A HIDDEN ARCHIVE, REDISCOVERED
by MICHAEL DALY
Welcome to my website celebrating the life and career of the great ukulele-playing entertainer and film star, George Formby. Much of the material on this website is being released for the first time, coming from previously unpublished primary sources: interviews with Formby’s colleagues, plus five hours of recorded interviews with Eliza Formby – Formby’s mother, and widow of the great music hall star George Formby Senior – which were made between 1962-67 and have never before been made public.
WHAT’S ON THE SITE
For those wanting to read George’s life story, I’ve written a short biography, divided into sections. Please take the time to read the story of his father’s life too, there is much new information about him on this site, most significantly his bigamy, which seems to have been kept quiet for 112 years, until reading between the lines of various documents set me off on an investigative trail. There is less newsworthy, but equally interesting information relating to old George Senior – his reunion with his mother, and a harrowing account of his final days in February 1921.
I have come to adore GF1, as he’s become abbreviated in my notes; his act was, by all accounts, subtle and delicate, with a sad beauty and dark shading entirely lacking in his son’s work – there, all is poster colours and bright lights, saucy words and knowing winks. But they are perhaps two sides of the same Lancashire coin, giants as artists, and perhaps even greater as men, both showing superhuman endurance and courage in their often difficult lives.
I have compiled what I hope will become the definitive chronological list of George Formby’s recorded works, and the individual film sections will be expanded to include contemporary reviews and photographs.
For those interested, I’ve written a short section on the background to the project, which also gives details of the main sources I will be using.
There are also a significant amount of original news cuttings, trade reviews, recording session details, interviews and photographs which will be posted on the site over the coming months, again, much of which has never before been released. Much of this material was part of the collected archive of my father, Decca record producer and George Formby aficionado Kevin Daly. I have taken up where he left off, transferring the almost fifty-year-old tapes, found buried in cardboard boxes; scanning hundreds of photographs, reading a ton of typed-up and hand-written (and often scribbled) notes, and, from these, I have written the text of this website. It is my attempt – in a multi-media way – to tell the life stories of the two great George Formbys, father and son, based as far as possible on these primary sources.
Many, many thanks to airbrush legend Philip Castle who painted the wonderful header image especially for the site.
GENERAL INFORMATION
It is interesting, when quoting sums of money from the past, to have an idea what they equate to now; this is a difficult task, and no method is fool-proof. After various words of advice, I have chosen to use the Retail Price Index, which gives a conservative estimate. It shows for instance that at the end of his life, Formby Senior was earning the equivalent of £14,000 per week, and Formby Junior’s Columbia film contract was worth, in today’s money, £18m.
I will be making extensive use of the mouse hover function, to give more information and comments about a photograph or document, so please hover!
So far, I have only had time to present basic information – what’s on the site now is the tip of the iceberg, just to get the ball rolling; there will be many articles over the coming months on all aspects of Formby’s life and work, as well as several new permanent sections, and an extensive use of of audio.
All material on this site is my copyright unless otherwise stated. If you wish to quote from my text, or use it as a reference, please make sure you credit me, and if you are feeling kind, an email letting me know where it’s being used would be much appreciated. If you wish to reproduce any photographs, again, please contact me.
There will inevitably be errors and slips, as I have had to write and input a lot of information, as well as prepare all the visual and audio material and design the actual website layout. For any mistakes, and teething problems, I apologise in advance.
Finally, it is for me personally, an immense satisfaction to see this material – much of it the result of my father Kevin Daly’s many years of dedication to the Formby cause – making its way slowly into the world. He taught me the value of a generous spirit, and with that in mind, I am making our work available online now, for all lovers of George Formby, and all those interested in his work. I hope it is received in a similar spirit of good will.
MICHAEL DALY
30 March 2011
Absolutely love this site and have been telling folk about it!
Neil here from Wigan – uke player and George Fan, also co-runner of the “George Formby Film Club” (our first showing is “No Limit” on thursday in Wigan!
Again – great site, loads of info. and very well put together!
Regards!
Neil.
Thanks for your kind comments Neil, and for spreading the word. Much appreciated.
Michael
I am still trying to find out who the other half of The Brothers Glenray was. Any help would be appreciated.
Margaret
Hi Michael
I knew your dad in the 1960′s and we became close friends in the GFS. The society owes Kevin an awful lot and I treasure my memories of him. I Amos pleased that you are continuing his love for George Formby. He would be proud of you. Congratulations on your web site and if I can be of any help then please let me know.
