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Benny Hill – Iconic English Comic, Writer and Actor – Also Chaplin's Favourite Comedian

Benny Hill was one of England's greatest icons and is recognised worldwide as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th Century. I thought it would be interesting to write the story of this famous icon from his birth in Southampton to his present day status as a great English Icon. If you get the chance to buy any of his DVD's I highly reccommend watching his very funny shows.

He was born Alfred Hawthorn Hill in Southampton in January 21st 1925. It was his grandfather who introduced him to Burlesque Shows and the theatre from where the young Benny Hill was to draw much of his comic inspiration.

Charlie Chaplin who died in 1977, was a fan of Benny Hill's work: Hill had discovered that Chaplin, his childhood idol, was a fan, when he was invited to Chaplin's home in Switzerland by the Chaplin family and discovered that Chaplin had a collection of Benny Hill's work on video. Benny Hill and Denis Kirkland were the first outside the family to be invited into Chaplin's private study. Hill was awarded the Charlie Chaplin International Award for Comedy at the 1991 Festival of Comedy in Vevey, Switzerland.

Which he used to watch all the time. Charlie Chaplin's son explained to Benny that he was his father's favourite comedian, which he said later, was the proudest moment of his life.

After his national service with the army during WW2, Benny came to London, adopted the stage name Benny Hill (in homage to his all time favourite comedian Jack Benny) and began appearing in variety shows. He briefly formed a double act with Reg varney and did radio shows. But it was his talent for impressions and comic timing that were to give him his first big break on TV with the show "Hi There" in 1949.

Benny Hill appeared in the following Music, Shows and Films:

1. "Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West". No1 Record for Christmas 1971

2. "The Benny Hill Show" began in (1955)

3. Who Done it? (1956)

4. Hill's audio recordings include Gather in the Mushroom (1961),

5. Pepys Diary (1961),

6. Transistor Radio (1961),

7. Harvest of Love (1963),

8. "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (1965).

9. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

10. The Italian Job (1969),

11. a clip-show film spin-off of his early Thames shows (1969–73)

12. The Best Of Benny Hill (1974).

13. In 1979 "The Benny Hill Show" was shown in America for the first time and Benny went on to become one of the biggest stars on US TV.

14. He also appeared in the 1986 video of the song "Anything She Does" by the band Genesis.

The Benny Hill show itself has been seen in 109 countries and won a BAFTA as well as Golden Rose Of Montreaux Award.

In 1991 he was awarded the Charlie Chaplin Award for Contributions to Comedy.

Benny Hill's TV career came to an end in 1989, when his show was dropped, but his popularity continued and he completed a US TV special, Benny Hill - Unseen (1991) (TV) shortly before his death in 1992.

When Benny Hill died in April 1992, his estate was worth an estimated £10 million. The only will Hill created left his estate to his parents who both died years ago. Next in line were his brother and sister, neither of whom he had a close relationship with, but like his parents are also dead. As a result, Hill's estate was divided among his seven nieces and nephews.

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author

My family tree has been traced back to the early Kings of England from the 7th Century AD. I am also a direct descendent of Sir Christopher Wren which has given me an interest in English History which is great fun to research.

 

I have recently decided to write articles on my favourite subjects: English Sports, English History, English Icons, English Discoveries and English Inventions. At present I have written over 100 articles which I call "An Englishman's Favourite Bits Of England" in various Volumes. Please visit my fun Blogs page http://Bloggs.Resourcez.Com where I have listed all my fun articles to date.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

Where can I buy Alternative/ Underground comics in Houston?

What I'm looking for is the best place to purchase Alternative or Underground Comics in the greater area of Houston Texas. I've been to a few stores in town and haven't managed to find a decent supplier of alt comics, so if anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it!

I can't say, since I've never been there; but here are a few resources on finding comic shops.

http://the-master-list.com

http://comicshoplocator.com

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Tick (Comics) $70.1 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Tick is a fictional character created by cartoonist Ben Edlund in 1986 as a newsletter mascot for the New England Comics chain of Boston area comic stores. He is an absurdist spoof of comic book superheroes. After its creation, the character spun off into an independent comic book series in 1988, and gained mainstream popularity through an animated TV series on Fox Broadcasting in 1994. A shortlived liveaction TV series, video game and various merchandise have also been based on the character. The Tick was named the twentyeighth greatest comic book character by Empire Magazine. In 1986, 18yearold cartoonist Ben Edlund created The Tick as a mascot for a newsletter of the Brockton, Massachusetts store, New England Comics, where he was a customer. Edlund expanded this into stories, beginning with the threepage tale The Tick in New England Comics Newsletter #1415 (JulyAug. to Sept.Oct. 1986), in which the hero escapes from a mental institution. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 92 Publication Date: 2010/07/25 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.22 inches

Mystique (Comics) $141.79 Mystique (Raven Darkhlme) is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics franchise, XMen. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms. Marvel #16. Throughout most of her history, Mystique has been a supervillain, founding her own Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and assassinating several important people involved in mutant affairs. Mystique herself is a mutant, a shapeshifter whose natural appearance includes her blue skin and yellow eyes. At one point, she mentioned she is over 100 years old. Mystique is the mother of the villain Graydon Creed, the XMen hero Nightcrawler, and foster mother of the hero Rogue. She was forced to abandon Nightcrawler, but raised Rogue for a number of years and the two women have mixed feelings towards one another. Despite Mystiques history of crime, she has worked with the XMens Professor X, in a shortlived series. She was later voted straight into the XMen. Actress Rebecca Romijn portrays Mystique in the XMen films. In 2009, Mystique was ranked as IGNs 18th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 204 Publication Date: 2009/12/01 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.46 inches

