It was first broadcast in 1965 and for millions was associated with eating Sunday lunch.
The humour always included sideways references to homosexuality which was not decriminalised until 1967. A couple of ‘camp’ characters, Julian and Sandy would use the insider gay’s language of ‘polari’…
… which the show’s compère would pretend not to understand.
Like the earlier Goon Show (which ran from 1951-1960) the format was to split the funny content into two halves, with a musical interlude. Perhaps this is because there may be an optimum attention span for sparkling verbal comedy - full-length films based on successful half hour shows don’t seem to work so well; the narrative tends to dominate the wit.
Here are the first six episodes; more are easily available on the Net:
3 comments:
'Round the Horne' was utterly brilliant, and required listening, back then!
Compare these professionals with most of the dross on the BBC nowadays!
Oh yes, required listening indeed. And we have our tickets booked! It stays in the memory long after the trivial things of this world are forgotten ...
Williams (as Rambling Sid Rumpo)
"There was a young man from St Pauls / Who had some remarkable ..."
KH
"Yes, well I think we've heard enough of that one"
- - - - -
KH, to Julian & Sandy
"And I believe you two are solicitors, is that right?"
KW
"We-ell, ye-es, we have a criminal practice that keeps us busy"
- - - - -
Weekly limerick competition: KH sets the first two lines -
"There once was a botanist from Bude / Who developed a cactus quite crude ..."
Winning entry -
"He said, 'when it trembles / It closely resembles /
Bridget Bardot in the nude"
I think we'll do more on BBC radio comedy!
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