The lovely Norman. The most original comedian ever. I worked with him many times. Just as funny off-stage as on. This is a gem of a video. Norman sadly passed away in 2013 after a lengthy illness. Gone but certainly not forgotten. Thanks for posting this precious clip. R. I. P. Norman Collier. x
Norman was from my hometown, Kingston Upon Hull, England. What you call a comedian's comedian. Just a proper, talented nutcase ! His faulty microphone schtick is just a pure joy !
Norman Collier was famous for doing that "trouble with the mic" sketch as much as Norman Wisdom was famous for his falling over & Slapstick comedy and his "Mr Grimsdale" catchphrase! 👍🇬🇧♥️🤣
Classic comedy from the 70's, used to watch this when I was a kid. No expletives or course language, just comedic talent to make us all laugh. Thank you for the upload and reaction.
I saw Norman live … must have been about 2003 or 4. He did 10 minutes as part of a variety show. I nearly died laughing. He did the chicken, the microphone and in between did nothing I can really describe to you but in the guise of a senile old man who didn’t really know why he was there. I wish I could describe it because it was truly very very funny. His stint ended to little applause because the house was too busy laughing.
Saw him over 30 years ago at our local British Legion in Formby (Merseyside) here in the UK he was on for hours absolutely hilarious.sadly no longer with us he used to be a favourite of lots of well known comedians.
Hey Squirrel, yes, that was back in the `70`s, loved that program & Norman Collier was a riot every time. He was renowned for his faulty mic routine & the "rooster ?" impersonation. Though usually for the latter, he would pull his jacket down over his arms halfway & mess up his hair before strutting around stage like the animal. :)
Fun idea, well executed. I think I saw him do this on TV when I was a kid. I've checked wikipedia, it says The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was on TV 1974 to 1977. You might already know, so I apologise, but a wheeltapper was a railway maintenance worker who could detect cracks or damaged rail (rolling stock) wheels by tapping on them. I imagine there's an AI-based gizmo to do that these days. 🤔 Best Wishes. ☮
@@highpath4776 Thank you for replying. That sounds horrific. I hope there is a reliable technology used to prevent that ever happening again. Best Wishes. ☮
@@gbulmer UK I think uses ultrasound run through and measures results, tolerances differ as to if it is a one piece cast wheel ( China had problems with those till they learned the steel cook mix and time) or a shrunk on tyre. Normally managed by average expected mileage and wheels are checked. turned or retired before that mileage is exceeded but an additional stress caused by unexpected braking incidents , track out of gauge or travelling on a route different to normal (thus changing mileage conditions from expected) can catch you out, The swinging of a lightwieght long handled hammer to create a ring resonance still works , any crack will dull the sound .
I actually remember being in a carriage waiting at a station on a dark night and the clang as wheeltapper walked along tapping all the wheels. That brings back memories. We have seen so much change and especially looking at this old innocent humour much warmth and tolerance has been lost and gone forever.
Norman was booked for a one nighter in a small venue in South East London. He had travelled down from his summer season in Cromer to do this Sunday show. Unfortunately the venue had not sold it very well and there was only a couple of dozen people in the audience. Some artist would've turned round and gone home but Norman decided that he would go for it and we as the audience decided that we would too. We ended up with a hilarious night and Norman very kindly said that we were a better audience than his holiday show audience.
I vaguely remember this show as a young preteenager. I seem to remember it being shown on a Saturday night, as that's the only night of the week I was allowed to, 'stay up', later than usual. A clever show that, on first appearances, looks like a genuine social club somewhere in the north of England, but was actually shot in a TV studio. All the acts were genuine having come from working men's clubs, getting an opportunity at national exposure, some of which would go on to national fame as a result. Norman Collier was one such individual, who was a mid-tier entertainer who's most recognisable act being the faulty microphone skit, that was done to amazing comic effect. The one thing I always remember about this show was the chairman, (the bloke with the rotary bell), who'd often interject during performances regarding some stipulation that the, 'committee', had agreed upon that was in contravention to part of the act. The one I remember most was a complaint regarding some of the audience doing hand jives during one song performance, in which he asked the patrons in the audience to persist as it was confusing the barmaids with taking drink orders! 🤣
I temped at Air Tours for a short time & they operated Cruises. I processed Norman Colliers Invoices from his Agent for his performances on cruise ships. I didn’t know he worked cruises.
