46-536: Alfred Read (3 March 1909 – 9 September 1987) was a British radio comedian active throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Originally a businessman, he has been described as highly influential on British comedy. Read was born in Broughton , Salford , Lancashire . On leaving school he worked at the family meat-processing firm, E. and H. Read Ltd, initially as a salesman before becoming a director in his early 20s. He always wanted to perform - on one occasion, when he
92-458: A Motor Car,' and his special guests were Shani Wallis and The King Brothers. A second series of seven episodes followed in October 1964 but was only shown wholly in the two ABC regions, with Ulster Television showing the first five episodes. Al Read appears to have changed his approach for this series. A policeman, an engine driver, a bus conductor, a canteen manageress, a goalkeeper... these are
138-494: A lucrative contract with the NAAFI to supply sausages , enabling him to spend more time in the evenings as an after-dinner speaker . He honed his skills with carefully observed characterisations ranging from drunks to know-alls and cheeky children. After moving to Lytham St Annes he spent time playing golf, where he met many of the show business figures who performed in nearby Blackpool , and started active attempts to develop
184-694: A psychology professor at Kansas State University who studied why people like to cite films in social situations, using film quotes in everyday conversation is similar to telling a joke and a way to form solidarity with others. "People are doing it to feel good about themselves, to make others laugh, to make themselves laugh," he said. He found that all of the participants in his study had used film quotes in conversation at one point or another. "They overwhelmingly cited comedies, followed distantly by dramas and action adventure flicks." Horror films, musicals and children's films were hardly ever cited. The existence of catchphrases predates modern mass media. A description of
230-532: A second career as a comedian. In 1948 he paid a local theatre producer to let him perform in a show on the South Pier , but the performance was unsuccessful owing to Read's stage fright and he returned to his business interests. In early 1950 he hosted a dinner for business contacts in Manchester and entertained them with some of his monologues and dialogues in which he played both voices. His humour
276-600: A site between Northumberland Street and Broom Lane but the venture was not a commercial success and closed 1842. Businessmen from all over Europe and the Mediterranean Sea established branches in Manchester close to the source of supply. In Higher Broughton by mid century there were many prosperous merchants from the Ottoman Empire who had settled around Northumberland Street and by 1861 they had built
322-606: A total involvement of some 320 players each week. Broughton Park R.F.C. is the City of Manchester's highest placed representative in the Rugby Union Leagues. Broughton Rangers , founded in 1877 as a rugby union club, became a rugby league club as a founder member of the Northern Union in 1895. In 1946, they moved and renamed themselves Belle Vue Rangers . This folded in 1955. They are now being reformed with
368-435: Is a public park, with a large football pitch, located by Great Clowes Street and Great Cheetham Street West, on the borders of Higher and Lower Broughton. The park, named in commemoration of the consort (husband) of Queen Victoria , today features a multi-use games area, bowling green , all-weather sports pitch, children's play area and informal five-a-side pitch as well as paths, shrubs and many established trees. Albert Park
414-482: Is around one mile (1.6 km) from Manchester city centre . This fact and the availability of affordable housing make it an attractive option for many younger first time buyers. In 2005, it was announced that an area of housing near Camp Street in Lower Broughton would be demolished to make way for brand new houses. This is part of a wider regeneration project which will later extend to all council houses in
460-456: Is home to a large Jewish community. Some neolithic implements and other pre-Roman remains have been found in Broughton. The Roman road from Manchester ( Mamucium ) to Ribchester ( Bremetennacum ) passed through the area and Roman coins have also been found. The township of Broughton dates back to 1177 when it was known as Burton, bounded mainly by the meandering River Irwell . To
506-616: The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manchester church on Bury New Road. Much of Lower Broughton was undeveloped at this time as it was prone to flooding and one of the few houses, built close to Broughton Bridge was called "Noah's Ark" as it was built on an artificial mound to raise it above the level of the floods. The Church of the Ascension was built in 1869. Broughton was a township and chapelry in
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#1732786889522552-780: The Book , the same year. Read died in hospital in Northallerton , Yorkshire, in 1987, aged 78, following a series of strokes . Surviving editions held by the BBC Sound Archive : Broughton, Salford Broughton is a suburb and district of Salford , Greater Manchester , England. Located on the east bank of the River Irwell , it is 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Manchester and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Prestwich . Historically in Lancashire ,
