by John Fisher
Cavendish Club 378
Chaplin, Charlie 2, 14, 53, 132, 136, 196
Cimkentli, Levent 180–1
Cinderella 89
Circus Tavern, Purfleet 380, 385, 387, 405
Clark, Petula 206, 241, 255
Classic Cooper 419
Coconut Grove, The 84
Collyer, Derek 265, 267
Combined Services Entertainment Unit 52 see also CSE
Comedy and Emcees Lecture Book 159
Comedy Playhouse 254
Commedia dell’ Arte 137–9, 290
Comrie House Prep School 23
Conway, Russ 212, 251
Conway, Steve 85
Cook, Peter 123, 356
Cooke, Brian 262, 283–4, 290, 291, 292
Cool Mikado, The 329–30
Cooper 295
Cooper at Large 271–2
Cooper, David (brother) 24, 26, 43, 46, 71
Cooper, Gertrude (mother) 17, 19, 21, 22, 23–4, 25, 29, 41, 42, 43, 44, 361, 437
Cooper, Gwen (wife) xvii, xviii–xix, xxii, 100, 115, 148, 190, 353, 415, 418, 430, 431–2
alcohol use 356;
career as a performer 58–61, 65;
character 347–8;
children see Cooper, Thomas and Cooper, Vicky;
death 347, 418, 422, 423;
finances 348, 422, 450;
magic shop, runs 113;
Miff Ferrie, relationship with 78–9, 82, 83, 227, 398, 399;
nickname 57–8, 68, 355, 409;
TC, arguments with 364–8;
TC, holidays with 6–7, 98;
TC, involvement in career of 67–9, 73, 74, 150–1, 228, 233, 349;
TC, marries 57, 59, 64;
TC, meets 56–8;
TC, on life with 350, 351–2;
TC’s affair, reaction to 370, 371–2, 375;
TC’s blue material, attitude towards 175;
TC’s death, life after 420, 421;
TC’s death, reaction to 415, 416;
TC’s health, on 360, 361, 363;
TC’s jokes, butt of 146–7, 354, 374–5;
TC’s love of music, remembers 106;
TC’s practical jokes, remembers 350
Cooper, Jimmy (uncle) 20, 50
Cooper – Just Like That 296–7, 391
Cooper King-Size! 270–1, 273, 275
Cooper, Lizzie (aunt) 20
Cooper, or Life with Tommy 244–5
Cooper Talks 253–4
Cooper, Thomas (son) 201, 222, 300, 309, 349, 352, 353, 364, 371, 412, 413–14, 415, 418–19
Cooper, Thomas Samuel (father) 18–19, 23–4, 25, 26, 29, 34, 42, 43
Cooper, Tommy
acting ability and opportunities 318–46;
adverts xiii, 392–3, 394–5, 417;
agent/manage
Cooper, Tommy – cont. see Ferrie, Miff;
alcohol abuse 64, 123, 226, 356–60, 362–70, 377–88, 389, 390, 392, 396, 398, 400, 402, 406;
America, popularity and work in 189–91, 196, 228, 272–4, 278, 285–8, 429;
appearance/ physicality xiii–xiv, xix, 1–5, 19, 23, 32, 33, 45–6, 53, 308, 312–13, 316, 317–18, 324 see also fez;
apprenticeship 34–5;
army, life in 40, 45–7;
boxing 45–6;
character 1–2, 3, 5–6, 28–31, 44, 46, 52, 67, 100–4, 121, 299, 303–5, 310–12, 349–50, 352, 364–5, 366, 370, 379, 381, 384, 428, 429–57;
comedic methods 308–46;
comedy heroes and influences xxii, 136–86 see also under individual name;
death xvi–xvii, 218, 407–15;
early auditions 66–7, 75–7;
early gigs 84–91;
early life 17–23;
fame, extent of 10–12, 201, 269, 284, 294, 376, 419–27;
