Gracie Fields -The Biggest Aspidistra In the World -Parkinson Show, 1977

www.graciefields.org
The inimitable Gracie Fields performs her 1938 hit 'The Biggest Aspidistra in the World' on the Parkinson Show.
Be sure to check out my other rare Gracie Fields uploads, and also 'The Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society' on Facebook.

[@elizabethwalker7864]

2024 my sister reminded me of this song when I told her I had purchased an aspidistra. 💗

[@Minecraft-pj4hm]

What a performer! God rest her soul.

[@gtlfb]

Just glorious! May we all be so joyful at that age.

[@formby2]

How lovely to finally see this. I wish other nice, kind people would share their rare Gracie treasures this way. lol. lol.

[@Malboja]

Seeing this for the first time after hearing it so many times has given me an uncontrollable smile

[@steinwaygrande3971]

She was an incredible performer and much loved by those who were alive in those days. My mum and dad grew up listening to her and I have a few 78RPM records in my collection of her.

[@jeffcraven7376]

In grade school (1960's) thru college and in between the Air Force and afterwards, met one girl like Gracie with her sense of humor, perfect pitch, and everything else Gracie. Boys, you meet someone like Gracie, it'll be a dream come true for you. My rating for Gracie; 5 stars explode into 20.

[@D7nielle]

I used to sing this with my Nana. What a lovely memory.

[@Ampico]

Thank you again for the upload, it is so nice to be able to see this online, you do so much to keep the memory of this great lady alive

[@torbjornbrunzell5060]

a very fine music hall song!

[@LumiLizard]

Wonderful. What very few people know is that the song was actually written by a young man named Andrew Norrie Allen. Along with with others sung by Gracie at the time and the classic...I do like to be beside the seaside...

[@jamesmcinnis208]

How few people? So it wasn't written by Thomas Patrick Connor, Will E Haines and James Harper?

[@LumiLizard]

@@jamesmcinnis208 that is correct. I have an interesting news paper article. It's very sad. ALLEN was conned into signing over the copyrights to all his songs. He had been very popular in his own right prior to that. Once he realised he never played music ever again. He sunk into a very deep depression and had a breakdown. He was cared for by his loyal and loving wife Florrie until he died at aged 52. I would love to attach the newspaper article somehow. 'The Evening News, Sat January 3rd 1970'. Andrew Norrie Allen was my Great-grand uncle. I discovered the articles while researching my family tree. Thanks for asking🙏

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@LumiLizard What a shame. This song has such a playful, mischievous tone, I can only assume the man himself had a personality that was equally lighthearted. The greed of those who cheated him ruined his life.

[@sueparkerjones1070]

I love this lady honest down to earth and wonderful tunes SueX

[@jeffcraven7376]

Sue, Let me add to you comment, she was hilarious! Gracie was the best thing to happen after W.C. Fields (probably not a relation) when it came to comedy. RIP Gracie, you sweet funny girl.

[@Original50]

Please, for the love of all that is holy, switch-on closed-captions! Trust me... 😝

[@EssGeeSee]

I have waited almost all my life to buy an Aspidistra. Wife not happy.

[@hughvane]

Who was the pianist? As one who's done his fair share of accompanying singers, I was very impressed with the player's sensitivity to the variations in tempo etc.

[@qpouvtmvoelxjtu458]

I liked the tailwag.

[@operathephantom]

@gf1001 Thank you, but I've managed to get a copy since. (2 actually, the original broadcast and a later edited one.)

[@gf1001]

@operathephantom The offer was there then and now if you want a copy its yours no probs....... I even had it converted to dvd 2 years ago......

[@ruthadamson1695]

Great

[@gf1001]

Oh and as I recall it was me who put you in touch with the TIYL man for the Gracie Fields This Is Your Life, no third party there either if you remember seb? tony?????

[@gf1001]

My parky tape came from a tv engineer at sony, who recorded the show on early video, and I have had my copy since 1980, The other shows The Big Record was on a tape in the 80s, but is now for sale via the net, the whats my line video was uploaded via an american man who sent me a copy via the net, so no third party there AT ALL????????

[@juliepownall1063]

Got to number 1 😳

[@operathephantom]

@gf1001 And if you watch the 'What's My Line' Chris, you'll realise it's a different performance than the one already online.

[@gf1001]

@formby2 much love as always lol lol lol......

[@gf1001]

@Ampico Dont we all do a lot indeed some much more than others.