Proteus (Comics) $113.11 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Kevin MacTaggert, best known as Proteus and also called Mutant X, is a Marvel Comics character, associated with the XMen. Kevin was the mutant son of Scottish genetic researcher Moira MacTaggert and politician Joseph MacTaggert. Kevin had reality warping and possession powers and lived most of his life in forced seclusion at his mothers Muir Island research facility. His attempt to break free and find his father made up a classic 197980 Uncanny XMen storyline that was adapted in the 1990s XMen animated series. In 2009, Proteus was ranked as IGNs 77th Greatest Villain of All Time. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/cowriter John Byrne, Proteus first appeared in Uncanny XMen #125 (September 1979), though hints to his character appeared in earlier issues. First, he appears offpanel in Uncanny XMen #104. His voice is then revealed in Uncanny XMen #119, as he took over the body of his first victim offpanel. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: 2010/12/22 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.44 inches

Dc Comics: the New 52 $238.98 Collects fiftytwo DC Comics first issues starring the Worlds Greatest SuperHeroes, including Green Lantern, Batman, and Teen Titans. Author: Johns, Geoff/ Williams, Scott/ Jurgens, Dan/ Lopresti, Aaron/ Ryan, Matt Series Title: DC Comics: The New 52 Publication Date: 2011/12/13 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 3.00 Width: 7.25 Height: 11.25

Ghost (Dark Horse Comics) $89.22 Ghost is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by Dark Horse Comics. The character appeared in specials and monthly titles detailing the afterlife of Elisa Cameron and her search for the truth surrounding her apparent death. Ghost first appeared in Comics Greatest World Week 3 in (1993). After a popular special in 1994, a monthly title devoted to the character began publication in 1995 and ran for 36 issues, followed by a sixmonth break and a second series running for 22 issues. The second series was a continuation of the first but with many changes, including new details concerning Ghosts origin. The stories in both series were based in and around the city of Arcadia, firmly entrenched in a selfcontained fictional universe outlined in Dark Horses Comics Greatest World. The characters of Comics Greatest World were conceived and created in the late 1980s. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 104 Publication Date: 2010/01/06 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.24 inches

DC Comics Wall Scroll Set $33.99 Celebrate the golden age of DC Comics! Batman and Superman in their first appearances! Perfect for hanging! Back from the days of Action Comics and Detective Comics came two of the greatest super heroes of all time! This set of 2 wall scrolls includes (subject to change): 1x Superman 1x Batman Bring these old-fashioned heroes home today!

Oberon (Comics) $78.07 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Oberon is the diminutive manager of Mister Miracle, the worlds greatest escape artist. He is named after the legendary king of the faeries. Oberon was created by Jack Kirby. According to Secret Origins #33, the dwarf Oberon is orphaned at a young age in a fire. He seeks work with a traveling circus and is made to perform menial labor under a verbally and physically abusive ringmaster. Oberon is eventually rescued by escape artist, Thaddeus Brown, the original Mister Miracle. He becomes Browns assistant and protege, helping him plan his elaborate escapes. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 104 Publication Date: 2010/07/04 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.24 inches

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Incredible Hulk 3 By Marvel Comics Group $24.43 Skaar, Son of Hulk, enters his most brutal battle, while Bruce Banner faces his greatest temptation, Betty Ross and Glenn Talbot return, and the identity of the Red SheHulk is revealed. Author: Marvel Comics Group Series Title: Incredible Hulk Subtitle: World War Hulks Publication Date: 2010/11/03 Number of Pages: 120 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 7.00 Height: 10.25

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Rob Walton (Comics) $144.98 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Rob Walton is a Canadian comic book artist who has also worked in animation. His works include the parody Pork Knight (based on Frank Millers Dark Knight Returns), and Devils Hammer, an installment of Grendel Tales. Waltons latest graphic novel is the 464page Ragmop, published in autumn 2006. Grendel is a longrunning series of comic books originally created by American author Matt Wagner. First published by Comico, Wagner has now moved his character to Dark Horse. Originally a noir comic in the style of European titles such as Diabolik, it has evolved into, in Wagners words, a study of the nature of aggression. In 2009, Hunter Rose, the first Grendel, was ranked as IGNs 88th Greatest Villain of All Time. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 254 Publication Date: 2010/08/03 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.58 inches

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Great Moustaches Mug $9.93 15 famous moustaches on one mug. As Confucius said, "A man without a moustache is a man without a soul." Holds 12 oz....

Looney Tunes Movie Collection (Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Movie / 1001 Rabbit Tales) $4.48 The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie Chuck Jones directed some of the funniest shorts in the history of filmmaking, and this 1979 feature-length compilation includes several of his best cartoons. Among the 11 shorts shown in their entirety are the classics "Robin Hood Daffy," "What's Opera, Doc?," "Bully for Bugs," and "Duck Amuck," which remain as hilarious as they were when first released 50 years a...

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Greatest Comics