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{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{italictitle}}
{{unreferenced|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox Goon Show episode
'''The Histories of Pliny the Elder''' is a parody of the occupation of Britain by the Romans, from series seven of the 1950s BBC radio comedy, ''[[The Goon Show]]'', first broadcast on 28 March 1957.
| series        = [[The Goon Show]]
| image          =
| image_alt      =
| caption        =
| series_no      = 7
| episode        = 25
| director      =
| writer        = *[[Spike Milligan]]
*[[Larry Stephens]]
| based_on      =
| presenter      = [[Wallace Greenslade]]
| producer      = [[Pat Dixon]]
| music          = *Orchestra: [[Wally Stott]]
*Geldray:''[[Get Happy (song)|Get Happy]]''
*Ellington: ''[[You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)|You Made Me Love You]]'' / ''[[This Can't Be Love (song)|This Can't Be Love]]''
| production    = [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO]] 26030
| recording_date = {{Start date|1957|03|24|df=y}}
| airdate        = {{Start date|1957|03|28|df=y}}
| length        = {{Duration|m=31|s=57}}
| guests        =
| prev          = [[The Missing Boa Constrictor]]
| next          = [[The Reason Why]]
| season_article = [[The Goon Show series 7]]
| episode_list  =
| CD_volume      = [[The Goon Show CDs#Vol1|1]]
| Compendium    = [[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol6|6]]
}}
'''''The Histories of Pliny the Elder''''' is an episode from [[The Goon Show]]. It is the twenty-fifth show in the seventh series. It is a parody of the occupation of Britain by the Romans.
 
A pre-recording session took place Sunday {{Date|1957-03-24}}, 5pm. at [[KOKO (music venue)|The Camden Theatre]], Camden Town, London (DLO 27128). The recording for transmission was created later that same Sunday, at 9pm, also at The Camden (TLO 26030).
 
The first [[BBC Home Service|Home Service]] broadcast was the following Thursday at 8.30pm {{Date|1957-03-28}}, its ratings were 1.5 million. It was then repeated on the [[BBC Light Programme|Light Programme]] the following Tuesday {{Date|1957-04-02}} at 8pm to 3.4 million listeners.
 
==BBC Records Synopsis by [[John Browell]], Goon Show Producer==
<poem>
Q: 'Would you care to join us!'
A:.'Why, are you coming apart!?'
</poem>
And the Goons prove that that joke was going strong in Roman times. It all came about through that football match in the [[UEFA Champions League|EUFA Cup]] between the Romans and Ancient Britons which England lost (as usual). [[Harry Secombe]], using his only other ‘voice’, plays [[Neddie Seagoon|Caractacus Seagoon]] who, with [[Bluebottle]], [[Eccles]] and the original sailor of 'hello' fame, finds himself the main attraction on the Coliseum bill. There are also welcome appearances of [[List of The Goon Show cast members and characters#Little Jim|Little Jim]] and [[List of The Goon Show cast members and characters#Willium "Mate" Cobblers|Mate]]. They cast 'brandy' jokes about with great spirit and the story has one of Spike's favourite endings. Goon historians may like to note that this was one of the few productions by [[Pat Dixon]] without whose behind-the-scenes pressure and connivance, the BBC would never have been tricked into giving birth to the Goons. Wouldn't we – and they – have all been much poorer!


==Plot==
==Plot==
In the year X-L-1-1-1 B.C., [[Julius Caesar]] (sounding a lot like [[Hercules Grytpype-Thynne]]) lands on the British shore and is greeted by [[Eccles (character)|Ecclus]]. Caesar asks his second-in-command, Brutus [[Count Jim Moriarty|Moriartus]], to seize Ecclus and prepare him for a life of slavery. The next "Charlie Britannicus" to come along is [[Neddie Seagoon]]. Caesar remarks "Gad, he's up early. He must be one of the Early Britons." Moriartus finally has to explain that they're here to conquer Britain, and the natives must prepare themselves for "combattus", but they think he means a [[soccer]] game and arrive attired in blue jerseys and a football.
In the year X-L-1-1-1 B.C., [[Julius Caesar]] (sounding a lot like [[Hercules Grytpype-Thynne]]) lands on the British shore and is greeted by [[Eccles|Ecclus]]. Caesar asks his second-in-command, Brutus [[Count Jim Moriarty|Moriartus]], to seize Ecclus and prepare him for a life of slavery. The next "Charlie Britannicus" to come along is [[Neddie Seagoon]]. Caesar remarks "Gad, he's up early. He must be one of the Early Britons." Moriartus finally has to explain that they're here to conquer Britain, and the natives must prepare themselves for "combattus", but they think he means a [[Associated football|football]] game and arrive attired in blue jerseys and a football.