[@operathephantom]

@PoorJohnWilley The clip I've uploaded (the very short one) I've no idea where it comes from. She does burst out into few lines of it on this too, wasn't quite 'as the programme finished' though, Gracie clearly didn't know the words, John Betjemen didn't have a clue what she was on about, and it was just a conversation of 'Have you seen 'A Little Night Music'. Perhaps @gf1001 can upload it.

[@operathephantom]

@gf1001 Not doubting you did put me in touch with Tony, Chris? Where'd you get that impression from?

[@formby2]

@gf1001 Thank you for your sanely reasoned comment, but if you must quote from your own medical report in order to insult another please do pay attention to the spelling and syntax. With all good wishes.

[@pauldockree9915]

😢

[@G6JPG]

Your bottom text at 0:08 is off the screen.

[@howard1707]

Someone should sort out the subtitles on this tribute, I am sure Gracie would have found the subtitles funny...I didn't

[@operathephantom]

@gf1001 If you also remember rightly Chris I jumped at the chance of you sending me a copy of it, but you never did. As you like to so often say 'I have the emails to prove it.' So it just seemed that you probably didn't have a copy of it, or you were unwilling to share!

[@gf1001]

@formby2 Well Chris when your ready to share let us ALL KNOW lol lol lol.

[@gf1001]

Pity Parky, did not allow Gracie to sing Send In The Clowns as the programme finished, why not post the complete interview? I am sure Parky prefered Peggy Lee as Gracie joked lol lol lol.....

[@formby2]

@gf1001 I really don't care whether you accept my version or not, but I have no reason to lie. I'm glad you're (note spelling) not getting hot under the collar about this Webster (though your anxiety suggests otherwise), but perhaps you might like to acquaint yourself with the Webster of Webster's Dictionary fame. If you're suggesting that I use the alias Fanlight Fanny somewhere, no, wrong again! Please desist from these signs of affection (First love, then pal, now Dear Boy).

[@dontscrewwithgodschosen6692]

🧚🏻‍♂️❣️🌌🌈

[@gf1001]

@formby2 Dont think so pal? the only person who gave me a bit of stuff was Mr Hornby, and when I offered him some stuff in return, he refused it thats a fact so its not from you at all GET YOUR FACT STRAIGHT FOR ONCE.....

[@formby2]

@gf1001 Since when has operathephantom's interest in anything been a persuading point over whether you upload something or not? And if you, the great sharer, have it yourself then why are you now asking operathephantom to upload it? And yes, you certainly have had items from my collection whether you know it or not - in fact some of it was given to you on the promise of material from you in return which you then didn't supply !

[@gf1001]

@formby2 Dear Fanlight Fanny is that better? nowt wrong with my memory thank you. if you are not going to name the person, then I cant accept your version at all, its just your word for it as usuall the gospal according to Mr Webster, your not important enough Dear Boy to get hot under the collar about.....

[@formby2]

@gf1001 I am not referring to that gentleman you cite, and my factS (please note plural and grammar) are straight. I am sorry that you now have amnesia but you HAVE received material from my collection from another source. Unlike you I am not going to break confidences by naming names in a public forum. And please don't refer to me as 'pal' or send me love messages again.

[@gf1001]

@formby2 Nothing wrong with me physically or mentally, that a good screw wont cure and my waist is as thin as when I was 20 is yours lol lol lol....

[@gf1001]

One for the record, I care not who has what when how or why? If I want a true queen Lizzie of windsor is the one who gets my vote every time. Showbiz is full of twisted tormented soles, mores the pity and I have no intention of following anyone only myself ok? lol lol lol....

[@gf1001]

I offered you the complete show 2 years ago, I could upload it but you did not seem interested? pity but there you have it. I have all the things Alan sent me already , and this third party business is a none starter, got nowt from you Mr Formby either nor for that fact mr tayor in this instance so get over it......

[@formby2]

@gf1001 I'm sick and tired of your stupid snidey and often nasty comments about sharing. The uploader of this video will vouch that I have shared everything I have of Gracie's with him (barring one item that is currently inaccessible), and though you may not realise it you yourself have also been party to many rare items from my collection via a third party so just bear that in mind before you go into your regular vile, mentalist rants about me (and others).

[@loppux]

With all due respect, frankly, was this funny?

[@fkthelefties]

it was to people in 1938, and for a long time afterwards. Humour changes, ignorance certainly doesnt....

[@loppux]

you mean her fans were ignorant??

[@charles5596]

How rude

[@john111257]

@@loppux you are,troll

[@russo10]

Mine is 9.5 ft...although it might actually be a gracaena fragrans, I've not been able to find an answer to that yet.