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Quiz about The Goons behind The Goon Show
Quiz about The Goons behind The Goon Show

The Goons behind 'The Goon Show' Quiz


Reading about the lives of these supremely talented comedians was about as insane (no pun intended) as the characters they portrayed.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Oddball
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
274,910
Updated
Jun 18 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
717
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
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Question 1 of 10
1. According to legend (and a couple of very well-written biographies), Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan first met in Tunisia during World War II as soldiers in the British Army. What was unusual about their initial meeting? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which of the Goons was an accomplished singer with some notable movie roles to his credit? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Doing all those voice impressions for so many different characters did indeed take a toll on the Goons. Which one was diagnosed a manic depressive who once (or twice) may have tried to kill his co-stars? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which Goon garnered the most U.S. Academy Award nominations? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Most of the Goons had to do multiple roles...with one notable exception. Harry Secombe's only character went by what name? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. One of the great parts of the Goon Show was the marvelous musical numbers of Max Geldray. With what instrument was he known for playing? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Obviously, the Goons made their mark in the media of radio, but sometimes went to the new innovation that was television. What was the name of the only TV show featuring all the original Goons? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Rare, for its time, was the inclusion of a black actor (or an African-Brit, as the case may be) in a mostly all-white cast, but the Goons made space for this very talented singer-musician. Which name am I asking for? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 1956, the Goons released a short film called 'The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn', but because Harry Secombe was unavailable, Sellers and Milligan acquired the use of this long-time British comedy legend, whom many Americans will remember as the 'Nowhere Man', Jeremy Hillary Boob (Phd.), from the animated Beatles film 'Yellow Submarine'. Who was he? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Usually there was one voice of sanity in the world of the Goons...the announcer/straight man. The first was Andrew Timothy. Who was the second? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. According to legend (and a couple of very well-written biographies), Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan first met in Tunisia during World War II as soldiers in the British Army. What was unusual about their initial meeting?

Answer: One accidentally dropped a cannon on the other

As Secombe tells it, the gun pits that were dug for battle were too small for the cannons being deployed. He was stationed in a tent at the bottom of a cliff, when the recoil of a too-big cannon launched it over the edge, barely missing him. Moments later, a sheep-faced Milligan peeked in the tent, asking in his 'Eccles' voice, 'Has anyone seen a gun?'
2. Which of the Goons was an accomplished singer with some notable movie roles to his credit?

Answer: Harry Secombe

Secombe had quite a nice tenor voice, using it for such roles as the Beadle, Mr. Bumble, in the film version of the musical 'Oliver!' in 1968. It is he that young Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) approaches in the orphanage dining hall to say, 'Please sir, I want some more'. Fellow Goon Peter Sellers was up for the role of Fagin, but it went to Ron Moody instead.
3. Doing all those voice impressions for so many different characters did indeed take a toll on the Goons. Which one was diagnosed a manic depressive who once (or twice) may have tried to kill his co-stars?

Answer: Spike Milligan

Both Milligan and Sellers suffered mentally, and physically, from the strains of juggling so many personalities (both rarely did interviews as themselves, instead relying on a character to answer the questions). While Sellers' problems came in the form of a degenerative heart condition, Milligan was diagnosed with a bi-polar disorder and spend some time in various mental institutions during and after his Goon years (it's also believed he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his Army days). On at least one occasion, he reportedly went to Seller's house to kill him with a potato peeler, but his wife called ahead and evacuated the house in time.
4. Which Goon garnered the most U.S. Academy Award nominations?

Answer: Peter Sellers

Peter was first pegged for the Best Actor Oscar in 1965 for, what else, his numerous roles in Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove' (he played the title character, President Merkin Muffley and RAF Group Captain Lionel Mandrake). His other acting nomination came in the 1979 bittersweet film, 'Being There' as Chance, the simple-minded gardener who becomes a unknowing celebrity.

