- published: 13 Nov 2015
- views: 21387
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984. They have been described as "the most illustrious, and the best-loved, double-act that Britain has ever produced". In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, The Morecambe and Wise Show was placed 14th. In September 2006, they were voted by the general public as number 2 in a poll of TV's Greatest Stars and in 2011 their early career was the subject of the television biopic Eric and Ernie.
Morecambe and Wise's partnership began in 1941 when they were each booked separately to appear in Jack Hylton's revue, Youth Takes a Bow at the Nottingham Empire Theatre. War service broke up the act but they reunited by chance at the Swansea Empire Theatre in 1946 when they joined forces again. They made their name in variety, appearing in a variety circus, the Windmill Theatre, the Glasgow Empire and many venues around Britain. After this they also made their name in radio, transferring to television in 1954. Their show, Running Wild, was not well received and led to a damning newspaper review: "Definition of the week: TV set – the box in which they buried Morecambe and Wise." Eric apparently carried this review around with him ever after and from then on Eric and Ernie kept a tight control over their material. In 1956 they were offered a spot in the Winifred Atwell show with material written by Johnny Speight and this was a success.
Wise or WISE may refer to:
Coordinates: 54°03′50″N 2°52′43″W / 54.0640°N 2.8786°W / 54.0640; -2.8786
Morecambe ( /ˈmɔrkəm/) is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It is situated on Morecambe Bay. Morecambe and the nearby village of Heysham have a combined population of 51,400.
In 1846, the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company was formed to build a harbour on Morecambe Bay, close to the fishing village of Poulton-le-Sands, and a connecting railway. By 1850, the railway linked to Skipton, Keighley and Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and a settlement began to grow around the harbour and railway, to service the port and as a seaside resort. The settlement expanded to absorb Poulton, and the villages of Bare and Torrisholme. The settlement started to be referred to as "Morecambe", possibly after the harbour and railway. In 1889 the new name was officially adopted.
Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. While the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire (due to its railway connection) and Scotland. Between 1956 and 1989 it was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.
When you feel down, try positive thinking:
That's what I'm told a man said;
Don't wear a frown, try positive thinking,
Laugh at your troubles instead;
You've got to look on the bright side,
On hope so much depends;
With your confidence sinking, postive thinking
Helps you on the way my friend!
When things look black, try positive thinking,
Treat every season as spring;
No glancing back: try positive thinking,
Trust what tomorrow may bring;
This crazy world that we live in
Will keep on spinning 'round;
But with good, strong, positive thinking,
We'll get together and life won't let us down!
When you feel down, try positive thinking:
That's what I'm told a man said;
Don't wear a frown, try positive thinking,
Laugh at your troubles instead;
You've got to look on the bright side,
On hope so much depends;
With your confidence sinking, postive thinking
Helps you on the way my friend!
When things look black, try positive thinking,
Treat every season as spring;
No glancing back: try positive thinking,
Trust what tomorrow may bring;
This crazy world what we live in
Will keep on spinning 'round;
But with good, strong, positive thinking,
Good, strong, positive thinking,
Good, strong, positive drinking,
We'll get together and life won't let us dooooooooooown!
(Eric) (I wish I could sing like that, don't you?)