Frankie Howerd Archive Box 3

Includes:
1. Untitled. [Monologue]
Dated 14 July 1980.
Unknown Author. Printed script.
Pages: 4.
● Addresses the rising price in bills and inflation to the audience.
● Gets bills through the post which say he has to pay by a certain day or they'll be "forced to seize your chattels".
● Makes a joke about how the companies charging bills can't get his name right:
"This letter said… Dear Mr Howard - Howard with an A, I thought that's a good start"
● The phone suddenly rings and he answers:
"This phone rang. This strange voice, very high pitched… it was a man, least I thought it was a man. He said: Do you like crumble bread, Mr Howerd, crumble bread? I thought, oh gawd, that's all I need, market research. So I said: No, I hate crumble bread. I like bread that stays in one piece and doesn't fall apart when you're eating sandwiches in bed."
● Frankie gets offered a role in a commercial which he takes up because he's skint and needs to pay the bills.
● The director is described by Frankie as "floral" - perhaps effeminate. Frankie jokes about the way that this director speaks to him.
● Has to get into a hot air balloon for commercial, it take off but Frankie doesn't know what to do. They shout to him to watch the Church spire but Frankie Howerd goes straight into it making the balloon deflate. He lands on a lady's balcony and is accused of being a peeping Tom.
● At the end of his stand up, he tells the audience that the foyer is selling crumble bread should any of his audience want to buy some.
2. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed script.
Pages: 24.
Characters included:
- Frankie (policeman/constable)
- June (Sybil)
- Mother (of June)
- Admiral in the British Navy (uniformed gentleman outside hotel)
- French Gendarme
- Sauerkraut (a Prussian, full name Gerneral Viener alias Von Schnitzel alias Sauerkraut Gesundheit) - he's actually German.
- Driver
● Romantic relationship between Frankie and June
● Conflict with June's mother.
● Frankie takes directly to the audience in parts.
● A crime happens and Frankie the policeman tries to reconstruct the crime - "I said, you said, that I said…" jokes drawn out.
● The mother confesses that she committed the drive and caused people to disappear through her trap doors that lead to her unfed alligators.
3.Titled: Act I.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed and pinned script.
Pages: 39.
4. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed script with pencil edits.
Pages: 10. [pages are loose]
5. Titled: Frankie Howerd - Opening Monologue.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 3.
● Makes a joke about gossip columns in the press.
● Makes jokes about how the media column said "Frankie Howerd, a former British Comedian was showing his age last night at a well-known London Disco".
"What a cheek! What does he mean...former British comedian...rubbish. I haven't changed my nationality… and I'm still a comedian aren't I?"
● Salena Jones performs after this piece.
6.Titled: Opening Monologue.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed and pinned script with blue ink pen alterations.
Pages: 8.
● Eisteddfod - Welsh competition.
7.Titled: Closing Monologue.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 7.
● Edits and annotations in blue pen.
8. Titled: Frankie Howerd: Opening Monologue. (One liners to be inserted).
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed script.
Pages: 3
● Talks about psychology, body language, dreams, Freud and advertising as part of his comedy sketch.
● Imitations - Orson Welles, David Niven.
9.Titled: Frankie Howerd - London Bridge Lunch - Possible Inserts. After Stockwoods Intro, Undated.
Unknown author. Typed script.
Pages: 3.
● Try on clothes at a shop to start wearing fashionable and trendy outfits.
● The man serving is described in very effeminate terms and makes cheeky and insinuating gestures and comments to Howerd.
10. Titled: Mod Image.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed script with loose pages.
Pages: 2.
11. Titled: Frankie Howerd. Ideas Prior to own "Turkish Bath" Monologue. Introduction to be devised.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 5.
Characters includes:
- Frankie
- Bob
- Anne Aston
● Page 2 - "Bob and Frankie" - After Frankie's "Turkish Bath Monologue".
● Mentions "Up Pompeii"
12. Titled: Frank & Bruce. Frank Monologue (after Bruce Piano Spot).
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 4.
● First page is folded.
● Comedy gag about being offered a spot in a commercial for a place called "Sun Valley Holiday Camp '' in Chipping Sodbury - turns out to be a camp for "Sun Worshippers" and nudists.
