Frank Randle
 

The older ones among you will remember Frank Randle a comedian before and during the war.I was reading a biography of him and it mentioned that he once bombarded Accrington from a plane with toilet rolls.It did not mention when this event took place. Does anyone know?And why did he do it? Was he trying to tell Accrington something?

Re: Frank Randle
 

I didn't live in Accrington when Frank Randle was active so don't know about the bog rolls but what I remember him for was his constant belching during his act. When I was a child I thought it was very naughty of him and so I enjoyed it even more.

Re: Frank Randle
 

Two stories here have got mixed up.... The bombarding was done from a plane over Blackpool where he lived and frequently crossed swords with the Chief Constable. Accrington comes into the story because, towards the end of his life/career he operated the Hippodrome and lived in a caravan near the Red Lion at Green Haworth. Quite a come down from his superb house on Lytham Rd(?) Blackpool

His real name was Arthur MacEvoy

Re: Frank Randle
 

Is he the one that did Old Mother Riley, with some one called Kitty McShane.
Retlaw.

Re: Frank Randle
 

No - not the same chap.

To help you remember look at this page,
Frank Randle Gallery
The photos at the bottom of that long page are how I remember him.

He also has a page in Wikipedia, which needs correcting if Bob Dobson's post is correct

Re: Frank Randle
 

Arthur Lucan played the part of Old Mother Riley.He died on the stage here in Hull at the Tivoli Theatre and is buried in a local cemetery. There is a street named after him in Hull.

Re: Frank Randle
 

I got my information about Frank's proper name from a marvellous book about comedians entitled 'They made us laugh' by Geoff Mellor. It looks as if in fact he was Arthur Hughes. Wikepedia mentions his previous convictions sheet being in the Lancashire Police Collection in the Museum of Lancashire. I was responsible for depositing it there. I will check if it is in the name of Hughes or McEvoy. I enjoyed looking at the link.

Re: Frank Randle
 

I think that he played the drunk with a broken cigarette in his mouth. I do remember that he was very funny without the need for foul and obscene language.

Re: Frank Randle
 

I think you are confusing him with Freddy Frinton

YouTube - FREDDIE FRINTON : The Drunk

Re: Frank Randle
 

Freddie Frinton played a superb drunk on stage! Frank Randle managed it much more often in real life, he was a legendary boozer, and enjoyed more than a few sessions with Josef Locke! I think he once had a boat moored near Blackpool!


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Frank Randle
 

To avoid further confusion I have found this

YouTube - Frank Randle - Classic 'Grandpa' Sketch

Re: Frank Randle
 

I tug my forelock to you Margaret - you are correct.:)

Re: Frank Randle
 

Another comedian of that era was Albert Modley. He was famous for his tram driver impression. He isn't on you tube but you might remember him by this pic.
http://www.albertmodley.co.uk/1.jpg

My great aunt had a boarding house in Bispham, and I spent a chunk of my childhood there, so have seen many of these old time comedians on stage.

Re: Frank Randle
 

One of my favourites was
Albert Modley and his Blackpool Tram.
Eee a cud eaut a meat pie.

Retlaw

Re: Frank Randle
 

Bob actually the Blackpool pilot refused to take off with Frank and the offending bog rolls.

Re: Frank Randle
 

In that case - who was piloting the plane from which he did drop the bog rolls - or is that a myth?

Re: Frank Randle
 

I was looking for information regarding "Over the garden wall " an old variety act in the 40's, Ethel Manners, part of the act, lived two doors from me in Walsden and when we had a holiday in Southport she invited us back stage to meet the other "stars".
I cannot for the life of me remember the man in the act, anyway while searching I came across the little snippet.

Frank Randle,once bombarded Blackpool from an aeroplane with toilet rolls (according to an episode of Rude Britannia, broadcast by the BBC on 15 June 2010, the toilet roll bombardment actually took place over Accrington, not Blackpool). Randle's police charge sheet is lodged with the Lancashire Constabulary collection, cared for by Lancashire County Museums.

Similarly, when the new-wave comedians of the late Seventies first let fly their four- letter expletives, they never knew the debt they owed to dangerous Frank Randle. Barred from club after club in the 1940s for use of blue language, Frank thought he'd stumbled on a foolproof way to swear on stage without winding up the management. First he would write 'F' on a blackboard, and his stooge would say, 'Why d'you write 'K' up there?'. Frank would reply, 'Why is it every time I write 'F', you see 'K' '. For that he was thrown out of the theatre at Blackpool and barred for an entire summer season. Frank was so annoyed, he hired a plane and bombed Blackpool Tower with toilet rolls.

edit:
I just found what I was looking for, it was Norman Evans who did the "Over the garden wall" comedy act.

Take your pick which is correct, Accrington or Blackpool, Wikipedia is not 100% reliable.
He died in Blackpool of gastroenteritis in 1957 and is buried in Carleton Cemetery, Blackpool.

