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Post by mariska on Nov 22, 2020 4:19:23 GMT 12
Excuse me if this has been posted before and if its not appropriate please delete but with 980 posts in this board on this platoon notice board, I am taking my chances  When the platoon raised their glasses in honour of the real Home Guard in the final episode of Dads Army, was this for almost all of the crew a final farewell of their acting careers? I suppose it would have been for John Laurie and Arnold Ridley, seen their age at that time? |
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Post by Alan Hayes on Nov 22, 2020 6:25:33 GMT 12
It appears to have been Arnold Ridley's final scripted TV appearance.
John Laurie made several further such appearances, including one which was even Dad's Army related - a cameo with Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier in The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 1997.
Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier continued to work on TV and radio until their deaths in 1982 and 1983 respectively. They were both involved in the spin-off radio series It Sticks Out Half a Mile, as were Bill Pertwee and Ian Lavender.
Clive Dunn continued working until the mid-1980s when I believe he retired to Portugal, where he was involved in running a restaurant.
Ian Lavender, as the baby of the bunch, continued working in TV for many years after.
Bill Pertwee appeared in all four Croft and Perry series, his appearances in It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang M'Lord all coming after Dad's Army had finished. The latter was another regular role for Bill (and quite wonderful).
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Post by mariska on Nov 22, 2020 7:00:41 GMT 12
Thank you Alan for your explanation, if I am correct Arnold Ridley was the oldest one of the platoon?
Ian Lavender is not active anymore? Ofcourse he is no baby anymore but was wondering if he'd still perform now and then. I did read somewhere he had some health issuses so perhaps that's the reason he has slowed down?
I can't recall Bill Pertwee in It Aint Half Hot Mum..to be honest, I did not really watch the other 2 series.
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Post by Alan Hayes on Nov 22, 2020 7:45:28 GMT 12
Yes, Arnold was the oldest of the platoon by about 14 months (John Laurie was second oldest). Arnold was believed to be the oldest actor working regularly in British TV at the time of the last Dad's Army series. Ian appears not to have worked in television since 2017, but as you suggest, I don't think his health has been too good lately.  Bill Pertwee was in the last episode of It Ain't Half Hot Mum as a Demob Officer. A one-off appearance. The same was the case with Hi-De-Hi! in which he played an angry camper in one episode. His role in You Rang M'Lord was a recurring one and that's a series I can highly recommend if you can find it in your part of the world.  |
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Post by mariska on Nov 22, 2020 23:59:52 GMT 12
I didn't get those other roles they played. My main focus used to be AYBS, and now Dads Army, when I think of it its weird I am only "rediscovering" Dads Army now.
You Rang M'Lord is broadcasted here on our nostalgic channel, I must say I am having trouble to stay watching, to me it seems a bit static but thats personal preference ofcourse.
I have also been searching for more personal stories of all the crew, I have the Souvenir Magazine and thats a very enjoyable read, but apart from the books that have been written about DA in general, there are not many personal bio's are there?
I did find an interview and documentary about John Le Mesurier, an interview with Arthur Lowe, some TV appeareances of the last crewmembers..
Also on this forum I saw one of the moderators (is she still active?) Katie, that she had a website of James Beck and was working on a bio of him? Couldn't find the website..
The DAAS also had gatherings with remaining castmembers and relatives if I am correct? That was never put on film? Would have been great to be able to watch that.
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Post by Andy Howells on Nov 23, 2020 5:07:23 GMT 12
Katie's website sadly disappeared some time ago - I think some items were shared in the forum however, try looking through the James Beck thread. I do recall speaking to Jimmy's wife, Kay Beck (now sadly deceased) back in the 90s at the DAAS Oval event. She seemed to imply that Jimmy's life was well covered in Bill Pertwee's book The making of A TV Legend and to be honest apart from that and the interview in the Souvenir magazine those are probably the best pieces I've read on him. I think a book on his life is highly unlikely now as most people who knew him are no longer around.
There are good books on both Arthur Lowe (Stephen Lowe and Graham Lord) while Graham McCann has written a great book on the TV series and John Le Mesurier. Clive Dunn wrote an autobiography as did Bill Pertwee. Arnold's son Nicholas wrote a book on him although I have never seen that.
I understand Dave Homewood was doing a book on John Laurie, probably the actor who really does deserve a book about his career and there was talk of a fan in the DAAS writing a book on Talfryn Thomas but that didnt happen.
Hopefully these will give you some ideas anyway - there are books out there!
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Post by Alan Hayes on Nov 23, 2020 6:23:34 GMT 12
John Le Mesurier also wrote an autobiography - 'A Jobbing Actor' - which was suitably amusing and honest.
