Gresh Chatter Blog
I AM SORRY I haven't updated this site for weeks, there was a technical fault that my good friend Darren sorted out for me and now I'm back on form ready to let you know what's going to be on your Gresh Show over the next couple of weeks.
BUT FIRST let me tell you that my book "The Gresh - A Lifetime in Show-Biz!" is now with the publishers for final editing and presentation. Due for publication early October just in time for all those Festive Pressies! I have some special FRIDGE MAGNETS promoting the book. All you need to do is send me a Stamped Address Envelope (1st or 2nd class) and a £1.00 postage stamp for each purchase. So if you want all Five send £5.00 in postage stamps along with your S.A.E. If we've run out of any of the designs we'll make up your order with one of the other designs...I've also got on sale a LARGE Fridge Magnet showing the Beatles Signatures to The Gresh on a front cover of the "Bradford Pictorial" and that's just £2.50 (In postage Stamps) plus a S.A.E. So send your order to the Gresh. P.O Box 3. Bradford. West Yorkshire. BD1 4QN. allow about seven working days to receive your Magnets.
Dear Reader - I left the first part of this programme as my mention (and playing) of a Valerie Monese record was picked up by Google - honest! if you put Valerie Monese into Google you'll be linked to my Chatter Blog site"
Monday and Tuesday, 11th/12th August
Box Set CD No 9
This programme is dedicated to the magnificent LOOK Record Label from Golcar in Huddersfield. They produced some terrific albums presenting such a variety of Artiste's and styles from Country and Western to Choral and Brass Bands. Our programme features just a few of the talented people who recorded for LOOK. Groups like The Incredible Cherry Tree Band from Leeds, Greengage, Country singers Pamela Rose and Mel Hague. Classical Songstress Valerie Monese (Whatever happened to her?) who is joined by the East Morton Singers for "The Nuns Chorus". On the lighter side we have Ray Thomas, and Radiation. But to start our show it's that debonair presenter of the Border TV's quiz "Mr and Mrs" - yes that's right Derek Batey who invites us all to join in with is Music Hall Medley. I couldn't represent LOOK records without including a Brass Band and it's the Hawley Band that play Two tracks for us, the First features their Euphonium soloist Neil Homes playing "Believe me if all those endearing young charms" and as a reprise for the Hawley Band this time they feature their Horn soloist David Bradshaw on "Feelings". So to the Live in Concert Finale...Be entertained by Barbara Simpson and Ernest Clough recorded on 22nd June 1977 at the Sun Pavilion Valley Gardens in Harrogate - an extended Cabaret performance I hope you'll enjoy.
If you'd like a free Greshie Pressy just send a 1st or 2nd class stamp to:
The Gresh. PO Box 3. Bradford. West Yorkshire. BD1 4QN -UNITED KINGDON ONLY- Don't send an envelope - just a stamp! BUT don't forget to include your name and full postal address with Post Code.
The "Gresh" is back!
Gresh Chatter....
Friday 22 August
Hello again all my readers. Well now I'm the proud owner of a new Gresh-Mo-Bile (that's a Car by the Way!) I've had so much trouble with my last car and even though the Gear box went at around 60,000 I got no where when I contacted the Car manufacturer. Things just got worse and last week I thought it was time to move on. Like many of you I have very close friends who I can totally trust when I need advise about anything. I am indebted to the wonderful PETER WIGHTMAN who for years has run Volvo's. I was thinking that perhaps a Volvo might be a little too expensive for me but Peter took over and scanned the web to find what he thought might be just right for me. WOW! He guided me to a website, and there in glorious colour was the Car of my dreams. It's a VOLVO S60 T.S. in light Blue - 2Ltr Automatic and it's in Magnificent condition, comes with full service history and drives like a gentle breeze. Over the years I've generally been lucky in my dealing with car showrooms and this time was no exception. I want to say a big thanks you to all the staff and management at first4car.com in Pudsey, and a special mention to the beautiful Sally - the bosses lady, and the boss himself Richard. I'm sure there are hundreds of similar "deals" to be done but I was so impressed with this companies total dedication to professionalism that I quite frankly had to share my personal views. Funny really but I just didn't want to go straight home and went out of my way to give it a "blow-Out" on the motorway......Fantastic. If there is a down side to my purchase it had nothing to do with the garage. I hadn't realised that the Insurance would be much more than I'm paying now, but here again the Web is a terrific method of getting quotes, At first I almost jumped out of my skin when I was being quoted the best part of £1,000.00 and that was with really well known companies, in the End by simply surfing and surfing I ended up paying around £450.00 - now that's better. And just for the record I might be a pensioner, but I have NO points on my licence, NO convictions over the past Five (or even twenty-five) Years and NONE pending. So I wonder if anyone has even one speeding offence - what (if they could get insurance at all) would they have to pay.
