I love the comments on "so British", Joe Keppel was Irish, and Wilson and Betty both American!
The act was unique, and ran till age forced retirement. My Grandfather was a close friend of Joe, both born in the same street in Cork. The whole act was called "Cleopatras Nightmare" and featured far more than just the sand dance. The BFI rated it as most requested clip for many years.Most film clips were thought lost, but lots have surfaced now of this famous Variety act..
@swallin19 Grant you Joe Kepple was from Cork but according to Wiki Jack Wilson was born in Liverpool and they both emigrated to the US at an early age. Betty was however American - at least the first one.
@teflonmike1 Yes, I've had so many comments on this video...people love it. It is very, very funny, in a subtle, silly, very British way, almost like a kind of Monty Python routine.
@TheBoyFromNorfolk Thank you for the comment. Actually, I have heard the same thing. Bettys came and went, but W & K were clearly the core of the act.
@EdmundStAustell Trivia - the original Betty (Betty Knox) retired from the act to go into jounalism - and was one of the official reporters at the Nuremburg Trials.
I watched the performance for the first time and liked it very much.And then read that music was added by you.But video lookes like it's an original version.So,dear Edmund,you made it not "watchable" but really wonderful!
@SuperLuckydream No, I never added any music to this....it is completely original. I never touched it. The only dance film to which I added music was the very short clip of Ella Lola dancing a Turkish dance in 1898. That little clip was of course silent, so I put some Turkish music under it. The Wilson and Keppel is just great, isn't it? I laugh my head off every time I look at it!
I can remember waiting in line to get into the cinema, as we had to in the 40's and 50's and at a certain place in London a couple used to come and entertain the the people waiting doing this dance, later I remember seeing the same couple doing the routine at a theatre, often wondered if it was this pair.
@racheleleeba I haven't forgotten:) I have the archival dvd of very early vaudeville, but it is entirely silent film. I have to add music to make it watchable, and I'm toying with that at the moment. That pushes me into an arena in which I am a bit of a novice, but I will get it eventually. The trick is to find old time piano music whose beat at least approximately squres with the silent dancers and singers. Not easy, but eventually.....
That was terrific. Thank you!!!
beawild 1 month ago
@beawild Thank you! My pleasure!
EdmundStAustell 1 month ago
@EdmundStAustell Classic!
VinnyMonster1 3 weeks ago
I love the comments on "so British", Joe Keppel was Irish, and Wilson and Betty both American!
The act was unique, and ran till age forced retirement. My Grandfather was a close friend of Joe, both born in the same street in Cork. The whole act was called "Cleopatras Nightmare" and featured far more than just the sand dance. The BFI rated it as most requested clip for many years.Most film clips were thought lost, but lots have surfaced now of this famous Variety act..
swallin19 2 months ago
@swallin19 Grant you Joe Kepple was from Cork but according to Wiki Jack Wilson was born in Liverpool and they both emigrated to the US at an early age. Betty was however American - at least the first one.
freebeerfordworkers 1 month ago
same here, looking for egyptian reggea! elis
dinoke707 2 months ago
The only reason they had to break up the act was because one of them took and arrow to the knee.
MegaGum1 2 months ago
CREEPY , FUNNY, WEIRD!
reynaldbell 2 months ago
Actually I was loking for Egyptian reggae and found this .. What a gem.. Its 1934 .. and yet made ma laugh out loud.. 2011. Well done fellas..
teflonmike1 3 months ago 2
@teflonmike1 Yes, I've had so many comments on this video...people love it. It is very, very funny, in a subtle, silly, very British way, almost like a kind of Monty Python routine.
EdmundStAustell 3 months ago 2
WOW
poper112 3 months ago
It's lovely!
satsumamoon 3 months ago
Comment removed
poper112 3 months ago
we watched this at school XD
ThePoper2196 3 months ago
@ThePoper2196 Great! It's a lot of fun! Thanks for the comment!
EdmundStAustell 3 months ago
I just don't get it.
shellylbarrett 3 months ago
@shellylbarrett It's just a funny dance routine. Nothing more to it than that, but it is good for a laugh. Vaudeville at its most basic:-)
EdmundStAustell 3 months ago
So funky and good, thanks for sharing 5 stars......
gf1001 5 months ago
@gf1001 Great fun, isn't it? I laughed until my sides hurt the first time I saw it. I just love it! Thanks for comment.
EdmundStAustell 5 months ago
Should be do in burkas
kingharryannis 6 months ago
The way I heard it from my Grandfolks is there was only 1 Wilson and Keppel, but many different Bettys.
TheBoyFromNorfolk 10 months ago
@TheBoyFromNorfolk Thank you for the comment. Actually, I have heard the same thing. Bettys came and went, but W & K were clearly the core of the act.
EdmundStAustell 10 months ago
@EdmundStAustell I believe the final "Betty" was actually the daughter of the first one...
cogidubnus1953 8 months ago
@cogidubnus1953 Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that. Much obliged.
EdmundStAustell 8 months ago
@EdmundStAustell Trivia - the original Betty (Betty Knox) retired from the act to go into jounalism - and was one of the official reporters at the Nuremburg Trials.
lomax343 3 months ago
@lomax343 Thanks for the additional info.
EdmundStAustell 3 months ago
I watched the performance for the first time and liked it very much.And then read that music was added by you.But video lookes like it's an original version.So,dear Edmund,you made it not "watchable" but really wonderful!
SuperLuckydream 1 year ago
@SuperLuckydream No, I never added any music to this....it is completely original. I never touched it. The only dance film to which I added music was the very short clip of Ella Lola dancing a Turkish dance in 1898. That little clip was of course silent, so I put some Turkish music under it. The Wilson and Keppel is just great, isn't it? I laugh my head off every time I look at it!
EdmundStAustell 1 year ago
Jim! What a nut! You know I just love good dancing!
rebtrea 1 year ago
I can remember waiting in line to get into the cinema, as we had to in the 40's and 50's and at a certain place in London a couple used to come and entertain the the people waiting doing this dance, later I remember seeing the same couple doing the routine at a theatre, often wondered if it was this pair.
gideon121 1 year ago
@gideon121 What an interesting recollection! Thank you very much.
EdmundStAustell 1 year ago
Comment removed
memyselfandix10 1 year ago
Of all the videos you have posted, this is for me one of the most amusing and quirky.
10clementine 1 year ago
@10clementine Thanks. Yes, it's a winner. There are a few more of them on Youtube, I believe with the addition of a woman, Betty.
EdmundStAustell 1 year ago
Oh, I thought it was going to be a new and different one :-((
But really thanks for reposting!
racheleleeba 1 year ago
@racheleleeba I haven't forgotten:) I have the archival dvd of very early vaudeville, but it is entirely silent film. I have to add music to make it watchable, and I'm toying with that at the moment. That pushes me into an arena in which I am a bit of a novice, but I will get it eventually. The trick is to find old time piano music whose beat at least approximately squres with the silent dancers and singers. Not easy, but eventually.....
EdmundStAustell 1 year ago