John Walley
Founder and Honorary member GFS
Thanks for your kind words, John, they are much appreciated. Likewise, I am more than happy to share any material I have with you and the GFS.
hi reg i still think of you when i go to kevins , hope you are keeping well ? i am still in gloucester. it would be nice to meet you again . regards alan
Hi Alan Thanks for your reply, nice to hear from you. Like you, always thinking of the times we had together,You and Kevin coming along to my home and going to the theatre to see Alan Randall who sadly is not with us any longer. Alan, kindly forward me details of your phone number via my Email address which is: footydad@live.co.uk then we can talk and arrange a meeting. I’m now going to reply to Kevin and ask the same.
Take Care Alan. Kindest Regards. Reg Thacker.
as a ps to my previous post i meant to say that georges sister appeared at the broadway theatre in arthurstone terrace dundee when she was in hughie greens gang
when i did my scotvec library and information science qualification many years ago one of the modules was a local history investigation and because of my interest in cinemas and theatres researched the history of the kings and hippodrome theatre 27 cowgate dundee.
the theatre opened in march 1909 and was opened by lady dunedin of strathmore
as i delved further into its history as i was covering its full life until its closing in 1981 when it was an oden cinems i discovered that george formby senior appeared there in 1920 i cant recall the exact month but think it was about a year before his death on 8 feb 1921
i also found while going through newspapers that georges sister was a member of the hughie green gang and is listed in the advert as playing the ukelele this was around 1932
iam now curious as to whether george jnr ever appeared at any scottish theatres or were his appearance confined to england and abroad
i watched the george formby programme on bbc4 tonight and found it very interesting but they didnt put up a titles of films of early george formby films and was also the first time i had seen george playing and singing leaning on a lamppost and also the clip from keep your seats please which ive never seen as i dont think its ever been shown on tv
it has also been a long number of years since george formby films have been shown on tv and think this is a shame
i look forward to any of the info i have enquired about
Donald, I agree it is a pity that George’s films are rearely on TV (and when they are they are the same ones), but at least they are available on DVD except for Feather Your Nest – which I understand there are some copyright issues on.
did george for own a austin a40 does any one know
Dear Michael,
One other question: my uncle co-wrote “John Willie’s Jazz Band” but was it written for George Senior? Seem to be a follow-up to Willie’s Ragtime Band of 1914. By the way, the early Junior recordings sound acoustic which is odd because electric recording had arrived in 1925.
Tunefully,
Ian Whitcomb
Dear Michael,
I wrote to you at another part of this site. Just to say that this is a great site, that I recorded an LP with your father at Argo, that I have adored GF since the mid-1950s, that I have been recording with my ukes an banjo-ukes for decades, and that my uncle Stanley Damerell co-wrote several of GF’s early songs. I’m in the middle of writing a book called “Ukulele Heroes” for Hal Leonard Publications. Hardly a soul here in America knows or cares about GF but we are trying to propagate. And finally–who really wrote “All Going Back”?
Tunefully,
Ian Whitcomb
Thanks for the reply Michael and yes, it would be an honour to be linked to this site. I was with Pasadena RO just last week in fact in Zürich.I have loads of LPs your Dad put together and they shaped my career in music…so…thanks Mr. Daly!
all the best,
Sean.
Michael, this is a brilliant bit of work and opens up many otherwise hidden facets of George’s life. Thanks so very much for all your hard work.
Sean Moyses.
Thanks so much Sean. I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. I guess you must be a fellow Frank Crumit and Cliff Edwards fan! I see you used to play with the Pasadena RO – I think my father produced something of theirs, together with EMI’s Chris Ellis. Did you know him? I’ll put a link to your site on the Links page if you’d like.
Michael
Why is the other half of The Brothers Glenray always referred to as “another boy”? Doesn’t anyone know who he was?
This is bugging me!
Regards, Margaret
This California-based Formby fan thanks you profusely, Michael. I’m also an admirer of your dad’s work, having many of the reissue LPs he produced for Living Era and other labels. I look forward to exploring this site and learning more about the Formby family.
Thanks very much Randy, and nice to know you’re an admirer of my father’s work. I put together a website about him, including Decca, Argo Living Era, and Conifer discographies: http://www.kevindaly.org.uk
Keep coming back, I’ll be adding new stuff. Michael
Michael -
I discovered your website today, and promptly dropped what I was doing to read it from end to end.
Having spent much of my life researching both George Formbys, I have to say that this site ranks amongst the most exciting publications ever for Formby fans, right up there with the all too few decent books, TV and radio documentaries…
I will be adding it to my links page straightaway, and look forward to more info as it is added.
