Frankie Howerd Archive Box 1

Includes:
1. Four page typed sketch and two page typed monologue, both annotated and amended, and both on the stationery of Jack Payne, Howerd's agent for the first five years of his career. With cover note of monologue dated with rubber stamp 23 January 1947.
2. 49 typescripts of sketches, patters and monologues, most on Frankie Howerd (Scripts) Ltd stationery. Most with 'Written by Eric Sykes' typed to front page, some with annotations. The bundle includes:
2.1 Untitled - A Four person dialogue (Frankie, Norman, Marie and Bill entrance at the end)
Pages: 5.
2.2 Title: Pantomime Paraphanalia
Six copies of the script under this title. Some copies include annotations, corrections, announcer and prologue sections. Includes Frankie Howerd, Eric Portman, John Hnason, Jerry Desmonde, Rosemary Morgan, Joan Greenwood, Marjery Holmes, and Norman Wisdom. Includes rhyming jokes throughout and deliberate non-rhyming jokes. Jokes about the army in a fairy fantasy.
2.3 Title: Section IV - Pantomime Mix-up.
Undated.
Pages: 25.
● Frankie Howerd's character is named 'Buttons'.
2.4 Untitled.
Undated.
Includes Frankie, Bill, Wilfred and Hattie in the dialogue.
Pages: 3.
2.5 Untitled.
Undated.
Pages: 3
● Includes edits noted in pencil
● Mentions Variety Bandbox and includes Billy Ternant - British Orchestra Leader
● Includes jokes about music and comedy
● Billy Ternant's orchestra plays at the end of this script
2.6 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes
Pages: 6
● Includes Frankie, Eric Portman, 'Princess Irene', Norman (the cat), 'Male Lead', Marj, Joan Greenwood (as Fairy Joan)
● Related to the Pantomime Paraphanalia (see above).
● Written as part of the Christmas Pantomime.
2.7 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 5.
● Opening line - "Thank you Brothers Peterson…"
● Includes Frankie Howerd, Brothers Peterson (at beginning), Margery Medworthy, Norman Wisdom.
● Performing pieces of Frankie Howerd's childhood - Margery Medworthy as the Nanny, Norman Wisdom as Howerd (child), Frankie Howerd as his father.
● Makes reference to a song called Nymphs and Shepherds by English Composer, Henry Purcell, from the play The Libertine by Thomas Shadwell.
2.8. Untitled.
Undated.
Includes pencil note: ‘SPOT TWO FRANK & BILLY’.
Pages: 3.
● Same script as item 2.5 - Billy Ternant script.
● Mostly the same pencilled edits in this script
2.9. Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 9.
● Includes Frankie Howerd and Eric Portman, and later Billy Ternant.
● Christmas comedy play - "A Christmas Fantasy for Children"
● Two parts in the play - part of an old man and part of a boy.
● Billy enters as "Fairy Dewdrop".
2.10 Title: Gladys Morgan Entry Spot.
Undated.
Pages: 18.
● Includes Gladys Morgan, Frankie Howerd, Billy Ternant, Terry (Terrence Morgan)
● Frankie Howerd Guest Spot (3rd page of script)
● Spot three - Pyramids
- Gladys mentions she was part of the ENSA (Entertainments National Service Associations) and performed for the Eighth Army (UK Military Unit during WW2 who fought in the North African and Italian Campaigns.
- Frankie talks about pyramids to Billy and Gladys - Frankie mentions that he was an officer in the seventh army.
2.11 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 5.
● Duplicate of item 2.7.
2.12 Untitled.
Undated.
Pages: 4.
● Opening sentence - " We present the Glee Three…"
● Features Richard Todd Tenor/Hot Toddy (Actor), Binnie Hale (Actress, Singer, Dancer), Frankie Howerd, Billy Ternant.
● Pencil writing on the back of the final page of script.
2.13 Title: First Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes
Pages: 4.
● Includes Frankie/Frank, Alfred, and Hattie.
● Comedy sketch about Alfred doing animal impersonations.
2.14 Title: Peterson brothers.
Undated.
Written By Eric Sykes.
Pages: 19 [1st script (6 pages), 2nd (2 pages), 3rd (11 pages)]
● Pinned scripts (3 scripts in total pinned together)
● Annotated/pen and pencil edits throughout.
- 1st Script - titled Peterson Brothers. Written By Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
- Includes Bill (as Chief), Hattie (playing Miss Gaunt the housekeeper), Wilf (the smuggler), and Frankie.
- About a new tenant (Frankie) who has moved into a house on the cliffs of Cornwall.
- 2nd Script - titled Eddie Leslie, Picking Up Note Gag.
- Includes characters A, B, Jack L.
- "Picking Up £5 Note Gag (4 handed)
- 3rd Script - titled Peterson Brothers. Written By Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
- Frankie as Hans the Cobbler, Margery (Fairy Meadworthy), Wilf, Hattie (Princess Griselda), Giant/Baron Doghausen (unknown actor).
- Large section crossed out into pencil.
2.15 Untitled.
Undated.
Written By Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 9.
● Includes Frankie, Janet Hamilton Smith, John Hargreaves, Billy Ternant, Margery, Norman.
2.16 Title: Second Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 11.
2.17 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
● Includes Frankie, John Richardson, Hattie, Michael.