For ten years Caesar rules with an iron hand—then with a wooden foot, and finally with a piece of string. He claims he's still an imperial Roman, but then asks for a "half of mild and a packet of crisps." [[Major Bloodnok|Bloodnokus]] is brought in, accused of leading a rebellion, and is told he must deliver four of his compatriots for the [[Coliseum]] games in Rome. They're put to rowing in the galleys, where Ecclus tells [[Bluebottle (character)|Bluebottlus]] he's never done this before. The [[hortator]] cries out "Faster, you dogs!" and Bluebottlus explains "He wants our dogs to go faster."
For ten years Caesar rules with an iron hand—then with a wooden foot, and finally with a piece of string. He claims he's still an imperial Roman, but then asks for a "half of mild and a packet of crisps." [[Major Bloodnok|Bloodnokus]] is brought in, accused of leading a rebellion, and is told he must deliver four of his compatriots for the Coliseum games in Rome. They're put to rowing in the [[galley]]s, where Ecclus tells [[Bluebottle|Bluebottlus]] he's never done this before.


Seagoon reappears, now in his true guise as "the Welsh chief [[Caractacus]] Seagoon". With Bluebottlus and Ecclus, he is bought by a promoter for the Games. When he learns he is not scheduled to sing, but to be strangled by a gorilla, Seagoon conspires with his fellow prisoners to escape. They are met by [[The Goon Show cast members and characters#Willium "Mate" Cobblers|Willium Hannibal]] and [[The Goon Show cast members and characters#Little Jim|Little Jim]], who lead them to the hideout of [[Spartacus|Sprartacus from Prortigal]]. Sprartacus turns out to be Bloodnok. He tells them they're perfectly safe because the hideout is inside the extinct volcano, [[Vesuvius|Vesumruverus]]. The volcano promptly explodes, leaving Greenslade reminding listeners to tune in next week.
Seagoon reappears, now in his true guise as "the Welsh chief [[Caractacus]] Seagoon". With Bluebottlus and Ecclus, he is bought by a promoter for the Games. When he learns he is not scheduled to sing, but to be strangled by a gorilla, Seagoon conspires with his fellow prisoners to escape. They are met by [[The Goon Show cast members and characters#Willium "Mate" Cobblers|Willium Hannibal]] and [[The Goon Show cast members and characters#Little Jim|Little Jim]], who lead them to the hideout of [[Spartacus|Sprartacus from Prortigal]]. Sprartacus turns out to be Bloodnok. He tells them they're perfectly safe because the hideout is inside the extinct volcano, [[Vesuvius|Vesumruverus]]. The volcano promptly explodes, leaving Greenslade reminding listeners to tune in next week.
==Music==
*The BBC Radio Orchestra was conducted by [[Wally Stott]]
*[[Max Geldray]] plays ''[[Get Happy (song)|Get Happy]]'' {{small|([[Harold Arlen]] (music) / [[Ted Koehler]] (lyrics))}}
*[[Ray Ellington|The Ray Ellington Quartet]] plays ''[[You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)|You Made Me Love You]]'' {{Small|([[James V. Monaco]] (music) / [[Joseph McCarthy (lyricist)|Joseph McCarthy]] (lyrics))}} / ''[[This Can't Be Love (song)|This Can't Be Love]]'' {{small|([[Richard Rodgers]] (music) / [[Lorenz Hart]] (lyrics)}}
==Technical==
Originally recorded on [[The Goon Show recording numbers#TLO|TLO 26030]] (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at [[Broadcasting House]]). This tape survived in [[BBC Transcription Services|TS]], but some cuts made for the [[Original Issues - The Goon Show|TGS]] issue were not preserved – these have been restored from a [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT]] dub of the [[BBC Sound Archive|Sound Archive]]s shelf tape (T28594) made in 1990.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[The Goon Show Compendiums#Vol6|The Goon Show Compendium Vol 6]] |first=Ted |last=Kendall | author-link=Ted Kendall |date=2012 |page=13|type=Booklet 2 |publisher=BBC Worldwide|ISBN=978-1408-468548}}</ref>
Originally recorded on TLO 26030. This tape survived in [[BBC Transcription Services|TS]], but some cuts made for the [[Original Issues - The Goon Show|TGS]] issue were not preserved – these have been restored from a [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT]] dub of the [[BBC Sound Archive|Sound Archive]]s shelf tape (T28594) made in 1990.
==Show Notes==
*There was an end-of-term feel for the recording of ''The Histories of Pliny the Elder'', a Roman epic inspired by the encyclopaedic work of the first century philosopher [[Gaius Plinius Secundus]] and featuring one of Spike's favourite climaxes to a story. With this final show (which included references to the BBC radio soap [[Mrs Dale's Diary]]) completed, Harry set off for some bookings in [[Kenya]] with Eric Sykes, while Peter was off to [[Toronto]].
*In ''[[The Listener (magazine)|The Listener]]'', critic Roy Walker described the Light Programme repeat of ''The Histories of Pliny the Elder'' as ‘''a man-made madhouse''’, noting ‘''the studio audience laughed like mad. My critical countenance, noting the triumph of speed and vocal antics over antique material, remain uncreased. but maybe I'm crazy.''’


