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Quiz about Morecambe without Wise without Morecambe
Quiz about Morecambe without Wise without Morecambe

Morecambe without Wise without Morecambe Quiz


Morecambe & Wise are rightly considered the UK's most beloved comedy double act. But how much do you know about the solo work they did before, during and after their partnership?

A multiple-choice quiz by Red_John. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Red_John
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
392,330
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
135
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In 1939, 13-year old Ernest Wiseman auditioned successfully for the theatrical impresario Jack Hylton. The same day as his audition, Hylton put the young performer into that evening's performance of his then current show at the Prince's Theatre in London. What was the name of the show in which young Ernest performed? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In 1943, after Ernie had been called up for war service, Eric Morecambe got a job as a straight man to a comic called Gus Morris working for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), a civilian organisation set up to provide entertainment to the armed forces during the war. Owing to the often poor nature of acts available, what did the men and women of the armed forces joke that ENSA really meant? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In 1969, while Eric was convalescing from his first heart attack, Ernie was offered a number of different opportunities to do solo work. One of these offers was to work on a BBC children's programme, but which one? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. While recuperating from his heart bypass operation, Eric began working on a novel. What was it called? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1983, Eric appeared in a short film as 'Lord Eric', a nobleman determined to stop his Lady (played by Madeline Smith) from running off with an amorous interloper, played by Tom Baker. What was the name of the short? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. At the time of his death, Eric had begun working on his second adult novel, entitled "Stella". This was eventually completed and published two years later. Who completed the book? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 1985, Ernie departed on a three-month tour of theatres, clubs and other venues, doing a one-man show reminiscing on his life and career. In which country did he make this tour? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 1987, Ernie returned to his musical routes when he was cast in a musical adaptation of which Charles Dickens novel? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Ernie was cast in 1988 in a long-running stage farce by prolific writer/producer Ray Cooney. In which farce did he appear? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 1992, Ernie entered rehearsals for his first pantomime for many years, and his first without Eric. Where was the pantomime held? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1939, 13-year old Ernest Wiseman auditioned successfully for the theatrical impresario Jack Hylton. The same day as his audition, Hylton put the young performer into that evening's performance of his then current show at the Prince's Theatre in London. What was the name of the show in which young Ernest performed?

Answer: Bandwaggon

The 13-year old Ernest had been performing around the north of England with his father, Harry, when the opportunity came to audition in late 1938 for the impresario Bryan Michie. Michie recommended the young performer to Jack Hylton, who invited the pair to audition for him in January 1939.

However, although he was prepared to take on Ernest, there was no place for Harry, who left his son in Hylton's care. Hylton renamed the boy as Ernie Wise, and immediately placed him into "Bandwaggon", a stage adaptation of Arthur Askey's successful BBC Radio show.
2. In 1943, after Ernie had been called up for war service, Eric Morecambe got a job as a straight man to a comic called Gus Morris working for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), a civilian organisation set up to provide entertainment to the armed forces during the war. Owing to the often poor nature of acts available, what did the men and women of the armed forces joke that ENSA really meant?

Answer: Every Night Something Awful

Because of the global extent of the British Armed Forces during the Second World War, it was hard for ENSA to obtain the services of first-rate acts for everywhere and, as a consequence, many shows for troops were often filled with mediocre performers. Eric's time with ENSA ended when his call-up papers arrived and he went into service as a coal miner.
3. In 1969, while Eric was convalescing from his first heart attack, Ernie was offered a number of different opportunities to do solo work. One of these offers was to work on a BBC children's programme, but which one?

Answer: The Basil Brush Show

"The Basil Brush Show", starring the eponymous anthropomorphic fox, had begun in 1968, and featured a human co-star. Following Rodney Bewes's departure from the series, Ernie was offered the opportunity to appear with Basil Brush, but turned it down as he remained committed to working as part of a double act with Eric.

Instead, the actor Derek Fowlds became Basil's new sidekick from 1969 onwards.
4. While recuperating from his heart bypass operation, Eric began working on a novel. What was it called?

