Robb Wilton
Encyclopedia
Robb Wilton, born Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957) was an English
comedian
and comic actor
who was famous for his filmed monologues in the 1930s and 1940s in which he played incompetent authority figures.
Wilton was born in Everton, Liverpool, and had a dry Lancashire
accent which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English
Music Hall
, especially popular in the North of England, and he was a contemporary of Frank Randle
and George Formby, Jr.. He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently 'went about their work', his humour embodying the everyday and the absurd – and the inherent absurdity of the everyday.
He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians Ken Dodd
and Les Dawson
, and the film historian Jeffrey Richards
has cited him as a key influence for the TV sitcom
Dad's Army
(1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband who wryly takes part in the Home Guard
. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous Walmington-on-Sea
platoon.
Wilton's most popular catchphrase was "The day war broke out...". The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was "The day War broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you...You've got to stop it'. I said, 'Stop what?'. She said, 'The War'".
Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the 'fire station sketch', in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw St... No, don't tell me... Oh, I could walk straight to it...", finishing with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"
Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent J.P., appeared in a number of radio series during the 1930s and 1940s and was known for the phase "You shouldn't have done that!". He would also frequently make the comment: "Ee, what a to-do!"
He appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the Arthur Askey
vehicle The Love Match
in 1955.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and comic actor
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
who was famous for his filmed monologues in the 1930s and 1940s in which he played incompetent authority figures.
Wilton was born in Everton, Liverpool, and had a dry Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
accent which suited his comic persona as a procrastinating and work-shy impediment to the general public. Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
, especially popular in the North of England, and he was a contemporary of Frank Randle
Frank Randle
Frank Randle was an English comedian...
and George Formby, Jr.. He portrayed the human face of bureaucracy; for example, playing a policeman who shilly-shallies his way out of acting upon a reported murder by pursuing a contrarian line of questioning. Wilton, rubbing his face in a world-weary way, would fiddle with his props while his characters blithely and incompetently 'went about their work', his humour embodying the everyday and the absurd – and the inherent absurdity of the everyday.
He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd
Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...
and Les Dawson
Les Dawson
Leslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
, and the film historian Jeffrey Richards
Jeffrey Richards
Jeffrey Richards is a British historian.Educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, he is Professor of Cultural History at Lancaster University. A leading cultural historian and film critic, he is the author of over 15 books on British cultural history...
has cited him as a key influence for the TV sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
(1968–1977); he made several monologues in the person of a layabout husband who wryly takes part in the Home Guard
British Home Guard
The Home Guard was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War...
. His gentle, if pointed, manner of comedy is similar to the wistful adventures of the more famous Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort where the BBC Television sitcom, BBC radio series and film Dad's Army was based.Located on the channel coast of England in the county of Kent, the national "front line" following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during...
platoon.
Wilton's most popular catchphrase was "The day war broke out...". The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was "The day War broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you...You've got to stop it'. I said, 'Stop what?'. She said, 'The War'".
Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the 'fire station sketch', in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw St... No, don't tell me... Oh, I could walk straight to it...", finishing with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"
Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent J.P., appeared in a number of radio series during the 1930s and 1940s and was known for the phase "You shouldn't have done that!". He would also frequently make the comment: "Ee, what a to-do!"
He appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
vehicle The Love Match
The Love Match
The Love Match is a 1955 British comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Arthur Askey, Glenn Melvyn, Thora Hird and Shirley Eaton. Two football-mad railway engine drivers are desperate to get back in time to see a match. It was based on a play by Glenn Melvyn.-Cast:* Arthur Askey ... ...
in 1955.
External links
- Robb Wilton.The Policeman Video at TV-Click