Unbelievable but back in 1970 our second rate pop group was on the bill with this great artist. It was at a working mens club in Leigh which is in the Bolton,Wigan conurbation in Lancashire. He did the Mike and hat routine. The club served chicken in a basket. Memories!
My parents took me to see Norman Collier in at the Hexagon, Reading. It must have been late 70s or early 80s as I was very young. I have always assumed it was a pantomime but I can’t find any evidence that he ever did one there. Sadly I. Ant remember anything at all except the inside of the multi-storey car park! The things that stand out in your mind when you’re a small child! I remember he used to do a thing with Les Dawson called The Human Balloon.
Nah, when he said Bernard the way he said it, it was not a representation of how it's said here, but more just an emphasising of his name (both syllables). It's still with the emphasis on the first syllable in the UK, not the 2nd. :) Man, I love this told time comedy. Clean and just funny. Wheeltappers is something I watched as a child. Great stuff.
Hi sir. I’m glad you enjoyed old Norman , who sadly passed away in 2014 . I suppose you probably know that a wheel tapper was an actual job on the railways at the time , and of course shunting around trains is still done now , as for tapping train wheels it’s probably done by machine these days . The chap with the bell was also a comedian by the name of Colin Cromton , noted for his reseeding hair line which he combed forward from the back , which gave the impression he had a full head of hair . I remember seeing him doing an interview outside ,as the wind blew his hair up and down like a cat flap bless him . Sadly he too has long passed , but might be worth you taking a look at his act . Best wishes and kind regards to your good self . 😊
Wheel tappers and Shunters what a great show. Norman was one of the best to come out of it. Strangely enough as much as I liked the show I never liked Bernard Manning.
Excellent video as ever! I remember Norman with the 'Chicken' and 'Trouble with the microphone '. We used to have a comedy feature in the Midlands called 'Black Country Nights'. I would say react to it but it was a really strong dialect in those days. But one of the comedienne's was 'Dolly Allen'... Still funny now, but her accent is really strong. I don't think people would understand it?
He did a charity show a few years before he died at our local theatre,and the first thing he said to the audiennce was ,I bet you lot out there are saying,how old is he now.He did about 20 minutes .doing his AL JOLSON act,his japanese fighter pilot (complete with buck teeth) in a zero being shot down,and he held up a perspex car window side on.
Norman was from my City. I thought he was great. His brother used to go to the same social club as my mother in the early 90s. He used to get on my mum's nerves as all he did every week was take off Norman obviously needing the attention. The Microphone act came about by accident as he went to a club in Doncaster I think and the microphone kept playing up. He decided to put it into his act.
Good but not the best from Norman as you have to find him doing his car window and his chicken pieces which he incorporated into his act a little further on from his earlier performances .And he had a very funny appearence on the 'Tarby and friends' show doing these and it's on You tube.
Nice to see these old Northern comics getting attention. They had their moment in the seventies with shows like this and The Comedians both made by Manchester based Granada TV. One of the most loved was Ken Goodwin whose style was to send his audience into hysterics with silly jokes and an infectious good humour. No one found the jokes funnier than he did, ands his reaction to his own stuff that sucks you in. ua-cam.com/video/zMC7Pe4024Y/v-deo.htmlsi=1G5Oz2PkZlDmMRZr
He built most of his career on the dodgy microphone trick, he was very good at it. He got the idea from an actual incident. The wheeltappers and shunters club was on at tea time, early evening so nothing offensive on it. A lot of the acts were mediocre, but it was popular, and occasionally you got someone who sparked. The chairman with the flat hat and the bell used to irritate me. Never saw the point of him, they had a compare to introduce the acts. He just interrupted and carped.
