By RAY GALTON and ALAN SIMPSON - STEPTOE & SON : VOLUME 1 - THE LEAD MAN COMETH
BBC RADIO COLLECTION
Four Classic Episodes with the World's Most Famous Rag and Bone Men
(THE OFFER / THE LEAD MAN COMETH / PILGRIM'S PROGRESS / HOMES FIT FOR HEROES)
Steptoe and Son: two junk men and a junk-cart, bonded by blood, yoked by emotional blackmail and tied by the reins of Hercules the horse. Albert, a conniving old father clinging to an awesome jumble of useless bric-a-brac and to an exasperated son. Harold, a shackled son full of indistinct ambition for an out-of-reach life, and forever on the fringe of a flirt with a passing 'bird'. Peddling really authentic entertainment they spark laughs off each other like flint off old iron.
The rare comic genius of two of Britain's most remarkable scriptwriters and the estimable talents of two true comedy actors - which drew over 20 million television viewers each week - now bring four priceless episodes to the Radio Collection. Shining gems among the rags and bones.
In 1962 Ray Galton and Alan Simpson created Steptoe & Son after they had parted from Tony Hancock, whose rise to fame had been fuelled by their tailormade scripts. By casting talented actors like Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett, rather than comedians, Galton and Simpson would seem to have changed direction but they claimed that - in many ways - the Steptoes were an extension of the characters Tony Hancock and Sid James had played in Hancock's Half Hour. The big difference, however, was that the Steptoe series allowed its writers to explore their characters in more depth. Each episode was really a one-act play and the relationship between Albert and Harold, portrayed so well by Brambell and Corbett, contained elements of tragedy as well as comedy. Their enduring appeal is as strong today as when they first appeared in the 60s. Here are four vintage episodes specially adapted for radio. The rag and bone men are at their funniest. Michael Pointon.
SIDE 1: 'The Offer'
This was the story which, as part of the 'Comedy Playhouse' series, introduced audiences to Steptoe & Son in 1962. Harold was having serious misgivings about his future in the family business and the indignity of the horse and cart didn't help...'I'm sick and tired of sitting up there staring at that great backside all day long!'.
And he didn't take kindly to Albert's words of reassurance: 'You didn't have to work your way up - straight on the cart you went - AND your name on the gate!'.
'My name ain't on the gate - it's only got 'And Son!'. So Harold decided to consider an alternative employment..
SIDE 2: 'The Lead Man Cometh' - with Leonard Rossiter
A mysterious stranger arrives in Oil Drum Lane, claiming to be able to supply lead to the Steptoes at an incredibly low price - but how did he come by it and should they do business with such a man?
SIDE 3: 'Pilgrim's Progress'
Albert, army veteran of World War 1, wants to revisit the Flanders battlefields of his youth - but Harold prefers to holiday in St. Tropez. Albert: 'I never said I was in the Guards - I was attached to them'. Harold: 'What was you - the mascot?'. They eventually decide to fly to the Continent and Albert, on his first flight, uses it as a way to tout for business!
SIDE 4: 'Homes Fit For Heroes'
Harold answers an ad in the New Statesman to join a group of young people making a voyage around the world on a sloop. The only problem is that there'll be no-one to look after Albert or help run the business - so an old people's home is the answer, or is it?
(WRITTEN BY: Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. CAST AND CREDITS: Adapted by Gale Pedrick. Starring Wilfred Brambell and Harry H. Corbett with Olwen Brooks, Alan Dudley, Wendy Hall, Marie Makino, Norman Mitchell, Leonard Rossiter and Leon Thau. Produced by Bobby Jaye).
1990 (Cassette Release - Vintage Original Radio Recordings). English Language - Dolby. Running Time: 2 Hours - Approx.
Comprising of two clear audio cassette tapes with white printing in a double jewel-case with full colour roll-fold cover (see photographs 10 & 11) as shown.
Owned from new (in 1990) and never played or displayed, has been in storage ever since so is in brand new (see below) condition - from my private collection, impossible to find!
At the time of listing I cannot see any more new / unplayed copies of this first volume 'Steptoe & Son' radio collection cassette box set available for sale worldwide, and only a couple of used (& tatty) copies, which are commanding prices of up to £7.00 themselves (& no offers) - grab a very rare new & unplayed (see below) bargain.
Perfect for all Steptoe & Son, Galton & Simpson or classic 1960s / 1970s BBC radio comedy fans and collectors.
BBC RADIO COLLECTION - COMEDY. CONTAINS 2 CASSETTES. MCPS / JY. WARNING: Please use a pencil or similar object to wind up any slack tape before playing cassettes. Publishing & copyright 1990 BBC Enterprises Ltd. / BBC Worldwide Limited. BBC Radio Collection, Room A2106, BBC Enterprises Ltd., 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0TT. Telephone 081 576 2210. Dolby - Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. MPN: ZBBC 1145. ISBN: 0563 411228. Barcode (EAN): 5 011755114541. Standard 2 x audio cassettes in double jewel case sizes are approximately:- Width 4.1" (10.5cm) x Height 5.35" (13.65cm) x Depth 0.65" (1.65cm) and Weight 113g - given as a guide only, not individually weighed & measured for each double audio book listed.