Comedy in the 70s, eh? Lot's of good stuff, but oh the casual sexism and racism. What it is to live in the much more enlightened 21st Century.
One of my favourite books as a chiled was Captain Kremmen and the Krells, a graphic novel (were they called that back then?) based on the character that used to feature in Kenny Everett's radio shows.
This book had a profound effect on my sense of humour as a boy. I can't remember exactly when I was given it - I seem to think it was a Christmas rather than a birthday present. The book was published in 1977 - before Maggie Thatcher came to power and Everett came out in support of her by declaring 'Let's bomb Russia!' at a Young Conservatives do (just a laugh, by all accounts. Not something to damn the man for). And before the brilliant Cosgrove Hall animated versions that featured on Everett's Thames Television shows (here's a link to their version of the Krell story).
This is where it gets a bit confusing. It's difficult to make out from the various websites chronicling Kremmen which order the various versions came in. The TV cartoons seem to use the radio soundtracks but I can't be completely certain. I think the book is preceded by a radio version and that's what was used for the cartoon in the link above. Or something. At any rate, I think the book features the first drawn versions of Kremmen, Carla et al.
Non PC stereotypes aside I love this book. It's full of phrases that have stayed with me for over 30 years. Preparing for the task ahead by getting 'a gallon of Rosie Lee in your wellies'. 'Beast Fiend Incarnate' as an insult. And Kremmen's response to the strict instructions of Zorro, leader of Krells, when he tells his men not to use their phasers: 'How discreet.' The whole thing lurches from one surreal set piece to the next. It's great.
It also introduced me to Liquid Thron, the Krells weapon of choice. Myself and my friend and neighbour Nicholas Pilchard Willsher (inventor of the ball and stick game Kendori) adapted Thron for use in a kick-can/rallyevo type game where two gangs roamed the streets of Seedley looking for each other. When you found an opposing gang member, you pointed your watch - which you wore round your fingers like a knuckleduster - at them and shouted 'Thron!' and then proceeded to make an electronic 'eeee!' sound as if you were zapping them. Lesley Halsall never quite got the hang of the fact that it was supposed to be a sound effect and simply called 'Thronny' as she pointed her death ray at an opponent.
Ha - I've just remembered another Kremmen related incindent. I was in a maths class when I turned to someone and quoted a bit of a recent Kenny Everett radio show I'd heard. Miss Ware, the teacher, caught me and told me to share what I'd said with the rest of the class. I responded honestly with 'By the prools of nilge what will happen next?' She gave me a telling off but I noticed her smiling a bit at that nonsense.
The live action sketches from Everett's fourth Thames series and Kremmen the Movie (I saw that as a supporting feature at the pictures - I wish I could remember what it was on with. Blimey, that's going back a bit...) were rubbish though.
More soonliest.
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