A superb piece of work – thanks for producing it.
Yours – Andy
Andy – thank you so much for your comment. Coming from such an esteemed Formby aficionado, it’s a compliment I really value. I hoped that true Formby fans would enjoy the material I’m posting, so it’s gratifying to hear such appreciative words. Thanks again.
many thanks for info on the book will keep an eye for it ,keep up the good work regards alan
Hello Alan. It’s Reg Thacker here, do you remember me?. You and Kevin Bridgewater used to visit me at my home in Edgbaston, do you remember the night we went and saw Alan Randall in Cannock in his George Formby show?. Was browsing through here and came across your name and was wondering if you were the same person I used to know?!
It’s been more than 10 years since I last saw you, get intouch if you can it would be nice to hear from you. Still a George Formby fan. Take Care Reg
Dear Reg,
Yes i remember you and the great visits to edgbaston and have been asking for years how you are and could not find out.Please get in touch.
All the very best
Kevin bridgwater
Hi Kevin, How nice to hear from you after all these years,I often think of you and Alan,who I have just replied to. If you forward your reply to my Email address which is: footydad@live.co.uk with a phone number,I’ll ring so we can chat and perhaps meet up once more.
Thanks for getting in touch.
Take Care Kindest Regards. Reg Thacker
what can i say , a very good site with a lot of information . i spent many hours at the news paper library , looking for the formby`s , and here thanks for the internet we can find sites like yours . many thank , alan
Thanks Alan, I appreciate your comments. Re a George Formby Senior book in your previous comment: I hear rumours of a new biography coming out about both GFs later this year. I became captivated by GF1 as I worked on the site. listened to many of his recordings and read contemporary reviews. Listening to his widow talking to my father about their life together was the highlight of the research for me personally. I will be posting more material on GF1 very soon.
Hello – I’m not the usual GF fan (he having died 30 years before i was born) but i love the music and was wondering if anyone knew of any impersonators, etc that may appear in London or surrounding areas in the future? Many thanks – James
Hi James,
I am in a show at the moment called “We’ll Meet Again” in the show is Andy Eastwood the tops in the Formby stuff and a nifty violin player. Check out the dates on his site http://www.andyeastwod.com
Cheers
Steve Barclay
Good luck with the website Michael, what I’ve seen so far has made for interesting reading. I met your dad quite a few years ago when the National Film Theatre was showing Keep Your Seats Please. He already knew my father in law Alex Barrett who I see has left a comment as well
Thanks Trevor. I’ve got the NFT programme somewhere!
I forgot to mention you might like to consider adding a forum to the website so us Formby fans could chat and exchange information. Also, perhaps a free membership registration for the website allowing users to sign up for newsletters etc.
Suggestions noted.
Many thanks for a great resource for us GF fans. I can see a vast amount of hard work has gone into it already and it is early days yet.
Hi Mark, thanks for your kind words. I loved your tweet re No Limit – George Formby as ‘unlikely posh babe magnet’ – brilliant. My favourite, and surreal, film babe moment is I think in I See Ice, with Kay Walsh munching on a pig’s trotter; well, it could happen…
I look forward to seeing more. Well done Michael. Your father sounds like a great chap – I loved his story of how he came to appreciate George. Glad you provided your collection for the JSP sets!
Cheers Theo. I will be posting more soon. I’d like to get the Decca recording session sheets up in large format soon, they are very interesting. Do you know, I found that story of how dad encountered George scribbled in the back of one of his many notebooks. I’m even finding out things about him I didn’t know before!
Hi Michael,
Kevin would be proud of your site,and nice to see Peter helped I have Kevin with John Guy on old reel tapes ( good queen Elizabeth etc ) somewhere, he was a good friend and source of information to me back in the early 60s.
Good Luck with the site. Alex
Thanks for your kind words of support Alex, they mean a lot.
Good luck with the site Michael, you have made a great start!
Thanks so much Peter, your recent support and generosity have made all the difference. It’s hard starting a new GF site when there’s already an excellent one online (thanks to your good self). Here’s to George and the GFS!
Ive just taken a quick look at this site. As an avid George Formby fan I cant wait to see the site grow. Good luck with this site.
Regards
Steve
Cheers Steve, much appreciated.
Michael
Kevin,
This looks very interesting. We are just off to Germany for the weekend so time is a bit short at the moment. I will have a leisurely look next week. Being a George Formby fan, this should be great fun.
best wishes
John