Monday, 12th May 2007..I was deeply saddened to have a phone call from my friend FRAZER HINES to inform me that DEREK FRANKS had passed away over the weekend.
Bradfordian Derek started his career in show business as a vocal double act, and worked the clubs around the North of England and became a popular Cabaret Compere.
He was a good professional and could put over a song with his strong vocal power. But deep down he wanted more in life and came to my office in Dewsbury as a Booking Agent at the time we were working with the Star Names opening Woolworth's and all those other Bingo Halls, Super Markets and Galas etc.
I always knew he'd want to spread his wings and that he did by forming his own management agency and getting out there in this tough world of ours to see just what he could do?
It didn't take long before he signed a management contract with GERRY MARSDEN (of Gerry and The Pacemakers) and that stated him off as a Personal Manager. Gerry and he worked together for many years and Derek started to promote concerts with such names at THE MANFREDS BUDDY GRECO, TONY CHRISTIE, DAVID SOUL, and last year he pulled off the concert tour for American Legend MICKEY ROONEY.
Whatever Derek did he made sure the Artiste's were happy and the deal was right! Being in his presence was a joy for us all, his beautiful home at Kexby was a welcoming place and many of us shared lovely bottles of wine continuous chat putting our business to right.
He kept asking when he could come on my radio show and kept putting him off saying "it's far to far from your home in North Yorkshire" But he kept asking, but now it's all too late.
Perhaps one of my most serious regrets is that I didn't get him into "Bradford's Own" as he was a true Bradfordian and deserved to have been part of that wonderful publication written by my dear friend Derek .J. Lister, but sometimes things get missed and sadly he was.
Throughout his life Derek made many friends and it's the strength of his personality that proves he kept most of them.
All my love goes to his wife Debra and the Girls, it's a very sad day! GreshSaturday, 3nd May....Had a terrific response from surfers on my all new webpages. And that's all down to Darren Spink! Thanks Darren. For what it worth I'm personally delighted BORIS will become the new London Mayor, Time we gave Livingston and his cronies a rest! But I hope Boris will take the bull by the horns and not allow any of the Cameron High command dictate to him? I've always loved his TV appearances especially on "Have I Got News For you" and I feel that behind his wonderfully funny, and at some times silly comments there is a man with an ideal that can do nothing but help his fellow Londoners.
Can I send my hearty congratulations to my dearest friend DEREK A. J. LISTER, who this weekend celebrates his 70th Birthday - and he doesn't look a day over 65! He and his lovely lady Sandie are just back from their Tenerife holiday and I hear they had a spendid time. As always Derek is a most important member of the Gresh Gang and he'll be with me on Monday and Tuesday, 26th and 27th May. It'll be a very different presentation from his many "Bullet Points" and they'll be a great deal more music, In fact I'm hoping I can persuade Derek to bring along his good friend Dal Stevens- Disc Jockey supreme.
I wrote a letter of disgust to "The Stage" newspaper and the "Telegraph and Argus" in Bradford about the Hughie Green TV production on BBC 4. I had a call from the T & A to say they liked my comments but didn't want to put it into the letters section, however they would be "Letting me have my say" in their FRIDAY edition as a featured item. Thanks T & A. Much appreciated. And a Huge Thanks to the Stage who published my letter in last weeks publication.
HUGHIE GREEN MOST SINCERELY - BBC 4: Wednesday, 2nd April 2008. Most of my friends know I worked with Hughie when I ran my Theatrical Agency which supplied celebrities for shop openings, bingo halls and galas etc. So I was interested to see what rubbish this production offered in trying to claim that Hughie was some sort of seedie celebrity. What an absolute nonesense! He was quite simply a complete professional. I spent many happy hours either at his London Baker Street flat, or travelling around the country appearing for Woolworth's at their refurbishment celebrations/openings. Who was it I ask who seemed to think Hughie was so randy that he "bedded" 1,200 women, well that was not explained and I would have wondered how he found the time quite honestly as when he wasn't in my company he was around the country "Auditioning" for "Opportunity Knocks". It was a disgrace for the production to even suggest that Hughie "Eyed-Up" the female contestants, he wasn;t that sort of person. And for sure he had a very close relationship with actress June Laverick who''s surname was mentioned once in this tatty programme.