2.18 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated. Written by Eric Sykes.
Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
2.19 Untitled.
Undated. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
● Script made specifically for a Christmas special/comedy show.
● Frankie Howerd - has a significantly large opening to this script. On page three, Derek Taverner joins Franke Howerd on stage to play the pianoforte.
2.20 Title: (Spot One) - written in pencil.
Undated. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
● Duplicate of item 2.19.
2.21 Untitled. Undated. Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 9.
● Duplicate of item 2.15.
2.22 Untitled. [Monologue]
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 3.
● Opening line - "Thank you Miss Edith Lewin…"
2.23 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
● Opening line - "Ladies and Gentlemen we take you now to Hollywood…"
2.24 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 5.
2.25 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 3.
2.26 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 2.
2.27 Untitled. [Monologue]
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 3.
2.28 Untitled.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 9 [end page detached]
2.29 Untitled. [Monologue]
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 3.
2.30 Title: Spot One.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 5.
2.31 Title: SPOT (2).
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 6.
2.32 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 5.
2.33 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 11.
● Includes Marj (Miss Medworthy) Jean Kent, Professor Frankie.
● On the back of page 6 is a pencil sketch of the scene.
● Annotations/edits throughout.
2.34 Untitled. [Monologue]
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 2.
2.35 Untitled.
Undated.
Pages: 7.
● Opening line - "Have you ever been in a camp… Air Force, Army, Navy… when they expect a V.I.P.?"
● Includes Frankie, Bill Ternant, Wilfred, Hattie and Tucker.
2.36 Title: Second Spot.
Undated.
Script Written By Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 9.
● First page covered in pencil doodles and writing.
● Opening line -
"Thank you our good friends known to you as the Peterson Brothers… known to me as… John? And Bill? And known to the flying squad as pull in to the kerb…"
● Same story about the Baron Doghausen, Hans the Cobbler (Frankie), Princess Grishelda (Hattie) as detailed above.
2.37 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 8.
● Opening line - "Thank you Janet Hamilton Smith and John Hargreaves…"
● Edits made specifically on Norman's lines.
2.38 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 4.
2.39 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 7.
● Same script as item 2.37.
● Edits made only on Frankie Howerd's parts in this script.
2.40 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 6.
2.41. Untitled.
Undated.
Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 25.
● Page numbers muddled.
2.42 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 9.
● "We are now going to do a Christmas Fantasy for the Children" - another Christmas comedy script.
● Includes Frankie Howerd, Eric Portman, and Bill Ternant.
● Frankie calls Eric 'Tosh' and Eric calls Frankie 'Mac - an ongoing joke.
● Same script as item 2.9.
2.43 Untitled.
Undated.
Script written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 7.
2.44 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages. 5
2.45 Title: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 5.
2.46 Untitled.
Undated. Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 3.
● Annotated/edited in pencil and pen.
● Front page says ‘FRANK PLEASE INSERT IN SPOT 2’ - written in pencil.
2.47. Title: Spot Three - Pyramids.
Pages: 6.
● Duplicate of item 2.10
2.48 Pencil-written letter attached to script titled Opening Spot, written by Eric Sykes and property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages. 8 (front page is letter, the following seven pages are the script).
• The letter is possibly from Eric [Sykes]
● The script includes Hattie, Alfred, Frankie, and an announcer - heavily annotated/edited in pencil.
2.49 Title: Second Spot.
Undated.
Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 8.
● Includes Frankie, Wilfred, Hattie, Tucker, and Bill.
● Opening line - "Thank you Peterson Brothers… the one on the right is Peterson and the one on the left is also Peterson…".
3. Small quantity of holograph material. 100pp approx. of sketches and monologues most on Frankie Howerd (Scripts) Ltd stationery. Undated and unsigned, but in the hand of Frankie Howerd (with a few in the hand of Eric Sykes). The material was almost certainly written by Eric Sykes and FH but written down by FH.
4. 3pp typescript ‘Introduction for Frankie Howerd’ by Peter Caulfield. Monologue written by Alan Ayckbourn who used the pseudonym to write for other companies when under contract to the BBC.

Box list created by S. Raynsford, 22.3.2022.

Published