Arthur Askey

At 82 years old, Arthur Askey has this physical status:

Arthur Bowden Askey, CBE (born in June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor.

Askey's humour owed a large part to the characters he portrayed, his improvisation, and his use of catchphrases, including "Hello playmates!" "I thank you" (pronounced "Ay-Thang-Yaw) and "Before your very eyes" (prepare your very eyes), "I thank you" (pronounced "Ay-Thang-Yaw).

He was short (5' 2," 1.58 m), with a brisk, smiling demeanor, and wore distinctive horn-rimmed glasses.

Early life and education

Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Dingle, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Betsy (née Bowden, d. 1949), a company secretary of Sugar Products of Liverpool from Knutsford, Cheshire, and Samuel Askey (d. 1958). The family migrated to 90 Rosslyn Street, Liverpool, six months after he was born. Irene Dorothy, a sister, was born here. Askey attended St. Michael's Council School (1905–11) and the Liverpool Institute for Boys (1911–16).

Personal life

Askey was married to Elizabeth May Swash from 1925 to her death in 1974; he was the father of actress Anthea Askey (1933-1989).

Source

Career

Askey appeared in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the First World War and performed in army entertainments. This will be a great preparation ground for his show business career. He spent his time in the early 1930s as a clerk for Liverpool Corporation's Education Department, and was in the stage company of Powis Pinder on the Isle of Wight, before he rose to fame in 1938 through his role in the first regular radio comedy series, Band Waggon on the BBC. Band Waggon began as a variety show, but the writing process began before Askey and his partner, Richard Murdoch, took on a larger role.

Askey appeared in numerous Gainsborough Pictures comedies, including "Benison" (1941), based on the radio broadcast; Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt (1941); Make Mine a Million (1959); Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse (1978), starring Debbie Ash, was his last film.

Askey appeared on early versions of BBC television, the spinning disc invented by John Logie Baird that scanned vertically and had only thirty lines. For his face to be recognisable at such low resolution, Askey had to be specifically made up. As television became digital, With 405 horizontal lines, Askey was a regular performer in variety shows. Before the second World War, television's first television series was Before Your Very Eyes. (1952), named after his capture. Askey hosted Meet the People, a launch Night program for Granada Television on May 3, 1956. Sid Colin and Talbot Rothwell, 1957 writers, revived the Band Waggon style for Living It Up, a collection that reunites Askey and Murdoch after 18 years. He continued to appear on television in the 1970s, including as a panelist on the ITV talent show New Faces, where his usually sympathetic remarks would ease judge Tony Hatch and Mickie Most's harsher verdicts. He has appeared on Jokers Wild, a comedy panel game. He appeared on television, including BBC TV's long-running show The Good Old Days. The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog, which was captured 1982 and broadcast by Channel 4 in 1983, was his final professional involvement.

Askey appeared on BBC radio show How Do You Do in the late 1940s, when listeners could write into the BBC to request that Arthur, his daughter Anthea, and special guests, as well as a surprise guest each week, which was revealed some time later in the show. Each show was based on the occupation of the family from where it was broadcast. This was broadcast on the Light Programme. One of the performances was shot on acetate disc, which are now owned at The British Library. He appeared in many sitcoms during the 1950s and 1960s, including Love and Kisses, Arthur's Treasured Volumes, and The Arthur Askey Exhibition. He appeared on This Is Your Life twice, first in December 1959 when Eamonn Andrews was surprised, and when Andrews, dressed as Humpty Dumpty, surprised him on a television show in December 1974 while discussing the art of pantomime. In 1942, 1955, 1968, and 1980, Askey appeared on the BBC Radio show Desert Island Discs. With David Attenborough, he holds the most appearances on the program.

Follow the Girls, Askey appeared in the West End. He has appeared on stage as a pantomime dame before.

"The Bee Song," Askey's recording career included "The Bee Song," a vital part of his stage and television act for many years, as well as his theme tune, "Big-Hearted Arthur" (which was also his nickname). The War Office barred Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess from recording "It's Really Nice to See You Mr Hess" in 1941 (assuring that Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess fled to Scotland). On the CD album Band Waggon/Big Hearted Arthur Goes To War, a set of Askey's wartime recordings appears.

Source