fez 6–7, 53–6, 63, 87, 131, 137, 149, 164, 184, 202, 227, 232, 322, 327, 363, 367, 396, 409, 441;
finances 35, 23–4, 34–6, 68, 73, 77, 79–84, 89, 91, 92, 97, 98, 100–1, 111, 113, 168, 169, 188, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209–11, 216, 217, 219, 221, 244, 247–8, 250, 254, 258–9, 274, 288, 294, 297, 339–40, 348, 377, 385, 387, 393–5, 403, 415–17;
first stage jobs 73–8;
funeral 415;
health xvi–xvii, 17, 33–4, 46, 49, 50, 218, 234, 282–3, 292, 296, 299, 300, 302, 360–1, 366, 376–406, 407–15;
home life 347–75;
horse riding 45–7;
‘just like that’ catchphrase 7, 11–12, 346, 368, 398;
live performance see under individual venue or event title;
love life see Cooper, Gwen and Kay, Mary;
magic, love of 14, 26–9, 36–40, 69–72, 99–100, 101, 103–35, 164, 257, 306–7, 405;
movies 327–44;
pantomime see under individual title;
post-death fame 10–12, 201, 419–27;
radio 228–32;
routines, comedy xvii, xxi, 78, 88, 94–6, 112, 118, 126–7, 148, 160–1, 163, 168, 176–7, 197, 202–4, 221, 248, 270, 290–1, 298, 300, 319–20, 323–5, 362, 390;
royals, favourite of 232–3, 234–5;
schooldays 23–34;
stage persona xvii, 5, 97–8, 141, 428 see also comedic methods;
television appearances 92, 236–307 see also under individual programme title;
Welsh heritage 20–1
Cooper, Vicky (daughter) 24, 29, 34, 116, 161, 208, 227, 228, 241, 302, 349, 351, 352, 353, 358, 361, 369, 371, 373, 374, 399, 423, 424, 425, 436
Cooper, Zena (sister-in-law) 19, 25–6, 29, 41, 43, 46
Cooper’s Capers 205, 245–6
Cooper’s Half Hour 392
Cooperama 256–9, 342
Cotton, Bill 246–7.250, 252, 253, 254, 275, 276, 382
Coventry Theatre 244
Crazy Gang, The 120
Croft, David 242–3, 244
Cruikshank, Stewart 206, 216
Cryer, Barry 2, 13, 29, 48, 171–2, 182, 185, 209, 266, 277, 278, 307, 309, 311, 322, 358, 424–5, 432, 441–3, 446–7
CSE 63, 65, 68, 84, 156, 211 see also Combined Services Entertainment Unit
Cuthbertson, Allan 292–3
Daniels, Paul 114–15, 117, 438
Dante 134–5, 187, 314
Davenport & Company, L. 99, 103, 109, 171–2, 201
David Frost Presents 273
David Paradine Productions Ltd 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 285, 286–8, 289, 359, 368, 379
Davidson, Jim 440
Dawson, Les 38, 126
Delfont, Bernard 187, 188, 190, 191, 194, 202, 204, 205–6, 207, 211, 212, 228, 235, 240, 245, 261, 362, 451
Dennis, Les 410, 411
Diggins, Bernard (cousin) 20, 24, 42
Doctor Dolittle 342–3
Dodd, John 164, 324
Dodd, Ken 14, 15, 31, 207, 208, 212, 213, 309, 344
Dors, Diana 282
Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly 217
Dowler, Arthur 126, 197
Drake, Charlie 208, 213, 328
Ed Sullivan Show, The 148, 151, 196
Edinburgh, Duke of 232, 233, 235
Educating Archie 228–9, 231, 332, 342
Edwards, Charlie 69
Edwards, Jimmy 88, 137, 188, 230, 243, 302, 338
