Are You Being Served?

Discuss the latest news and rumors in the magic world.
User avatar
AJM
Posts: 1530
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Are You Being Served?

Postby AJM » July 1st, 2009, 5:35 pm

Molly Sugden (Mrs Slocombe from the classic 1970's/80's BBC comedy 'Are You Being Served?') passed away today at the age of 86.

And the magic link?
The Chief Genii is a fan of the show.

(I wonder what will become of her beloved '[censored]' now?)

Cheers

Andrew
Last edited by AJM on July 1st, 2009, 5:36 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: Ha ha....fans of the show will easily be able to fill in the blank.

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Q. Kumber » July 1st, 2009, 6:14 pm

And of course the other big joke (which, being slow, I didn't realise until years later) was the pronunciation of the two syllables of her characters name.

Incidentally, John Inman, who played Mr. Humphries (in his early years) used do shows with Peter Diamond (illusion Builder) in Preston.

User avatar
Gord
Posts: 384
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Gord » July 1st, 2009, 7:33 pm

Quentin Reynolds wrote:And of course the other big joke (which, being slow, I didn't realise until years later) was the pronunciation of the two syllables of her characters name.


Man I never realised that until now. Talk about slow on the upswing.

Gord

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 1st, 2009, 8:25 pm

I've always been a big fan of the show (most Brits think I'm an idiot--they rate it the same way Americans think of the Beverly Hillbillies).

Sorry to hear about Mollie Sugden. Wendy Richards died from breast cancer earlier this year. John Inman died from the after effects of food poisoning a year or two ago. The older cast members have been long gone for many years, but Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock) was still on Last of the Summer Wine last time I looked.

Sometimes late at night when I'm too tired to do anything else, I still watch Are You Being Served for a chuckle.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Doc Dixon
Posts: 215
Joined: April 16th, 2008, 1:45 pm

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Doc Dixon » July 1st, 2009, 8:52 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:I've always been a big fan of the show (most Brits think I'm an idiot--they rate it the same way Americans think of the Beverly Hillbillies).


All real Americans loved the Beverly Hillbillies, especially Max Baer, Jr. That guy was a genius.

DD

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 1st, 2009, 8:54 pm

Speak for yourself, DD. :)
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Jim Martin
Posts: 551
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: St. Louis

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Jim Martin » July 2nd, 2009, 12:35 am

Cement pond.

Cipherin'

'Being Served' was so flippin' British, it was blast.
Jim Martin
St. Louis MO

Paul Gordon
Posts: 344
Joined: May 1st, 2008, 1:45 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Paul Gordon » July 2nd, 2009, 12:36 am

I loved Are You Being Served. In fact, I was (with my family) in the audience a few times (mid 1970's) as my brother's godfather (my fathers best friend) was an actor/comedian called Felix Bowness (also from Hi-De-Hi/Dad's Army/You Rang My Lord and more) who appeared in a few episodes...

Happy memories....

Paul Gordon
Secure Online Magic Shop: https://www.paulgordon.net/shop

Don Knox
Posts: 146
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: John Carney, Whit "Pop" Haydn, Eugene Burger
Location: Oceanside, CA

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Don Knox » July 2nd, 2009, 1:15 am

Just bought the complete series two weeks ago - we watch an episode before we go to bed. 69 episodes - coincidence? That was the year I graduated from high school!

Having very strange - but extremely funny dreams!

Don

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 2nd, 2009, 1:34 am

Just don't dream about Mrs. Slocum's p*ssy. :)
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Nathan Muir
Posts: 136
Joined: June 7th, 2009, 1:48 am

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Nathan Muir » July 2nd, 2009, 4:53 am

Why with the asterisk? We all know you wrote "pessy".

User avatar
Francesca Moffet
Posts: 153
Joined: August 26th, 2008, 7:25 am
Location: The Emerald Isle
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Francesca Moffet » July 2nd, 2009, 5:05 am

There used to be a shop in my home Village called Clyde's that was an awful lot like the Grace brothers shop. It only got demolished a few years ago, it never bothered to keep up with modern clothing trends and walking into it was like being catapulted back to the 60's.

Are You Being Served is usually repeated an awful lot along with The Good Life, To the Manor Born, Only Fools and Horses etc.
Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, and they both take practice.

User avatar
IrishMagicNews
Posts: 479
Joined: May 20th, 2009, 3:30 pm
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby IrishMagicNews » July 2nd, 2009, 8:09 am

I just got off the phone to Quentin Reynolds who told me a very funny annecdote related to this thread. I hope he posts it here.

