Jack Train
Encyclopedia
Jack Train was a British
radio and film actor popular during the Second World War.
Born in Plymouth
, Train was on BBC
radio in many productions, but his characters in the BBC series ITMA (It's That Man Again) with Tommy Handley
gave him fame. He appeared in several British films, none top-rated.
In ITMA, the wartime comedy show, he created Colonel Chinstrap, a pickled former Indian Army officer who perpetually believed he was being offered a drink, replying: "I don't mind if I do". Chinstrap was based on a real person. Train was visiting the BBC's chief announcer and news reader, John Snagge
, when in came a bleary-eyed former army man, another friend of Snagge's. The arrival said: "John, I've just done the most marvellous piece of business. I've bought a water heater on 10 years' hire purchase
and what the gas company don't know is that I am drinking myself to death." It was not difficult for Train to turn him into Colonel Chinstrap, actors being encouraged to create characters from experience. When the man heard the show he failed to recognise himself but commented: "Wonderful character. I knew silly buggers like that in India." And then, nine years and five months after the first meeting, Snagge sent Train a telegram: THE COLONEL BEAT THE GAS COMPANY BY SEVEN MONTHS.
Train made two cameo appearances in The Goon Show
as Colonel Chinstrap. He was also a regular panellist on the popular radio quiz show Twenty Questions. He died on 16 December 1966 in London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio and film actor popular during the Second World War.
Born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Train was on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio in many productions, but his characters in the BBC series ITMA (It's That Man Again) with Tommy Handley
Tommy Handley
Thomas Reginald "Tommy" Handley was a British comedian, mainly known for the BBC radio programme ITMA . He was born at Toxteth Park, Liverpool in Lancashire....
gave him fame. He appeared in several British films, none top-rated.
In ITMA, the wartime comedy show, he created Colonel Chinstrap, a pickled former Indian Army officer who perpetually believed he was being offered a drink, replying: "I don't mind if I do". Chinstrap was based on a real person. Train was visiting the BBC's chief announcer and news reader, John Snagge
John Snagge
John Derrick Mordaunt Snagge OBE was a long-time British newsreader and commentator on BBC Radio.Born in Chelsea, London, he was educated at Winchester College and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a degree in law. He then joined the BBC, taking up the position of assistant director at...
, when in came a bleary-eyed former army man, another friend of Snagge's. The arrival said: "John, I've just done the most marvellous piece of business. I've bought a water heater on 10 years' hire purchase
Hire purchase
Hire purchase is the legal term for a contract, in this persons usually agree to pay for goods in parts or a percentage at a time. It was developed in the United Kingdom and can now be found in China, Japan, Malaysia, India, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand. It is also called...
and what the gas company don't know is that I am drinking myself to death." It was not difficult for Train to turn him into Colonel Chinstrap, actors being encouraged to create characters from experience. When the man heard the show he failed to recognise himself but commented: "Wonderful character. I knew silly buggers like that in India." And then, nine years and five months after the first meeting, Snagge sent Train a telegram: THE COLONEL BEAT THE GAS COMPANY BY SEVEN MONTHS.
Train made two cameo appearances in The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
as Colonel Chinstrap. He was also a regular panellist on the popular radio quiz show Twenty Questions. He died on 16 December 1966 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Films
- The Nursemaid Who DisappearedThe Nursemaid Who DisappearedThe Nursemaid Who Disappeared is a 1938 British, black-and-white, crime film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Ronald Shiner as Detective Smith , Ian Fleming, Arthur Margetson, Peter Coke and Edward Chapman...
(1939) - King Arthur Was a GentlemanKing Arthur Was a GentlemanKing Arthur Was a Gentleman is a 1942 British, black-and-white, comedy, musical film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Ronald Shiner as Sargent and Arthur Askey as Arthur King...
(1942) - It's That Man AgainIt's That Man Again (film)It's That Man Again is a 1943 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Tommy Handley, Greta Gynt and Jack Train. It was based on the successful radio show It's That Man Again. The mayor of a small town lends his assistance to some drama students.-Cast:* Tommy Handley ... Mayor...
(1943) - Miss London Ltd.Miss London Ltd.Miss London Ltd. is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, musical, war film, directed by Val Guest and starring Ronald Shiner as Sailor Meredith and Arthur Askey as Arthur Bowden...
(1943) - Gaiety George (1946)
- New Town (1948)
- Colonel BogeyColonel Bogey (film)Colonel Bogey is a 1948 fantasy film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Jack Train and Mary Jerrold.-Cast:*Jack Train as Uncle James*Mary Jerrold as Aunt Mabel*Jane Barrett as Alice Graham*John Stone as Wilfred Barriteau*Ethel Coleridge as Emily...
(1948) - Your Very Good Health (1948)
- Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland (1949 film)Alice in Wonderland is a 1949 French film based on Lewis Carroll's fantasy novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Directed by Dallas Bower, the film stars Carol Marsh as Alice, Stephen Murray as Lewis Carroll, and Raymond Bussières as The Tailor...
(1949) - Twenty Question Murder Mystery (1950)
- CatacombsCatacombs (1965 film)Catacombs is a 1965 British horror film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Gary Merrill, Georgina Cookson and Jane Merrow.-Cast:* Gary Merrill ... Raymond Garth* Georgina Cookson ... Ellen Garth* Jane Merrow ... Alice Taylor...
(1965)
ITMA Characters & Their Catch-Phrases
- Colonel Chinstrap - (a heavy drinker) - "I don't mind if I do"
- Claude (a Handyman) - "After you Cecil, No after you Claude"
- Funf (a German Spy) - "This is Funf speaking"
- Mark Time (an elderly ditherer) - "I'll have to ask me Dad"
- Lefty (a Gangster)
- Hari Kari (a Japanese )
- Fuss Pot (a fusspot)
- Prattle
- Mrs Mop (cleaning lady) - "Can I do you now, Sir?"