VARIETY STARS OF THE 1950s

Compilation of a dozen or so popular entertainers of the past. Including Gracie Fields, Billy Cotton, Morton Fraser, Max Wall, Charlie Kunz, Robb Wilton, Ted Ray, Jimmy Wheeler, Arthur Askey, Max Miller and others.

[@orchardist1965]

Great professional entertainers,unlike many today these artists honned their skills on the toughest audiences and have thoroughly earned their place in the history of entertainment. Thank you.

[@jamesbrennand3181]

Those where the days of true talent it is ashamed that you will never see the likes of them again

[@stephenguppy7882]

Loved seeing Billy Cotton again. Thank you.

[@richardcummins5465]

Fantastic old acts remembered. Thanks so much.

[@AlanBoddy-fl2qp]

Its seems like only yesterday? At 86 i can remember the Radio comedians like Workers playtime with Avril Angers. Wilfred Pickles.and Doris his wife at the piano Have a Go Joe youve been on radio.......If you had your life over again would you change anything plus giving questions for Money. Plus "The day war broke out my missis said to me"Rob Wilton .No TV then after the war.We used to gather round the Steam Radio on Sunday evenings after a special Sunday tea and listen to the show" Palace of Varieties (I think)🙏🥰🇬🇧 Or just after Paul Temple or Dick Barton special agent starring DIck Jock and Snowy After the gruelling War years they were a great tonic we looked forward to and never missed👏🤣👍

[@MDBellamy]

Great to see these clips of such wonderful performers. Max Wall just seemed to get better and crazier the older he got. Remarkable!

[@HaydnMillerUK]

Loved seeing Arthur Askey and Ted Ray appear, very funny people.

[@alexmorris452]

All our yesterdays ,,,,,,all great performers ,,,,,real stars

[@vestibulate]

We're fortunate to be able to still see these performers through the medium of KZbin. My only quibble would be that the addition of each one's name as he or she came onscreen would have helped in identifying the artist. Not being British, I only recognised Gracie Fields, Max Miller and Tessie O'Shea. But what a pleasure it was to see them all here.

[@chbj121]

Superb. There's no one today like these stars!! Thank you.

[@robertsmith3672]

Thank heavens

[@chbj121]

@@robertsmith3672 You're welcome

[@Vince_uk]

I have just found this channel while flipping hrough KZbin. Wonderful. I remember as a kid in the 50's and 60's seeing some of these very shows and the Harmonica Gang sticks in my mind vividly, my late Father loved them. I carry around with me on an iPod radio shows of Jimmy Clitheroe, The Navy Ark, Men From The Ministry as well as a few others,I lie not when I tell you theu have been all over the World with me and still bring me endless pleasure and remind me of when life was tougher but yet simpler.

[@chrstnclmn28]

There will never be anybody like them again, i remember watching Arthur Askey every week, he used to say hello playmates...they were my era, god bless them all.

[@skoot2u]

Never realised just how good Tessie O'shea was with a ukulele banjo.

[@FJMLAM]

Charming entertainment from a bygone age. Max Wall and Tessie still outstanding

[@mahatmacoat7215]

Excellent. Just loved the "Chocolate Cream" reference. Ah the good old days.

[@nigelparrott6944]

G.H.Elliot was billed as "The chocolate coloured coon" How times have changed!

[@valeriebrookes3591]

Love all the old stars excellent comics and music and.singers have seen them all and enjoyed every performance thanks for showing keep it up.

[@idachau1080]

I remember these on the radio.. we didn't have a tv..,😂👏👍

[@john111257]

if you are a music lover, respect the best of all eras, today it was robbie williams,tonight its the very good old days, let the spirit of music always live on...

[@jongadsby1623]

Wonderful sadly can name them all !! Was wonderful entertainment. Even recognised Norman Evans out of drag!! Just getting Old!!

[@gf1001]

Wonderful to see Gracie on tv thanks so much.

[@CaptainOfTheLostWaves]

Bloated with majesty and spirit..oh how the soul soars when pure expression of performance engages ? 🐋

[@nostromoau]

Captain Of The Lost Waves In the immortal words of CPO Pertwee: lyricals spring readily to the lips when sediment rouses the emulsions!

