The Goon Show Spike Milligan Peter Sellers

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The Goon Show Spike Milligan Peter Sellers
A rare collection of seven original Goon Show Cast Scripts, various dates 3rd January 1956 - 28th October 1957, including four with annotations and amendments by Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and probably also Harry Secombe; two of the scripts from the 6th Series, the remaining five from the 8th Series

The earliest of the scripts in the collection are from the 6th Series and comprise:
- The Mighty Wurlitzer, No.16, transmission: 3rd January 1956, written by Spike Milligan, 20pp. of mimeographed typescript (missing last page), the script thought to be Sellers' working document as indicated by the underlining of his various parts in blue ballpoint pen on 19 of the 20 pages, the typescript text revealing a few minor word variations to the final broadcast version, seven pages also with Milligan's hand-written amendments to the text of Sellers' dialogue; 12 pages additionally annotated probably by Sellers, Milligan and Secombe with amusing drawings of big-nosed Goon-type figures, caricatures and Goon characters including Harry Secombe, Dennis Main Wilson, Hercules Grytpype-Thynne, Count Jim Moriarty and Bluebottle; pages 13 and 20 with further sketches on the verso (probably in Milligan's hand), both hilarious, hectic, detailed scenes involving Harry playing The Mighty Wurlitzer, both -- 8x13in. (20.3x33cm.), (one sketched page torn and taped together with sellotape); and
- Tales Of Old Dartmoor, No. 20 [actually No.21], transmission: 7th February 1956, written by Spike Milligan, 21pp. of mimeographed typescript (possibly missing final page), signed on title page in blue ballpoint pen Peter Sellers and thought to be Sellers' working document as indicated by the underlining of his various parts on 18 of the 21 pages, eight pages also with hand-written amendments to the text of Sellers' dialogue in Milligan's hand in blue ballpoint pen, one page with Milligan's amendments to Secombe's dialogue, 12 pages additionally annotated, by Sellers, Milligan and Secombe with drawings of Goon characters and bulbous or hook-nosed, often wild-haired Goon-type figures including: Count Moriarty, Harry, Major Dennis Bloodnok, a convict, Robin Hood and a Sherlock Holmes-like figure;

The five scripts from the 8th Series comprise:
- Spon, No.1, transmission: 9th September 1957;
- Treasure In The Tower, No.5, transmission: 28th October 1957; - The Stolen Postman, No.11, transmission: 9th December 1957;
- The Great British Revolution, No.12, transmission: 16th December 1957; and
- The Evils of Bushey Green [called The Evils of Bushey Spon in broadcast version], No.25, transmission: 17th March 1958 -- two of these scripts are annotated including:
The Evils Of Bushey Green, written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, 21pp. mimeographed typescript (missing last page), inscribed on title page in blue ink and ballpoint pen in an unidentified hand SPIKE T.F. (acte), the script possibly an early working document for Milligan as indicated by the underlining of his various parts on 14 of the 21 pages, five pages additionally annotated with hand-written amendments in Spike's hand mainly to the text of his characters' dialogue, some amendments also to Sellers' and Secombe's parts; and - The Great British Revolution, written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, 20pp. mimeographed typescript (missing last page), this script again with underlining of Sellers' parts in pencil on 16 of the 20 pages suggesting that this was probably Peter's working document, four pages additionally inscribed in pencil in an unidentified hand with hand-written amendments to the text of Sellers' dialogue;

The annotated scripts in this collection are particularly significant as not only do they appear to have been used by key cast members of The Goon Show, they preserve the text of several important episodes. The marvellous autograph doodles, caricatures and scene sketches give a rare insight into the three protagonists' interaction, and in some instances their visual interpretation of Goon characters and two of their surreal scenarios (7)

Literature

FARNES, Norma & SMITH, Chris The Goons - The Story Edited by Norma Farnes, London: Virgin Books Ltd. 2003, p.58, p.59, p.117 & p.128
MILLIGAN, Spike The Goon Show Scripts Written and Selected by Spike Milligan.., London: Woburn Press, 1972, pp.137-151
WILMUT, Roger and GRAFTON, Jimmy The Goon Show Companion, London: Robson Books, 1992, pp. 60,64 & 66
FARNES, Norma The Compulsive Spike Milligan, London: Harper Collins, 2004

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The Mighty Wurlitzer episode of The Goon Show can certainly be regarded as a classic. It would also seem to have been one of Spike's favourites, as he selected it for reproduction in the first volume of The Goon Show Scripts published in 1972. Milligan had particularly fond memories of the sound effects which were created for this episode ...We created some marvellous sound effects, like the Wurlitzer organ crossing the Sahara Desert, changing key each time they change gear.... It was also during this episode that Spike as Moriarty sings for the first time the line I'm walking backwards for Christmas across the Irish sea..., recorded four months later by Spike with Sellers as the famous song of the same name. Thus the Wurlitzer episode served as a fine example of the range of unusual, idiosyncratic sound effects which were one of the Goon's trademarks and a vital part of the show's unique makeup. Spike once commented ...This is the secret ingredient of The Goon Show...radio, where the pictures are better because they happen on the other side of your eyes..

The script entitled The Evils of Bushey Green (later changed to Bushey Spon) is also notable. It was devised after a highly publicised dispute the actor A.E. Matthews had with his local council involving the proposed erection of a street lamp outside his house. Matthews was invited to appear as a guest star in this episode which was apparently reduced to chaos as a result. ...Milligan wrote the script with blank lines for Matthews, knowing that he wouldn't read any lines he was given, but in the event Matthews refuesed to stay anywhere near the plot, and the entire end of the show was ad-libbed by all concerned....

Christie's are extremely grateful to Norma Farnes for her assistance with this lot. She confirmed that those scripts with doodles, caricatures and annotations, would certainly have been cast used. Spike, Sellers and Secombe would sit together - away from the rest of the Goon Show participants - joking and messing about with each other's scripts. Farnes also mentioned that Milligan's and Secombe's drawings are particularly difficult to distinguish from each other, and that all three would draw generic Goon figures.

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