Edwards, Percy 169
Egypt 6–7, 38, 51, 54–8, 60, 63
Elizabeth II, Queen 235
Ellisdons 28, 30, 109
Emery, Dick 137, 307
Encore des Folies 93, 97, 98, 187
Encyclopedia of Classified Gags 158–9
ENSA 58
Equity 192, 219–20, 445
Eric Sykes 1990 Show, The 340
Eternally Yours 134
Evans, George 265, 267
Evening Standard 97, 239
Exeter, Devon 22–4
Face the Music 241
Farrow, Janet 347–8, 354, 367
Farrow, Jimmy 347–8, 354, 367
Fawley Junior School 25, 34, 303
Ferrie, Beatrice xviii, 369, 416, 422
Ferrie, Miff xviii, xix, 55, 161, 214, 215, 232, 328, 450
America, reaction to offers from 189, 190–4, 196, 286–9;
blue material, reaction to 176, 177;
character 77–8, 79, 83, 205, 220, 226, 274;
club bookings, attitude towards 214, 215, 216, 217, 285, 296, 384;
comedy judgement 78–9, 283–4;
Gwen Cooper, relationship with 78–9, 82, 83, 227, 228, 237, 361–3, 365, 366, 418, 421;
health 418;
TC’s billing, negotiates 208–9;
TC, contract with 79–82, 83, 84, 191–4, 218–25;
TC’s earnings with 81–2, 84, 89, 188, 191, 210–11, 212, 217, 250, 294, 296–7, 339, 340, 393–4, 395, 417;
TC, first meets 74–6;
TC’s health and alcoholism, worries over 361–3, 365, 366, 368, 377, 378, 380–1, 382–3, 387, 388, 391, 392, 393, 396, 398–9, 405, 416;
TC’s movie career, negotiates 332, 337–8, 339, 340, 341;
TC’s stage career, negotiates 91, 92, 93, 96–7, 98, 190–4, 196, 202, 204–5, 211–12, 216, 231, 392, 393, 394;
TC, relationship with 78, 82–3, 89, 191–4, 199, 208–9, 218–28, 233, 377, 378, 380–3, 405, 418, 432–3;
TC’s television career, negotiates 240, 242–3, 244–5, 247, 249–50, 253–4, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259–60, 263, 264, 266, 270, 271, 272, 277, 281, 283–4, 292, 294, 296–7, 302, 305
Few Impressions, A 199
Field, Sid 68, 79, 136, 173, 265, 327
Fielding, Harold 207
Fields, Gracie 87, 216, 289
Fields, W. C. 5, 38, 120, 136, 175, 213, 345, 443
Fighting for a Laugh (Fawkes) 51
Flanagan and Allen 62, 173, 235
Flanagan, Bud 53, 62, 123, 234
Flynn, Jerome 421, 422, 424, 425
Folies Bergère 93
For the Children – Variety 93
Forsyth, Bruce 79, 83, 209, 223, 227, 259
Foster, Dudley 265
Foster’s Agency 193
Fowler, Harry 62–3
Fox, Imro 123–4
Frederick, Iris 288, 294, 339
Freeman, Dave 242, 245
Frost, David 272–3, 285–6, 287, 288, 350–1
Fyne, Alec 247–8, 274, 301
Galton, Ray 14, 260, 261, 262, 331, 342
Gay’s Gags 159
Gazeka, Len 54–5
Geen, Eric 168, 256, 259–60
Giles, Carl 349, 353
Glasgow Empire 85–6
Glason, Billy 158–9, 160, 171, 186
Grade Organisation, The 220
Grade, Leslie 212, 218–19, 220, 242
Grade, Lew 162, 205, 212, 220, 242, 274, 301, 426
Grade, Michael 213
Grand Order of Water Rats 233, 354, 453
Grant, Cary 123, 435
Greenwood, Joan 281, 282
Grosvenor House 87
Guyler, Deryck 270, 326
Hall, Bill 100–1