All those comments telling that american reacting to yes minster that it is not bern-hard but burnherd and norman collier has to go and say that to mr manning
I'm convinced that a generation earlier if someone had seen him practising in front of the mirror he would have been hauled off and sedated PS see if you can find his routine with the car door
My friends wife was a cabaret singer (Shelley Stevens) and was once on the same bill as Norman Collier, about 25 years after this and his act and gags were the same. Faulty mike and comedy chicken impression et al. There's no begining to this mans talents.
The lovely Norman. The most original comedian ever. I worked with him many times. Just as funny off-stage as on. This is a gem of a video. Norman sadly passed away in 2013 after a lengthy illness. Gone but certainly not forgotten. Thanks for posting this precious clip. R. I. P. Norman Collier. x
Norman was from my hometown, Kingston Upon Hull, England. What you call a comedian's comedian. Just a proper, talented nutcase ! His faulty microphone schtick is just a pure joy !
Norman Collier was famous for doing that "trouble with the mic" sketch as much as Norman Wisdom was famous for his falling over & Slapstick comedy and his "Mr Grimsdale" catchphrase! 👍🇬🇧♥️🤣
I thought it was Norman Wisdom who said Mr Grimsdale
@@chrisrickards1087 yes it was!
and don't forget the chicken!
Classic comedy from the 70's, used to watch this when I was a kid. No expletives or course language, just comedic talent to make us all laugh. Thank you for the upload and reaction.
COLLIER GENIUS, TO SING LIKE THAT GREAT VOICE TRAING IS NEEDED, BERNARD KNOWS HE WAS A CLASS ACT, R.I.P BOTH OF THEM.
I just loved our noman
I saw Norman live … must have been about 2003 or 4. He did 10 minutes as part of a variety show. I nearly died laughing. He did the chicken, the microphone and in between did nothing I can really describe to you but in the guise of a senile old man who didn’t really know why he was there. I wish I could describe it because it was truly very very funny. His stint ended to little applause because the house was too busy laughing.
Saw him over 30 years ago at our local British Legion in Formby (Merseyside) here in the UK he was on for hours absolutely hilarious.sadly no longer with us he used to be a favourite of lots of well known comedians.
His broken mic routine, is what I remember him being most famous for
Hey Squirrel, yes, that was back in the `70`s, loved that program & Norman Collier was a riot every time. He was renowned for his faulty mic routine & the "rooster ?" impersonation. Though usually for the latter, he would pull his jacket down over his arms halfway & mess up his hair before strutting around stage like the animal. :)
Thank you for reacting to this. This is my pre teen years. Soooooooo funny. Thanks man.
Thank you for this, took me way back and made me smile so widely...
oh gods every time he did the chicken routine and the broken mic. LOL That was his entire act
Charlie Williams was another great 70’s comic and singer .but he started as a professional footballer
02:54 . How much does Colin Crompton look like Frank Skinner 😅
I haven't seen him for years!
Hey Squirrel……👍🇮🇲😉. I was knee high to a grasshopper when this was on our TVs here, still remember it well……👍😂
Used to watch it with my nana.
Norman also did a great chicken impression
Fun idea, well executed. I think I saw him do this on TV when I was a kid.
I've checked wikipedia, it says The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was on TV 1974 to 1977. You might already know, so I apologise, but a wheeltapper was a railway maintenance worker who could detect cracks or damaged rail (rolling stock) wheels by tapping on them. I imagine there's an AI-based gizmo to do that these days. 🤔
Best Wishes. ☮
plainly difficult did a bit about a german high speed line that got cracked wheel tires that were undected - 93 people killed
@@highpath4776 Thank you for replying.
That sounds horrific. I hope there is a reliable technology used to prevent that ever happening again.
