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Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 8 November 1927 - 11 March 2018

Biography

Kenneth Dodd was an English comedian, singer and actor.

Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8 November 1927 in a former farmhouse in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. At fourteen years old, he left school to work for his father as a coal merchant. As a teenager he became interested in comedy and show business and his father bought him a ventriloquist doll.

Ken started to combine his work with amateur performances at the local orphanage and various community functions. In 1945 he began working as a travelling salesman, which allowed him to travel to comedy clubs in his spare time. In 1954 Ken made his professional debut as Professor Yaffle Chucklebutty, Operatic Tenor and Sausage Knotter at the Nottingham Empire and from that point he never stop performing and touring the variety theatres across the UK.

Ken worked mainly as a solo comedian, making appearances in theatres, music halls, pantomime, television and radio. He also recorded several songs, many of which reached the UK top 40 chart.

Although he specialised in comedy acts he was also a serious student of comedy and history, and was interested in Sigmund Freud and Henri Bergson's analysis of humour and in a few occasions, he appeared in dramatic theatre and television roles including Shakespeare, Doctor Who and Alice in Wonderland.

Ken received many awards throughout his long career in show business including an O.B.E in 1982 and a Knighthood in 2017. He was also made Top Variety Entertainer in 1993, Freeman of the City of Liverpool in 2001, honorary fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University in 1997 and received an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Chester in 2009 and a Doctorate of Letters at Liverpool Hope University in 2010. Ken was also inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats, an exclusive show business fraternity and in 2016, he was awarded the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award in recognition of his lifetime's contribution to the world of comedy.

Ken died on 11 March 2018 in the home he was born and raised, aged 90.

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 17 January 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.306
Scope and Contents

Middlesbrough Empire. Ken Dodd, Jimmy Couton, Bill Young, Joan Price, Erik Leifson, Philip Becker, Bill Owen, Keith Lee, Wanda Alpar, Lemarr Brothers and Suzette, Marilyn Girls, Merseyside Mites, Marie Joy, Benson Dulay and Company and Pan Yue Yen Troupe. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 17 January 1955

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 27 December 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.334
Scope and Contents

Pavilion Theatre, Liverpool. Ken Dodd, Jimmy Couton, Bill Young, Joan Price, Erik Leifson, Philip Becker, Bill Owen, Keith Lee, Wanda Alpar, Lemarr Brothers and Suzette, Marilyn Girls, Merseyside Mites, Marie Joy, Benson Dulay and Company and Pan Yue Yen Troupe. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 27 December 1954

Blackpool Opera House Programme, Summer season 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.44
Scope and Contents

George and Alfred Black present The Big Show of 1968, Ken Dodd, Tessie O’Shea, Sylvan, Fred Roby, The Bluebell Girls, The Diddy Men, Valente Valente, Robert Colman, Felicity Hayman, Keith Spencer. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by United Printing Services, Blackpool, 8p.p.

Dates: Summer season 1968

Charles Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0069
Scope and Contents

The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Films, 1927 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178D13
Scope and Contents

Compilation of circus films showing acts on the ring as well as interviews with performers and proprietors, mainly produced by tv companies in the UK and Europe. Many of them narrated in German.

Dates: 1927 - 2007

Palace Theatre Poster, Opening 19 December 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.160
Scope and Contents

Manchester. The Ken Dodd Laughter Experience. Contains photograph.

Dates: Opening 19 December 1977

Pantomime Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, Week commencing 17 January 1955

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R11.300-342
Scope and Contents

Pantomime posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.

Dates: Week commencing 17 January 1955

Posters, c1887 - 2010

 Series
Reference code: 178R27
Scope and Contents

Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.

Dates: c1887 - 2010

Posters, c1937 - 1989

 Series
Reference code: 178R11
Scope and Contents

A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178K27
Scope and Contents

Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.

Dates: c1890 - 1999

The Ken Dodd Laughter Show Poster, 18 November 1985

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.74
Scope and Contents

Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Colour illustration and black and white photograph. Printed by Electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd., Cheadle Heath Works, Stockport.

Dates: 18 November 1985

The Magnificent Showman, Cirque du Soleil and Ken Dodd Films, 1964 - 1990

 Item
Reference code: 178D13.14
Scope and Contents

Bronston Studios, Telemagik Productions Inc., Thames Television Plc. Colour, sound and background music. DVD1 The Magnificent Showman starring Claudia Cardinale, John Wayne and Rita Hayworth, 02:11:51 mins. DVD2 Cirque du Soleil tv broadcast 1989, Ken Dodd at the London Palladium 1990 tv broadcast, includes other acts, a Thames Television production for ITV, other TV programmes at the end, 02:29:21 mins. America and England.

Dates: 1964 - 1990