13. Titled: Frankie and Friend: Monologue 1.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 6.
14. Titled: Hamlet Sketch.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 6.
Characters include:
- Frankie Howerd
- Bruce
● Shakespearean comedy gag
15. Titled: Housewife Sketch.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 19.
16. Title of script: Frank. Preamble Bit.
Undated.
Pages: 5.
Letter to Frankie Howerd, attached to script, mentions Barry’s original [possibly Barry Cryer?] ‘so that if there are particular gags in his version you wish to retain, you can revisit them’. The script has obviously been edited by the letter sender.
17. Untitled.
Dated: 7 March 1948.
Unknown author.
Pages: 8 (two scripts pinned together – four pages each).
First script includes
- Frankie
- Kate
- Billy
- Jasper
- Donald
- Pat
Second script is from "Variety Bandbox"
- Sunday, 7th March 1948 -
1715 to 1800 on GOS, 1700 to 1800 on Light
- Producer: Joy Russell-Smith
- Compere: Phillips Slessor
- Band: Billy Ternant and His Orchestra
- Studio: The People's Palace
Includes:
• Santiago
• Alec Pleon
• Douglas Maynard
• Joey Porter
• Peggy Cochrane
• Frankie Howerd
18. Titled: Opening Spot.
Undated.
Written by Erik Sykes. Property of Frankie Howerd.
Pages: 7.
Characters include:
- Marg (Miss Medworthy)
- Norman
- Frankie
19. Titled: Mr. Venus.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 11 (all loose pages).
Characters includes:
- Barman
- Fred
- Customer
- Glenisla
- Alistair
- Man
- Man 2
- Mr V.
- Sally
- Pol
- Tart
- Policeman
- Mrs. W-W (Mrs Washington-Winthrop)
- Plenders (Mr. Campbell Plenderleith)
- Prenders (Mr. Spencer Prendergast)
- Sonia Maltravers
- Boris
- Flunkey
- Serget
20. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author. Typed and printed script.
Pages: 7.
Characters included:
- (Captain) Bumshus
- Lurcio
- Preshus
21. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 16.
● Annotated throughout.
● Frankie starts by reading a love letting that was sent to him and centres this for his comedy gags.
● Next he introduces a guest - Elaine Delmar. Elaine sings and performs with an orchestra.
● Second guest introduced - Lee Wilson.
● After this section, there is a new script (possibly unrelated to the first) titled Be Frank. Begins with Frankie Howerd thanking Max Harris and Orchestra
"Yes, it is time for "Be Frank" the agony column of the air. Broken hearts mended, lonely hearts consoled, lamb hearts braised with onions".
● At the end of this section, Frankie Howerd welcomes a "very special guest… Actor comedian Dougie Brown"
● Nest section - Titled: Link into Dougie Brown
● End of section - introduction to Elaine's second song.
22. Title: Opening. Prayer. Religion. ETC.
Undated.
Script copyright: Dick Hills, 9 Abingdon Road, West Wickham, Kent.
Pages: 15.
23. Title: After Eamonn's Intro.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 5.
24. Title: Fade In.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 47.
25. Title: Court[r]oom Sketch.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 7.
26. Title: Short Sketches Involving Policeman, Man, Cigarette Machine and Roadside Grate. Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 2.
27. Title: Short Sketches Involving Policeman, Bubble Car with Curtains Drawn, Parked on a Double Yellow Line.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 2.
28. Title: Calling All Forces.
Dated: 2 February 1952. Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 3.
● Linked to ITEM 35 in FHOW/BOX 2.
● "Now I'm going to talk to those of you who are interested, on, how to get on in the forces. For the other 99 percent, a little pamphlet will be on sale price 3d. Entitled "How to work your ticket".
● "When I joined the army and had my eyes tested, I stood right up against the board and said "where is it?". I'm a cunning devil you know. The M.O. said "Your eyesight isn't very good is it?" I said "No". He said "In that case we'll have to put you up at the front".
● Tells story of how he could not hear what the Sergeant Major was saying to him because of his moustache making it sound like gibberish. The miscommunication led to Howerd saying:
● Mentions how his brother was a paratrooper in the Navy.
29. Script with two letters attached at the front.
A) Letter. To: Richard Collin (Richard Collin Films). From: Phillip Jones (Controller of Light Entertainment). Dated: 2nd July 1976.
● Forwarded a copy of Richard Collin's letter to Frankie Howerd's representative at ALS, Mrs Beryl Vertue.