Richard you'd love it.

Brendan
Brendan

News, Lectures, Societies & Magic in Ireland
http://www.IrishMagicNews.com

Shenanigans the irish magic convention 2-4 May 2014 Dublin
http://www.IrishMagicConvention.com

Jeffrey Korst
Posts: 86
Joined: March 22nd, 2008, 3:07 am
Location: SF Bay Area
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Jeffrey Korst » July 2nd, 2009, 11:32 am

I was a fan of the show--and had the pleasure of seeing her live. Some years ago, she performed a speaking role in "The Daughter of the Regiment" at San Francisco Opera (where my wife has been singing for 22 years.)

She was very funny onstage, and by all reports, a pleasure to work with offstage. (unlike the Battle they had with another cast member in Daughter)

And I am unanimous in that!

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Q. Kumber » July 2nd, 2009, 11:58 am

Two stories in the vein of Mrs Slocombe, one personal the other from a book.

Back in December 1977, I was running a stand in Switzer's department store in Dublin selling balloon animals and kits to make them. One afternoon, a large lady in a mink coat made, what can only be called, an entrance down the staircase which faced my stand. She came straight up to me and said, "I know what I want and I want someone to give it to me." "Pardon?"
"Two Totopolies and an Ulcer ... they are games."
I directed her to the games department.

Fast forward six years and I am in the reception/waiting room of the Dartmouth Square veterinary clinic with my rabbit. In walks this same woman with another lady behind her carrying a cat in a basket. She marches up to the receptionist announcing (and I swear these are her exact words), "I have an appointment to have my p*ssy fixed at half past nine."

The other story I found in Roy Hudd's book of showbiz stories. This act - a lady who played the electronic organ complete with flashing lights etc - opens with her playing "Happy Days are Here Again".

Unfortunately, on this occasion, there is no sound. She clicked switches and pulled stops to no avail. Arising from behind the organ, she approaches the audience to make this announcement:
"Ladies and gentlemen, owing to a loss of power, I am unable to entertain you with my organ onstage. However, in order not to cause you disappointment, I shall try to give you some alternative pleasure by coming in the pit."

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 2nd, 2009, 12:30 pm

Great!
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
IrishMagicNews
Posts: 479
Joined: May 20th, 2009, 3:30 pm
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby IrishMagicNews » July 2nd, 2009, 3:07 pm

Quentin,

I either hadn't heard that first story before or had forgotten it. I seldom laugh out loud at jokes I read online but that was very, very, very funny.

Brendan

ps Richard Iknew you would love it.
Brendan

News, Lectures, Societies & Magic in Ireland
http://www.IrishMagicNews.com

Shenanigans the irish magic convention 2-4 May 2014 Dublin
http://www.IrishMagicConvention.com

User avatar
AJM
Posts: 1530
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby AJM » July 2nd, 2009, 5:10 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote: The older cast members have been long gone for many years, but Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock) was still on Last of the Summer Wine last time I looked.

Richard, you certainly know your British sitcoms.

Frank Thornton is still with us and was interviewed last night on Sky News following the announcement.

Last of the Summer Wine, a sort of 'God's Waiting Room' for British comedy actors of a certain age, now also features Trevor Bannister (Mr Lucas from AYBS).

Another recent addition is Burt Kwouk - Kato from the Pink Panther films.

And of course Peter Sallis, who has been in the show for almost 150 years, is also well known as the voice of Wallace of Wallace and Gromit fame.

Cheers

Andrew

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Q. Kumber » July 2nd, 2009, 5:33 pm

And Holmfirth, the town where Last Of the Summer Wine was filmed is just 30 - 40 minutes drive from Manchester.

User avatar
Kevin Connolly
Posts: 2437
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Kevin Connolly » July 2nd, 2009, 5:58 pm

Ah, Last of the Summer Wine. That's my favorite. I still miss Compo.
Please visit my website.
http://houdinihimself.com/
I buy,sell + trade Houdini, Hardeen items.

User avatar
AJM
Posts: 1530
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby AJM » July 2nd, 2009, 6:22 pm

and Nora Batty...

Incidentally, one evening I was channel hopping and stumbled upon a film which featured: -
Julia Roberts
John Malkovich
Michael Gambon

(so far so good...)

George Cole (Minder's Arfur Daily / St Trinian's Flash Harry)
Kathy Staff (Nora Batty)

(eh?)

