Clips From A Life

Clips From A Life
Denis Norden

Classic stills from the life of one of Britain's most venerated entertainers.This is the extraordinary life story of comic legend Denis Norden, told in momentary snapshots by the master British comedian himself. Containing reminiscences of a career stretching back to the golden age of the radio, through the heyday of cinema and the early pioneering days of television comedy, Back Then showcases Denis Norden's creative genius at its very best.Told with Denis' hallmark flashes of brilliant humour and sharp observation, the extraordinary life of this enduring humorist is unravelled through his private recollections of the ways things used to be, back then.Denis' school-day musings, dry witticisms, and old-time sayings unearthed from days gone by, combined with remembrances of collaborations with famous figures of the day, from Eric Sykes to Bill Fraser, will sweep you back instantaneously to the magical gags, lively characters and laughter of the past.Flitting between Denis' East End childhood and early career in Variety as a cinema manager for the Hyams Brothers, to his post-war work as a scriptwriter on the groundbreaking radio shows Take It From Here and In All Directions, to the phenomenally successful television comedy Whack-O!, (all written with long-term collaborator Frank Muir), to his years as a solo writer, performer, and presenter on programmes such as the much-loved It'll Be Alright on the Night, it is easy to see how Denis' comic appeal has endured for decades, to make him one of the greatest British writers and performers to date.Brimming with Denis' unique wit and personal warmth, this is a rich and compelling mix of anecdote and autobiography from a very special entertainer.

CLIPS FROM A LIFE

DENIS NORDEN

Copyright (#u0ca8215a-85f8-5b80-be54-39a77f90a90e)

Fourth Estate

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/)

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by Fourth Estate

Copyright © Denis Norden 2008

The right of Denis Norden to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

In the event that the author or publisher are notified of any mistakes or omissions by copyright owners of the material quoted in this book and of any images reproduced on or in this book after publication, the author and the publisher will endeavour to rectify the position accordingly for any subsequent printings

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9780007277957

Ebook Edition © DECEMBER 2008 ISBN:9780007287796

Version: 2017-05-05

ForMax and Angus(Latest in series)

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (#u0ca8215a-85f8-5b80-be54-39a77f90a90e)

All photographs are from the author’s private collection, unless otherwise credited.

PLATE ONE

The Gaumont State Kilburn, 1937. Photograph courtesy of Cinema Theatre Association Archive.

The foyer of the State Kilburn. Photograph courtesy of Cinema Theatre Association Archive.

The Hyams Brothers: Mr Phil, Mr Sid and Mr Mick. Photographs courtesy of Ronald Grant Archive.

The Trocadero, Elephant and Castle. Photograph courtesy of Cinema Theatre Association Archive.

The Trocadero auditorium. Photograph courtesy of Cinema Theatre Association Archive.

LAC D. Norden.

Nick and Maggie on a foreign beach.

Post CBE ceremony – Nick, Maggie, DN and Avril.

Wilson, Keppel and Betty.

Ted Kavanagh. Photograph © Topfoto.co.uk.

Frank Muir, Charles Maxwell and DN. Photograph © BBC Photo Library.

Take It From Here: Wallas Eaton, Dick Bentley, Alma Cogan, Jimmy Edwards and June Whitfield. Photograph © BBC Photo Library.

Take It From Here: Frank and DN. Photograph courtesy of Popperfoto/Getty Images.

Bernard Braden. Photography courtesy of The Kobal Collection/Melina Prods.

What’s My Line: Frank, Lady Isobel Barnett, Barbara Kelly and DN. Photograph © BBC Photo Library.

London Laughs.

PLATE TWO

Whack-o!: Jimmy Edwards. Photograph © BBC Photo Library.

My Word!: Frank Muir and Dilys Powell. Photograph © BBC Photo Library.

Inspirational sheet-music for My Music.

My Music: Steve Race, Frank, Ian Wallace and John Amis. Photographs © BBC Photo Library.

Looks Familiar. Courtesy of FremantleMedia Ltd.

Looks Familiar: Dickie Henderson, Diana Dors and Danny La Rue. Photograph courtesy of BFI Stills.

Looks Familiar: Alec McCowen, DN, Pat Phoenix and Eric Sykes. Photograph courtesy of BFI Stills.

Looks Familiar: Alice Faye. Photograph © FremantleMedia Ltd.

Looks Familiar: David Niven. Photograph © FremantleMedia Ltd.

Looks Familiar: Sammy Davis Jr. Photograph courtesy of BFI Stills. Our Kid.