THANKS FOR SHARING.I CAN JUST ABOUT REMEMBER THE STIR AT HOME WHEN THIS CAME ON! MURPHY TV WITH A FUNNY LID THAT FLEW UP. I TOUCHED IT ONCE AND IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME WHEN IT FLIPPED OPEN. THIS SHOW WAS SO SO POPULAR. I COULDN"T SEE THE RUDDY TV WITH ALL THE GROWN UPS AT HOME SITTING ROUND IN FRONT OF THE LITTLE SCREEN. SUPPOSE THE BEEB LOST THE RUDDY LOT? PITY THEY DIDNT LOSE MOST OF WOT THEY SEEM TO HAVE KEPT AND HUNG ON TO EVERYTHING THEY RUDDY LOST. NICE THOUGHT EH?
Alan Yates (1912-1991) wrote the theme tune and incidental music, including the Chiselbury Boating Song, and conducted the orchestra in the live broadcasts of Whacko!
In one episode Jim aimed to move his school up market. Taking Eton as his model, he decided Chiselbury needed its own Boating Song, never mind the only stretch of water locally was a 3ft wide ditch at the bottom of the sportsfield. The Chiselbury Boating Song duly saw the light of day, and Jim somehow persuaded Vera Lynn to go along and perform it! I can only recall the final two lines: 'For we're all on the same river, And we're all in the same boat.' Lennon and McCartney, eat your hearts out!!
What a fun clip! Of course a TV show today would never make jokes about corporal punishment. That would not be what's known as "politcally correct" But the 50's was a more innocent time. And let's face it, back then CP was EXTREMELY common at home & in the schools. Even up until the 80's here on American TV spanking was played for laughs. Very rarely mentioned in today's shows, if at all. THANKS for posting this delightful "blast from the past" !!!
Loved Whacko! How many got whacks of the cane I don't know but Oliver Pettigrew got whacked and was dropped when it transpired that he was gay! I seem to remember that Julian Orchard took over? soooo funny!
If you have any more clips of this show can you put them up and especially clips of wendover
as if what i have just read is correct the person who played wendover is John "Mitch" Mitchell who went on to become the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix experience . so any clips of wendover if you have them Cheers
That appears not to be the case, John 'Mitch' Mitchell was an actor for a few years as a child, appearing as Jennings in 'Jennings at School,' (BBC TV 1958). The 'other' John Mitchell (born one year and one month before Mitch) continued, sporadically, as an actor (at least according to IMDB) until 1988 when he appeared in the Taggart episode 'Double Jeopardy'.
This is whacko!!!
MrOkke96 4 weeks ago
THANKS FOR SHARING.I CAN JUST ABOUT REMEMBER THE STIR AT HOME WHEN THIS CAME ON! MURPHY TV WITH A FUNNY LID THAT FLEW UP. I TOUCHED IT ONCE AND IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME WHEN IT FLIPPED OPEN. THIS SHOW WAS SO SO POPULAR. I COULDN"T SEE THE RUDDY TV WITH ALL THE GROWN UPS AT HOME SITTING ROUND IN FRONT OF THE LITTLE SCREEN. SUPPOSE THE BEEB LOST THE RUDDY LOT? PITY THEY DIDNT LOSE MOST OF WOT THEY SEEM TO HAVE KEPT AND HUNG ON TO EVERYTHING THEY RUDDY LOST. NICE THOUGHT EH?
TheShotgunslade 4 months ago
Alan Yates (1912-1991) wrote the theme tune and incidental music, including the Chiselbury Boating Song, and conducted the orchestra in the live broadcasts of Whacko!
noelyates 7 months ago
In one episode Jim aimed to move his school up market. Taking Eton as his model, he decided Chiselbury needed its own Boating Song, never mind the only stretch of water locally was a 3ft wide ditch at the bottom of the sportsfield. The Chiselbury Boating Song duly saw the light of day, and Jim somehow persuaded Vera Lynn to go along and perform it! I can only recall the final two lines: 'For we're all on the same river, And we're all in the same boat.' Lennon and McCartney, eat your hearts out!!
sandysdad2 1 year ago
are there any full episodes of whacko?
CBETelevisionNetwork 1 year ago
What a fun clip! Of course a TV show today would never make jokes about corporal punishment. That would not be what's known as "politcally correct" But the 50's was a more innocent time. And let's face it, back then CP was EXTREMELY common at home & in the schools. Even up until the 80's here on American TV spanking was played for laughs. Very rarely mentioned in today's shows, if at all. THANKS for posting this delightful "blast from the past" !!!
JubalCalif 1 year ago
Flt.Lt J. Edwards DFC, RAF...Lovely bloke.
SuperAncientmariner 1 year ago
THANKS FOR POSTING...COULD NEVER REMEMBER THE SCHOOL NAME...
john111257 1 year ago
I remember the main schoolboy character was not Wendover,he was called Taplow,and usually got the better of the Headteacher....
Ildah 2 years ago
Did he not keep a bottle of whisky hidden in a vase on the shelf of his office?
BillDFC 2 years ago
Loved Whacko! How many got whacks of the cane I don't know but Oliver Pettigrew got whacked and was dropped when it transpired that he was gay! I seem to remember that Julian Orchard took over? soooo funny!
jonjamg 2 years ago
@jonjamg Jimmy Edwards was gay as well.
burnt62 1 year ago
Thanx ! You've stirred old happy memories It would be great to resurrect the TV series for viewing today - even if not on mainstream TV.
spanks2you 3 years ago
Fond memories !
spanks2you 3 years ago
Why tittled Whacko? I'm not sure pourquoi
cingle2004jp 3 years ago
Sorry, I have no other Whacko! clips in my collection.
WhirligigTV 3 years ago
I have nearly finished the Frank Muir autobiography - wonderful.
77gerbils 3 years ago
If you have any more clips of this show can you put them up and especially clips of wendover
as if what i have just read is correct the person who played wendover is John "Mitch" Mitchell who went on to become the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix experience . so any clips of wendover if you have them Cheers
pressgangers 3 years ago
That appears not to be the case, John 'Mitch' Mitchell was an actor for a few years as a child, appearing as Jennings in 'Jennings at School,' (BBC TV 1958). The 'other' John Mitchell (born one year and one month before Mitch) continued, sporadically, as an actor (at least according to IMDB) until 1988 when he appeared in the Taggart episode 'Double Jeopardy'.
Regards, Zeb.
ZebedeeZyzzyva 2 years ago