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

Bud Flanagan

Bud Flanagan

Born Reuben Weinthrop above his family fried fish shop in Hanbury Street, where the plaque now is. The first half of the Flanagan & Allen double act, with Chesney Allen. These two were also bot...

Person, Humour, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Kenny Everett

Kenny Everett

Comedy broadcaster.  Born Maurice James Christopher Cole in Liverpool.  Inspired by the Goons.  Got a job on the pirate Radio London by sending in an audition tape.  Worked for Radio Luxemburg, the...

Person, Humour, Music / songs, TV & Radio

3 memorials
Monty Python's Flying Circus

Monty Python's Flying Circus

The Pythons were: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle. Together they made 45 TV episodes over 4 series between 1969 and 1974 and went on to make fil...

Group, Cinema, Humour, Seriously Famous, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Willie Rushton

Willie Rushton

Satirical cartoonist, comedian and author. Born 3 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea. Worked on 'That was the week that was', 'Not only...But also', 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' (where he revelled in the arc...

Person, Humour, TV & Radio

2 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

Previously viewed

St George's Church, Bloomsbury

St George's Church, Bloomsbury

Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor.

Place, Religion

1 memorial
William Wand, Bishop of London

William Wand, Bishop of London

Bishop.  Born Grantham.  Bishop of London, 1945 - 1955. Died Lingfield, Surrey.

Person, Religion

1 memorial
Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers

Goon and comic actor. Born Portsmouth to a couple of variety entertainers. The family moved to the N6 house when Sellers was 10. He was staying at the Dorchester Hotel when he suffered a heart atta...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Seriously Famous, TV & Radio

5 memorials
E. J. Parlanti

E. J. Parlanti

Bronze founder. Ercole Felipo Giacomo Parlanti was born in Rome. He and his older brother Alessandro worked at the Nelli foundry in Rome before moving to London. After his arrival in the UK he used...

Person, Craft / Design, Italy

14 memorials
East End Maternity Hospital

East End Maternity Hospital

The splendid Lost Hospitals of London gives a full history.  In summary: Opened as the Mothers' Lying-In Home in Glamis Road, Shadwell. 1889 moved to number 396 Commercial Road and by WW1 it had ex...

Group, Medicine

2 memorials