Jimmy James

Jimmy James (born James Casey; 20 May 1892 – 4 August 1965) was an English music hall, film, radio and television comedian and comedy actor. James had limited use for jokes as such, preferring to say things in a humorous manner, sometimes in surreal situations and as such was seen by some as well ahead of his time. He was often hailed as a "comedians' comedian".

Biographical details

He was born as James Casey on 20 May 1892, the eldest of four sons of Jeremiah Casey, an iron puddler or steelmaker, and Polly Gartland. although other sources consider that he was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough, and moved to Stockton-on-Tees at the age of seven in 1899. and did not smoke off stage.

Jimmy James's son James Casey (1922–2011) was a radio light entertainment producer at the BBC in Manchester, writing and producing shows including The Clitheroe Kid starring Jimmy Clitheroe, The Ken Dodd Show, Listen to Les starring Les Dawson, and The Enchanting World of Hinge and Bracket.

Career

James began his stage career in 1904, joining Willy Netta's Singing Jockeys, a singing group, as "Terry, the blue-eyed Irish boy" with popular songs of the day

James became a comedian by chance. In 1925, he took over for one night at Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, standing in when the regular comedian walked out. His second film was Those People Next Door where he and Eli reprise James's drunk routine.

Stage

With his act James toured the musical halls, theatres and clubs around the country. He appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in 1953 and stole the show with his routine The Chipster—a lecture on the occupational hazards of preparing chips.

Radio

In 1952, James starred on BBC radio in, firstly, the comedy series Don't Spare the Horses and, subsequently, in 1954 in the comedy series The Mayor's Parlour which was written for him by his son in collaboration with Frank Roscoe. as well as making appearances in many TV programmes including the Billy Cotton Band Show, Northern Showground (1956), Showtime (1959–61), Comedy Bandbox (1962–63) and Saturday Bandbox (1962).

James's main sketches

The drunk sketch—a variant of this appeared in the film Over the Garden Wall. The shoebox or Elephant-in-the-box routine. The chipster sketch—a lecture on the occupational hazards of preparing chips.

Filmography

Stars on Parade (1936) as himself. Those People Next Door (1953) as Joe Lawton starring Jack Warner and with Eli Woods. Over the Garden Wall (1950) with Norman Evans and Eli Woods.