Answer: Mr Lonely

Eric had been a frustrated writer for many years, often starting work on a piece of fiction before coming to a halt as other commitments took up his attention. But, following his second heart attack and subsequent operation, the requirement for an extended period of recuperation meant that Eric had the time to devote to the writing of a novel.

He eventually came up with "Mr Lonely", the story of a club comedian who, having achieved eventual success, comes to a tragic end by stabbing himself with a show business award. "Mr Lonely" was published in 1981.

The fulfillment that Eric felt in writing his novel led to him deciding to do more, with the aim of producing at least one book a year.
5. In 1983, Eric appeared in a short film as 'Lord Eric', a nobleman determined to stop his Lady (played by Madeline Smith) from running off with an amorous interloper, played by Tom Baker. What was the name of the short?

Answer: The Passionate Pilgrim

"The Passionate Pilgrim" was one of the few instances over the course of their partnership that either Morecambe or Wise appeared without the other. Produced in mid 1983 as a theatrical short release, intended to be shown alongside a main feature, the film was released in 1984.

The production company planned to make further shorts with Morecambe, Baker and Smith playing the same characters in different time periods, with the ultimate goal of bringing them together to form a single feature length film, but this was thwarted by Eric's death.
6. At the time of his death, Eric had begun working on his second adult novel, entitled "Stella". This was eventually completed and published two years later. Who completed the book?

Answer: Gary Morecombe

Following the publication of "Mr Lonely" in 1981, Eric had written two novels for children, "The Reluctant Vampire" (1982) and "The Vampire's Revenge" (1983), as well as a book on one of his favourite pastimes, fishing. At this stage he had begun to enjoy writing, seeing it as something he could do as an alternative to performing to the extent that he had up to that stage in his life.

A few days after Eric's death, his son Gary found a typed page in his father's typewriter headed "Stella, p. 61". Eventually, Gary found approximately 2/3 of a completed manuscript, which he completed and published in 1985.
7. In 1985, Ernie departed on a three-month tour of theatres, clubs and other venues, doing a one-man show reminiscing on his life and career. In which country did he make this tour?

Answer: Australia

After Eric's death, Ernie found himself in the position of being physically and mentally fit, and unwilling to retire from the business, but without the clout that being one half of Morecambe & Wise provided. So, he began looking around for opportunities to work, and began by doing the tour of Australia with his nostalgic look at his early life in Leeds and his career with Eric. Ironically, Eric had been looking to do something similar when he accepted the invitation from Stan Stennett to do the show that eventually led to his fatal heart attack.
8. In 1987, Ernie returned to his musical routes when he was cast in a musical adaptation of which Charles Dickens novel?

Answer: The Mystery of Edwin Drood

In 1985, the musical adaptation of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" opened on Broadway to significant critical acclaim and considerable success. Two years later, a production was announced for the West End, with Ernie cast as Chairman William Cartwright, with the expectation that this would follow the success of the Broadway production.

Instead, the show closed after just ten weeks at the Savoy Theatre.
9. Ernie was cast in 1988 in a long-running stage farce by prolific writer/producer Ray Cooney. In which farce did he appear?

Answer: Run For Your Wife

After the disappointment of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", Ernie spent several months as part of the cast of Ray Cooney's classic farce. At the same time, he kept up a "hobby" of guest appearances on shows such as "Countdown" and "What's My Line?". In addition, he undertook a lot of work for charity, with one notable event seeing him travel around the world in eighty hours dressed as Phileas Fogg for a heart charity.
10. In 1992, Ernie entered rehearsals for his first pantomime for many years, and his first without Eric. Where was the pantomime held?

Answer: Windsor

Ernie had been cast as the King in the production of "Sleeping Beauty" at the Theatre Royal, Windsor for Christmas 1992. At the same time, he had allowed a BBC crew to film and interview him for a documentary for their "40 Minutes" strand entitled "The Importance of Being Ernie", which was broadcast in 1993.

The documentary was scorned for the poor light in which it portrayed Ernie, as someone who had brought little to the partnership with Eric, and continued to live off the vague aspiration of 'making it' in Hollywood.
Source: Author Red_John

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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