Event    From 1951  To 1960

The Goon Show

Categories: Humour, TV & Radio

Radio comedy show, originally broadcast as 'Crazy People' The first scripts were co-written by Spike Milligan and Jimmy Grafton. The pressure of writing eventually contributed to Milligan's mental breakdown. Michael Bentine was a co-founder but left in 1953. The inventiveness of the programme has been cited as a major influence for many subsequent comedians. A puppet series for television, 'The Telegoons' was made in the early 1960s. Milligan, Secombe and Sellers reunited for a final show in 1972 as part of the BBC's 50th anniversary celebrations. Our picture shows, left to right: Sellers, Secombe, Milligan, Bentine.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Goon Show

Commemorated ati

Last Goon Show

The Camden Palace was home to the Goon Show through the 1950s.

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Spike's statue - Goons

This little group shows Secombe, Milligan and Sellers, holding "Goons" script...

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The Goon Show

{Caricatures of the four comedians, followed by:} The Goon Show, 1951-1960, f...

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Other Subjects

Joseph Grimaldi

Joseph Grimaldi

Pantomime clown appearing at Sadler's Wells, Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres. The traditional clowns' make-up, being called Joey and many of the gags and tricks date back to Grimaldi. Born i...

Person, Humour, Seriously Famous, Theatre

7 memorials
Bernie Winters

Bernie Winters

Comedian and Water Rat.  Born Bernie Weinstein.  His brother was the handsome half of the act Mike and Bernie Winters.

Person, Humour, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Dame Gracie Fields

Dame Gracie Fields

Entertainer. Born over a chip shop in Rochdale, Lancashire as Grace Stansfield. Worked at Gainsborough Film Studios.  Gracie and her husband Archie moved from Upper Street, N1 in 1929 to The Towers...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Music / songs, Theatre, Italy

4 memorials
Michael Bentine

Michael Bentine

Comedian. Born as Michael James Bentin in Watford, Hertfordshire. He was a co-founder of the Goon Show, but left after the first series to pursue a solo career. His best remembered television progr...

Person, Humour, TV & Radio, Peru

3 memorials
George du Maurier

George du Maurier

Artist and writer. Born Paris. Punch cartoonist. 1894 wrote the novel Trilby, from which comes the term "Svengali".  In Hampstead lived at 4 Holly Mount, moved to Gangmoor House facing Whitestone P...

Person, Art, Humour, Literature, France

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Royal Docks

Royal Docks

The Royal Docks is the area, including the three docks – the Royal Victoria (1855), the Royal Albert (1880) and the King George V (1921), collectively forming the largest enclosed docks in the worl...

Place, Industry, Transport

1 memorial
Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Painter. Born Birmingham, his mother dying as a result of his birth. Met his life-long friend, William Morris, at Oxford University. Dropped out of his degree and went to London to become a pupil o...

Person, Art

3 memorials