Of course, Frank Williams has also written such a book - with the distinctly mundane title 'Vicar to Dad's Army'.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2020 18:35:52 GMT 12
John Laurie was regularly working in radio, television and film after Dad's Army, and he was working on the radio series Tony's when he died. Arnold Ridley, John Le Mesurier, Ian Lavender, Bill Pertwee and Frank Williams all appeared in character/costume on the LWT special Night of One Hundred Stars on 21st December 1980, but they did not sadly say anything. That was Arnold's last TV appearance as Godfrey. I think from memory he appeared in something else a few years later though. Ian Lavender has certainly had health issues, cancer, a heart attack, and more recently sepsis. No croup or vertigris though as far as I am aware. Yes, Tony Pritchard of the DAAS filmed lots of their events and he has a YouTube channel here www.youtube.com/channel/UCbshPJA-V6abIuOS92HDEmw/videos |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2020 18:37:19 GMT 12
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Post by mariska on Nov 26, 2020 6:59:37 GMT 12
Thank you Alan and Dave, I will take a look at your website. I am scanning all I can find on the platoon but I see there is much more literature than I thought was available. Oh my I read Ian Lavender had some health issues but this is serious. Hope he will make a full recovery. Andy Howell, thank you so much for your info. From what I have seen on pictures, he had a lovely wife and they made a beautiful couple. When did she pass away? I read a piece on Clive Dunn when he passed away and his wife stated she and the other wives were befriended and often went together to rehearsals and other DA related things. Sounds to me like a group of friends they were or am I being too romantic? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2020 8:04:45 GMT 12
The wives were indeed all friends and sometimes the whole cast and their wives would have social gatherings outside of work, such as on Arthur's boat Amazon.
Also in the final episode of Dad's Army most of the ladies in the crowd at the wedding reception are the wives of the cast - or those who had an Equity card so they could appear. They include Althea Ridley, Marion Pertwee, Suzanne Kerchiss (Ian's then wife), I think Joan le Mesurier is in there, and of course Arthur's wife Joan Cooper played Dolly Godfrey.
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Post by mariska on Nov 26, 2020 8:08:27 GMT 12
What great info, I haven't got to the final episode yet but will make sure I zoom in on the crowd. A lovely thought they were all there in the final episode. Also didn't know Arthur's wife actually was Dolly.
This forum is great, I learn every time I visit, thanks for that!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 30, 2020 7:04:11 GMT 12
Joan Cooper played Dolly in Is There Honey Still For Tea, The Love of Three Oranges, and Never Too Old. She took over the part after the previous actress who played Dolly had died.
Joan also had other roles, Miss Baker who worked at the undertaker's in No Spring For Frazer, and Miss Fortescue who worked in the Marigold Tearooms in Time On My Hands.
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Post by mariska on Dec 4, 2020 6:58:10 GMT 12
Dave, you speak of an Equity card, I don't have a clue what these are? A sort of entrance pass?
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Post by Alan Hayes on Dec 4, 2020 7:16:47 GMT 12
An Equity card is a union membership card held by British actors.
Back when Dad's Army was made there was a Catch-22 situation that you couldn't act unless you had an Equity card, but it was difficult to get one because you had to have acted to get one!
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Post by mariska on Dec 4, 2020 7:43:06 GMT 12
An Equity card is a union membership card held by British actors.
Back when Dad's Army was made there was a Catch-22 situation that you couldn't act unless you had an Equity card, but it was difficult to get one because you had to have acted to get one!
Thank you for clearing this up Alan! That sounds rather complicated.. getting an Equity card that is.. Is that currently still the case with British actors? |
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Post by Alan Hayes on Dec 4, 2020 11:03:47 GMT 12
Equity is still going - but I don't think acting's as much of a 'closed shop' as it used to be in the UK.
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Post by mariska on Dec 17, 2020 6:17:04 GMT 12
It sounds rather "old fashioned" to me, to have a card in order to be able to participate in plays/shows?
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Post by Alan Hayes on Dec 17, 2020 11:07:19 GMT 12
It was actors getting together to protect their livelihoods, which was a good thing. The fact that they made it difficult to become an actor, thereby protecting the livelihoods of those already in the business at the expense of those wishing to join the profession, was IMO somewhat less laudable.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 18, 2020 9:32:06 GMT 12
One thing with Equity is you could not have the same name as another actor already registered with them. The is why Bobby Dunn Jr, who's father was also a registered Equity member, had to become known as Clive Dunn in the profession. Clive was actually his mother's maiden name. Loads of actors had to change their names for this reason, Stewart Grainger's real name was James Stewart but of course that name was well and truly taken.
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