Bob Monkhouse legacy

[Robert Kenyon]

There's an article in BBC news today about this.
Full article here:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7774828.stm

Was wondering if anyone knows anything about possible Who news here? (I believe it's mostly but not exclusively comedy). Quote:

"Initially we found half a dozen TV shows that we knew to be 'missing'."

And it says:

As for Monkhouse's material, the BFI and television-archiving association Kaleidoscope continue to sift through thousands of tapes and could yet discover some hidden gems. "I hope there may be a couple of 'lost' Sunday Nights at the London Palladium in there," says Mr Fiddy.

[Eric Lawton]

You know, I still miss Bob Monkhouse. Comedy Genius, no one who has seen him live will disagree with me on that one. But how forward seeing was he ! This is a great legacy to a wonderful man. Id give a lot to be able to wander round his archive and see exactly what it contains. Lets hope its put to good use for future Generations to enjoy.
God Bless ya Bob................CHEERS.

[Stephen Doran]

Yes he had great timing i knew his son Simon

[Peter Elliott]

Bob Monkhouse certainly was one of the greats - very quick and indeed forward thinking in his approach to archiving. Must admit, I still miss him. None of todays' overhyped unfunny comedians (and you know who they are!) can even touch him.

[cperry]

We can settle this one once and for all.

36000 tapes actually, the only Dr Who is the Paul McGann TV movie. Nothing else.

c

[Rich Cornock]

er does that mean you have 36000 tapes to go through?
christ thats a big job

[Andy Howells]

I think its interesting that Bob had recordings of his own shows going back to the late 50s - lets hope we get to see some of these at some point - the seven year itch spoof sounds fascinating. It also gives you thoughts about what he may have recorded featuring his own idols or contemporaries. I remember he was a big fan of Bob Hope so maybe theres some material there too? I guess we'll have to sit back and wait as the BFI reveal the details! Can't wait!

[cperry]

The BBC press release is slightly misleading.

The BFI know exactly what they hold, I have their list and it's well catalogued. So there is no mystery about any prints or old tapes. They have a lot of old formats to transfer, which we have offered to do for them, but it's well labelled.

We have all the 'mystery' material in our 36,000 tapes, and then the film prints and audio reels on top of that. I say mystery material because it is well catalogued and accurately listed, but Bob would record whole evening's of shows but only label the ones he wanted, so we are finding extra stuff.

We are also finding more old Sony V32 reels and 1500 cassettes in the attic etc that the BFI never saw. We have made 6 trips now and have a lot more to do. I'll talk about it all today at MBW.

c

[Rich Cornock]

please keep us posted on any new finds

[cperry]

A quick recap on what I said yesterday for those that missed it:

We established quite quickly that Bob had The Flip Side, 2 eps of My Pal Bob and the 12+ 1970s Golden Shots.

Further to that resume, we have now found a third Sunday Night at the LOndon Palladium, 2 more Golden Shots from 1968, about 60 editions of Family Fortunes that were wiped in 1981 and about 300 assorted radio shows including:

Mostly Monkhouse
Calling All Forces
Fletcher's Fayre
Workers Playtime
Starstruck
Startime
Blackpool Night

and TV soundtrack recordings of This is Your Life, The Arthur Askey Show, The Frankie Howerd Show and lots more besides.

The upshot of this massive restoration and recovery project will be several special events over the next few years to celebrate the life of Bob Monkhouse.

Thanks

Chris

[Kev Mulrenan]

Dec 15, 2008 8:53:08 GMT @cperry said:

A quick recap on what I said yesterday for those that missed it:

We established quite quickly that Bob had The Flip Side, 2 eps of My Pal Bob and the 12+ 1970s Golden Shots.

Further to that resume, we have now found a third Sunday Night at the LOndon Palladium, 2 more Golden Shots from 1968, about 60 editions of Family Fortunes that were wiped in 1981 and about 300 assorted radio shows including:

Mostly Monkhouse
Calling All Forces
Fletcher's Fayre
Workers Playtime
Starstruck
Startime
Blackpool Night

and TV soundtrack recordings of This is Your Life, The Arthur Askey Show, The Frankie Howerd Show and lots more besides.

The upshot of this massive restoration and recovery project will be several special events over the next few years to celebrate the life of Bob Monkhouse.

Thanks

Chris

Nice one Chris.

Chris you mentioned whole nights were taped.

Any clues to his taping methods? e.g. did he have several recorders going at the same time, did he use lp quality -wise.

I'd be fascinated to know how such a hard-working bloke found time to watch his collection. Did he have tv holidays where he ploghed through his tapes I wonder.

I really wish I had seen him in cabaret. A mate of mine at Manchester Uni discussed going many times, but we never did!

[cperry]

Bob seems to have recorded very little himself. He had an army of people around Britain that would tape stuff for him and send it to him in boxes.

c

[Kev Mulrenan]

Dec 15, 2008 11:04:30 GMT @cperry said:

Bob seems to have recorded very little himself. He had an army of people around Britain that would tape stuff for him and send it to him in boxes.

c

Nice one Chris!

You should have a Kal Monkhouse Matinee special.

Hope the trip to dat der London went well; wish I could have gone!

[Peter Chadwick]

Dec 15, 2008 11:04:30 GMT @cperry said:

Bob seems to have recorded very little himself. He had an army of people around Britain that would tape stuff for him and send it to him in boxes.

c

Ah, the Rick Wakeman method!.

[Rich Cornock]

well thats all brilliant news ;D