And it's legacy in the post-war era is probably in the all-round entertainer, the showmen like Bruce Forsyth who started out as variety acts, performers who tried to master stand-up comedy, singing, dancing, an instrument and the general craft of the stage.
And its legacy in the post-war era is probably in the all-round entertainer, the showmen like Bruce Forsyth who started out as variety acts, performers who tried to master stand-up comedy, singing, dancing, an instrument and the general craft of the stage.
Ask the proverbial man-in-the-street today to reel off a list of prominent all-round entertainers and they might be able to. Names like Forsyth, Des O'Connor, and Max Bygraves might trip off the tongue. But it might take a bit of headscratching before you get round to someone under retirement age. Perhaps you might include Joe Pasquale or Brian Conley, both 46.
Ask the proverbial man-in-the-street today to reel off a list of prominent all-round entertainers and they might be able to. Names like Forsyth, Des O'Connor, and Max Bygraves might trip off the tongue. But it might take a bit of headscratching before you get round to someone under retirement age. Perhaps you might include Joe Pasquale or Brian Conley, both 46.
GREAT ALL-ROUNDERS Bruce ForsythMax BygravesDes O'ConnorKen Dodd
GREAT ALL-ROUNDERS Bruce ForsythMax BygravesDes O'ConnorKen Dodd
And if you can't think of any young ones, then it might be because the world they came from, the world of variety, is now an endangered habitat.
And if you can't think of any young ones, then it might be because the world they came from, the world of variety, is now an endangered habitat.
Variety had its heyday in the form of the post-war summer season when British holiday plans had places like Swanage, Minehead and Great Yarmouth at their heart.
Variety had its heyday in the form of the post-war summer season when British holiday plans had places like Swanage, Minehead and Great Yarmouth at their heart.
Forsyth developed his skills in this arena, particularly during a stint in a show called Gaytime in Babbacombe, Devon, recalls Max Tyler, historian of the British Music Hall Society.
Forsyth developed his skills in this arena, particularly during a stint in a show called Gaytime in Babbacombe, Devon, recalls Max Tyler, historian of the British Music Hall Society.
"Not only did you take the comedian's part, but you were expected to deal in sketches and songs," he says.
"Not only did you take the comedian's part, but you were expected to deal in sketches and songs," he says.
Rearguard action
Rearguard action
And the restrictions on the material that could be performed on a Sunday allowed the link to develop between the all-round entertainers of the variety world and the television gameshow.
And the restrictions on the material that could be performed on a Sunday allowed the link to develop between the all-round entertainers of the variety world and the television gameshow.
"You weren't allowed to do sketches and so forth. They were very restricted. The producer thought it would be a good idea to get the audience involved in games and competitions."
"You weren't allowed to do sketches and so forth. They were very restricted. The producer thought it would be a good idea to get the audience involved in games and competitions."
Thus were hosts born.
Thus were hosts born.
Young all-round entertainers have become rarer
Young all-round entertainers have become rarer
Variety veteran Duggie Chapman, a promoter and performer, is fighting a rearguard action.
Variety veteran Duggie Chapman, a promoter and performer, is fighting a rearguard action.
"I still run a variety show," he says. "I think I'm one of the only ones who does it anymore."
"I still run a variety show," he says. "I think I'm one of the only ones who does it anymore."
He blames three factors - the decline of the seaside holiday, the rise of a "pop star" mentality where young performers will not spend time learning craft and the change in taste of television executives.
He blames three factors - the decline of the seaside holiday, the rise of a "pop star" mentality where young performers will not spend time learning craft and the change in taste of television executives.
"Our motto is 'To cherish the jewels of the past and actively support the interests of the future'," says Tyler. "The first part is easy, the second part isn't so easy. We survive so much on nostalgia now."
"Our motto is 'To cherish the jewels of the past and actively support the interests of the future'," says Tyler. "The first part is easy, the second part isn't so easy. We survive so much on nostalgia now."
There's no doubt that at least by the mid-1980s and possibly some time before that, the powers that be in television had decided that variety in its traditional format had become irredeemably naff.
There's no doubt that at least by the mid-1980s and possibly some time before that, the powers that be in television had decided that variety in its traditional format had become irredeemably naff.
"It has become a cottage industry," says Chapman. "The spirit lives on because the audience are still ecstatic, delighted to hear it because the media doesn't present that kind of thing any more."
"It has become a cottage industry," says Chapman. "The spirit lives on because the audience are still ecstatic, delighted to hear it because the media doesn't present that kind of thing any more."
Old image
Old image
The audience is typically over the age of 60 and they are hoping to revisit childhood memories at the shows.
The audience is typically over the age of 60 and they are hoping to revisit childhood memories at the shows.
One of the few young performers on the circuit is 27-year-old Andy Eastwood. Like the young Forsyth he plays the ukulele and is probably the only person to have played the instrument as their final recital in a music degree at Oxford University.
One of the few young performers on the circuit is 27-year-old Andy Eastwood. Like the young Forsyth, he plays the ukulele and is probably the only person to have played the instrument for their final recital in a music degree at Oxford University.
"We normally go to the towns people live in. In the old days it was the seaside places but people don't go to the seaside anymore. We mainly do matinees so they [the over 60s audience] can come in daylight, they are just afraid to come out at night.
"We normally go to the towns people live in. In the old days it was the seaside places but people don't go to the seaside anymore. We mainly do matinees so they [the over 60s audience] can come in daylight, they are just afraid to come out at night.
"It's got this sort of old image because it isn't on telly. It isn't a problem of younger people liking it, it's a problem of selling them a ticket. It's hard to market."
"It's got this sort of old image because it isn't on telly. It isn't a problem of younger people liking it, it's a problem of selling them a ticket. It's hard to market."
Eastwood, also known as the "Merrymaker", plays banjo and violin, sings and acts and is able to do comedy, but he fears that young performers now do not have a platform to hone their all-round skills.
Eastwood, also known as the "Merrymaker", plays banjo and violin, sings and acts and is able to do comedy, but he fears that young performers now do not have a platform to hone their all-round skills.
"Where do they work to perfect their skills. Where can they go in terms of their career? There is no TV exposure."
"Where do they work to perfect their skills. Where can they go in terms of their career? There is no TV exposure."
There is still cabaret at holiday camps and the theatres in Blackpool, and variety has passed some of its spirit to pantomime and musicals, buts its defenders think its era is over.
There is still cabaret at holiday camps and the theatres in Blackpool, and variety has passed some of its spirit to pantomime and musicals, buts its defenders think its era is over.
And the current emphasis in modern comedy means a key component of showmanship has been lost.
And the current emphasis in modern comedy means a key component of showmanship has been lost.
"Most of them don't know how to make an entrance and don't know how to make an exit," rues Tyler.
"Most of them don't know how to make an entrance and don't know how to make an exit," rues Tyler.
Chapman knows something else has gone.
Chapman knows something else has gone.
"You've either got style or you haven't got style."
"You've either got style or you haven't got style."