598-731: The Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union . The club has had a number of different grounds in its time, mainly in the Salford/Prestwich areas, but also in the south of Manchester. Since 2004 its present new facility is at Hough End in Chorlton-cum-Hardy , Manchester. Originally the club had only one senior side, but now fields five senior sides and supported by one Colts (U19), four youth (U13-U17) and four mini (U8-U12) teams;
644-558: The area around what is now called The Priory at the northern end of Lower Broughton Road was a picturesque hamlet with a spring, known as Broughton Spout. This was home to the amateur astronomer and mathematician William Crabtree . Crabtree's friend and correspondent Jeremiah Horrocks had correctly predicted the 1639 transit of Venus across the Sun and Crabtree and Horrocks were the first astronomers to observe and record this event on 24 November of that year. The two correspondents both recorded
690-431: The area by 2006. The gardens were introduced to make the area look neater and more consistent. The council and its arms-length management company "New Prospect", had been working closely with tenants to make sure that their houses were up to standard so that they were good quality council houses. Crime levels have now reduced and the unemployment rate has decreased leading to higher demand for housing in Lower Broughton, which
736-484: The area. Regeneration has been taken on by Salix Homes and Countryside Properties and is planned to be completed by 2014. Another regeneration project, in Higher Broughton, is known as Broughton Green. Brentnall Primary School, on the corner of Broom Lane and Bury New Road, was demolished as part of this scheme. This school was on the site of a large detached house in its own grounds called Bella Vista. At
782-530: The assistance of Salford RLFC . Mancunians RL , founded in 2009, play at Broughton Park. They play in the Rugby League Conference . The Cliff in Higher Broughton was the training ground of English football team , Manchester United F.C. until 1999. The training ground still hosts some Manchester United junior and academy team matches. People from Broughton include :hymntune writer Joseph Mainzer (1807-1851) lived in Higher Broughton for
828-756: The centre, was the estate of the Clowes family. The highlight of the year was the Kersal Moor Races held during Whit Week when the Kersal area became a giant fairground . Archery was also a popular sport for which the Broughton Archers were renowned countrywide. During the 19th century the population rose rapidly with the Clowes family controlling the development of the area allowing the wealthy merchants to purchase large plots in Higher Broughton to build their mansions and some grand terraces . By
874-482: The corners of streets. Not one utters this phrase without producing a laugh from all within hearing. It seems applicable to every circumstance, and is the universal answer to every question; in short, it is the favourite slang phrase of the day, a phrase that, while its brief season of popularity lasts, throws a dash of fun and frolicsomeness over the existence of squalid poverty and ill-requited labour, and gives them reason to laugh as well as their more fortunate fellows in
920-425: The de facto or literal "trademark" or "signature" of the person or character with whom they originated, and can be instrumental in the typecasting of a particular actor. Catchphrases are often humorous, but are never long enough or structured enough to be jokes in themselves. However, a catchphrase can be (or become) the punch line of a joke, or a callback reminder of a previous joke. According to Richard Harris,
966-605: The event in their own homes and may never actually have met, but Crabtree's calculations were crucial in allowing Horrocks to estimate the size of Venus and the distance from the Earth to the Sun. The recording of the event is now seen as the birth of modern astronomy in Britain. In June 2004 a commemorative street nameplate in memory of William Crabtree was unveiled at the junction of Lower Broughton Road and Priory Grove. This site marks
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#17327868895221012-678: The former manor house, Broughton Hall, belonged to the Chethams and the Stanleys, both distinguished local families, and later passed, by marriage, to the Clowes family. Part of Broughton was amalgamated into the Municipal Borough of Salford in 1844, and the remaining area in 1853. In the 21st century, parts of Lower Broughton and Higher Broughton have been redeveloped with a mixture of town houses and flats. Together with neighbouring Whitefield , Prestwich and Crumpsall , Broughton
1058-480: The last years of his life. He composed hymn tunes including Ellacombe, Humility, Carmel, Mainzer and YNefoedd. Catchphrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase ) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass media (such as films, internet, literature and publishing, television, and radio). Some become
