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Details
THE GOON SHOW - Jimmy GRAFTON's archive of radio scripts, including 44 mimeographed typescripts of The Goon Show, broadcast from 1951 to 1953. The archive includes:
Crazy People, 8 original working scripts comprising nos 8-15 & 17, 15 July - 16 September 1951, together 215 pages, folio, no. 14 title page only, 7 titles inscribed 'Jimmy' in pencil or crayon, one inscribed 'James Graftgoon', 7 scripts annotated and amended in pencil in Grafton's hand (some scripts with varying page numbers, so possibly incomplete);
Hip Hip Hoo Roy: The Derek Roy Show, by Spike Milligan and James Douglas, transmission 30 November 1949, folio, 25 pages, original working script, heavily annotated in pencil, probably in Spike Milligan's hand, with his part underlined, with doodles of bulbous-nosed Goon-type characters on the front and versos of almost every page;
The Goon Show, Second Series, 14 original working scripts nos 16 [amended in pen to 17], 20-22, 24-29, 31, 35, 38, 39, 5 February - 24 June 1952, together 388 pages, folio, the majority labelled 'Jimmy' on title-pages in blue crayon, with annotations in pencil, pen or crayon throughout by Grafton, and some annotations probably by other Goon members (a few scripts possibly incomplete);
The Goon Show, Third Series, 16 original working scripts, nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12-19, 22, 24, [25, labelled 'Last of the Second Series'], 11 November 1952 - 28 April 1953, together 421 pages, folio, the majority labelled 'Jimmy' in pen or pencil on title-pages, and with annotations and amendments in Grafton's hand in pencil, pen or crayon, particularly extensive in script no.12 which includes 2 pages of alternative dialogue, and pencil doodles probably by Larry Stephens, and script no. 22, with final, detached page annotated on the verso, perhaps in Sellers' or Milligan's hand, in blue ink with doodles of large heads and the words, 'Yakity Yakity' (a few scripts possibly incomplete);
Together with a collection of scripts including: The Goon Show, 5 mimeographed scripts (four lacking title-pages), one titled, 'A Special Coronation Edition of The Goon Show with Lord Peter Sellers, Lord Harry Secombe, Lord Spike Milligan, Dame Graham Stark and Wuffo, the Wonder Dog written by the Late Larry Stephens and Spike Milligan, edited by Councillor Major J.D. Grafton', 3 June 1953, annotated in pencil or blue ink; [Harry SECOMBE], two scripts, one a typescript draft of a sketch, 'Milligan's overcoat', the other an adaptation of 'Twice Brightly'; and a selection of scripts for various sketches and episodes of the Harry Secombe Show, 1971-2; Jimmy GRAFTON, various scripts for screenplays and television, including Porter Must Go, a quantity of typescript pages inserted into an exercise book, annotated by Grafton, together with related material; and: Roger Wilmut and Jimmy Grafton, The Goon Show Companion: A History and Goonography, London: Robson Books, 1976, the front pastedown and endpaper inscribed in pen by ten Goon Show stars, associates and fans, including Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine, both with self-portrait caricatures, and Peter Eton, Eamon Andrews and Robert Wilmut; the title with photograph pasted in, with inscription, 'Jimmy Grafton -- a contemporary photo -- more or less!', and the half-title inscribed by Peter SELLERS, 'My dear Sir, Nobless Oblidge [sic] Affectionately, love & thanks for so many years love Peter', dated May 1976. (Some creasing, occasional tears, dampstaining or wear, a few tears repaired with sellotape, some corrosion at corners from paperclips).
'And it's those "Crazy People" - The Goons!': A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF GOON SHOW SCRIPTS, EXTENSIVELY ANNOTATED BY ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ORIGINAL GOONS, AND PRESERVING PART OF THE FIRST SERIES, CRAZY PEOPLE, FOR WHICH NO RECORDINGS EXIST. These original working documents, some of which also bear the amendments and drawings of Spike Milligan, offer a fascinating insight into the creative processes behind one of the most popular and influential comedy programmes of the 20th century. Included in the collection are eight of the 18 Crazy People episodes, recording the content of the first groundbreaking Goons series.
The radio script-writer and ex-infantry officer, the late Jimmy Grafton was landlord of 'The Grafton Arms' in Victoria, which became a 'home-from-home' for the four original Goons. Grafton first met Michael Bentine and Harry Secombe, and through them, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan, defining the cohesive tie between them as their 'readiness to laugh and derive as much enjoyment as possible out of almost any situation' (see The Birth of the Goons). Spike Milligan, living above the Grafton Arms from 1949, co-wrote his first radio series with Grafton, Hip Hip Hoo Roy, included here. By 1950 Grafton felt that he, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe 'had the ammunition needed to fire our ideas at the BBC', and organized a recording session, but it was not until February 1951 that the BBC considered making a pilot. Milligan and Grafton were joined by writer Larry Stephens to write the First Series, called 'Crazy People', the preferred title of the BBC, although by the Second Series, the 'Goon Show' was born. As the catalyst behind the show, Grafton was christened by The Goons as 'Keeper [or King] of Goons and Voice of Sanity', or 'KOGVOS'.
The formats of the shows within each series varied slightly; the Second Series for example, dropping to four sketches. It began on 22 January 1952 and unexpectedly ran to twenty-five episodes, a twenty-sixth being scheduled for transmission on 12 February, but cancelled due to the death of George VI. Interestingly, the script for this broadcast is present here (as no. 21), with rehearsal and recording date given as 10 February, and the transmission date left as 'unknown'. Changes were again made to the format with the beginning of the Third Series on 11 November 1952, when a new producer, Peter Eton, joined the Goon Show. It too would have run to twenty-six episodes, but for the death of Queen Mary which meant that one show was cancelled.
