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Dave Allen

(70 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Mon 28-Oct-24 12:31:00

Anyone remember Dave Allen? I have just been watching some of his skits on British Comedy Greats on Facebook - he was so very good.

TheWeirdo Tue 29-Oct-24 11:37:45

He was one of the greatest comedians ever, along with his little band of ladies and gents who did hilarious train scenes etc.!

Tish Tue 29-Oct-24 11:33:09

Comedy genius, all our family would tune in and watch him…

Dinahmo Tue 29-Oct-24 11:26:09

The BBC showed his programmes a year or so ago. Apparently he, or his family (I forget which) didn't want them shown very often. I thought he was the best and was sorry that he died so young. I doubt whether he'd be able to make similar shows now.

essjay Tue 29-Oct-24 11:22:07

a family favourite

LilCatMomma83 Tue 29-Oct-24 11:21:10

I remember going to see him live in Bournemouth. I was about 10 or 11 - probably not appropriate humour for that age but we were a very liberal family. Even at that age I found him funny.

win Tue 29-Oct-24 11:18:48

When I met my husband in 1966 viewing one of his flats he rang me later that afternoon inviting me out to a show the same evening. We saw Dave Allan at the local nightclub and later danced to the early hours of the morning. We got married the following year. I remember the audience being in stitches all the time he was on appearing to do very little just sitting on his bar stool with his glass of whisky. I also seem to remember he had a cigarette then, so perhaps that was before he gave up smoking. I was 22 so a very long time ago.

MissInterpreted Tue 29-Oct-24 11:13:20

I was lucky enough to see him live in Edinburgh and he was just brilliant - even funnier than on television, because he could get away with a lot more. Such a sharp, dry wit.

DaisyAnn Tue 29-Oct-24 11:11:33

interesting coincidence but I just spoke about him with my friends the other night...

Clawdy Tue 29-Oct-24 08:23:56

I loved Dave Allen too, but don't think he would get away with the Sister Matilda tale now.

escaped Tue 29-Oct-24 07:13:07

Thank you Bellasnana.
DA was everything posters have described here.
He was also a dab hand at cards, and used to come in early before shows to play with the crew!

Bellasnana Tue 29-Oct-24 05:20:09

escaped

My husband worked with him on Dave Allen's one man show at the Haymarket. Behind the stage every evening they had a sweepstake for what time the show would finish. Dave Allen knew this and used to come off stage asking who'd won each night. It could vary 10 - 15 minutes depending on his audience!
We had a lovely engagement gift from him.
So funny in real life.

What lovely memories for you escaped😊
My late DH and I went to see him at the Haymarket. He was absolutely brilliant.

infoman Tue 29-Oct-24 04:44:44

Quite a few DVD's available on Amazon.

nanna8 Tue 29-Oct-24 01:46:13

I loved Dave Allen as well. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

Primrose53 Mon 28-Oct-24 22:31:42

mokryna

Loved watching Dave Allen, shame his programmes can’t be shown, I thought they were so funny.

There are loads of his videos on Youtube and his biography is a great read.

Primrose53 Mon 28-Oct-24 22:28:55

Daddima

crazyH

Handsome and witty - I often wondered how he lost one tiger - I could read it up online, I suppose.

He lost it as a child playing in an old mill and it got caught in a cog wheel apparently.

He has never revealed how he lost part of his finger. He has made up various stories over the years with a twinkle in his eye!

Daddima Mon 28-Oct-24 18:59:39

crazyH

Handsome and witty - I often wondered how he lost one tiger - I could read it up online, I suppose.

He lost it as a child playing in an old mill and it got caught in a cog wheel apparently.

Madmeg Mon 28-Oct-24 18:07:21

I've seen him live (in his later years) too and he was as hilarious as ever.

I think it was Spike Milligan whose epitaph is "I told you I was ill".

mokryna Mon 28-Oct-24 17:46:00

Loved watching Dave Allen, shame his programmes can’t be shown, I thought they were so funny.

LovesBach Mon 28-Oct-24 15:43:09

I recently watched his sketch on UTube, where he was attempting to teach his child to tell the time. It is priceless.

sodapop Mon 28-Oct-24 15:35:37

I agree Allira would love to see and hear him again. Intelligent humour delivered so well.

Allira Mon 28-Oct-24 14:47:32

Yes, he was so funny but in a dead-pan way which made it even funnier.

Instead of the dross that is served up now on tv perhaps they could run repeats of these comedy greats.

Sparklefizz Mon 28-Oct-24 14:46:04

Loved Dave Allen. Saw him live years ago and he was so funny. A great evening.

JdotJ Mon 28-Oct-24 14:42:32

Saw his live show years ago and was one the funniest shows myself and OH have ever seen -

merlotgran Mon 28-Oct-24 14:36:34

Loved his TV shows. You always knew you were in for a treat.

Visgir1 Mon 28-Oct-24 14:27:28

I saw him do a show a couple of years before he passed away, he was hysterical, same format, the drink and a tall stool.
I was so fortunate, as I also saw Spike Milligan, that man was brilliant. Even one of his on stage backing group had to leave the stage, as the poor man was crying with laughter and couldn't continue, how many times had he seen that show? Milligan obviously changed it daily.
The one who surprised me was seening Eric Sykes, he was so funny.
I am so please I saw these comic geniuses before they passed away.