Everyone in the business knew that Hughie and Jess Yates hated each other, but that was Yates's fault, he was very difficult to work with and I could well believe the "Tie" incident when Yates wanted to dictate to Hughie which Tie he should wear - did it really matter? of course not and in the end Hughie wore the one he wanted anyway - that sent Yates in a rage, something he could do easily enough. He became producer of The Sky's The Limit" and from then on there was no love lost between the pair. Yates had already made a name for himself as Producer and Presenter (at the Organ) of "Stars On Sunday". The show was so cheap to make but made Yorkshire Television a great deal of profit. One day I was sat it Yates's office and he told me he'd just signed BING CROSBY, that would have been interesting enough, but he also said that the following week he was off to Rome to invite the Pope to read extracts from the Bible. Pointing out that the pope wasn't that good at English, he said "not to worry" they'd use sub-titles. I began to think it was time for Jess to leave.
One day perhaps someone will tell the truth about this hard working and dedicated TV Star, my good friend Hughie Green.
Waited so long to invite MART RODGER for the show that Sunday 30th March was a joy to do. Mart and his lovely lady Janet came all the way from Cheshire and we played tracks from his new CD "AllMart" -Wonderful. You should take a look at Marts website it shows all their CD's on sale and there's lots of great chat. Just log onto www.manchesterjazz.co.uk and see for yourself. There's one thing for sure readers Mart will be a guest again and again if I have my way, his stories and music combine to make a terrific hour, it was one of those shows I would have liked to carry on another hour, but that's all for another day. Remember the Name MART RODGER and his Manchester Jazz - Fantastic!!!!!
You know me readers when I'm away on holiday I always make new friends and on our way home Myra and I were chatting in the baggage queue at Alicante Airport to Bruce and Pat from Garforth, - always looking for new listeners I gave them our detials and hoped they'd tune it on the Sunday, they did and emailed confirmation, they also told me that CLIFF LIMBERT would be celebrating his 94th Birthday on Easter Sunday (Born March 1914).So I've picked a tune I hope he'll enjoy, it's a great all time standard favourite called "As Time Goes By" performed by The terrific collection of musicians known as The Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Hope he'll enjoy that Bruce and Pat. Hoe to meet up with them soon?
Saturday, 2nd Febuary...My very good friend for over 40 Years FRAZER HINES drove from his Lincolnshire home to have an "early" Dinner with me. We were joined by the lovely Myra and had a most enjoyable few hours chatting away, drinking and eating....Frazer was off to a posh party in London on the Sunday so he couldn't stay over and drove back. Myra and I called in to see our friends at the Dovesdale Club (West Bowling Working Mens-to give it it's full title) and were pleased Brenda and Peter along with Bob were waiting our pleasure (I wish!). As usual stayed far too long but had fun.
Went to see my good friend BILLY PEARCE? Starring in the Bradford Alhambra's Pantomime "Peter Pan" - Billy's an amazing artiste, I really don't know where he gets all that energy from? but he holds everything together and there are many so called Top Of The Bills who could learn a lot from watching this Show-Biz master. Once again I can confirm the Alhambra has broken all box office records with this Qdos production, stunning back-drops, colourful scenes and stylish costumes. They've already announced next years Panto "Cinderella" and we'll be hearing in a couple of weeks who'll be Starring!!!!!!!
Friday, 18th January 11.30am Went to the Peter Cowling Funeral gathering at Nab Wood Crematorium. What a wonderful experience seeing his family and friends take their turns to talk about a Father, Husband, or Friend, all with a most interesting tale to relate. As you'll see below this coming Sunday/Monday andn Tueday programme will be in dedicated to the memory of this gentle giant who's Classical Music programme here on BCB will be much missed. He had a air of excitement in his presentations and as Noel Coward would say "A Talent to amuse" Rest in peace Peter, I hope you'll try and tune in?
