One of the great collectors

John

Apart from being an accomplished Comedian and Game Show host, Bob Monkhouse was also a passionate collector of movie memorabilia. He amassed a truly gigantic collection of posters, scripts, films and other memorabilia. His passion for collecting verged on the obsessive. When he passed away, it was discovered that he had many films in his collection that had previously been thought lost including episodes of TV series that had been wiped by the BBC after screening. His collection proved to be of immense value, not only in monetary terms but also as an historical record of British TV and cinema.

More about it in this fascinating documentary ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loIECxYkvV4

David

Watching it now, gawd a lot of old comedians so far, as well as some early radio stars - my memories bank is being raided!

Not sure why he was so disliked, guess the doco may tell me more

John

Well, he was always popular with the blue rinse set but not so much with younger audiences. He was constantly on TV so the reality is that he was very well liked.

The detailed stuff about his collecting is near the end of the doco. Its hard to believe that, for a long time, British TV used to wipe some of the great shows like Dads Army immediately after screening. It's thanks to people like Bob Monkhouse that work of Tony Hancock, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and many others has survived.

Four years after he died they made this great ad ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiGNvXbofwY

David

Excellent ad.

I remember listening to radio shows on Sunday night in bed as a kid the likes of the The Goon Show, Hancock's Half Hour - I used to get into a lot of trouble laughing so much when i was supposed to be asleep.

I don't rinse my hair...

John

Hancock was my favourite. I still enjoy watching some of the old episodes on YouTube

Paul

I was asked to take part in the documentary, as I have a missing episode that Bob didn't have in his collection. It was his only straight role in an episode of the 60's T.V. Show Blackmail. 

Time and work being what it was, I missed out on a day with Lenny Henry, Barry Cryer, etc at BAFTA house.

[Deleted User]

More like THEY missed out on a day with Paul Waines

David

Very good doco, thanks John.

And Paul, naughty naughty naughty.

[-(