Best Wishes. ☮
@@gbulmer UK I think uses ultrasound run through and measures results, tolerances differ as to if it is a one piece cast wheel ( China had problems with those till they learned the steel cook mix and time) or a shrunk on tyre. Normally managed by average expected mileage and wheels are checked. turned or retired before that mileage is exceeded but an additional stress caused by unexpected braking incidents , track out of gauge or travelling on a route different to normal (thus changing mileage conditions from expected) can catch you out, The swinging of a lightwieght long handled hammer to create a ring resonance still works , any crack will dull the sound .
@@highpath4776 Thank you for replying.
Thank you for the explanation of the test equipment. Very interesting.
Best Wishes. ☮
I actually remember being in a carriage waiting at a station on a dark night and the clang as wheeltapper walked along tapping all the wheels. That brings back memories. We have seen so much change and especially looking at this old innocent humour much warmth and tolerance has been lost and gone forever.
Norman was booked for a one nighter in a small venue in South East London. He had travelled down from his summer season in Cromer to do this Sunday show. Unfortunately the venue had not sold it very well and there was only a couple of dozen people in the audience. Some artist would've turned round and gone home but Norman decided that he would go for it and we as the audience decided that we would too. We ended up with a hilarious night and Norman very kindly said that we were a better audience than his holiday show audience.
I vaguely remember this show as a young preteenager. I seem to remember it being shown on a Saturday night, as that's the only night of the week I was allowed to, 'stay up', later than usual. A clever show that, on first appearances, looks like a genuine social club somewhere in the north of England, but was actually shot in a TV studio. All the acts were genuine having come from working men's clubs, getting an opportunity at national exposure, some of which would go on to national fame as a result. Norman Collier was one such individual, who was a mid-tier entertainer who's most recognisable act being the faulty microphone skit, that was done to amazing comic effect. The one thing I always remember about this show was the chairman, (the bloke with the rotary bell), who'd often interject during performances regarding some stipulation that the, 'committee', had agreed upon that was in contravention to part of the act. The one I remember most was a complaint regarding some of the audience doing hand jives during one song performance, in which he asked the patrons in the audience to persist as it was confusing the barmaids with taking drink orders! 🤣
I temped at Air Tours for a short time & they operated Cruises. I processed Norman Colliers Invoices from his Agent for his performances on cruise ships. I didn’t know he worked cruises.
Unbelievable but back in 1970 our second rate pop group was on the bill with this great artist. It was at a working mens club in Leigh which is in the Bolton,Wigan conurbation in Lancashire. He did the Mike and hat routine. The club served chicken in a basket. Memories!
My parents took me to see Norman Collier in at the Hexagon, Reading. It must have been late 70s or early 80s as I was very young. I have always assumed it was a pantomime but I can’t find any evidence that he ever did one there. Sadly I. Ant remember anything at all except the inside of the multi-storey car park! The things that stand out in your mind when you’re a small child!
I remember he used to do a thing with Les Dawson called The Human Balloon.
Nah, when he said Bernard the way he said it, it was not a representation of how it's said here, but more just an emphasising of his name (both syllables).
It's still with the emphasis on the first syllable in the UK, not the 2nd. :)
Man, I love this told time comedy. Clean and just funny. Wheeltappers is something I watched as a child. Great stuff.
Hi sir. I’m glad you enjoyed old Norman , who sadly passed away in 2014 . I suppose you probably know that a wheel tapper was an actual job on the railways at the time , and of course shunting around trains is still done now , as for tapping train wheels it’s probably done by machine these days . The chap with the bell was also a comedian by the name of Colin Cromton , noted for his reseeding hair line which he combed forward from the back , which gave the impression he had a full head of hair . I remember seeing him doing an interview outside ,as the wind blew his hair up and down like a cat flap bless him . Sadly he too has long passed , but might be worth you taking a look at his act . Best wishes and kind regards to your good self . 😊
Wheel tappers and Shunters what a great show. Norman was one of the best to come out of it. Strangely enough as much as I liked the show I never liked Bernard Manning.
Great standup ❤😂funny silly guy 😹😂🐿️✌🏼
Excellent video as ever! I remember Norman with the 'Chicken' and 'Trouble with the microphone '. We used to have a comedy feature in the Midlands called 'Black Country Nights'. I would say react to it but it was a really strong dialect in those days. But one of the comedienne's was 'Dolly Allen'... Still funny now, but her accent is really strong. I don't think people would understand it?
