Robb Wilton
Robb Wilton | |
---|---|
Born | Robert Wilton Smith 28 August 1881 Liverpool, England |
Died | 1 May 1957 London, England | (aged 75)
Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor |
Relatives | Robin Askwith (grand-nephew) |
Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His trademark was to put his hand over part of his face at the punchline.
Early life
Wilton was born Robert Wilton Smith in the Everton district of Liverpool on 28 August 1881. He was a grand-uncle of actor Robin Askwith.
Career
Wilton had a dry
Wilton's comedy emerged from the tradition of English music halls. He was a contemporary of
He has been acknowledged as an influence by fellow Lancashire comedians
Wilton's best known catchphrase was "The day war broke out..." The phrase was taken from his opening routine for radio which was, "The day war broke out, my missus said to me, 'It's up to you. You've got to stop it.' I said, 'Stop what?' She said, 'The war.' Ooh, she's a funny woman!" He was, along with
Another frequently reconstructed Wilton monologue was the fire station sketch, in which a bumbling fire officer takes a call reporting the location of a fire, but is sidetracked into trying to remember where it is instead of taking the details of the conflagration: "Grimshaw Street... no, don't tell me... oh, I could walk straight to it..." The sketch would finish with the classic line to the long-suffering householder: "Can you keep it going 'til we get there?"
Possibly his best-known character, Mr Muddlecombe, an incompetent
He was also a stand-up comedian and one of his jokes was: "A bloke went into a pub and asked, "What soft drinks have you got, barman?". Barman says, "I've got some without vanilla, some without lime, some without lemon. Ah, and one with peppermint!" "Oh, damn", says the customer, "That's the very one I wanted without!"
In October 1928, he appeared in a short film, The Fire Brigade, made in the Phonofilm sound-on-film process. He then appeared in several films from 1934, generally in supporting comic roles. His last film appearance was in the Arthur Askey vehicle The Love Match in 1955.
Wilton was inducted into the exclusive entertainers' fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats and served as its "King Rat" in 1947.[2]
Death
On 1 May 1957, Wilton died in London at the age of 75.
Selected filmography
- The Fire Brigade (short) (1928)
- Love, Life and Laughter (1934)
- The Secret of the Loch (1934)
- Look Up and Laugh (1935)
- It's Love Again (1936)
- Calling the Tune (1936)
- Two's Company (1936)
- Stars on Parade (1936)
- Mother, Don't Rush Me (1936)
- The Interrupted Honeymoon (1936)
- Fine Feathers (1937)
- Take My Tip (1937)
- The Gang's All Here (1939)
- The Love Match (1955)
External links
- Robb Wilton at IMDb
- Robb Wilton.The Policeman Video at TV-Click
References
- ^ ISBN 0-86369-960-X, pp.7-10
- ^ "Biography of a Water Rat".