He also garnered an Oscar nomination for a short film in 1960, titled, 'The Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film'. Sellers co-directed the film with Richard Lester ('A Hard Day's Night') and co-wrote with Milligan.
5. Most of the Goons had to do multiple roles...with one notable exception. Harry Secombe's only character went by what name?

Answer: Ned ('Neddie') Seagoon

The affable Neddie Seagoon was the one who usually carried the plot of the show around the manic antics of Sellers and Milligan. The other listed characters were all performed by Sellers. Milligan did the voice of Count Jim Moriarty, Minnie Bannister and, of course, the very popular Eccles.
6. One of the great parts of the Goon Show was the marvelous musical numbers of Max Geldray. With what instrument was he known for playing?

Answer: Harmonica

Geldray (real name Max van Gelder) made his start in Paris with the jazz harmonica in Django Reinhardt's orchestra before the Nazi invasion forced him into exile in England. Sadly, many of Geldray's family died in concentration camps during the war. He came back to Europe as part of the D-Day invasion and was wounded in action. He died in October of 2004.
7. Obviously, the Goons made their mark in the media of radio, but sometimes went to the new innovation that was television. What was the name of the only TV show featuring all the original Goons?

Answer: 'Goonreel'

'Goonreel' was, as it sounds, a spoof on television newsreels featuring Sellers, Secombe, Milligan and Bentine. It was originally set to air in July of 1952, but had to be delayed following the death of King George VI (and subsequent coronation of Queen Elizabeth II). 'Idiot' and 'Fred' featured Milligan and Sellers, but not Secombe. 'Telegoons' was actually a childrens show featuring 'Goon' scripts performed by puppets.
8. Rare, for its time, was the inclusion of a black actor (or an African-Brit, as the case may be) in a mostly all-white cast, but the Goons made space for this very talented singer-musician. Which name am I asking for?

Answer: Ray Ellington

Ellington (1916-1985) was the son of a transplanted African-American music hall entertainer and a Russian Jew. His quartet was one of the first to employ amplified bass and, despite their jazz influence, comprised what became known as the traditional rock-and-roll ensemble. Ellington not only performed during the entire run of the show, but he also supplied the occasional voice of any African, Arab or Native-American characters.

His son, jazz singer Lance Ellington, appeared in the 2004 film, 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers' playing his father.
9. In 1956, the Goons released a short film called 'The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn', but because Harry Secombe was unavailable, Sellers and Milligan acquired the use of this long-time British comedy legend, whom many Americans will remember as the 'Nowhere Man', Jeremy Hillary Boob (Phd.), from the animated Beatles film 'Yellow Submarine'. Who was he?

Answer: Dick Emery

Emery (1915-83) was the star of 'The Dick Emery Show', which ran on the BBC (off and on, actually) from 1963-81 and worked on two series with Goon Michael Bentine. Despite having intense stage fright for most of his life, his status in British comedy has been compared to the likes of the Pythons, Benny Hill and, of course, the Goons. Emery himself was a master of impressions and often took to cross-dressing to entertain the audience.
Both Hughes and Angelis supplied the voices of Beatles Paul and Ringo, respectively, in 'Submarine', while Cook established his own stamp in British comedy, mostly with partner Dudley Moore.
Incidentally, the movie, 'The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn' was re-released in the UK in 1975 as a supporting short to the feature, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.
10. Usually there was one voice of sanity in the world of the Goons...the announcer/straight man. The first was Andrew Timothy. Who was the second?

Answer: Wallace Greenslade

Timothy, father of British actor Christopher Timothy, left the series in 1953, reportedly fearing for his own sanity. Greenslade stepped in and stayed through the end of the series in 1960. While barely holding his own against the Goons, Greenslade also served as a news reporter for the BBC and hosted several of their programs. Greenslade unexpectedly died in April of 1961, a year after the end of the show.

He was 48. When the Goons got together in 1972 for 'The Last Goon Show of All', it was Andrew Timothy once again at the mic.
Source: Author Oddball

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor JuniorTheJaws before going online.
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