Round The World Trip For Morecambe Comedian And Partner

1958 Article

Morecambe-born comedian Eric Morecambe, and his partner Ernie Wise, are to set off on a round the world tour when the Winter Gardens summer show 'Light Up The Town' finishes next month.

For Morecambe and Wise the tour will add further laurels to the success they have achieved during the last ten years. They have come a long way since they first teamed up 18 years ago.

Eric Morecambe (real name John Eric Bartholomew), is 32 years old and the only son of Mr. and Mrs George Bartholomew, of 7 Low Lane, Torrishome.

Born in Buxton Street, Morecambe, he attended Lancaster Road and Euston Road schools.

Morecambe and Wise will be out of the country until Spring of the next year on their business-with-pleasure trip which will take them to New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Fiji, Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand.

To Take Civic Greetings
They have been booked to play at leading theatres in Australia, and are hoping to take messages of greetings from the Mayor of Morecambe (Councillor R. C. Penhale) to the civic heads in Melbourne and Sydney.

Eric was one of Brian Michie's discoveries, and teamed up with young Earnest Wiseman, of Ardsley, near Leeds, when they were together in a juvenile company. They first appeared as a double act the Empire Liverpool.

Though ardent admires of Laurel and Hardy and Abbot and Costello they developed their own particular brand of humour.

Back Together After War Service
The war split the act up in 1943, Ernie going into the Merchant Navy and Eric becoming a Bevin Boy. They always hoped to get back together, and in 1946 with the war over they went into a travelling variety circus.

Then came hard times for the pair, but determinedly they stuck together and the tide turned for them soon after when they broadcast in Variety Fanfare from Manchester and secured the resident comedy spot in the series.

Hundreds of broadcasts and dozens of television appearances followed and together they visited Germany for troop shows. They were established as firm comedy favourites throughout the country.

Met Wives In Show Business
Both met their wives in show business. Eric married his wife Joan, in December 1952, and a month later Ernie was married to his wife Doreen, in January 1953.

Eric's home is in Finchley, and he has two children, four-year-old Gail and Two-year-old Gary.

Whilst in Morecambe he lives at his parent's home.

He is a member of the Torrisholme Cricket Club.

When Morecambe and Wise return to England next year they plan to go into a summer show at Blackpool.

© The Visitor 1958