The Goon Show!!! - The History - Entertainment - http://maxpages.com/pinkpanther/The_Goon

Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine, and Peter Sellers started out in a Westminster pub, Grafton's, in 1949. The pub was run by scriptwriter Jimmy Grafton who was called "KOGVOS" a.k.a "Keeper of the Goons and Voice of Sanity". The very first Goon Show aired on May 28, 1951, then called "Crazy People".
It hadn't even been a year before the name was changed to "The Goon Show". In 1951, the News Chronicle described a 'Goon' as 'something with a one - celled brain'. =)
Memorable Moment #1: It was a regular diversion for Secombe to whip away at Sellers' braces, at which Seller's trousers would fall down. Once when Sellers performed the routine, he realized that he wasn't wearing any underpants... when it was too late!

Bentine quit at the end of the second series. He wanted to work at his own projects, and spend Sundays with his family.
Announcer Andrew Timothy also left in 1953, saying he feared for his sanity. He was replaced by Wallace 'Bill' Grenslade.

During series three, Millian, suffered a nervous breakdown and missed 12 programs. Sellers stood in for him, doing his usual characters AND Milligan's, Eccles and Minnie Bannister. On other occasions, Dick Emery or Graham Stark took Milligan's place.

Memorable Moment #2: After 'The Flying Saucer Mystery'; December 4, 1953, there was a spoof announcement about a UFO flying over London. Anyone seeing it was asked to call a fictional number. To the annoyance of the GPO, thousands of listeners tried to call.

When, in 1959, Milligan announced that the 9th series would be the last... but at the end of one recording session, a group of girls had a petition signed by 1, 030 listeners. It read: "We, the undersigned, implore you, Spike Milligan, not to leave the country and forsake England for Aulstralia, but to remain here and continue to write, produce and perform the Goon Show for ever and ever.' One final series was made.

The Characters:

Harry Secombe played:
Neddie Seagoon, the central figure of all the shows.

Peter Sellers played:
Hercules Grytpype - Thynne, educated voice: con and a crook, and the basic plot of every show revolves around the doings of him and his henchmen.
Major Dennis Bloodnok, a coward deserted by the British Army. He is afflicted with extreme gastric distress, and his introductory theme is usually followed by a series of explosions and bubbling noises that represent his guts rumbling. He says after these sounds take place, "Oooh, it's no wonder I can't go to parties anymore." or "Quick, nurse, the screens." When the sound doesn't occur, he says "I'm cured!"
Henry Crun, a very old man, takes Ederly Gentlemans Get Fit hormones.
Bluebottle, a young boy scout who usually reads his own stage directions. Playmate of Eccles.
Willium "Mate" Cobblers, and elderly commoner who calls everybody "Mate". He most often appears as a constable, but reallyi can pop up in almost any role.

Spike Milligan played:
Eccles, "the original goon", jokes about his stupidity are often made, with Eccles Eccles himself cheerfully joining in!
Miss Minnie Banister, a a sexy senior citizen who plays the saxaphone and regurally breaks out in song and dance.
Count Moriarty, Frech scrag and lackey to Grytype - Thynne

All three of the primary actors took on roles as needed by the plot, Sellers, of course, doing more then the others.

OTHER CAST MEMBERS:
Wallace Greenslade, the announcer. He opened and closed every show. He often took brief speaking parts. He was also a BBC announcer. The Goons liked to mock his propor and well trained accent.
Ray Ellington, drummer, singer whose quartet played one of the two musical interludes in each show. He also took brief speaking parts in many shows, most often as Africna Chief Ellinga or as Bloodnok's old Arab nemisis, the Red Bladder.
Max Geldray, jazz harmonica player from Holland. (Backed by the house band.)
Wally Stott Orchestra, the house band. Had cleverly written themes and comedic musical bits.

Info. from U.S. Goon Show Archives Homepage

The Last Goon Show

On April 30, 1972, Sellers and Secombe were reunited for The Last Goon Show of All, broadcast on both radio and TV to mark the 50th anniversary of the BBC.
Announcer Andrew Timothy was brought out from his retirement.
The script was poor, but Sellers enjoyed himself - he was a born show off.
Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne (clopped coconuts together to create the sound of horses hooves.) were all present, but the biggest 'royal' goon show fan, Prince Charles, was not there due to naval duties. He was so upset that he couldn't be there, he sent a telegram saying "my knees dropped off with envy at the thought of my father and sister attending the show". He said that the royal family hadn't had a sense of humor.

Information from Comedy Zone: Goon Show

In loving memory of Peter Sellers - this site is dedicated to him... the one and only Inspector Clouseau

"Give me ten men like Clouseau, and I could destroy the world." Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom)

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