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Histories of Pliny the Elder}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Histories of Pliny the Elder, The}}
[[Category:BBC Radio comedy programmes]]
 
[[Category:The Goon Show episodes]]
[[Category:Ted Kendall restored Goon Show episodes]]
[[Category:Goon Shows produced by Pat Dixon]]
[[Category:Goon Shows co-written by Larry Stephens]]

Latest revision as of 10:50, 1 March 2023


"The Histories of Pliny the Elder"
The Goon Show episode
Episode: no.Series: 7
Episode: 25
Written by
AnnouncerWallace Greenslade
Produced byPat Dixon
Music
Recording
Number		TLO 26030
First broadcast28 March 1957 (1957-03-28)
Running time31:57
Episode Order
← Previous
"The Missing Boa Constrictor" 		Next →
"The Reason Why"
The Goon Show series 7
List of episodes

The Histories of Pliny the Elder is an episode from The Goon Show. It is the twenty-fifth show in the seventh series. It is a parody of the occupation of Britain by the Romans.

A pre-recording session took place Sunday 24 March 1957, 5pm. at The Camden Theatre, Camden Town, London (DLO 27128). The recording for transmission was created later that same Sunday, at 9pm, also at The Camden (TLO 26030).

The first Home Service broadcast was the following Thursday at 8.30pm 28 March 1957, its ratings were 1.5 million. It was then repeated on the Light Programme the following Tuesday 2 April 1957 at 8pm to 3.4 million listeners.

BBC Records Synopsis by John Browell, Goon Show Producer

Q: 'Would you care to join us!'
A:.'Why, are you coming apart!?'

And the Goons prove that that joke was going strong in Roman times. It all came about through that football match in the EUFA Cup between the Romans and Ancient Britons which England lost (as usual). Harry Secombe, using his only other ‘voice’, plays Caractacus Seagoon who, with Bluebottle, Eccles and the original sailor of 'hello' fame, finds himself the main attraction on the Coliseum bill. There are also welcome appearances of Little Jim and Mate. They cast 'brandy' jokes about with great spirit and the story has one of Spike's favourite endings. Goon historians may like to note that this was one of the few productions by Pat Dixon without whose behind-the-scenes pressure and connivance, the BBC would never have been tricked into giving birth to the Goons. Wouldn't we – and they – have all been much poorer!

Plot

In the year X-L-1-1-1 B.C., Julius Caesar (sounding a lot like Hercules Grytpype-Thynne) lands on the British shore and is greeted by Ecclus. Caesar asks his second-in-command, Brutus Moriartus, to seize Ecclus and prepare him for a life of slavery. The next "Charlie Britannicus" to come along is Neddie Seagoon. Caesar remarks "Gad, he's up early. He must be one of the Early Britons." Moriartus finally has to explain that they're here to conquer Britain, and the natives must prepare themselves for "combattus", but they think he means a football game and arrive attired in blue jerseys and a football.

For ten years Caesar rules with an iron hand—then with a wooden foot, and finally with a piece of string. He claims he's still an imperial Roman, but then asks for a "half of mild and a packet of crisps." Bloodnokus is brought in, accused of leading a rebellion, and is told he must deliver four of his compatriots for the Coliseum games in Rome. They're put to rowing in the galleys, where Ecclus tells Bluebottlus he's never done this before.

Seagoon reappears, now in his true guise as "the Welsh chief Caractacus Seagoon". With Bluebottlus and Ecclus, he is bought by a promoter for the Games. When he learns he is not scheduled to sing, but to be strangled by a gorilla, Seagoon conspires with his fellow prisoners to escape. They are met by Willium Hannibal and Little Jim, who lead them to the hideout of Sprartacus from Prortigal. Sprartacus turns out to be Bloodnok. He tells them they're perfectly safe because the hideout is inside the extinct volcano, Vesumruverus. The volcano promptly explodes, leaving Greenslade reminding listeners to tune in next week.

Music

Technical

Originally recorded on TLO 26030 (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at Broadcasting House). This tape survived in TS, but some cuts made for the TGS issue were not preserved – these have been restored from a DAT dub of the Sound Archives shelf tape (T28594) made in 1990.[1] Originally recorded on TLO 26030. This tape survived in TS, but some cuts made for the TGS issue were not preserved – these have been restored from a DAT dub of the Sound Archives shelf tape (T28594) made in 1990.

Show Notes

  • There was an end-of-term feel for the recording of The Histories of Pliny the Elder, a Roman epic inspired by the encyclopaedic work of the first century philosopher Gaius Plinius Secundus and featuring one of Spike's favourite climaxes to a story. With this final show (which included references to the BBC radio soap Mrs Dale's Diary) completed, Harry set off for some bookings in Kenya with Eric Sykes, while Peter was off to Toronto.
  • In The Listener, critic Roy Walker described the Light Programme repeat of The Histories of Pliny the Elder as ‘a man-made madhouse’, noting ‘the studio audience laughed like mad. My critical countenance, noting the triumph of speed and vocal antics over antique material, remain uncreased. but maybe I'm crazy.’

References

  1. ^ Kendall, Ted (2012). The Goon Show Compendium Vol 6 (Booklet 2). BBC Worldwide. p. 13. ISBN 978-1408-468548.
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