1104-633: The listeners laugh not only at the protagonists but also at themselves." The response to Read was so good that it was overheard by another guest coincidentally staying at the same hotel, regional BBC Radio producer Bowker Andrews, who invited him to perform the routine on his radio show Variety Fanfare . Broadcast on 17 February 1950 from the Hulme Hippodrome in Manchester, it launched Read's comedy career. Read quickly became popular on regional and then national radio broadcasts, such as Variety Bandbox and Workers' Playtime . Unusually for
1150-465: The location that is thought most likely to have been the home of Crabtree and his family at the time when he was collaborating with Horrocks. A commemorative plaque was erected in 2005 a few yards away near Ivy Cottage, which is thought to be the house from which Crabtree made his observations. In 1772 the Manor of Broughton became the property of Mary, sister of Edward Cheetham of Nuthurst and Smedley who
1196-480: The mid-19th century the majority of residents who lived in the area known as "the Cliff" were members of the professional classes but a number of merchants also resided there. The Cliff was one of the earliest residential suburbs for "commuters" into Manchester and Salford. A number of the houses built for them still stand today and are protected as listed buildings . In 1838 Manchester Zoological Gardens were opened on
1242-469: The most popular radio comedy shows in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s. Up to 35 million people listened to it each week. The introduction to his radio show was usually "Al Read: introducing us to ourselves"; and he himself described his work as "pictures of life". His catchphrases "Right, Monkey!" and "You'll be lucky - I say, you'll be lucky!", and "And he was strong", were well known. The Al Read Show series
1288-487: The parish of Manchester and hundred of Salford . In 1844 the township of Broughton-cum-Kersal was incorporated into the Salford Borough , despite much opposition from some of the more wealthy residents, who didn't wish to be associated with "the cotton of Manchester or the filth of Salford" even though their wealth had been made in those towns. In 1866 Broughton became a separate civil parish , on 1 April 1919
1334-410: The parish was abolished and merged with Salford. In 1911 the parish had a population of 53,108. During the latter part of the century large numbers of terraced houses were built for the workers until eventually all of Lower Broughton was built upon. During the course of development the Clowes family kept tight control over the area to ensure that it remained "good class". The land in Higher Broughton
1380-573: The phenomenon is found in Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds published by Charles Mackay in 1841: And, first of all, walk where we will, we cannot help hearing from every side a phrase repeated with delight, and received with laughter, by men with hard hands and dirty faces, by saucy butcher lads and errand-boys, by loose women, by hackney coachmen, cabriolet-drivers, and idle fellows who loiter at
1426-480: The result that some of the material originally written and developed by Read, such as ‘The Driving Instructor’, became associated more with Newhart. In 1963 Read headed a six-part variety series for ITV called Life and Al Read , made and videotaped by ABC Television and shown on Sunday afternoons in many ITV regions. The first edition shown by ABC had monologues by Al entitled 'The Railway Station,' 'A Mayfair Cocktail Party,' 'The Wife in her Kitchen.' and 'How to Park
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1472-552: The roles undertaken by Al Read in his new series 'Life and Al Read' starting on ITV tomorrow. For the first time in his career, he will be dreaming the various parts he portrays. In 1966 a BBC TV series called Al Read Says What a Life! was broadcast. However Read's humour did not transfer very well to television, with a critic in The Stage commenting: "I'm only interested in what he has to say - I don't care what he looks like...". His final TV series, It's All In Life , in 1973,
1518-617: The rugby code, founded by members of a club known in 1869 as Broughton College, formed from former pupils of Broughton College, a public school in Salford at the time. It provided a number of early international players and was pivotal in the formation of the Lancashire Football Union . Broughton Park Rugby Union F.C. , is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after
1564-508: The time, his humour reflected everyday life, situations and characters, widely recognisable and only slightly exaggerated for comic effect. According to McCann: "His ability to flit back and forth between speakers and personalities was impressive in itself, but the seemingly effortless yet unfailingly precise rhythms of his speech, and the deftness of his key turns of phrase, were even more remarkable." McCann described him as "pioneering", with an "immense" influence on British comedy. In 1951 he
