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The Arthur Haynes Show
Almost a forgotten figure in British comedy, Arthur Haynes (born in London in May 1914) was ITV's biggest star of the late 1950s through to the mid-1960s; indeed, he was the first star to be produced by the new independent channel. As with many artists of the post-war generation, Haynes gained a foothold in variety through the armed forces entertainment units during World War Two. While serving in the Royal Engineers, he was recruited for the concert party troupe Stars in Battledress. It was here that he met the already established entertainer Charlie Chester. Following the war, Haynes remained with Chester, appearing in the BBC radio show Stand Easy (1946-49), but he harboured ambitions for solo success and eventually went his own way. The separation, however, did not prevent Haynes appearing in The Charlie Chester Show on both television (BBC, tx. 12/1/1949) and radio (4/1/1955) . Haynes struggled for a number of years trying to perfect his stage act, until a major television break finally came his way with the George and Alfred Black variety show for ITV, Strike a New Note (1956). Haynes began as just one among many on the bill, but such was his success with viewers, particularly with his character Oscar Pennyfeather, that he was soon headlining the show, now renamed Get Happy. The Arthur Haynes Show (ITV, 1957-66) followed, a mixture of comedy sketches (largely scripted by Johnny Speight, who had first worked with Haynes on Get Happy) and musical interludes with guest artistes. |
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