[@indyandnorbert1]

What a fascinating compilation so many people we remember so fondly, never seen the Norman Evans with the Panda before, ah ! So many of these folks also appeared on TVs The Good Old Days, recently rerun on BBC4 just great to see them, and remember many of these folks also kept people's spirits up in the war, 'Bless 'em all', to coin a phase

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

I can't believe just how these wonderful stars brought back so many happy memories for me.... I am now In Heaven ! ha-ha Thankyou so very much for posting this lovely film !

[@valeriestone4401]

blackpoolbarmpot just

[@jimcrawford5039]

Jeez, that takes me back to when I was young! 77 now! Australia,

[@MOGGS1942]

I'm 78. Wales.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Just fantastic!, these people were at the very top of their game, Tessie was incredible but then they all were

[@hampshirehog9921]

Variety entertainment from when I was a boy . . . . you knew you’d been entertained in those days :-)

[@mysticallymerry5523]

Love these clips ❤ So cheerful. 😊

[@stevebuckley2429]

These artistes traipsed around the country for years honing the same act,they were so comfortable with their material .

[@Nojnotpu]

This stuff is superb, we will never see the likes of these people again.

[@stevecox7075]

Thank god.

[@andrewmartin6445]

Good. It was purgatory being forced to listen to Billy Cotton's Band Show as a child. Jimmy Clitheroe in th Clitheroe Kid was even worse.

[@stevecox7075]

Andrew Martin : I totally agree with you!

[@robertsmalley8138]

@@andrewmartin6445 as for Gracie Fields jeeez.

[@robertsmalley8138]

@james taylor I had to look her up.As you say more fanciable than Gracie But then who wasnt .

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Brilliant to see some great acts here, thanks poster

[@MickieDriver]

This is really wonderful - thank you so much for posting it. A trip back the days when entertainers entertained and really knew what they were doing.

[@davidwalsh3439]

What great nostalgia the World was a much nicer place and people actually talked to each other. Lovely simple comedy. I'm a child again and tittering away like a good un

[@barryeva8862]

I remember so many of these great entertainers

[@glennjohnson8170]

Glenn Johnson Grand stuff here,many i remember from TV when growing up in the 50`s.How brilliant to see footage of G.H.Elliot singing "Sue sweet Sue",although from the 30`s.Thanks for the upload.

[@posnerist]

Here is the full list on this film......in order of appearance........ Gracie fields.... Billy cotton band show..... Charlie Chester..... Max wall.... Charlie kunz...... Rob Wilton.... Ted Ray/Jimmy Wheeler.... Max Miller.... Arthur askey.val doonican...... Tessie o Shay.... Norman Evens... Dennis nordan...GH Elliot....

[@spmoran4703]

I dont know any of them . But it is good to see what entertainment was like then. It's fun.

[@glasswestbrook]

There's my friend Johnny Stafford in the Morton Fraser Harmonica Gang. Wonderful harmonica player and all round entertainer. See him at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon on Dec 1st 2013 at 2.30pm in COMEDY IN MUSIC with Jean Martyn, Don Reid and Mavis Lane.

[@NALAMOO]

Thanks for posting. Wonderful memories .

[@susancollins2425]

Those Were The Days My Friends B/W Tv 🙏🇬🇧Happy Days & Great Fun…That’s Entertainment 👍

[@dorothykazer1371]

Wonderful. Compared to todays rubisshy offerings! Todays so-called entertainers should watch this and learn how to entertain without swearing and using filth.

[@martm216]

Thank you!

[@paulc1816]

The Great Max Miller. Like he said; "There'll never be another"......

[@orchardist6559]

Two Ton Tessie was Wonderful.

[@phaedracollins6051]

Really brings back great memories of the small black and white flickering screen and being told as a kid not to get closer than 6ft from the set because of "rays". My favourite was Max Wall - an absolute comic genius.

[@johngadsby1526]

They were wonderful Sadly I can recall them all!!!

[@harrylangdon491]

They weren't all wonderful. What was wonderful was your youth, and that's what you're recalling.

[@johngadsby1526]

@@harrylangdon491 not at all mate

[@davidcollinson5076]

Talent. Pure talent.

[@rjones6219]

Norman Evans! He always looked like everyone's Nanna, especially, when he did "Over the garden wall".

[@smokeless7774]

Reminds me of the four worst winters of the 20th century. 1947, 1963, Mike & Bernie.

[@thomasclark8242]

Great to see these.

[@michaelvickery7630]

Would have been nice to have names to the artists. I knew most but still scratching my head to remember the other artists.