1610-473: The time, it had commanding views over the Cliff, looking out toward the Crescent. It was built by a Greek merchant to represent his status in the community. Part of the house burned down, leaving the owner in conflict with the authorities over land tax due, but unpaid on the damaged part of the building. The house was taken by the local authority eventually and became Broughton Grammar School for Girls before it
1656-528: The west of this township, close to a ford across the Irwell, lay the hamlet of Broughton. The Manor of Broughton was formerly an ancient demesne of the honour of Lancaster , being a member of the Royal Manor of Salford . It descended through various families and in 1578 was bought by Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby . In the 17th century Broughton was still regarded as a member or hamlet of Salford and
1702-537: Was 18, he performed impressions of Maurice Chevalier in clubs in Bolton before being found by his father and having to return to work as a meat-products salesman. After his father died he started running the family business while continuing to take opportunities to entertain at local dinners and in clubs. He became a prosperous and well-respected local businessman. In the Second World War his company won
1748-531: Was also unsuccessful, and Read returned to radio for a final series in 1976. He retired from performance in the 1970s while continuing to run his business interests from homes in Yorkshire and Spain. In 1984 a further series of radio shows, Such Is Life , was broadcast, drawing on privately recorded routines from earlier years since the BBC recordings had been destroyed. Read published an autobiography, It's All in
1794-484: Was demolished to make way for Brentnall Primary School. The only evidence of the original house was the gates still there to this day. Broughton is home to a large Jewish community. In the 2011 census, 14.2% of residents gave their religion as Jewish, compared to 3.3% for Salford and 0.5% for England. The ward is represented by three councillors: John Merry (Lab), Maria Brabiner (Lab), and Jim King (Lab Co-op). indicates seat up for re-election. Albert Park
1840-404: Was designated as a conservation area by Salford City Council in 1976. The designation now covers an area of 26.03 ha (64.42 acres) and has preserved the character of the area with its cobbled streets and many fine buildings. In the summer months of 2000, new gardens, fences, gates and porches had begun to be fitted to the local authority houses in Lower Broughton covering the whole of
1886-457: Was invited by bandleader Henry Hall to star in the summer season at Blackpool's Central Pier , and the King invited him to perform at Windsor Castle . He recorded monthly editions of his programme, The Al Read Show , in advance, allowing him to diverge from the usual radio variety show format. It featured guest performers including Jimmy Edwards and Pat Kirkwood . The programme was one of
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1932-606: Was married to Samuel Clowes. The manor then descended through the Clowes family to the Captain Henry Arthur Clowes. By 1801 the population of the township of Broughton with Kersal was 866. Much of the land was owned by the Clowes family of Broughton Old Hall and the Byroms of Kersal Cell, and was either farmed, or supported cottage industries such as spinning and weaving. Broughton Park, which stretched from Singleton Road to Broom Lane with Broughton Old Hall at
1978-437: Was observational and was about Northern English working class people, often in a domestic situation. According to writer Graham McCann : "Most professional comedians, before Al Read, concentrated on telling gags and/or short but obviously contrived tall tales. Here, in stark contrast, was someone talking about the kind of experience that most people in the audience had endured, except he was exaggerating it just enough to make
2024-401: Was opened in 1877 and was described as "16 acres of terraced walkways making it possible to walk 5 miles (8.0 km) around the park without traversing the same ground twice". The park originally featured a 2-acre (8,100 m ) lake which was filled in during the late 1940s. Broughton RUFC formerly Broughton Wasps, was the first Broughton football club in Manchester, and played using
2070-909: Was recorded as outside broadcasts from the Hulme Hippodrome , rented on Sundays by the BBC, with archived papers dating recordings between 1952 and 1955. In 1954 he appeared high on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium , and in 1959 he appeared with comedian Jimmy Clitheroe in the Royal Northern Variety Performance, in the presence of the Queen Mother, at the Palace Theatre , Manchester . The American comedian Bob Newhart came to an arrangement with Read to adapt and perform some of his routines, with
2116-467: Was sold in large plots for "villa" type properties and they also restricted the number of pubs that could be built, and then only allowed beer to be sold and not spirits. By 1901 the population had grown to around 49,048. During the 20th century many of the large houses were divided up and rented out as flats, causing the area to become run down and neglected. Some of the fine Victorian terraces were demolished and replaced with modern housing. The Cliff
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