Hancock, Tony xix, 14, 76, 130–1, 136, 146, 169, 188, 208, 212, 229, 243, 259, 260, 264, 277, 318, 345, 356, 394, 406
Happy and Glorious 194
Hardley Secondary School 34
Harrison, Rex 343–4, 345
Hayden, Bob 106, 107
Hemingway, David 171, 173, 430, 433–4, 446, 454
Henderson, Dickie 104, 277, 436
Henning, Doug 105, 301
Her Majesty’s Theatre xvii, 407–12
Heroes of Comedy xvii, 419
Hill, Benny 137, 194, 195–6, 251, 259, 274, 302, 328, 352
Hills, Dick 201, 292, 293, 295, 297, 310, 364
Hobley, McDonald 237, 240, 241
Hooper, Edwin 110–11, 112, 114, 356, 445
Hope, Bob xxii, 21, 137, 147, 153, 155–6, 158, 182, 188, 301, 348
How Do You View? 236, 251
Howard and Wyndham 206, 207, 211, 216
Howard, Trevor 326
Howerd, Frankie 14, 38, 98, 136, 180, 182, 241, 259, 261, 330, 331, 332, 352, 420, 430
Hudd, Roy 178, 354
Hudson, Peter 214, 345, 357, 359, 362, 371, 404, 430, 434, 445–6, 455
Hull, Rod 392–3
Humby, Derek 35, 36, 38
Humor-Dor for Emcees and Comedians 159
Hurran, Dick 215–16, 221
Hylton, Jack 188, 242
Hythe, Hampshire 25, 34, 35, 38, 40
Institute of Magicians 170
International Magic Studio 109
It Never Fails 199–200
It’s Magic 187, 236–40, 290
It’s Your Move 340–2, 402
ITV 246, 247, 254, 269, 270, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277
Jackdauz 75, 91
Jacques, Hattie 332–3
James, Sid 26, 146
Jones, Betty (cousin) 20, 23, 24
Jones, Philip 248–9, 251, 253, 254, 255, 258, 259, 260, 263, 273, 274–5, 285, 287, 291–2, 294, 299–300, 338, 339
Juke Box 63–4
Jus’ Like That! xvii, xxii, 172, 422, 424
Kaleidoscope 241
Kay, Mary xix–xx, xxi, 2, 53, 82–3, 105, 106, 150, 179, 218, 225–6, 269, 296, 303, 306, 320, 327, 362, 369, 370–1, 372, 373, 382, 383, 384, 390, 404, 410, 412, 418, 423, 433–4, 450
Keaton, Buster 3, 14, 130, 272, 334
Ken Brooke’s Magic Place 104–5, 109, 359–60, 439
Kirkland, Dennis 303, 304–5, 320–1, 388–90
Lahr, Bert 157, 413, 427
Lakeside Country Club 217, 378–9, 441
Lancashire Evening Post 49
Langley, Hampshire 25, 28, 65
Las Vegas 115, 148, 150, 189–90, 191, 192, 218, 219, 220, 228, 362, 399, 405
Laughtermakers, The (Nathan) 262
Laurel & Hardy 12, 70, 137, 140–2, 173–4, 187, 201, 333, 334, 341, 348
Leddy, Mark 196, 219
Leno, Dan 12–13, 138, 290
Lewis, Milo 263, 276, 277
Life with Cooper 258–69, 274, 275, 276
Little Hut, The 328
Live from Her Majesty’s 405–12
London Hippodrome 93, 96
London Laughs 188
London Night Out 201, 389
London Palladium 62, 106, 117, 134, 139, 142, 163, 187, 188, 204, 206, 207, 211, 212, 213, 241, 247, 251, 376, 385–6, 434, 440, 446
London Society of Magicians 170
London Television Consortium 273
London Weekend Television (LWT) 273, 275, 276, 278, 280, 284, 285, 286, 287, 289, 292, 310, 407, 412
Lowe, Arthur 262, 339
Lutz, Abbot 128–9
Lynn, Vera 188, 189, 225, 274
