I mentioned the 1960s-70s comedy duo Dailey and Wayne quite a while ago after a relative of Billy Wayne sent me a signed photograph of the pair.
Recently Dinah, the daughter of Pat Dailey has been in touch, leaving a number of comments on the post linked above, but she was also kind enough to send me some fabulous memorabilia on the act some of which I reproduce here with her permission.Having been brought up in a time when Variety was one of the major types of entertainment, both in live theatre and on television, it always seems a shame to me that some of the great acts I remember - even if only vaguely - are never seen or heard about. Variety now seems to mean half entertainment and half showing people on television solely so we can laugh at their naivety and lack of sense of reality on shows like The X-Factor. It's a cross between the exploitation of the likes of the Jeremy Kyle show and Variety.
Some of the posters and programme covers Dinah sent were from shows that my parents had taken us to see, such as the one above right, which starred The Shadows at the ABC Theatre in Great Yarmouth in 1964.
I have a feeling we saw the Val Doonican show at Great Yarmouth too and I remembered with great fondness another show Dinah mentioned - that at the ABC Theatre in Blackpool in 1963 following the theatre's refurbishment and renaming with Cliff Richard as the headlining act. We must have seen that show at least three times that year with various female members of the family swooning...Pat Dailey is involved in a new website that is currently in development and he and Dinah are involved in charity shows to give artists the experience of some professional productions and a chance to appear at no less than the ultimate starred place on any Variety map - The London Palladium.
So is there any chance of meeting up with Pat and Dinah and having a chat with someone who gave me so much laughter during my childhood that I can remember their names with great affection, even without remembering details of the act? Oh, I do hope so! And dare I wonder whether the world is ready for the band to tread the boards at The Palladium? All will be revealed...
I was so pleased to see the information about Dailey and Wayne.
ReplyDeleteI got to know Bill quite well,as I am in the business as a professional magician.
When I met him he had parted company with Pat and was working with a young guy,whose name has escaped me,and they worked the act under the new name.
They were one of the funniest double acts I had seen live,Eric Morecambe had died before I had a chance to see them.
I got to know Bill at the holiday camps in Great Yarmouth and they appeared in Panto at Norwich.
I spoke to Bill when he was ill and I will never forget the day I phoned and his son told me he had passed away.
I have just remembered the name of Bill's partner.It was Tony Trafford,who,when Bill died went into agency work.So the for the last few years they were billed as 'Trafford and Wayne'.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories Steve!
ReplyDeleteHi John I worked the London Palladium in the 60s i met both Bill annd Paddy(sorry to hear about Bills death) I spent time in their dressing room on lots of occasions I never heard one bad word between them,i used to go out for beers for Bill.I sold Paddy some Italian suits for 4 pounds 10 shillings he was going to use them on stage,I always wonderd if he did and did they stand up.They were a great couple a fond memory of my time working there,I,m from Yorkshire and at that time they were probably only 2 people in the Palladium that could understand me.I think the show was a summer show maybe Val Doonigan.Derek
ReplyDeleteReading these comments brings back memories. I remember in the 70's Dailey & Wayne being booked by local agent, Johhny Laycock to do a week of London club gigs.
ReplyDeleteOn the first one the drummer at the venue for some reason would not provide the backing and my friend who was on keyboards pursueded me to sit in. - The show went without a hitch.
They were brilliant.
Must be a drummer thing - we saw the Black Abbotts on one of the Blackpool piers one year and as we were taking our seats a very sore looking drummer unscrewed his cymbals, tucked them under his arm and stormed out. There was an announcement he had been taken ill and Russ Abbott sat in for a couple of numbers, using his own cymbals!
ReplyDeleteHi Darren
DeleteI used to live next door to you at 44 West Park Avene, Northfield, Birmingham. I remember your mum being really kind to me and giving me tomato soup and a cuppa. I was the youngest of the large Haslewood family. She also gave me some amazing costumes to play dress up in from her time on stage - she was called June I think?