[@sandrolombardi888]

Wonderful performance of G.H.Elliott at the end of the video

[@BackToTheBlues]

Great to see these clips, I wish some of them such as those of Robb Wilton and Max Miller were a bit longer!

[@derekeaton4798]

Such good entertainers from those days

[@crotchetyoldcripple5711]

what a wonderful compilation and despite the comments of foulmouthed kevvome, our gracie could reach and sustain notes the so called singers of today can only dream about. good clean humour and talent, all missing nowadays

[@wendyburgess5805]

Loved Gracie Fields, as a child, and still admire her now.

[@leneynon6268]

Now I do feel my age ,thanks

[@fishyc150]

Variety. Fantastic.

[@johnr793]

Ted Ray my favourite entertainer EVER

[@SuperFerdie1965]

He was great on Jokers Wild with Arthur Askey.

[@debbiepaskin9378]

Couldn’t say the « chocolate cream » joke nowadays! 😡 I was born in the 50s....but vaguely remember some of these 😆😆 Oh I wish my mom + dad were still here! They’d love this!! Anyone know how I can get to listen to Ted Ray + Mrs Hoskins?? Thanks for these timeless clips......folk could say funny stuff and NO PC do gooders then!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰💕💕💕💕🇬🇧

[@bbcisrubbish]

Yes but what a lovely cover up. That was fun to watch and listen to on it's own.

[@citizen1163]

Wow..looks like Jack Strachey playing his own composition 'These Foolish Things"? Beautiful.

[@four33]

Wonderful performance!

[@stuarttootell]

Fantastic

[@john111257]

wonderful stars of yesteryear

[@pirate259]

That was bloody excellent! Thank you....

[@MichaelBeeny]

I was born in 1949 I could hardly wait till the early 60s when music came alive, The Beatles for example. My parents would be watching these old music hall stars on the TV. I hate it, and would go to my bedroom and listen to radio Luxemburg.

[@MARKETMAN6789]

Thank you for putting this on ,theres only the piano player who i didnt know,and ive now found out who he was when i read the replies

[@Borretski]

Hi salsaman, the commedian who performed this screamingly funny act was the late Sandy Powell

[@jeremymorrall6750]

Gallant old troupers - they emanate a vibe that you just don't see today - possibly because people had to make their own fun back then.

[@thrippleton]

Oh, if we could only bring all these people back! tv would be wonderful again.

[@myramackenzie6769]

thrippleton b(the

[@Catherineone]

Took these people took years and years to learn there trade. Programs like today Star Is Born, X Factor and such like and at the end of the program they say they are a star. You don't get people like this anymore because there are not that many places where they can perform and learn over time and that what it takes time. Ted Ray was one of my Favs

[@thrippleton]

Thanks for the info.

[@lintym]

Our Gracie

[@Nojnotpu]

Norman Evans was wonderful. - Our Albert ( maybe not the right name) Has only been in the army for three weks and he has been promoted already. Yes, thev'e made him a Court Marshall.

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Back in the day when entertainers had talent and worked at their craft, not the mindless rubbish of today.

[@barneyboscoe]

@salsaman247 That was Norman Evans,see him in his sketch "Over The Garden Wall",he was the 'inspiriration' of les Dawson's 'Ada.'

[@trevordance5181]

They should have included the great ventriloquist Arthur Worsley amongst these clips.

[@vaslav030547]

And Denis Spicer

[@mazda1942]

Tessie O'Shea makes a wonderful sound on her 1920s Gibson UB4.

[@MrRichiekaye]

Just GREAT

[@japeflakes]

Norman Evans with the panda puppet British Music Hall star Norman Evans here with his puppet Panda. This sketch is taken from 'Over The Garden Wall' - Mancunian Film Company (1950)

[@posnerist]

Norman Evens grave is at poulton cemetery nr Blackpool...the headstone is a wall...with the inscription ....his last garden wall

[@Nojnotpu]

This stuff difies description because it is so wonderful

[@michaellilley5870]

I saw most of these stars in the early 50's when the provinces had these touring shows. These artists were stars who had lasted and were loved, not like today with unintelligible songs and filthy jokes & language instead of innuendo. Those times were the best times and regretfully will never comer back.

[@vaslav030547]

No Great salary's then, no hype or spin, just hard working real talent.

[@jamescypler4599]

Dont know about no great salary s max miller at his height was.on 1500 a week not bad im the 1950s

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) Was that Norman Evans with the bear and trumpet ? Charming sketch.☺.

