Nervo and Knox
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox were part of the original Crazy Gang
. They started the stage careers as an acrobatic
dancing team. They used this ability in many of the earlier Crazy Gang shows. Among their many routines, a slow motion
wrestling
act was developed into a humorous show stopper. In December 1926, the British division of DeForest Phonofilm
released a short sound film of Nervo and Knox performing their song "The Love of Phtohtenese" .
on 2 January 1898. Both his father and grandfather were circus
owners, and he started performing in the circus at an early age. By the time he was eight, he was in a high wire act with his brothers. He started performing in Music Hall
as a juggler when he was sixteen, using the name Jimmy Nervo. He married Minna Scott who was in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
. He died in London on 5 December 1975.
on 12 July 1896. His full name was Albert Edward Cromwell Knox and he also started his career as a juggler, working with his brother under the stage name of The Cromwells. In 1922, he was in the USA on Broadway
in The Ziegfeld Follies
of 1922. He married Clarice Mayne
who was also acting in the Music Halls. He died on 1 December 1974.
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...
. They started the stage careers as an acrobatic
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
dancing team. They used this ability in many of the earlier Crazy Gang shows. Among their many routines, a slow motion
Slow motion
Slow motion is an effect in film-making whereby time appears to be slowed down. It was invented by the Austrian priest August Musger....
wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
act was developed into a humorous show stopper. In December 1926, the British division of DeForest Phonofilm
Phonofilm
In 1919, Lee De Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patent on a sound-on-film process, DeForest Phonofilm, which recorded sound directly onto film as parallel lines. These parallel lines photographically recorded electrical waveforms from a microphone, which were translated back...
released a short sound film of Nervo and Knox performing their song "The Love of Phtohtenese" .
Jimmy Nervo
Jimmy Nervo was born as James Hollaway in LondonLondon
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...
on 2 January 1898. Both his father and grandfather were circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
owners, and he started performing in the circus at an early age. By the time he was eight, he was in a high wire act with his brothers. He started performing in Music Hall
Music 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...
as a juggler when he was sixteen, using the name Jimmy Nervo. He married Minna Scott who was in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
. He died in London on 5 December 1975.
Teddy Knox
Teddy Knox was born in GatesheadNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
on 12 July 1896. His full name was Albert Edward Cromwell Knox and he also started his career as a juggler, working with his brother under the stage name of The Cromwells. In 1922, he was in the USA on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in The Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
of 1922. He married Clarice Mayne
Clarice Mayne
Clarice Mayne was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer.-Life and career:Mayne was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W...
who was also acting in the Music Halls. He died on 1 December 1974.