Richard Whiteley sits down for an interview with stand-up comedian and variety entertainer Albert Modley, and finds it very hard to get a word in! Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Applause greets a man in the studio spotlight. Dressed in a suit and wearing a flat cap he carries a small, decorated box. He then goes into a comedy routine. More...

Richard Whiteley sits down for an interview with stand-up comedian and variety entertainer Albert Modley, and finds it very hard to get a word in! Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Applause greets a man in the studio spotlight. Dressed in a suit and wearing a flat cap he carries a small, decorated box. He then goes into a comedy routine. More applause as Richard Whiteley interrupts the comedian and introduces the entertainer Albert Modley to the audience. The two men sit on chairs on stage. Albert gives the colourfully wrapped box to Richard as a present from Morecambe, which turns out to be a box of fresh air, gathered that morning. Morecambe is now where the comedian lives but was born in Barnsley. Title: Albert Modley Albert talks about his career in Morecambe, but Richard steers him towards talking about his early life including time as an errand boy for a hat maker followed by jobs on the railway including being a porter at Otley station, then moving on to Bradford parcel office. Richard asks Albert how he got into show business. He replies by saying he initially worked as comedian in working men’s clubs. One of the first theatres he worked at was Eastbourne Hippodrome, as a duo called Modley and Partner, his wife having encouraged Albert to leave the railway and concentrate on his theatre act, as it brought in more money. Richard points out that he was hugely popular around the north especially in pantomime. Albert says he has appeared in around 30 pantomimes, the audience applauds. Richard talks of the long runs he had in pantomime. Albert talks of the 22-week run he did at the Theatre Royal in Leeds. Richard asks about Alberts favourite character. He says he always liked to play the character of Buttons in Cinderella. In Albert’s heyday in the 30’s through to the 50’s Richard asks if he earned a lot of money. He implies not as much as modern day pop musicians earn. Richard asks Albert to sing a song he was known for ‘Chuck Chuck Chuck Little Hen, Lay an Egg for Me’ the audience helps Albert along with the rendition. Richard goes on to on to ask about Alberts film career. He made three films Bob’s Your Uncle in 1942, Up for the Cup, 1950 and Take Me to Paris 1951. Some stills from the films are shown. Richard asks about his associations with other actors and celebrities. Albert lists Sandy Powell, Arthur Askey, and Frank Randall and others all British comedians or comic actors. Albert advocates good clean fun in his act, and wrote his own scripts. Richard asks Albert’s age which he says is 74. The audience immediately applauds. Richard also mentions that Albert is now a Freeman of Morecambe, more applause follows. Albert talks about his appearance on radio’s Variety Bandbox and his association with the programme’s bandleader Billy Ternent, and as Richard points out Albert is also a musician playing 12 instruments. Albert talks of his time as a drummer in, as he describes it, the postman’s brass band. A drum set has been placed in the studio, Richard, and Albert walks towards it. Albert shakes the pianist’s hand who sits nearby. In the background facsimile theatre posters show Albert Modley’s name in large letters. Albert sits at the drum set and produces a military march rhythm. He then imitates the sound of horses’ hooves on hollow percussion instruments which look like coconut husks. The pianist begins playing while Albert follows on with drums and other percussion instruments which make up the drum set. Applause follows the music. Albert follows with another routine as a tram driver, for which he wears a peaked cap. He unfurls a banner in front of the drum set which has been painted to look like the front of a tram. He uses cymbals either side of him to imitate the controls of a tram. He finishes the sketch with a roll on the snare drum. Albert then demonstrates his skill on the piano, where he plays a duet with the studio pianist. Richard thanks his guest and closes the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Tonight Featured Credits: Albert Modley Talking to Richard Whiteley Designers – Mike Long, David McDermott Director – Charles Flynn Producer – John Meade Editor – John Wilford Ende Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVSION Colour Production © Trident Television 1975