He did a charity show a few years before he died at our local theatre,and the first thing he said to the audiennce was ,I bet you lot out there are saying,how old is he now.He did about 20 minutes .doing his AL JOLSON act,his japanese fighter pilot (complete with buck teeth) in a zero being shot down,and he held up a perspex car window side on.
Norman was from my City. I thought he was great. His brother used to go to the same social club as my mother in the early 90s. He used to get on my mum's nerves as all he did every week was take off Norman obviously needing the attention.
The Microphone act came about by accident as he went to a club in Doncaster I think and the microphone kept playing up. He decided to put it into his act.
What does he know about Norman Collier
Nice to see you again.......this was one of my favourite shows back in the day. Great video
You can't get more British than that.
Good but not the best from Norman as you have to find him doing his car window and his chicken pieces which he incorporated into his act a little further on from his earlier performances .And he had a very funny appearence on the 'Tarby and friends' show doing these and it's on You tube.
Didn't he have an invisible dog on a lead?
Nice to see these old Northern comics getting attention. They had their moment in the seventies with shows like this and The Comedians both made by Manchester based Granada TV. One of the most loved was Ken Goodwin whose style was to send his audience into hysterics with silly jokes and an infectious good humour. No one found the jokes funnier than he did, ands his reaction to his own stuff that sucks you in. ua-cam.com/video/zMC7Pe4024Y/v-deo.htmlsi=1G5Oz2PkZlDmMRZr
I don't remember him at all, but that video was a joy to watch 😂
The raison d'etre of UA-cam is showing Americans acts from The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club of the 70's.
if you want to see present day comedians please review the candidate list for the upcoming rochdale by-election
Check out his impersonation of Al Jolson. It's hilarious.
‘Bernard Manning straight out the gate!’
Wikipedia says that Norman Collier weighed 15 pounds when he was born.
ITV had the Wheeltappers and Shunters , BBC had the Good Old Days, apart from the dress there wasnt that much difference between them
He pronounced “Bernard” that way as a piss tale to posh people.
Norman Collier, imitating amateur acts so professionally.
Norman “Three Jokes” Collier. 😂
I bet that's 3 more than you have.
@@gtaylor331 I’d ans r u b t y my mi do ho e s bro n.
He built most of his career on the dodgy microphone trick, he was very good at it. He got the idea from an actual incident.
The wheeltappers and shunters club was on at tea time, early evening so nothing offensive on it. A lot of the acts were mediocre, but it was popular, and occasionally you got someone who sparked. The chairman with the flat hat and the bell used to irritate me. Never saw the point of him, they had a compare to introduce the acts. He just interrupted and carped.
All those comments telling that american reacting to yes minster that it is not bern-hard but burnherd and norman collier has to go and say that to mr manning
I'm convinced that a generation earlier if someone had seen him practising in front of the mirror he would have been hauled off and sedated PS see if you can find his routine with the car door
Brought up with Norman Wisdom in Movies not Norman Collier. Wisdom was a Great comedian.
Check out Stanley Unwin,,,,, SHEER CLASS!!
Deep joy as he would say.
And dont forget,,, he was a GREAT FAN of ELVISLY PRESLODE,,
This was OLD SCHOOL even in the 70s. The Goons, Peter Cook, Monty Python etc, had wiped this out
My friends wife was a cabaret singer (Shelley Stevens) and was once on the same bill as Norman Collier, about 25 years after this and his act and gags were the same. Faulty mike and comedy chicken impression et al. There's no begining to this mans talents.
or indeed your grammar skills.
He was cr*p then and still hasn't improved!
He's not likely to considering he died years ago, pillock.
Trouble is, THAT's his ONLY routine...
Not aged well
Still not funny
That was like a really crap talent show
Incredibly dated, now, though….
crap then no improvement since shite.
Never found this man funny