Flanagan and Allen
Encyclopedia
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act
popular during World War II
. Its members were Bud Flanagan
(1896–1968) and Chesney Allen
(1893–1982). They were first paired in a Florrie Forde
revue, and were booked by Val Parnell
to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1926.
comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Just prior to and throughout the Second World War
they appeared in several films helmed by Marcel Varnel
and John Baxter
. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang
and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.
Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line
' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line
), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches
' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band
or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.
The recordings of Flanagan and Allen remain popular, and the duo are frequently impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performance
s often feature people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd
and Christopher Timothy
, Bernie Winters
and Leslie Crowther
. In 1980 the latter two featured in a one-off musical drama about the duo produced by ATV
for the ITV network
.
The later comedy team Morecambe and Wise
, who often expressed their admiration for Flanagan and Allen, recorded a tribute album, Morecambe and Wise Sing Flanagan and Allen (Phillips 6382 095), in which they performed some of the earlier team's more popular songs in their own style, without attempting to imitate the originals. Fans of either comedy team may be slightly disappointed by this album, since all of the selections are performed absolutely straight, with no comedy except for a brief amount of banter after one of the songs. Run Rabbit Run was one of their best hits in World War Two.
Double act
A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic pairing in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin and profession, but drastically different personalities or behavior...
popular during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Its members were Bud Flanagan
Bud Flanagan
Bud Flanagan was a popular English music hall and vaudeville entertainer from the 1930s until the 1960s. Flanagan was famous as a wartime entertainer and his achievements were recognised when he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1960.- Family background :Flaganan was born Chaim Reuben Weintrop in...
(1896–1968) and Chesney Allen
Chesney Allen
Chesney Allen was a popular English entertainer of the Second World War period. He is best remembered as part of the double act with Bud Flanagan, Flanagan and Allen.-Life and career:...
(1893–1982). They were first paired in a Florrie Forde
Florrie Forde
Florrie Forde , born Flora May Augusta Flannagan, was an Australian popular singer and entertainer. She was one of the greatest stars of the early 20th century music hall....
revue, and were booked by Val Parnell
Val Parnell
Valentine Charles Parnell , known as Val Parnell, was a British television producer and theatrical impresario.-Life and career:...
to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1926.
Career
As music hallMusic hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Just prior to and throughout the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they appeared in several films helmed by Marcel Varnel
Marcel Varnel
Marcel Varnel was a film director. He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris, France.Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage but soon became a director of musical comedies. In 1925 he moved to New York working as director in several Broadway operettas, musicals and dramas for the...
and John Baxter
John Baxter (director)
John Philip Baxter was a somewhat prolific British film-maker active from the 1930s to the late 1950s. During that time he produced, wrote, or directed dozens of films...
. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold...
and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.
Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line
We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line
"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" is a popular song written by Ulster songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, whilst he was a Captain in the British Expeditionary Force during the early stages of the Second World War. The Siegfried Line was a chain of fortifications along Germany's...
' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line
Siegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches
Underneath the Arches (song)
"Underneath the Arches" is a 1931 popular song with words and music by Bud Flanagan, and additional lyrics by Reg Connelly. It was one of the most famous songs of the duo Flanagan and Allen....
' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band
British dance band
British dance bands developed a unique style of popular jazz and dance music during the 1920s and 1930s that developed in British dance halls and hotel ballrooms thousands of miles away from the true origins of jazz...
or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.
The recordings of Flanagan and Allen remain popular, and the duo are frequently impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
s often feature people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd, OBE is an English comedian, actor, radio host and author, and an authority on the history of music hall entertainment.- Early life :...
and Christopher Timothy
Christopher Timothy
Christopher Timothy is a Welsh actor, television director and writer. Timothy is possibly best known today for his role as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small; more recently he has starred as Dr. Brendan 'Mac' McGuire in the British television drama Doctors...
