Bud Flanagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bud Flanagan
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Flanagan in a BBC publicity photograph from 1943
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| Born |
Chaim Reuben Weintrop
14 October 1896 Whitechapel, London, England
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| Died | 20 October 1968 (aged 72) Kingston, London, England
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| Resting place | Golders Green Crematorium, London, England |
| Other names | Robert Winthrop |
| Occupation | Music hall entertainer, comedian, television and film actor |
| Known for | Music hall comedy double act |
| Spouse(s) |
Ann Quinn
(m. 1925) |
| Children | 1 |
Bud Flanagan (born Chaim Reuben Weintrop, 14 October 1896 – 20 October 1968) was a famous British entertainer. He was a comedian, singer, and actor who performed in music halls, on TV, and in films. Bud Flanagan was best known for being half of the comedy and music duo Flanagan and Allen with his friend Chesney Allen. He was very popular during World War II, entertaining soldiers and people at home. His achievements were recognized when he was given an OBE award in 1959.
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Who Was Bud Flanagan?
Bud Flanagan was born Chaim Reuben Weintrop in Whitechapel, in the East End of London. His parents, Wolf and Yetta Weintrop, were Polish Jews. They got married in Poland and had to leave their home quickly to escape danger. They planned to go to New York, but a ticket agent gave them a ticket to London instead.
In London, Bud's father, Wolf, became a shoemaker. He also earned extra money by singing in pubs and as a cantor (a singer in a synagogue). Bud's parents had ten children, all born in London. The family lived in Brick Lane and later moved to Hanbury Street in Spitalfields.
Early Life and Adventures
When Bud was four, his family lived above a fried fish shop on Hanbury Street. They later owned a barber shop and a tobacconist. Bud went to school in Petticoat Lane. By the age of 10, he was already working as a call boy at the Cambridge Music Hall. In 1908, when he was 12, he performed for the first time in a talent show. He did magic tricks as "Fargo, the Boy Wizard."
Bud was very adventurous and wanted to see the world. In 1910, at age 14, he left home and walked to Southampton. He pretended to be 17 and an electrician to get a job on a ship. He sailed to New York and then explored the United States. He sold newspapers, delivered telegrams, and worked on farms. He even joined a vaudeville show that traveled across the US. Later, he performed in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
In 1915, Bud returned to the UK to join the army and fight in World War I. He joined the Royal Field Artillery and was sent to France. He drove vehicles and entertained the soldiers with his singing and impressions. It was during this time that he met a sergeant-major named Flanagan. Later, Bud decided to use "Flanagan" as his stage name. After the war, in 1919, he formed a comedy act called Flanagan and Roy. By 1924, he was performing on his own and becoming more popular.
Becoming a Star
Bud Flanagan is best known for his comedy and music act with Chesney Allen. They first met during the war in France, but they didn't start working together until 1926. They toured with a show and soon became very popular. They performed at famous venues like the Holborn Empire. As music hall comedians, their act included both jokes and songs. This led to a successful career in recording music and acting in films and on television.
Flanagan and Allen were also part of a comedy group called The Crazy Gang. They appeared in the group's first show at the London Palladium in 1931. They continued to work with The Crazy Gang while also performing as a duo.
Flanagan and Allen's Music
Flanagan and Allen's songs were known for their gentle humor. During World War II, their songs often talked about the experiences of everyday people. Songs like "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" made fun of German defenses. Other songs, like "Miss You," were about missing loved ones during wartime.
Their most famous song, "Underneath the Arches," which Bud co-wrote, was about universal themes like friendship. This helped many people connect with the songs. Their music was usually melodic, with a small band or orchestra playing in the background. Bud Flanagan sang the main melody, while Chesney Allen spoke or chanted the harmonies, which made their sound unique.
Later Life and Legacy
After 1945, Chesney Allen performed less often, and Bud Flanagan became more of a solo performer. However, they still appeared together sometimes, like in the 1957 TV series Together Again. In 1959, Bud was awarded the OBE by the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.
In the 1960s, as his performing career slowed down, Bud invested his money in betting shops. He was also a member of a charity group for entertainers called the Grand Order of Water Rats.
Bud Flanagan's last recording was the theme song for the British TV show Dad's Army, called "Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?" He recorded it shortly before he passed away in 1968. The song was a loving tribute to the kind of songs he sang during the war.
After Bud's death, his fellow comedian Charlie Chester said, "No artist born was more loved by his brothers. No man gave more in human happiness."
Personal Life
Bud met his wife, Anne, who was known as "Curly." She was a dancer and the daughter of Irish comedian Johnny Quinn. They got married in 1925, and their son, Buddy, was born the next year. Buddy also became an actor and a nightclub entertainer. Sadly, Buddy passed away in 1956.
Bud Flanagan died on 20 October 1968. After his death, his family started a charity called the Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund. This charity helps support research into cancer, especially at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey.