● Mentions one of their own series called The Howerd Confessions - producer Michael Mills.
● Manager of the Light Entertainment Department, Bob Louis.
● Technical, crew and servicing matters - responsibility of Fred Atkinson,
B) Letter. To: Phillip Jones. From: Richard Collin. Dated: 1st July 1976.
● A freelance producer working with HTV writing on behalf of John Mead of HTV who was in the US.
● HTV were making a 50 min documentary on television engineering - wants to illustrate the program from some of the most up to date TV studios in the country
● Mentions the Frankie Howerd Show, which was set to be recorded 17th August 1976, was the programme they were looking for and fit in with studio availability on the 18th.
● Richard wishes to use Light Entertainment's set on 18th to re-record a scene with Frankie Howerd from the previous evening recording.
● Attached copy of the script and says that the relevant pages are 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7.
● "I would like to of course involve any other artists necessary for the scene but I feel that Frankie Howerd is such a strong and popular personality that as far as I'm concerned I am perfectly willing to base it on his involvement alone"
C) Script. Titled: The Entertaining Electron.
Dated: 24 June 1976.
Adapted for HTV, written by Richard Collin.
Pages: 22.
30. Two scripts attached by paper clip (both the same material, the second script is titled, dated and given an author):
A. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown Author.
Pages: 5 (2 copies of the first page)
● Script about the Festival of Britain.
Includes:
- Frankie
- Michael
- Hattie
B. Titled: Opening Spot. Undated. Written by Eric Sykes.
Pages: 3.
● Same item as item 10A (the script attached).
31. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown Author. Typed script on lined paper.
Pages: 8.
● Multiple scenes - starting scene: "Scene on the chairlift. Frankie gets on and puts his feet up, and begins to daydream."
● Skiing trip in France comedy Gag.
Includes:
- Frankie
- Lionel
- Patrick
32. Untitled.
Unknown date.
Unknown author.
Typed script on lined paper.
Pages: 11.
● Multiple scenes - linked to item 31.
Includes:
- Frankie
- Lionel
33. Titled: Frank Enters in Kilt.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 6.
● Jokes about Bruce Forsyth.
● Frankie is arranging to do a set in Glasgow but is put as the final act for the evening because his jokes are "vulgar".
● Includes Jokes about the Navy.
34. Letter attached to script. To: Frankie Howerd, From: Phillip Jones (Thames Television Ltd. Dated 17 December 1970.
● Writing to enclose a revision of a script:
"Herewith revision from Tolly Rothwell from Page 16 onwards.
I must say it all looks very promising for a super show".
35. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author,
Pages: 30.
36. Untitled.
Undated.
Unknown author.
Pages: 15.
37. Titled: Comedy Script.
Dated: 17 November 1980.
Author: Tony Heath.
Pages: 10 (excluding cover page)
38. Titled: Scene 2 - Covent Garden.
Undated.
Unknown Author.
Pages: 11.
39. Titled: Budgerigar Sketch.
Undated.
Authors: Alan Simpson and Ray Galton.
Pages: 8 (excluding cover page).
40. Titled: Cuthbert's Castle.
Undated.
Authors: Peter Vincent and Dick Vosburgh.
Pages: 3 (excluding cover page).
● A summary of the plot and the relationships between each character,
41. Titled: Anthony & Cleopatra.
Undated.
Author: Hugh Stuckey.
Pages: 5.
Includes the following cast:
- Mark Anthony (Frankie)
- Cleopatra
- Octavian
- 3 Servants
- 1 handmaiden
● Mark Anthony returns from war after four years away and returns to Cleopatra. The enemy Octavian arrives - Cleopatra is taken away to the dungeons to hide so that Octavian does not take her crown. Mark Anthony hides in Cleopatra's boudoir. Octavian finds Mark Anthony, but he is dressed in drag (portraying Cleopatra) - Octavian believes that he is actually Cleopatra and tries to initiate intimate romantic physical contact and flirt.
42. Titled: "The Ballad of Romeo and Juliet".
Undated.
Authors: Vincent Powell and George Evans.
43. Titled: "Decisions" - No. 73, Show Three.
Dated: Saturday 12 May 1984.
Unknown author.
Pages: 13.

Box list created by S. Raynsford, 22.3.2022.

Published