Re: Frank Randle
 

I'm putting a grand on it being Blackpool. I speak from memory - I deposited a document on behalf of the Chief Constable with Lancashire Archives. It was his list of previous convictions, which is different from a charge sheet.....There is a blue plaque on North Pier to commemorate Frank's association with Blackpool

Re: Frank Randle
 

I have a few relatives living in Poulton le Fylde, I lived there for a while, and the the ones who have since passed away are all either buried or cremated at the Carleton Cemetery.
It's not often I visit but next time I will look for Frank Randle's grave and see what it says on it it.

As I wrote above, Wikipedia is not 100% accurate and things may be put on which are just hearsay. Why he should bombard Accrington when he was upset with Blackpool is a mystery and probably an old myth.

Re: Frank Randle
 

Whoever wrote the piece was confused. He did have an association with Accrington towards the end of his life in that he leased the Hippodrome. At that time he lived in a caravan behind the Red Lion at Green Haworth and supped in the pubs in King Street

Re: Frank Randle
 

I'll hang this post on here as on........

Saturday 9th July 2016 it will be the 10th FRANK RANDLE DAY in sunny Blackpool where a gathering of fans annually come together to celebrate and remember a Lancashire comic genius.

Day starts 12 mid day at Carelton Cemetery Blackpool visiting his grave
Into Blackpool sea front 1:15pm Albert and the Lion for lunch
Into the Pump and Truncheon opposite the market where Frank used to regularly drink
3:30pm onto the north pier for fans train ride and visiting the blue plaque etc.

A friendly and daft gathering we have been attending for 10 years now.

Gerroff me foot!

Re: Frank Randle
 

The Pump & Truncheon is nowhere near the market. It is close by the Central Police Station.(Hence the name) Nowt in the Blackpool Gazette so far this week. In Randle's time, the Pump & Truncheon was the' Brunswick'

Re: Frank Randle
 

What a wonderful idea. I never knew about it. I love Frank. I once saw a play called Randle's Scandals at the Grand theatre in Blackpool and Frank was portrayed by Keith Clifford who at one time was in Last of the Summer Wine and he was superb. I have several of Frank's films on dvd and love them. My favourite gag of his when he is the old rambler ' I'm 82...Id hav been 83 but me fatha wer shy.' In the play he was in the dock for the toilet roll stunt. He also demolished the front of the Central Pier in a car because of some dispute with the council. He had a run in with George Formby's wife too when his name was top of the bill at the Opera House and she thought George should have been.He was certainly a rebel but to me he was a comic genius even if he did 'sup some stuff.'

Re: Frank Randle
 

A good book to read for Frank fans is 'Wired to the Moon.' by Philip Martin Williams. It is available on Amazon

Re: Frank Randle
 

Interesting reading :-)

The day went off very well once again with the usual larking and Frank quotes throughout the day which are always enjoyable. Frank used to be a regular in The Pump & Truncheon renamed and we have archived stories as knew the owners family from way back who used to drink with him.

Anyone interested you will find a wealth of Franks films on DVD including
Holidays With Pay
It's a Grand Life
School For Randle
When you come home
Frank Randle Triple Bill (Somewhere on leave/Camp/Home Sweet Home)
Somewhere in England/Somewhere in Civvies (Double disc set rarer)

If you have never seen a Frank Randle film and fancy one I would recommend 'Holidays With Pay' as it also contains some great scenes filmed in a 1952 Blackpool also filmed from the air.

Happy days!

Re: Frank Randle
 

Glad the day went well Mr Pastry. Bet there were plenty of laughs as you cannot talk about Frank without a smile on your face. My favourite film is Somewhere on Leave. I love the bit where he tries going up the stairs when he's blind drunk and he asks the Venus like statue ' Hast e bin feighting love ?' I am delighted to hear he still has a loyal following he certainly deserves it.

Re: Frank Randle
 

Is there a Frank Randle Society, Mr Pastry ? I didn't see anything in the Blackpool Gazette about the day.

Re: Frank Randle
 

Hi Bob. We do in as much as it is very casual and does not involve paying a subscription just a small group of friendly people who help keep Franks lifes work alive and his comic genius. We meet once a year in July as near to the day he went on a permanent hike upstairs. We do sometimes meet towards Christmas to catch up at a suitable location. As next year will be the 60th anniversary of his passing it is quite likely we will be making more of Frank Randle Day possibly a film evening as well.;)

Re: Frank Randle
 

I will PM you, Mr Pastry - a pal of mine may well be interested in joining you. I rather fancy the film evening. The Regent Cinema in Blackpool has just re-opened - I'm sure the management will welcome you .

Re: Frank Randle
 

I would be interested in next years special day. Please let me know where and when Mr Pastry.

Re: Frank Randle
 

I'll post details on here when we have them next year. Thanks all.

That's very good news Bob so will have a look over at them. http://www.regentcinemablackpool.co.uk/

Re: Frank Randle
 

Thank MrPastry I'll look forward to it.