stark, Connor, and Dyall. Includes film insert sketch set in countryside of man trying to fly with wings attached to arms. Insert features Sellers, Stark, and Dyall (253). Musical number with Max Geldray playing harmonica. The number also includes a brief return to the previous film insert, and Sellers in the guise of an old man singing along to the tune. Stark appears at the end of the number as a Mexican bandit and shoots Geldray (347). Sketch set in stately home featuring Sellers as the owner of Belvedere Towers interviewed by Dyall. Also features Milligan, Stark, and Connor (579). End of Part One caption card followed by Patti Lewis singing 'I Cried For You' (667). 'Escapers Club' sketch set in British POW camp in WWII, featuring Sellers, Dyall, Connor, Vyvyan, Stark, Milligan, Lewis, the Alberts and an unidentified participant (1064). Milligan performing swimming actions against back-projected film of water. Back projection cuts to film of flames and Milligan lights cigarette (1084ft 16mm). [No end credits]. Notes: Within the 'Escapers Club' sketch, a Max Geldray musical number is being introduced but the footage is missing and there is a jump to a caption card which reads 'Escapers Club Part Two'. The sketch then continues. The Geldray number appears to be included in A SHOW CALLED FRED EP 4. See that synopsis for details. The filmed sketch of the birdman failing to fly and the sketch set in Belvedere Towers both featured in the episode transmitted on 2 May 1956 (both are cited in the review in the 'Evening Standard' of 3 May).

[emitron]

There still should be three episodes, plus a sketch from another. The episodes which are marked as particular episodes are not apparently the original running order, being similar to the "1948 Show" in being scrambled. Given the date, the London network broadcast and the experimental nature and cast, it seems nothing short of a miracle that these survive in any form.

[Dan S]

At a GSPS (Goon Show Preservation Society) event in 1996 they screened the first half of the 30/5/56 episode.