GBCC » Morton, J B

Morton, J B (1893-1975)

Last Edited: 26-Feb-2018 A Global British Comedy Collaborative document. Edited by John Lucas
Broadcast source is BBC Radio Four unless otherwise indicated. Recording quality is considered good unless otherwise indicated.

Beachcomber by the Way
A JB Morton newspaper column that ran for 54 years, the original short pieces were the acknowledged childhood inspiration of Spike Milligan. A television series was produced in about 1969 and featured Spike Milligan, George Benson, Clive Dunn, Patricia Hayes, Hattie Jacques, Julian Orchard, Nadia Regin, Sheila Staefel, Leon Thau, and Frank Thornton. An LP and a single BBC cassette were preserved from this work.

Date	Episode	Title	Cast	Parameters
1968-1969	?	An excerpt, probably from the LP or cassette, including Clive Dunn		29:08, 6064, M possibly from Cammo c.2001 MISSING

According to Radiohaha.com, several radio series were then produced on Radio 2 and Radio 4 in and after 1989. The radio series are catalogued here. Thirty episodes (1994:6, 1995:4, 1996:4, 1997:4, 1998:6, 1999:6) [Radio-ha-ha.com, episode dates from Wordaloud.com].

Date	Episode	Title	Cast	Parameters
18-Mar-1989 R7: 02-Jan-2005	S01e01	Psychological Mouse Trap Case of 12 Red Bearded Dwarfs Letter for the Day = “A” Wretch vs. Wugwell Case	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:34, 27722, S
25-Mar-1989 R7: 09-Jan-2005	S01e02	Bird nesting in a hat? Newts in Lord Shortcake’s trousers Letter for the Day = “B” Captain Foulenough, cat thief Moonlight on Mrs. Parsons Carstairs’ Trouser	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:15, 27433, S
01-Apr 1989 R7: 16-Jan-2005	S01e03	A Legal Announcement Ear Flapping Tale of Sawdust and Mrs. Wretch Sporting News Knockover School Letter for the Day = “C” Case of Rincewind vs. Milton	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:22, 27533, S
08-Apr 1989 R7: 19-Jul-2003 23-Jan-2005	S01e04	Shopping for Eggs in the Eastern Manner Memoirs of a Serving Man Street sweeping Letter for the Day = “D” Publishing Memoirs of deCourcy Farenough Cricket Is Not Taken Seriously Elephants and Epitaphs	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:14, 27415, S
15-Apr 1989 R7: 26-Jul-2003 30-Jan-2005	S01e05	Tight Hats as Food Storage Dr. Strabismus at Billiards Hotel Superb Sues the Trio Letter for the Day = “E” Dear Dr. Rhubarb Lodging Housekeepers and Civil Servants Clever Angling	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:58, 27161, S
22-Apr 1989 R7: 02-Aug-2003 06-Feb-2005	S01e06	MPs Drawn from Hat/The Parliamentary Hat Piano Concerts Memoirs of a Serving Man: Searching for a Goldfish Trombone Trouble Percy Foulenough’s Art Gallery Letter for the Day = “F” Henry Blanckett Comes to Knockover Dr. Strabismus Goes to the Moon	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:27, 27619, S
13-Jul-1991 R7: 26-Oct-2003 13-Feb-2005	S02e01	Visit to the Doctor Down to the Sea The Saucy Mrs Flobster Sold to Afghanistan The Shopwalker’s Daughter Fleet Street Fashion Parade The Marine House Hotel Letter for the Day = “G”	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:00, 27201, S
20-Jul-1991 R7: 20-Feb-2005	S02e02	Motorised Tie / Musical Misadventures Rhinoceros Poaching Starridge vs. Roxhome Hydraulic Laundries Tripe Memoirs of a Serving Man: Head Aquarium Keeper Polo Pony and the Conservatory Letter for the Day = “H”	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:47, 26996, S
27-Jul-1991 R7: 27-Feb-2005	S02e03	Nature Notes / “Mutton Fluff” St. Ethelfrith’s – Dr. Smart Aleck and Miss Topsy Turvy Dr. Strabismus – International Exhibition Mr. Milk: Flowers in Amber and the Capstanley Suite Letter for the Day = “IKL”	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:05, 27282, S