I was so pleased to see the short video of your dad on the Good Old Days because I never saw him perform.
I also remember Hank Marvin, Cliff Richard and Freddy Starr visiting your home but I was only very young and I'm 64 now!
Take care and keep safe
Kind Regards Annette
Hi John, my name is Darren Blower. I am Billy Wayne's youngest son and was delighted to see all these blogs about my Dad. If you would like further info please contact me via this blog. Thankyou for remembering him after all these years. It moved me to tears to read all these fond memories of him. Thankyou so much, it means a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi Darren.you may remember the Muschamp family who lived at 62 West Park Avenue? Julie here!my surname now is Wildey@homecall. We have always followed your family and really sorry to hear about your dad. We now live in Solihull and often think of you and garry .was the estate agents(Darren blower) you? Don't know if you remember us Angela,SusanJulie and Peter. Would be lovely to keep in touch! Julie
DeleteHi Darren, thanks for dropping in and for saying "hi"!
ReplyDeleteAs you can see my initial post about Dailey and Wayne started a few memories coming in from various people who obviously remembered the act with as much pleasure as I do!
Hi John, This is Gary Blower, Billy Wayne's eldest son. You have brought so many memories to the forefront of my mind. Seeing those posters took me right back to the summer seasons I spent with my dad. I really miss those days and it is great to see that my dad and Paddy have not been forgotten.
ReplyDeletehi Gary,my name is Barry i am your mum June,cousins husband[ a policeman]now retired many years live in cornwall ,i remember your dad Bill with fond memories had many a laugh over the years,and i visited your dad in hospital 2 days before he died.If you would like to get in touch 01840250042 would love to hear from you.Barry Tolley
DeleteHi Gary, I'm really glad you still remember all the times you spent in the Summer Seasons with your Dad and I. I think about him almost every day. It was a privelege to have worked with perhaps one of the most naturally talented man. I often hear people referred to as Comedy Genius, they need to have worked alongside someone like your Bill Wayne to know what comedy genius really is. I miss the old B.. and will always think of the great success he made me party to.
DeleteGod Bless you Gary Give my regards to your Mum and Darren
Yours sincerely Paddy
Hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in and glad that the blog managed to stir some good memories for you!
Hi All,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ian Wilson. My father is Ken Wilson who worked with Paddy and Billy on several occasions as I remember.
I have just returned fro my parents where we were reminiscing about a Panto in Plymouth that Dad, Billy and Paddy were in and the fact that dad was camped in the car park of the theatre in a caravan, of which my brother and I stayed with him during the Christmas holidays.
Dad remembers Paddy calling him while he was at Ilford in panto to inform him of Billy's passing some years later, this prompted me to google Dailey and Wayne to try and establish Paddy's whereabouts which brought me to this site. Oh the power of the world wide web.
If Paddy see's this blog or indeed his daughter, my farther would be delighted to get in touch I'm sure.
All great artist of which we haven't seen the likes of since.
Many thanks
Hi Ian,
DeleteI have very many times recounted the time your Dad (Ken) and I (Paddy Dailey) walked around Newcastle looking for a cylinder of Oxygen. That was for a sketch he was doing in the Jimmy Wheeler TV Show. We were not successful, but later your Dad managed to buy a cylinder of Oxygen (as he thought) instead when he tried to use it in his workshop he almost gassed himself. The cylinder contained carbon monoxide.
Your Dad was a great performer and wonderful dancer/comedian.
Give him my fond regards and hope he is well.
