Briant

Was Frank Gorshin (aka The Riddler from Batman) ever on SNATLP doing his impressions? I do remember him doing a 'Gunfight' sequence on TV with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster facing up to Anthony Quinn and someone else in a shootout.

lordtednfs

I certainly remember the show as well and remember the classic painter and decorator sketch. I know it was re-enacted back in the days of colour, that saves me from which year, late 70's early 80's, and will always have a place in my heart of classic tv moments.

My most precious moment from The Palladium, taking my late mum to see Frankie Vaughan, who shared the bill with The Black Abbotts, with Russ Abbott, and Rod Hull and Emu. I have never seen my mum laugh so much. Happy days.

_______________
Hooked off the line

lordtednfs

Hi Briant, he was brilliant at doing impressions of the major stars, as was one of my faves, Paul Melba. He could impersonate many of the major stars of the time. Sadly, it's a long lost talent.

_______________
Hooked off the line

crunchie

lordtednfs - the Norman/Bruce Palladium Show is an absolute gem and I'm so glad I have this original full 1961 show on DVD. Two comic geniuses who totally commanded the stage and made live television so unmissable.

Harry

I have the whole show of Brucie & Frankie on DVD if anyone wants to trade ( the original Black & White version)

donna

Norman God love him , did my head in, I got all stressed with his act and didnt find it very amusing.

Mr Cosmo

The first host I remember seeing believe it or not was Robert Morley. I also remember Tommy Trinder but when Bruce took it over it seemed to gain momentum. He always had endless gags about drip dry shirts and his friend Beattie who showed up in the audience one night. There was also a jackpot game on "Beat The Clock" which involved people having to bounce balls off of 2 tables (I think) through a hoop and into a net. It ran for weeks and no one could get it and Bruce and Angela (Bracewell)* demonstrated how it was done just to prove ITV weren't trying to con people. (How things have changed.)
What I do recall is Norman Vaughan. he started making jokes about what was happening in "Coronation Street" which went down big and it was probably the first time a comedian had done that. A few weeks later Violet Carson came on in her Ena Sharples garb complete with hairnet and just exchanged a few lines with him.
I also recall the Norman Wisdom / Bruce Forsyth special and thought it was rotten with both of them suffering with I trouble. (I want this, I did that, I am the star..) According to Bruce's autobiography Norman gave him a hard time.
*(Angela Bracewell went on to marry Stubby Kaye)

Steve Crook

Wasn't the Norman Wisdom / Bruce Forsyth decorators sketch improvised when there was some problem like an act that hadn't turned up?

Steve

crunchie

Classic!

http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/adu...rucenorman.jpg

bhowells

Its possible that Gorshin was on the Paladium. He was definitely on an Atv show in the seventies one of many made by Sir Lew Grade for the us market.

My meomory is foggy about the show in question it may have had other us impresssionists onm Rich Little was on a show of this nature.

A shame that Gorshins tv work hasnt been shown much over here, a lot us just know him as The Riddler.

John Astin once replaced Frank Gorshin on the Batman series, if memory serves me right they brough Gorshin back, Maybe someone could verify this for me/

Andy H

Gosh, what memories! It was a 'don't miss' programme in our house in the 60's. I mainly remember Bruce (not 'Brucie please...) Forsyth, Norman Vaughan and Jimmy Tarbuck as hosts, and I certainly recall the Norman Wisdom wallpaper bit.

Now, does anyone remember George Karl, a Belgian/American who did a hilarious act in which he managed to get entangled with everything from his own jacket and the microphone to his girl assistant? It doesn't sound like much, but he was side-splitting, and he hardly said a word. I wish there were DVD's of him in action.

I do believe he turned up in the fairly recent film 'Funny Bones' (with Lee Evans) as an old man. He didn't do his stuff though!

orpheum

Tommy Trinder was replaced for making offensive remarks about the Grades.he was replaced by Bruce Forsyth whose first catchphrase was "Im in Charge".There used to be lots of established american stars on,Bob Hope,Danny Kaye,Jack Benny,George Burns.So it was really the highlight of sunday night viewing.

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

earlb

You can watch him here YouTube - George Carl

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

Andy H

That was absolutely wonderful. Thanks earlb!!!

donna

can anyone tell me the name of the older man who was on the palladium and did a drunk act, think he was American and hiccuped.