[@nigelperry8863]

Yes it was! His 'Over the garden wall' sketches were hysterical. I suspect that Les Dawson took inspiration from Norman!

[@CornishMiner]

Thankfully we have the likes of Gemma Collins and Rylan Clark-Neal keeping the tradition alive today.

[@nigelparrott6944]

Saw Tessie at Torquay Pavilion in 1971.

[@zoekahlert578]

Jimmy Wheeler is my great grandfather ! thank you for uploading this ! any more Jimmy wheeler archives laying around? aye aye thats your lot

[@cassadyfr]

did you ever get any more vids of your great great and i do mean GREAT grandfather? i remember an interview with him on late night line up - bbctv - very funny reminiscing about a trip to the south of france. i have a publicity photo of jim which we refer to as the Icon.

[@fanorydberg2424]

I saw Jimmy Wheeler in Brighton in 1958. I had been dragged along because my mother had the hots for Frankie Vaughan, who was top of the bill. Jimmy was very professional. Having only seen him on tv I was surprised to see he had red hair.

[@SRSM198]

These were hardworking entertainers not the third rate ones of today

[@SloopyDog]

+Sylvia Moe To true. I find today's stand up comedian's offensive and boring. We seem to have gone backwards. There was so much talent in the old days. Television now consists of american sitcoms, old american movies and third rate game shows. We have lost so much! Joe.

[@john111257]

2 shows a day,at the seaside, all about the fastest money now

[@elsiewalsh2391]

Roy castle. Jimmy

[@GoonerBob42]

Boom boom!! LOL

[@vaslav030547]

Like Ant and Dec! Have they got an act?

[@johnashbourne7223]

those were the days.!!!!

[@stephenlees1691]

brillant xxxxxxx

[@jimlagos]

I like Spike Milligan's comments about her!

[@jimlagos]

Gracie Fields, of course

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) . Unkind comment, Terry Denman. They were of their time, and were very popular. Everyone to their taste.....I.m 68 (at 2016), and I remember them, even the 'common', yelling "wakey- wakey" man, from childhood. Remember, t.v. was still in its infancy : we had a tiny 6 inch screen, black and white, with one channel! Some performers ( learning as they went along in the new medium) I found corny , even cringe- making, and Charlie Chester : creepy, imho.😕. But try to bear in mind a " helluva" lot of work went into those many acts. Could we do any better?😊.

[@trevordance5181]

The Wakey-Wakey man was Billy Cotton who had the very succesful Billy Cotton Band Show on both tv and radio.

[@PD-uc5st]

Wonderful clean funny top notch entertainment. However I would not want to watch every night. But I do love it. The comedians of the day I don't believe can be beaten.

[@armyoldsweat]

Can't say I was particularly fond of this clip but I often wonder why people like your contributor 'kevvome' need to be so coarse and vile in expressing themselves with such filthy language. Disgusting, such comments should never be permitted. Someone should tell his mummy, I'd hate for him to be like that when he grows up.

[@deancarter8667]

there's thousands of morons like him on youtube sadly.

[@royrj5517]

Days when you had to have talent to get on, unlike today, no much talent to watch

[@lewstone1934]

Gracie Fields - a great three octave singing lesson.. added to class and sophistication- to all the semi naked vulgar pretenders out there in the 21st C

[@Nojnotpu]

Agreed.

[@TheyCallMeMrTubs]

Tessie O'Shea

[@barr474]

Great entertainment from the time before the rot set in

[@cpepservices1]

Each generation declares the one after it is going to the dogs. Oh how they hated jazz (1920s) and the blues (1930s), both seen as the Devil's music back then but now respected styles of music. Why can't each style of music be loved in and of itself without denigrating other styles?

[@10wanderer]

This stuff is superb, we will never see the likes of these people again thank Christ for that !

[@Hithere-ek4qt]

Christ? That's just a fantasy figure. Get educated buddy. ALL religions are BS, they were created to control others. Just because a lot of folks were programmed as children is no reason to continue with this crap.

[@10wanderer]

@@Hithere-ek4qt ya what??? who mentioned religions then , fckg idiot

[@Borretski]

PS, He performed it the song "Sonny Boy" !

[@dandare6623]

The great Max Miller (briefly) Tessie O'Shea& & a young Val Doonican with Arthur Askey & Ted Ray

[@drspaseebo410]

Most of the "comedians" today feel compelled to use filthy language regularly.