Thursday 4 March 2010
Jimmy James
Another great old English comedian from the days of music hall and variety. Doing his famous "What Have You Got In That Box" routine. I have vague memories of it on TV in the 60's when Roy Castle was the barmy chap with the box.
Wikipedia says-
"Jimmy James was born James Casey on 20 May 1892 the eldest of four sons of Jeremiah Casey an iron puddler or steelmaker and Polly Gartland.[1] Many sources state he was born in Portrack, Stockton-on-Tees although other sources consider that he was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough and moved to Stockton-on-Tees at the age of seven in 1899. At the age of ten he won a boy soprano contest at the Stockton Hippodrome and shortly afterwards ran away, hitching a ride to Darlington to join a travelling show.The police located him a few years later at the age of twelve by which time he had become a seasoned performer. His father, an amateur clog dancer himself, encouraged his son's showbusiness talents.
At the Sunderland Empire Jimmy met Isabelle Darby a music hall dancer. Although Jimmy appeared on stage as a convincing drunk, often with a cigar or cigarette in his mouth, he was teetotal and did not smoke off stage. His weaknesses were gambling and his famed generosity which may account for his declared bankruptcies in 1936, 1955 and 1963. Jimmy was last on stage in 1964, retiring that year. He died in Blackpool of pulmonary congestion on 4 August 1965 following a heart attack and is buried in Oxbridge Cemetery, Stockton-on-Tees."
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7 comments:
Ah, the good old days.
Excellent.
I wonder what a chap like Jimmy would make of modern comedy?
The old'uns are the best1
I must admit I like the old 'uns and the new 'uns too. Just watched a spiffing pilot on BBC3 called This Is Jinsy which was hilarious although somewhat similar surreally in the manner of The Mighty Boosh, Reeves & Mortimer and We Are Klang. I expect Jimmy would find it all very mind boggling!
Michael>>>I cannot get onto facebook at the moment although I do receive notification of activity via my hotmail. I totally support you regarding BBC 6 music. I especially like Lauren Laverne who I think Radio One who have been sensible to have had replace dear old John Peel who was, until his dying days, the godfather of new music and who Six should be named after.
I'm not a great listener to tha radio I must admit but if i do its usually 6 Music. My son Archie listens to it all the time so doing this mainly for him. yes, Pell left a gaping void which nobody has really filled since his demise. 6 Music is the nearest weve got.
I met John Peel at Glastonbury one year. He was very gracious and thanked me for not thinking he was "whispering" Bob Harris :D
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