, Bernie Winters
Bernie Winters
Bernie Winters was an English comedian and the comic relief of the double act, Mike and Bernie Winters with his brother, Mike. He later performed solo, often with the aid of his St...
and Leslie Crowther
Leslie Crowther
Leslie Crowther, CBE was an English comedian, actor and gameshow host.-Biography:Crowther was born in West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire. At the end of 1944 he moved to London with his parents, but was evacuated for a few months to Bute until just after the war ended.His father, Leslie Frederick...
. In 1980 the latter two featured in a one-off musical drama about the duo produced by ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
for the ITV network
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
The later comedy team Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
, who often expressed their admiration for Flanagan and Allen, recorded a tribute album, Morecambe and Wise Sing Flanagan and Allen (Phillips 6382 095), in which they performed some of the earlier team's more popular songs in their own style, without attempting to imitate the originals. Fans of either comedy team may be slightly disappointed by this album, since all of the selections are performed absolutely straight, with no comedy except for a brief amount of banter after one of the songs. Run Rabbit Run was one of their best hits in World War Two.
Selected list of Flanagan and Allen songs
- 'Run Rabbit, RunRun Rabbit RunRun Rabbit Run is a song written by Noel Gay and Ralph Butler. The music was by Noel Gay and the song was originally sung by Flanagan and Allen....
' - 'Underneath the ArchesUnderneath the Arches (song)"Underneath the Arches" is a 1931 popular song with words and music by Bud Flanagan, and additional lyrics by Reg Connelly. It was one of the most famous songs of the duo Flanagan and Allen....
' - 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried LineWe're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" is a popular song written by Ulster songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, whilst he was a Captain in the British Expeditionary Force during the early stages of the Second World War. The Siegfried Line was a chain of fortifications along Germany's...
' - 'Nice People'
- 'The Umbrella Man'
- 'Shine on Harvest Moon'
- 'Franklin D. Roosevelt Jones'
- 'Round the Back of the Arches'
- 'We'll Smile AgainWe'll Smile AgainWe'll Smile Again is a 1942 British musical comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Meinhart Maur. A ring of Nazi spies infiltrate a film studio planning to use it for sending coded messages, but they are foiled by two of the low-level staff at the...
' - 'Miss YouMiss You"Miss You" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It was released as a single by The Rolling Stones on Rolling Stones Records one month in advance of their album Some Girls, and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100...
' - 'Don't Ever Walk in the Shadows'
- 'Sierra Sue'
- 'Let's Be Buddies'
- 'Down Ev'ry Street'
- 'Are You Havin' Fun'
- 'Yesterday's DreamsYesterday's Dreams"Yesterday's Dreams" is a 1968 single recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. The single was one of the first the group released after the departure of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who had handled the majority of the Four Tops recordings prior to 1968. Released off the album of the same name,...
' - 'I Don't Want to Walk Without YouI Don't Want to Walk without You"I Don't Want to Walk Without You" is a popular song.The music was written by Jule Styne, the lyrics by Frank Loesser. The song was published in 1941 and became a number one pop hit for Harry James and his orchestra in 1942. Tommy Tucker recorded the song on December 2, 1941.There have been...
' - 'Rose O'Day'
- 'Smiths and the Jones'
- 'What More Can I SayWhat More Can I Say"What More Can I Say" is a song from rap artist Jay-Z's studio album The Black Album. It was released as a street single simultaneously as the official single "Change Clothes". It premiered on Hot 97 on October 22, 2003 and was the first track from The Black Album to be heard by the public...
' - 'Why Don't You Fall in Love With Me'
- 'I'm Nobody's Baby'
- 'Down Forget Me Not Lane'
- 'Two Very Ordinary People'
- 'On the Outside Looking InOn the Outside Looking InOn the Outside Looking In is the 1994 album by Eightball & MJG released on Suave House Records.-Track listing:# "Long Distance "# "Lick 'Em Up Shot"# "Crumbz 2 Brixx"# "Players Night Out"# "Sesshead Funk Junky"...
' - 'Home Town'
- 'Free (Isn't it the way it ought to be?)'
- 'Strollin'
- 'Life Begins AgainLife Begins AgainLife Begins Again is the debut album by the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex . It was released on January 25, 2005 and as an Enhanced CD...
' - 'Down Forget-Me-Not-Lane'