Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Ken Dodd



We have just booked tickets to see Ken in the summer so quite excited by the prospect as it's something we've always wanted to do as he's always been a big favourite of ours since his radio shows and TV shows of the 60's and 70's.

"Ken Dodd was Born on the 8th November 1927,
In an old Farm House on the outskirts of Liverpool. A Village called, Knottyash.

Son of a Coal Merchant, Arthur Dodd and his loving Mother, Sarah Dodd.
He went to the Knottyash School, and sang in the local church choir of St. Johns Church, Knottyash. At the age of Seven, was dared by his School chums to ride his bike with his eyes shut..... And he did. For about 10 feet and the bike hit the kerb. As did the young Doddy, open mouthed onto the tarmac. Resulting in his Famous Teeth you see today.
It was around this time he became interested in showbiz. After seeing an advert in a comic, " Fool Your Teachers, Amaze Your Friends - Send 6d in Stamps and Become a Ventriloquist ! " And he Promptly sent off for the book. Not long after, His Father bought him a Ventriloquist's dummy and Doddy called it Charlie Brown. He started entertaining at the local orphanage, then at various other local community functions.

At 14yrs. He Left the High Holt Grammar School, and went into his Dad's Coal business. Though by his early 20's had branched out on his own. Selling Pots, Pans, and Brushes. And invented his own version of Softsoap for the Liverpool Housewives. He worked hard by day, selling his wares round the streets of Liverpool. And by night, became a regular and very popular performer on ' The Club's ' Circuit as " Professor Yaffle Chuckabutty. Operatic Tenor and Sausage-Knotter.

He Got his big break at the age of 27. In September 1954 he apeared at the Nottingham Playhouse.
A nervous young man, he sat in a local Milk Bar for most of the Afternoon going over and over his lines before going to the theatre. Although he can't remember much of the actual act of that night. He did recal.,, " Well at least they didn't boo me off. " But there wasn't much fear of that, as Dodd's act went from strength to strength. Eventually Topping the bill at Blackpool in 1958 ! "

Discover more about Ken Dodd HERE.

These tracks taken from old cassette of The Good Old Days on BBC TV from the 70's which recreated the victorian music hall broadcast from the City Of Varieties in Leeds.

Ken Dodd - Ha Ha/ My Heart And I

Ken Dodd - Nicky Nacky Noo


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