Dave Allen, comedian

[John Arton]

Last night BBC2 devoted 3 hours of viewing time to one of the funniest men to ever grace our screens, Dave Allen, the chain smoking Irish comedian whose only stage prop was a chair with a table attached to it upon which he had his ashtray a a glass of whiskey from which he would tell jokes about any all subjects. He was the scourge of the catholic church with his sketches and one of the first to use the F word on t.v. his shows regularly topped viewing figures but also had the most number of letters of complaints by "disgusted of Cheltenham" and from church bodies.
His career started in Australia where he appeared on the Gloria Swanson show before been given his own show, the format of which he brought back to become probably the most successful comedian of his age. Apart from comedy he was also an excellent straight actor.
Rgds
J.A.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...XXYTPujyQ_yJsk

[Doc Vernon]

Most definitely one of the Finest Comedy Guys around. I liked his style and his one Short Finger too LOL
Like the other great that always kept me in stiches and was one that could use swear words the way you would not get upset or disgusted,he had a style of his won and still has a bit left ,just last Week watched his latest Show s on Made in Scotland ,nearing the end but still full of the humour ,not afraid of the end ,and so it shoud be ,like me honestly never worried me ,just as he puts it another phase of ones Journey in life, he now with the start of Parkinsons must be hard for him,but he handles it the correct way. Carry on Billy !
Who knows what comes next!
Two great Comedians indeed!

[j.sabourn]

I always used to think of Russ Conway when I saw Dave Allen, because of that finger. Russ Conway was similar and he was a piano player. Reminded me also of all the seamen have sailed with, with missing fingers an occupational hazard. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John A
Funny how coincidences have come lately for me; and now this one. I was down visiting my son yesterday, he used to have a video shop and has plenty of them at home, I said I'll borrow that Dave Allen video when I leave, something came up and i forgot, will have to go get it this week.
Cheers Des

[Shaun Gander]

Loved him growing up. Billy Connolly too. Both got away with so many political and religious taboos.

SDG

[happy daze john in oz]

Sadly comedians of their style are now long gone.
Modern day ones do not even raise a smile let alone a laugh.
Saw about five minutes last night of the Melbourne Comedy Show, how the crowd could laugh at that load of rubbish is beyond me.
So politically correct even their grandmothers would not find a laugh in that lot.

There have over the years been so many real comedians, many from Liverpool and the north, now they would be locked up for some of their stories.

Contrary to popular belief he did not lose his finger top by picking his nose and eating it.

[j.sabourn]

Of course. He didn’t, it would have been undigestable raw so he spat it out. JS

[John Arton]

The Dave Allen sketch of the pope and cardinals walking down steps with the stripper music playing has to not only be one of his funniest but it also drew the most criticism from the Catholic church apparently for showing the pope's legs
Rgds
J.A.

[Bill Morrison]

Hi John A. Dave Allen and a lot of other Comedians at that time pushed the barriers to the limit. Charlie Williams would have had the P.C. brigade jumping through hoops.with his style of humour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charli...ams_(comedian)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHInQjkcxFc

[happy daze john in oz]

But good or bad they made us laugh.
Political incorrect to the tenth degree but often showing the public just what those who supposedly cared for us, the polis, were nothing more than rat bags.

In the world today the way it is we all need some big laughs, but there are none around, well maybe BREXIT, but that will go the same way as the other comedy shows.

Those guys looked at life in reality and saw the funny side of every day life, in todays society they would be off to the Tower never to be seen again.

Vale the real comedians.