Lyons, Frankie 61, 62, 63, 64
Magic Circle, The 83–4, 89, 96, 100, 112, 113, 121, 199, 201, 239, 322, 435
Magic Circular, The 96
Main Attraction, The 301, 403
Manchester Opera House 206, 216
Marks, Alfred xxii, 88
Marqueez 77, 452
Marsden, David 194–5
Marsh, Billy 74, 205, 206, 221
Marshall, Jay 103, 196, 219
Martin, Dean 233–4
Marx, Groucho 137–8, 146, 213
Marx, Harpo 173, 213
Maskelyne, Jasper 134, 314
Mayoh, Royston 184, 292, 294, 295, 304, 305, 306, 310, 358, 369, 430, 447
McCabe, John 140–1
McGivern, Cecil 92, 238, 239
McKenzie, Doug 234–5
Meet the Champ 329
Merriman, Eric 263, 265, 266, 267
Miller, Max xxii, 53, 68, 74, 87, 95, 100–1, 137, 144–8, 175, 181–2, 195, 205, 213, 235, 268–9, 289, 324, 327, 348, 354, 448, 449, 452, 457
Milligan, Spike xix, 3, 13, 33, 130, 159, 178, 179, 215, 245, 302, 311, 331, 344, 430
Mitchell, Iris 385, 387
Mitchell, Leslie 251
Monkhouse, Bob 88, 128, 130, 139, 145, 149, 170–1, 178, 185, 248, 290, 301, 313, 316, 320, 375, 403, 404, 408, 444
Montreux television festival (1969) 275
Morec
ambe and Wise Show, The 280
Morecambe, Eric 2, 133, 136, 176, 185–6, 226, 264, 277, 280, 292, 299, 307, 309, 352, 403–4, 413, 414, 426, 430
Morgan, Gladys 21, 180
Mortimer, Johnnie 262, 265, 283, 290, 291, 292
Moss Empires 85–6, 96, 187, 188
Mount Radford School 23–4
Muir, Frank 252
Muir, Graeme 238–9
Muir, John 168, 169–70, 231, 254, 256, 259–60, 447
Mullica, Tom 151–2
Muppet Show, The 301
Murray the Escapologist 118
Murray, Jimmy 58–9
Murray, Norman 212
My Life by Tommy Cooper 243
My Wildest Dream 230
National Film Theatre 10, 201
Nesbitt, Robert 204, 205, 451
New London Theatre 299, 392, 396
New Royal Restaurant, Liverpool 219
New York, USA 115, 182, 190, 196, 285, 350, 399
Newcombe, Clovissa 289
Newcombe, Peter 113, 149, 199
Night Out, Birmingham 218, 417
Nixon, David 229, 251, 302
Noel Gay Organisation 287
North, Peter 28, 31, 34, 40, 439
Nuffield Centre 74
Nunn, Trevor 327, 346
Observer, The 194
Orben, Robert 157, 158, 186
Out of My Trunk (Berle) 157
Page, Patrick 55, 103, 170, 311, 356, 448
Palfreyman, John 297, 298, 299, 397
Paris by Night 164–5, 188, 194, 196, 199, 227–8, 328
Parkinson 246, 247, 381, 396–8, 400
Parkinson, Michael 246, 247, 326, 358, 454
Parkinson, Stan 251–2, 253, 295
Parnell, Val 96, 98, 139, 204, 242
Particular Pleasures (Priestley) 38
Pathé 275, 356
Paul, Johnny 115–16, 123
Payne, Tom 167–8
Penington, Jon 337–8
Performer, The 190–1
Peters, Gordon 227, 307
Piccadilly Revels 189
Planet Cooper 280–1
Plank, The 332–41
Pollock, Channing 434, 435
Poplar Civic Theatre 91
Potter, Bob 217, 378–9, 441
Powell, Sandy 132, 267
Priestley, J. B. 38, 121, 213
Prince of Wales Theatre 136, 165, 188, 200, 202, 205, 242, 328
Prince of Wales, Charles 121, 232, 244