I thought at one point I'd drifted off into some strange cinematic nightmare - however, sure enough, I was still wide awake and made sure I remained so until the next ad break (so I could find out what I was watching)

Now, without cheating on the Interweb, can anyone name the film?

User avatar
Kevin Connolly
Posts: 2437
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Kevin Connolly » July 2nd, 2009, 9:15 pm

Ah, a shame. Nora Batty, I didn't hear about her death. The last I heard was the Pegden's and Eli. They where great characters too. I saw Brian Wilde passed too.


PBS stopped showing it in the NYC area bacause of lack of funding about 6 months ago. Another shame.
Please visit my website.

http://houdinihimself.com/

I buy,sell + trade Houdini, Hardeen items.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 2nd, 2009, 9:54 pm

That film would be the turd masquerading as "Mary Reilly."
Oh was that bad.
Oh.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

x-treem
Posts: 9
Joined: April 16th, 2009, 1:00 pm
Location: My House
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby x-treem » July 3rd, 2009, 9:44 am

I am a US based fan of the show as well and that is sad. Losing both Wendy and Mollie in the same year! I recently started watching Are you being Served Again (Grace and Favour) which made me laugh.

What's your favorite AYBS episode? I love Hand Of Fate (ep 3.1) and The Father Christmas Affair (ep 4.7)
Zombie Farm "The Final Edit," coming soon

Jonathan Townsend
Posts: 8704
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Westchester, NY
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Jonathan Townsend » July 3rd, 2009, 10:14 am

Is that the one with the flashing santa display?
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

x-treem
Posts: 9
Joined: April 16th, 2009, 1:00 pm
Location: My House
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby x-treem » July 3rd, 2009, 10:42 am

Yes, the malfunctioning CDU (Central Display Unit)
Zombie Farm "The Final Edit," coming soon

User avatar
AJM
Posts: 1530
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby AJM » July 3rd, 2009, 1:12 pm

The public transport strike which means Mrs S and Mr H have to spend the night in Grace Bros.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 3rd, 2009, 11:24 pm

Father Christmas Affair: "Ho, Ho, Ho, little boy ... have I got a surprise for you."

I just watched the episode a few weeks ago where London transport went on strike and everyone stayed on the top floor of Grace Brothers (an empty unused floor in the department store), where all of Mrs. Slocum's furniture had been laid out as if it were an apartment because squatters were in her new flat. The funniest moment, for me, is when Mr. Lucas gets in bed beside Captain Peacock, who says, "Humphries?" And Lucas says, "Lucas," to which Captain Peacock replies, "Thank god for that," and immediately goes back to sleep. The timing of the delivery of the lines by Frank Thornton is dead perfect. I never fail to laugh.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Pete McCabe
Posts: 2332
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Simi Valley, CA

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Pete McCabe » July 4th, 2009, 1:24 am

This link will take you to the wikipedia list of the top 45 rated broadcasts in tv history. On it you will find a bunch of super bowls, a few series finales, two mini-series (Roots and Thorn Birds), and assorted special events (the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the Olympic Figure-skating competition that featured Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan).

There are only two regular, ordinary, episodes of regular television shows, and they are both episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. "The Giant Jackrabbit" from 1/8/64, and "The Girl from Home" from 1/15/64, one week later. These are back-to-back episodes, number 34 and 45 in the all time list. If you took this list out to the top 100, I bet you would have 10 Hillbillies episodes. Its success is just incredible.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 4th, 2009, 1:27 am

... and disgusting.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Q. Kumber » July 4th, 2009, 10:07 am

I always enjoyed The Beverly Hillbillies which were shown in Ireland, along with Green Acres.

Go to http://www.gracebrothers.net/index.htm and click on QUOTES. On that page you will also find a link to Mrs. Slocombe's most famous p*ssy quotes. I can't give the direct link as the word p*ssy is censored by the forum's software.

User avatar
AJM
Posts: 1530
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby AJM » July 4th, 2009, 12:15 pm

Following this link will reveal Mrs Slocombe's first name:

Mrs Slocombe Tribute
Last edited by AJM on July 4th, 2009, 12:18 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: spelling

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27054
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Are You Being Served?

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 4th, 2009, 1:07 pm

Betty! I didn't have to look that one up.

But Mr. Lucas had two different first names during the course of the series. I believe the first was James, and the second was Dick.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine


Return to “Buzz”