On New Years Day my friends David and Lesley took me to the York National Railway Museum. What a magnificent Exhibition! - trains from every era, quite frankly there wasn't enough time to see everything and watch every video short available. If you go on many of the guided tours though you can actually go into a first, second and third class carriage. But that doesn't really matter as you can clearly see everything through the carriage windows. What really impressed me was the section devoted entirely to the Royal Trains over the past century - this area complete with specially manufactured Red carpeted platforms was such an eye opener - what luxury! What style! There is no doubt I'll be going again. NOW I have to let you all know that the only thing that really got to me was the Car Park charges. The museum it'self is free to enter but £7.00 per car! that's perfectly alright if you arrive (as many did) in a people carrier with 6/8 people, and many cars had four people, but my little greshmobile carries only a Gresh, so I would have had to pay the full price just because I had no one with me in the car to share the cost. I had a little "dig" about this to the lovely people at the museum and they fully appreciated my point but said there was little they could do about it, I suggested the car park should be free and have a nominal entrance fee! say £2.50 for Adults and let the Children in Free! Anyway to close this little rant, as I completed my car parking story a very smart gentleman said to me "Not to worry Sir - there's a fault with the automatic barrier so as of now the barrier will remain up so it's free today!!!!!" So remember take a full car and have a truly memorable day.
This year I cut down on my Panto runs and selected just a few Pantomimes to visit. My very good friends David and Lesley Piper have been on at me for many years to join them on New Years Eve when they take themselves off to York to see the Berwick Kaler Panto. I'd heard various reports about his productions so I arrived at the magnificent York Theatre Royal with a completely open mind! The theatre it'self is terrific and the staff are charming. I felt £3.00 for the Programme was a little too expensive when I noticed the many pages with adverts, surely the revenue from the adverts could have helped to offer the programme for just £2.00?
I have to report that the audience just love Berwick Kaler and it seems to me from the start that he could have sung "God Save the Queen" and they would have stood to applaud! Then the lights went down and the show commenced, Lovely youngster patter then 'twas time for the star himself... Not appearing on the stage, but on a film presented on a massive screen on stage. What a great start! - The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be"(500 Miles) all shot on the streets of York and including a cameo appearance by BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration. But why was there an outline of a door at the bottom of the screen, Oh yes I get it - so the Star could make his appearance, it would have been better to leave the entire screen as a whole and have a "Flash" entry. This years presentation was "Sinbad The Sailor" which quite frankly doesn't make a good pantomime, and even Kaler's writing didn't enhance the next couple of hours, lots of in-house jokes that I certainly didn't understand and of course the "local" areas mentions which the audience loved.
I think one of my problems with this years production was that I've seen every panto subject there is and I've seen the best. One thing I find totally disgusting in this production was the use of Sparying water from the mouth over another character's face. In this day and age that is quite disgusting...let me explain! The Gag is called "The Buzy Bee" Gag! Keler says to one of his cast "If you say -Busy Bee, Busy Bee, what have you got in your hive for me" where upon the actor repeats the saying thinking he's getting some honey!!!!!
Yes you're ahead of me, on the tag words ...hive for ME - Kaler sprays the water collected in his mouth over the face of the poor suffering actor! Yes the audience laughed, but it's not good pantomime. From that minute on I just watched the audience continue to support Kaler who I'm told has been at this theatre for over 25 Years!!!!! Now that's a long time. Apart from Kaler there are some good performances and to top it all at the end of th show Kaler loved informing the audience that two highly respected national Newspapers claimed his panto was one of the top five in the country. I have one final comment to make, friends who know the theatre tell me they need every penny they can get, so I ask why they don't sell "Flashing" Goodies with their limited panto merchandise, there's even a sign asking people NOT to use any flashing items as it upsets the Players - Oh! Sad Sad. All I can say is that with the full houses they enjoy, they've missed a perfect opportuinity to make a great deal of extra money by selling Flashing Panto Goodies.
Had an email from my friend FRAZER HINES to inform me he had sent a copy of the programme he did with MARK WYNTER to Bernie and Cassie Winters in the States...Guess what? when I logged in there was a message from Mike saying how very pleased he was with the mentions we gave MIKE AND BERNIE WINTERS. I worked with them a lot and enjoyed their company, sadly Bernie's no longer with us but Mike says he's coming over sometime next year to promote his book and would like to be on the show. That's be great! If we can't get him into the studios in Bradford we'll make sure we have a telephone chat that's for sure!!!!!
SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF THE DEATH OF PETER COWLING who presented the classical music programme here. He was a superb broadcaster and as I said many times on my programme he was well worth a listen. I only ever met Peter once at the station, he kindly downloaded onto a cd a rare Tom Lehrer track His style of presentation was the very best, he knew his music and talked with great interest about the composers, there is little dout he will be sadly missed by the BCB audience and the many friends he made at the station. See Show with John Briggs, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 20th, 21st and 22nd Jan.
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gresh@carlgresham.co.uk