I was charmed when at the end of the documentary film The Peter Green Story (Man Of The World), the famous guitarist when asked something along the lines of whom he compared favorably to mischievously boasted of being better than Sooty, and then added, but maybe not Sooty with Sweep. No doubt this statement would entirely baffle most non-Brits unaware of ace toy xylophonist and nascent anarchist bear puppet Sooty. But Sooty has been around for over sixty years now!
Puppeteer Harry Corbett was a brilliant puppeteer, if you look him up on youtube you can discover the wonders of how he brings a simple bear puppet to life (by as one child is said to have remarked by putting his hand up Sooty's bottom). You can also (if you can play region 2 PAL format DVDs) watch a number of vintage "lost" episodes http://www.thesootyshow.com/shop/index.php on two new releases well introduced by the current archivist and presenter of the Sooty Show, Richard Cadell. The sheer dexterity Mr. Corbett brought to bear as it were is inspiring; Sooty plays well enough to be hailed the Hendrix of the toy xylophone, and in a sort of spoof of industrial films goes from typing to removing specs and answering the telephone with a magician's skill. Aside from Greeny, Slade's Noddy Holder is another admirer (there is one scandalous photo of the two icons in bed together), and I have to think Johnny "Rotten" Lydon of the Sex Pistols may've learned a thing or two in biting the hand that feeds you from our Sooty!
For further blog reading check into:
http://aquariumofvulcan.blogspot.ca/2011/07/sooty.html
http://allbear.blogspot.ca/2008/10/izzy-wizzy-lets-get-busy.html
2 comments:
Well, as a Brit and a child of the '60s you've touched something here! I watched a lot of Sooty... he did used to make me cry sometimes though (all that 'violence'! I was such a sensitive child). But when watching it as an adult I appreciate it so much more!
Great post, nice to see you back.
Thanks!
Sooty could be a right charmer at times, I don't think he was ever malevolent but he had a mind of his own. I've gone so far (but I've been far gone for awhile) as to buy a Sooty puppet just so I have someone to blame my typos on! It's interesting that Matthew Corbett and Richard Cadell have both been able to keep a lot of the original character.
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