Billy Bunter
Monday 20th June 2016 11:32am [Edited]
The Sussex Coast
4,663 posts
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 15th June 2016, 4:27 PM BST
Continuing to read "David Nixon - Entertainer with the Magic Touch" (I am a slow reader) there were a number of mentions of a comedian called Peter Kaye from the 70s.......................now, two things.
1/. I can find no reference to THIS Peter Kaye as a Google search comes up every time with the well know Bolton comedian Peter Kay (without an 'e' at the end) - does anyone know him or have any history of him or even remember him?
The late Val Doonican recalled (as re-produced on pages 58-60 of "Roy Hudd's Book of Music-Hall, Variety & Showbiz Anecdotes", published by Robson Books in 1991) that, in the 1950s:
"Syd Royce (agent) rang me one day asking if I could do him a favour. He'd taken under his wing a young comedian still in his teens and was anxious to try him out in a few cabaret rooms in London. More than a few laughs were in store as I mounted the rickety stairs to Syd's tiny place of business. The young Peter Kaye was already there. He wore a very smart suit, neat white shoes and the very latest thing in trilby hats, a la Ol' Blue Eyes himself
There followed a demonstration which sent both Syd and myself into fits of laughter and poor Peter into a fit of depression. Removing his hat with a sophisticated flourish he sent it flying like a frisby across the tiny office. Sadly, in his state of ecstasy, he'd forgotten that the windows were wide open. Away went the brand new hat, sailing out over Charing Cross Road, landing like a flying saucer on the roof of a passing trolley bus never to be seen again.
Peter went on to find great success in TV & theatre and today lives and works in Sydney, Australia. In fact we appeared together on a talk show over there a few years ago when the story of the hat was the highlight of the evening."
With the Sydney connection, I have now found this update:
http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/peter-kaye/
Hope that helps.
