A Show Called Fred
Encyclopedia
A Show Called Fred was the successor series to The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d
. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion
and broadcast only in London
area. It was 25 minutes plus adverts.
It was predominantly a sketch comedy
attempting to translate the audio antics of the The Goon Show
into visual antics in bizarre and often surreal comedy sketches which just suddenly ended with a new sketch beginning. Many performers played small parts in the shows like Ernest Clark
, Jon Jon Keefe, Patricia Driscoll
, etc. Famous people of the day like Hans
and Lotte Hass were parodied. Canadian star, Patti Lewis had a singing spot about the middle of the show, and Max Geldray
a music spot later on. There were few taboos with sketches showing people in various states of undress, cameramen, behind the scenes workers and the studios. The Ying Tong song
was sung for no apparent reason at various times.
The series was written by Spike Milligan
and produced and directed by Richard Lester
.
It was followed by Son of Fred
later in 1956.
A half hour special Best of Fred was broadcast on 18 September 1963 combining surviving sketches from A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred
.
The 1995 convention of the Goon Show Preservation Society
was billed as A Weekend Called Fred.
The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d
The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d was the first serious attempt to translate the humour of the Goon Show to television. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion during 1956 and was broadcast only in the London area....
. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
and broadcast only in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
area. It was 25 minutes plus adverts.
It was predominantly a sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
attempting to translate the audio antics of the The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
into visual antics in bizarre and often surreal comedy sketches which just suddenly ended with a new sketch beginning. Many performers played small parts in the shows like Ernest Clark
Ernest Clark
Ernest Clark was a British actor of stage, television and film.-Early life:Clark was the son of a master builder in Maida Vale, and was educated nearby at St Marylebone Grammar School. After leaving school he became a reporter on a local newspaper in Croydon...
, Jon Jon Keefe, Patricia Driscoll
Patricia Driscoll
Patricia Driscoll is an Irish actress, who has appeared on both television and in films. She was born in Cork, Ireland....
, etc. Famous people of the day like Hans
Hans Hass
Hans Hass is a diving pioneer known mainly for his documentaries about sharks, the energon theory, and his commitment, later in life, to the protection of the environment. He was born in Vienna, Austria.-Early years:...
and Lotte Hass were parodied. Canadian star, Patti Lewis had a singing spot about the middle of the show, and Max Geldray
Max Geldray
Max Geldray was a jazz harmonica player, usually credited as being the first such.Born Max van Gelder to Jewish parents in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he was best known for his playing and occasional acting on the BBC comedy radio series, The Goon Show before emigrating to the United States...
a music spot later on. There were few taboos with sketches showing people in various states of undress, cameramen, behind the scenes workers and the studios. The Ying Tong song
Ying Tong Song
The "Ying Tong Song" was a novelty song written by Spike Milligan and performed by The Goons, usually led by Harry Secombe...
was sung for no apparent reason at various times.
The series was written by Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
and produced and directed by Richard Lester
Richard Lester
Richard Lester is an American film director based in Britain. Lester is notable for his work with The Beatles in the 1960s and his work on the Superman film series in the 1980s.-Early years and television:...
.
It was followed by Son of Fred
Son of Fred
Son of Fred was the successor series to The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d and A Show Called Fred. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion and broadcast only in the London area, Midlands and Northern England....
later in 1956.
A half hour special Best of Fred was broadcast on 18 September 1963 combining surviving sketches from A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred
Son of Fred
Son of Fred was the successor series to The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d and A Show Called Fred. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion and broadcast only in the London area, Midlands and Northern England....
.
The 1995 convention of the Goon Show Preservation Society
Goon Show Preservation Society
The Goon Show Preservation Society is a non-profit organisation formed to help preserve and research the history of the Goon Show. It was founded in 1972 by the Kent born Michael Coveney ....
was billed as A Weekend Called Fred.