After the success of Monty Python’s Flying Circus back in the late 70s, television station owners went casting out for more British comedies. That’s how we saw things like Good Neighbors and Man About the House (the original of Three’s Company and much funnier) and others. One of the biggest hits was Benny Hill’s bawdy sketch comedy show. Water cooler talk soon included Benny’s latest risque antics.

The lucky stations, including WSBK 38 in Boston, got another sketch comedy, the BBC’s delightful Irish storyteller Dave Allen. Between skits, Dave would sit onstage with no props except a smoke and a glass of his favorite libation and tell the most hilarious stories. His signature line at the conclusion of his series Dave Allen at Large was “Good-night and may your God go with you.”

Prim and proper Boston was shocked—unlike mischievous Benny Hill with his naughty jokes, which were bad enough, Allen not only touched on the risque, but made fun of the Catholic church and ribbed the Irish, apopleptic stuff in some areas of the Hub. Church groups complained; I still have the Forum 38 that Allen appeared on, calmly fielding questions from audience members who didn’t like his irreverent style.

In 1981, Allen appeared onstage at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. I went with two friends and it was a fun night. We even stood by the stage door and were invited in to get autographs. Mr. Allen was not only happy to chat with us, but he discovered that Liz worked at the Witch House in Salem and was delighted. He’s a devotee of supernatural stories and he had been hoping to visit the Witch House.

Anyway, just found out today that someone’s finally releasing some Dave Allen on DVD—Region 2 of course, but no problem. Dave Allen...On Life is scheduled for release on October 25, 2004. It’s about time...Benny Hill has been out on DVD for ages.

A Fan Page

BBC's Dave Allen at Large listing

Nostalgia Central remembers Dave Allen at Large

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