03-Aug-1991 R7: 06-Mar-2005	S02e04	A Testimonial from a Listener A New Kind of Leapfrog Bigwhite Carstairs Hoisted with the Flag and Coronation Precedence Mouse Hats Letter for the Day = “M” Mr Roland Milk Visiting the USSR Dr. Strabismus Goes Grouse Hunting	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:12, 27380, S
10-Aug-1991 R7: 13-Mar-2005	S02e05	The Life of Henry Pouch Women wearing false beards Pickney St. Vitus through the Ages Knockover vs. Eton in football Mr. Justice Cocklecarrot’s private life Hats with or without brims Letter for the Day = “N”	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:53, 27079, S
17-Aug-1991 R7: 20-Mar-2005	S02e06	Wessex Capmen, Third Volume Lord Shortcake employs a tutor for Mortimer Dr. Strabismus catches herring and tames a plaice Letter for the Day “O” Talking like the advertisements The Circus pursues Mrs. Wretch’s return Steam engine and rolling stock mimicry	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, Patricia Routledge, John Sessions Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:47, 26992, S
R7: 03-Apr-2005	S03e01	Mosquito Trap Knockover Starts a New Term with a new Foulenough Letter for the Day “P” A Cautionary Tale Cooking in Hats Contemporary Arts	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:37, 26838, S
R7: 10-Apr-2005	S03e02	Unsolicited Mail and Answers to Correspondence Mrs. Butterscotch sells mackerel fin pen wipers Letter for the Day “R” A 138-year old woman “never” sees a train Geraldine Blazer, belle of the Southern Command	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:57, 27148, S
R7: 17-Apr-2005	S03e03	Drinking Champagne from a slipper Mrs. Wretch’s daughter gets engaged Letter for the Day “S” Big White Carstairs imports a bankrupt hunt Answers to Correspondence Alone with Nature in Surrey Milk cows Conversation of sailors Dr. Strabismus invents a circular spoon	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	28:47, 26999, S
R7: 24-Apr-2005	S03e04	Bringing in the Olde Snedge Colonel Eggham in Tibet Letter for the Day “S, part two” Dr. Strabismus invents an asbestos match Cigarette card collections and Sheep nose printing	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:06, 27297, S
R7: 01-May-2005	S03e05	Are You Obese? A Beard from the Horse’s Mouth A New Head Matron at Knockover Letter for the Day “T” The Case of the False Beard Listeners’ Personal Advertisements	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:14, 27415, S
R7: 08-May-2005	S03e06	Dr Strabismus and an Artificial Wig Dead Man’s Alibi – Inspector Jack Malpractice Personal Advertisements Memoirs of a Serving Man – Hobbies and By Elections Letter for the Day “UVW”	Richard Ingrams, John Wells, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Joan Sims, Patricia Routledge, Simon Greenall, Brian Bowles, Henrietta Garten Written by Michael Garfield and Richard Ingrams Announced by Brian Perkins Adapted by Michael Garfield Produced by Liz Thompson	29:03, 27240, S

The Adventures of Mr Thake
Letters, out of print since the 1930s, sent to JB Morton's columnist Beachcomber from the calamitous travels abroad of fictional upper-class twit, Oswald Bletisloe Hattersley Thake [from BBC R4 web site]

Date	Title	Cast	Parameters
14-Jul-2009 to 16-Jul-2009	Thake on the Riviera Thake in America Thake and the French Widow	read by Leslie Phillips abridged and produced by Neil Cargill	13:40, 12823, S 13:50, 12977, S 13:54, 13041, S

Documentaries and Collateral Material

Date	Title	Cast	Parameters