| |
 |
||
|
INDEX Max Wall MORE SOON
|
MAX WALL (1908 - 1990) 
Maxwell Lorrimer was born on 12th March 1908, in Brixton, South London. His parents 'Jock' and Stella were big stars of the music halls and within days Max made his first ever appearance on stage in his fathers arms.  As he grew, he always knew where his future lay, and standing for hours in the wings watching the star turns of the day twice-nightly, he learnt his craft from the very best and dreamt of fame and fortune.However, his dreams were almost shattered before they had been realised, when on the 3rd September 1916, a a gas bomb from a German Zeppelin destroyed the family home in Baytree Road, Brixton. The explosion killed his younger brother and their nanny, but Max and his brother Alec were saved by the metal framed bed in which they slept, which flipped over with the blast and protected them from falling masonry. Shortly after this his parents decided to separate. The family split up: Max's brother went to live with his father and Max moved with Stella to Malden, to the home of her new boyfriend - Harry Wallace, a song and dance man. Harry adopted Max as his own son and encourage his talent, teaching him all the dance steps he knew. When Max landed his first job, he took half of Harry's surname and added it to half of his own Christian name and thus Max Wall was born...Max started out as an aerobatic dancer in London's West End in the 1920's and 30's. He then introduce comical patter into his dance act but it took five years before the managements' took him seriously and employed Max soley as a comedian. Once he was established, he became a great favourite with audiences the length and breadth of Britain. 
 AND Without doubt, Max's most famous comic creation was Professor Wallofski, the weird spidery travesty of the old masters of music walks. Dressed in larger-than-life boots, white socks and black tights, the professor had many impersonators, including John Cleese with his 'Ministry of Silly Walks'. His act was always very visual in its content. His stories were enhanced by his many facial contortions that would have his audience in stitches. He had many small parts in films and television shows over the years and even appeared in Coronation Street for a few episodes in 1978.
Max Wall died, following a fall at Simpson's in the Strand, on the 21st May 1990 and generations mourned the passing of a great clown. His headstone in Highgate Cemetery quotes Noel Coward and
says it all really.
What Was That, That You Said by Max Wall 
I've always been quite hasty and I blow up like a bubble, And I say things that I honestly don't mean. Well, I'll have to cure this habit or I'll get myself in trouble, And I'll finish up by making quite a scene. For instance, only yesterday, I tried to cross the road And I nearly got run over by a car... I shouted to the fellow, "Learn to drive, you little toad, The ugly little midget that you are." He stopped... and then got out and I could see That the chap was over six feet tall and looked just like a tree. He said, "What was that, that you said?" I said, "Who said?" He said, "You said!" I said, "Me?" He said, "Yes you!" I said, "Not me!" He said, "I've half a mind to thrash you!" I said, "Thrash who?" He said, "Thrash you!" And I stood back there astounded at his flow of repartee. He said, "I know just what you thought!" I said, "Who thought?" He said, "You thought!" I said, "Me?" He said, "Yes, you thought that I was small... So in future, be more careful!" I said, "Bet your life I will be!" Then he got back in his car and that was all!. A week ago today, I went to supper with a girlfriend She's the girlfriend when her husband's not about. Well, I knew that it was risky and that anything might happen If he suddenly came in and found us out. Still, we sat and had some supper then we polished off the gin Then she said, "My husband is listening at the door!" I said, "Let the Blighter listen... come on, let's have one more kiss, If he comes in here I'll smash him on the jaw. The door then opened widely with a crash... And he stood there like a giant as he curled his huge moustache. He said, "What was that, that you said?" I said, "Who said?" He said, "You said!" I said, "Me?" He said, "Yes you!" I said, "Not me!" He said, "I really ought to kill you!" I said, "Kill who?" He said, "Kill you!" I said, "Me?" He said, "Yes, you!" I said, "But how?" He said, "You'll see!" I said, "But you'd be hung for murder!" He said, "Who would?" I said, "You would!" He said, "Me?" I said, "Yes you!" He said, "You're right! I shall have to think that over..." I said, "What?" He said, "What you said..." I said, "Yes, well I'll be going now... GOOD-NIGHT!!!"
|
||
