frankie howerd
swingin' sixties that was the week that was...
Home |Timeline |Media |Mementos |Misc

 

 

 

 

 

The first few years of the 60's saw Frankie with a nervous breakdown, and doing the odd summer show. One night in 1962 he was asked to present awards at the annual Evening Standard theatre awards ceremony. In the audience were rising stars of the 60's Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathon Miller. His performance touched a nerve with the group who were about to open a comedy club called the Establishment. The new Chelsea set packed the club to see Frankie's act, and word of his success reached Ned Sherrin. The show has been preserved for posterity on an LP " Frankie Howerd at the Establishment & at the BBC " (Decca LK 4556). Ned was about to kick TV into a new orbit with a live weekly satirical show That was the week that was (aka TW3). Ned saw Frankie's act several times and invited him onto the show on 6 April 1963. Frankie did a 13½ minute monologue about the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Reginald Maudling.. It was a masterpiece and had the country talking about the sketch next day. Little did anyone know at the time every word had been cooked up by Johnny Speight ( Till Death Do Us Part ) and Francis. Just before this momentous appearance he appeared in Michael Winner's film The Cool Mikado.

Peter Cook outside the future Establishment Club
In 1963 Frankie flew over to New York to see Zero Mostel in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, as he has been offered the part of the UK version. It opened on October 3rd and ran until July 1965 - a roaring success and it sealed Frankie's comeback. The cast included names such as Jon Pertwee (The Navy Lark, Dr Who), Kenneth Connor (Carry On). During the run he also found time to star in another tv series of The Frankie Howerd Show.

With Beryl Reid

Carry on Doctor

In 1965, while back on top, Frankie made another film The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery. This is one film I remember seeing at the pictures aged 10. The horrid "gels" featured in quite a few films. In 1967 Frankie brought his best to the franchise of unique British films known as the "Carry Ons". He appeared in two in the series - the first was Carry on Doctor where Francis played the role of Francis Bigger (titters coming on I fear). In 1969 he filmed Carry on up the jungle as Prof. Inigo Tinkle

On the stage he had great success in Way out in Piccadilly, with co-star Cilla Black. The show ran from November 1966 until the end of 1967. It won Frankie the title of "Show Business Personality of the Year" in 1966 and attracted stars to come and see him - such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Cilla Black became one of Frankie and Dennis' firm private friends.

With Anita Harris

Liz Taylor



In 68 Frankie settled in with new agent Beryl Vertue, as part of the RSO (Robert Stigwood Organisation), along with Galton and Simpson. Several spin-offs from the RSO saw Frankie on a tv special called Frankie Howerd meet the Bee Gees in 1968 - the Bee Gees having been signed to RSO. He also made a tv film with them called Cucumber Castle and featuring Lulu, Eleanor Bron, Spike Milligan, Vincent Price and Blind Faith. It went out on Boxing Day of 1970 on BBC-2. It is comparable to the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour - somewhat trippy medieval fantasy - quite bewitching though!

Frankie dabbled with the US in the latter part of the 60's in a play staged in New York called The Wind in the Sassafras Tree. The critics did not give the production an easy time.

It was around this time that BBC Head of Comedy was on holiday in Italy, ambling around the ruins of Pompeii. The idea of a sitcom set in Pompeii (and with inspiration from the collected works of Plautus) was eventually passed to Talbot Rothwell (Carry on's principal writer).

Cilla Black "Way out..."

Sassafras Tree



Frankie has to shoehorn in an emergency appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, when Eric Morecombe suffered a heart attack. He gave a fine performance - relating to Bernard Delfont - and met one of his greatest fans - Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

A pilot for Up Pompeii was broadcast on 17 September 1969 and delivered a big audience of 11.2 million. A series was commissioned to start in 1970....

Royal fan