Crazy People, 8 original working scripts comprising nos 8-15 & 17, 15 July - 16 September 1951, together 215 pages, folio, no. 14 title page only, 7 titles inscribed 'Jimmy' in pencil or crayon, one inscribed 'James Graftgoon', 7 scripts annotated and amended in pencil in Grafton's hand (some scripts with varying page numbers, so possibly incomplete);
Hip Hip Hoo Roy: The Derek Roy Show, by Spike Milligan and James Douglas, transmission 30 November 1949, folio, 25 pages, original working script, heavily annotated in pencil, probably in Spike Milligan's hand, with his part underlined, with doodles of bulbous-nosed Goon-type characters on the front and versos of almost every page;
The Goon Show, Second Series, 14 original working scripts nos 16 [amended in pen to 17], 20-22, 24-29, 31, 35, 38, 39, 5 February - 24 June 1952, together 388 pages, folio, the majority labelled 'Jimmy' on title-pages in blue crayon, with annotations in pencil, pen or crayon throughout by Grafton, and some annotations probably by other Goon members (a few scripts possibly incomplete);
The Goon Show, Third Series, 16 original working scripts, nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12-19, 22, 24, [25, labelled 'Last of the Second Series'], 11 November 1952 - 28 April 1953, together 421 pages, folio, the majority labelled 'Jimmy' in pen or pencil on title-pages, and with annotations and amendments in Grafton's hand in pencil, pen or crayon, particularly extensive in script no.12 which includes 2 pages of alternative dialogue, and pencil doodles probably by Larry Stephens, and script no. 22, with final, detached page annotated on the verso, perhaps in Sellers' or Milligan's hand, in blue ink with doodles of large heads and the words, 'Yakity Yakity' (a few scripts possibly incomplete);
Together with a collection of scripts including: The Goon Show, 5 mimeographed scripts (four lacking title-pages), one titled, 'A Special Coronation Edition of The Goon Show with Lord Peter Sellers, Lord Harry Secombe, Lord Spike Milligan, Dame Graham Stark and Wuffo, the Wonder Dog written by the Late Larry Stephens and Spike Milligan, edited by Councillor Major J.D. Grafton', 3 June 1953, annotated in pencil or blue ink; [Harry SECOMBE], two scripts, one a typescript draft of a sketch, 'Milligan's overcoat', the other an adaptation of 'Twice Brightly'; and a selection of scripts for various sketches and episodes of the Harry Secombe Show, 1971-2; Jimmy GRAFTON, various scripts for screenplays and television, including Porter Must Go, a quantity of typescript pages inserted into an exercise book, annotated by Grafton, together with related material; and: Roger Wilmut and Jimmy Grafton, The Goon Show Companion: A History and Goonography, London: Robson Books, 1976, the front pastedown and endpaper inscribed in pen by ten Goon Show stars, associates and fans, including Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine, both with self-portrait caricatures, and Peter Eton, Eamon Andrews and Robert Wilmut; the title with photograph pasted in, with inscription, 'Jimmy Grafton -- a contemporary photo -- more or less!', and the half-title inscribed by Peter SELLERS, 'My dear Sir, Nobless Oblidge [sic] Affectionately, love & thanks for so many years love Peter', dated May 1976. (Some creasing, occasional tears, dampstaining or wear, a few tears repaired with sellotape, some corrosion at corners from paperclips).
'And it's those "Crazy People" - The Goons!': A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF GOON SHOW SCRIPTS, EXTENSIVELY ANNOTATED BY ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ORIGINAL GOONS, AND PRESERVING PART OF THE FIRST SERIES, CRAZY PEOPLE, FOR WHICH NO RECORDINGS EXIST. These original working documents, some of which also bear the amendments and drawings of Spike Milligan, offer a fascinating insight into the creative processes behind one of the most popular and influential comedy programmes of the 20th century. Included in the collection are eight of the 18 Crazy People episodes, recording the content of the first groundbreaking Goons series.
The radio script-writer and ex-infantry officer, the late Jimmy Grafton was landlord of 'The Grafton Arms' in Victoria, which became a 'home-from-home' for the four original Goons. Grafton first met Michael Bentine and Harry Secombe, and through them, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan, defining the cohesive tie between them as their 'readiness to laugh and derive as much enjoyment as possible out of almost any situation' (see The Birth of the Goons). Spike Milligan, living above the Grafton Arms from 1949, co-wrote his first radio series with Grafton, Hip Hip Hoo Roy, included here. By 1950 Grafton felt that he, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe 'had the ammunition needed to fire our ideas at the BBC', and organized a recording session, but it was not until February 1951 that the BBC considered making a pilot. Milligan and Grafton were joined by writer Larry Stephens to write the First Series, called 'Crazy People', the preferred title of the BBC, although by the Second Series, the 'Goon Show' was born. As the catalyst behind the show, Grafton was christened by The Goons as 'Keeper [or King] of Goons and Voice of Sanity', or 'KOGVOS'.
The formats of the shows within each series varied slightly; the Second Series for example, dropping to four sketches. It began on 22 January 1952 and unexpectedly ran to twenty-five episodes, a twenty-sixth being scheduled for transmission on 12 February, but cancelled due to the death of George VI. Interestingly, the script for this broadcast is present here (as no. 21), with rehearsal and recording date given as 10 February, and the transmission date left as 'unknown'. Changes were again made to the format with the beginning of the Third Series on 11 November 1952, when a new producer, Peter Eton, joined the Goon Show. It too would have run to twenty-six episodes, but for the death of Queen Mary which meant that one show was cancelled.
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