大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Caroline Chambers of Sutton Coldfield Library on behalf of John Wilson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Discussing 鈥渨ar-time memories鈥�, with friends, the other evening, the conversation turned to the subject of 鈥渃atch-phrases鈥�. These days, most TV and radio personalities have their own specific identifying phrases, viz. Bruce Forsyth 鈥� 鈥淣ice to see you, to see you nice!鈥�, Michael Caine (allegedly!) 鈥� 鈥淣ot a lot of people know that鈥�, Larry Grayson 鈥� 鈥淪hut that door!鈥�, the list goes on!

However, it was not always thus and thinking back to the Decade 1939/1949, I was reminded of the important part played by Tommy Handley, in boosting our morale and making us all 鈥渃atch-phrase鈥� conscious during the war years. Memories of the show flooded back and almost without effort, I could easily remember about 20 or so such 鈥渃atch phrases鈥�, most of which were in regular use by us at the time.

Script writer Ted Kavanagh, another Liverpudlian, had some very talented members of the 大象传媒 Repertory Company at his disposal, nearly all of whom soon became 鈥減ersonalities鈥�, in their own right, such as (yet another Liverpudlian) Deryck Guyler, Hattie Jacques, Maurice Denham, Joan Harben and Mollie Weir et al.

As well as the 鈥渃haracters鈥� they personified, the most celebrated being 鈥淢rs Mop鈥� (the garrulous charlady) 鈥� 鈥淐an I do yer now sir?鈥� and 鈥淭.T.F.N. (Ta Ta For Now) and Colonel Chinstrap (a bibulous old soak) who misconstrued most conversations as relating to drink 鈥淎 gin & tonic?鈥�, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind if I do鈥�

In shops, restaurants, libraries, trains and buses, the various phrases would be quoted almost on a daily basis, e.g. 鈥淕ood morning, nice day!鈥� (delivered briskly); 鈥淭is being so cheerful, as keeps me going鈥�; 鈥淎fter you Claude. No, after you Cecil鈥�; 鈥淟ovely grub, lovely grub鈥�; 鈥淒on鈥檛 forget the diver鈥�; 鈥淚 go, I come back鈥�; 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 all right now鈥�, the roster is endless.

The shows used to go out, about 7.30pm, on a Thursday night. Initially the scripts had to be passed by 鈥渟pecial security鈥� and had usually been vetted already by MI5 before being allowed to broadcast them! Tommy and Co. were allowed to make derogatory remarks about Hitler and Goering etc. A particularly popular character was 鈥淔UNF鈥� the German spy, who opened all his phone conversations with the words 鈥淒is is FUNF speaking鈥�. Most of our incoming phone calls at home, in those days, were similarly prefaced!!

There were over 300 shows on the 大象传媒 Home Service and they ran into 12 series, as well as appearances in the theatres and music halls. They became essential listening, throughout the war and after. Tommy rapidly became a much loved National figure. His fan mail numbered nearly a 1000 letters per week, all of which he answered personally. The shows regularly had over 20 million listeners. The shows Jubilee Celebrations had a visit from the Royal Family.

Tommy died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage, during a performance on 9th January 1949. At the Memorial Service, held at St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral, the then Bishop of London, spoke for those thousands who attended, when he paid a final tribute to the man who had been 鈥淚TMA鈥�.
鈥淗e was one whose genius transmutes the copper of our common experience into the gold of exquisite foolery. His raillery was without cynicism and his satire without malice. From the highest to the lowest in the land people had found in his programmes an escape from their troubles and anxieties.鈥�
The streets were lined with thousands of mourners, many of whom were crying, at the loss of a dear friend. They also held a memorial service, in Liverpool Cathedral.

In the early days, several books were written about Tommy. When next you have any spare time to visit any second hand bookshops, keep an eye open for any of the following. If you can still trace them, you will find them very illuminating and entertaining.

1. 鈥業TMA 1939 鈥� 1948鈥�, by Francis Worsley (The Series Producer), Vox Mund Ltd (1949)
2. 鈥楾ommy Handley鈥�, by Ted Kavanagh (The Writer), Hodder & Stoughton (1949)
3. 'The ITMA Years', (introduction by P J Kavanagh), The Woburn Press (1974)

This latter book has some very amusing reminiscences, by several of the artists involved. Also it contains samples of some of the very amusing scripts.

Thank you Tommy.

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