Paddy Dailey
I remember Bill from my childhood as a kind and generous man and neighbor. I went to school with Darren and my father drove Bill to his royal variety show. I remember Bill bringing gifts back from las Vegas and also watching cine films of his of Manchester united winning European cup. Regards to Darren & Gary. Martin Poole, Sydney
ReplyDeleteI never got to see these gentleman as I was too young. I do know however they came to my home town (Barrow in Furness )on several occasions from 1966 to 1973. They performed several times at the 99 Club and once at the Civic hall. I am currently involved with l in a project which involves entertainment and I have interviewed many people who saw the lads perform here. Everyone of the people I have spoken too still remember the duo as being brilliant and very funny, these lads were loved in Barrow - at the 99 Club, and the 99 is a club that has played host to all the famous comedians around since 1961. thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello Alan,
DeleteThe 99 Club in Barrow holds great memories for me. The audiences were marvellous and the staff in the Club were most hospitable as were the audiences.
How is Tommy Halfpenny these days, well I hope.
You may be interested to know that my partner Bill Wayne was the first performed to do "The Twist" in England, and that was at the 99 Club. Sammy Morgan the owner booked us on several occasions within very short periods. Great days.
Love to everyone of the people who saw us, I'll always remember the 99Club Barrow-on-furness
Paddy Dailey, Dailey & Wayne
Hi my name is Tony Dowling and I knew Paddy & Bill quite well,I worked with them a few times in the clubs and stayed in some 'digs'in Leeds,
ReplyDeleteHelen Bradley's on Street Lane with them,they were great, we had a lot of laughs, there was the late Lennie Bennett, Freddie Starr, Paul Ridgeway and Johnny Hacket and Englebert H, all in the 'digs'. Bill & Paddy were a good double act and they were popular in the States as well.
Alan Wilkinson mentions 99 Club, that brings back memories, the compere was Tommy Halfpenny,great, and the owner was I think Sam Morgan,They were great days in the clubs during the 60's & 70's, comics didn't swear in those days, they didn't need to, they were funny, I never ever used it on stage. I was proud to be part of thatera
Hi Tony,
DeleteHelen Bradley's, now there's name to conjure with!!! Remember the cupboard at the top of the stairs?
Did you ever have "the honour" of going into the white room?
I recall you showing me the first mobile phone in your car, am I right?
It's great the hear from you my son. Hope you are well and still working? On second thoughts you may be too funny and not foulmouthed enough.
Break a leg
Regards
Paddy Dailey
Hello, i am one of 4 daughters that Pat Dailey had from his first marriage. I thought you might be interested in a book that my mum has written about her life?
ReplyDeleteHi, My name is Glenn Veale and I worked in a band called Scott Free at a residency at the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in the late 70s. I was going through my memorabilia a while back and came across a Dailey and Wayne poster from the time they performed at the Top of the Carlton in 1979. I remember them well and agree that they were two of the funniest guys that ever walked a stage.( Well Bill was the funny one,but Pat was a great straight man). I still remember jokes and gags they did 35 years later.
ReplyDeleteWe had a fantastic 2 weeks while they were our resident cabaret. I think we played a few songs with them too. Great memories.
Bill: I'm so tough, I can spit money... ptw! Here's 50cents.
DeletePat: Ptw ! Here's your change !
Glenn.
Pat Daley!
ReplyDeleteCan I have my money for the Panto please.
Lots of love
Danny Baker
Lol! Remember Danny - 10% goes to me ha ha!
DeleteI remember seeing Dailey and Wayne at the White Rock Pavilion I think was called in Hastings. Mum and dad took us when we were on holiday down there late 70s. Brilliant show. I enjoyed it so much I went back on my own the following day. They were with The Sisters Douane an Irish girl singing group.They were good too. Wonder what happened to them? Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
John
John, you can look up The Duane Family Newbridge and there is a write up on them.
DeleteOver the last couple of days I've had a torrent of comments that I am NOT going to publish. Will the people sending them (anonymously) please stop as no one will see them at all.
ReplyDeleteI remember Dailey & Wayne from 1972 when they were appearing at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas. My late husband was a musician also appearing there and I made a beef curry one night and they came back to our apartment to eat. Pat gave me the recipe which I still have and both were missing their families back home.
ReplyDelete