Reviews
The British press celebrated the event more for its historic significance than the actual content of the show. There was extensive reporting of the pre- and post- show publicity including interviews with the participants. Since Sellers was a premier player in movies at this point, and Secombe had become a much-loved presence on television and film, notably appearing as Mr. Bumble in the film version of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!, there was much public interest even among those who had never heard the original show. The sleeve notes for the vinyl recording quote various newspaper articles, including this one from the Guardian, headlined "Goons Reithed in Glory".
Fifty years of nation speaking peace unto nation. Fifty years of Reith, Normanbrook, Hill and Alvar Lidell and how does the British Broadcasting Corporation celebrate the occasion? Answer: with a maniac cackle. It showed a fitting sense of history. The Goons, after all, were the fathers of the great national in-joke and a private language...
Read more about this topic: The Last Goon Show Of All
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