Background
Ernest Wiseman was born on November 27, 1925, in Bramley (a district of Leeds), England. He was the son of Harry and Connie Wiseman Wright.
Eric Morecambe, Alma Cogan, Ernie Wise
Ernie Wise and Eric Bartholomew
Ernie Wise and Eric Bartholomew
Eric Morecambe, Alma Cogan, Ernie Wise
Ernie Wise and Eric Bartholomew
Ernie Wise and Eric Bartholomew
(At one time Morecambe and Wise were as much a part of Chr...)
At one time Morecambe and Wise were as much a part of Christmas television as the Queen's speech. This compilation of their best festive sketches, songs, and playlets covers the years 1969 to 1975, when the BBC shows regularly achieved huge audience ratings.
https://www.amazon.com/Morecambe-and-Wise-Christmas-Special/dp/B0007TV5W6/?tag=2022091-20
https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Answer-That-Eric-Morecambe/dp/0213168030/?tag=2022091-20
1981
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Hollywood-Trevor-Barnes-Ernie/dp/0715623389/?tag=2022091-20
1990
(A compilation of great gags and sketches from the incompa...)
A compilation of great gags and sketches from the incomparable Eric and Ernie, one of the best-loved and most successful comedy duos of all time.
https://www.amazon.com/Morecambe-Wise-Bring-Me-Sunshine/dp/B0009VJQVO/?tag=2022091-20
Ernest Wiseman was born on November 27, 1925, in Bramley (a district of Leeds), England. He was the son of Harry and Connie Wiseman Wright.
Ernie Wise left school at 13 years of age.
Ernie Wise began performing with his father, a railway porter, in a song-and-dance act from the age of seven, billed variously as Bert Carson and His Little Wonder, and as The Two Tetleys.
His professional debut was in 1939 at the Prince's Theatre in London, in the stage production of the BBC radio program 'Band Waggon', starring bandleader Jack Hylton (who also appeared in the film version in 1940). It was Hylton, who changed Ernie's stage name from Wiseman to Wise. Around this time, Ernie was briefly touted as Britain's answer to Mickey Rooney.
When Wise was 16, he began a comedy partnership with Eric Bartholomew. "Wiseman and Bartholomew" was too long for theater marquees, so they changed it to "Morecambe and Wise". They made their debut together as "Bartholomew and Wise" in 1941, at the Liverpool Empire. They became comedy legends in the UK, with a mix of self-deprecating charm and schoolboy humor. Their Christmas specials became a national institution.
Then, during World War II, he joined the Merchant Navy. Alongside Eric Morecambe, he did his bid in entertaining troops during wartime as part of the Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA). After the war they made their name in radio and television. Although their first TV series, Running Wild, was unsuccessful, their own series on ATV, which appeared in 1961, was a great success. They transferred to the BBC in 1968. Over a period of more than twenty years, Morecambe and Wise had regular series with both ITV and BBC.
After Morecambe's death Wise appeared regularly as a panellist on the ITV revival of the popular panel show What's My Line? He was a guest several times on Countdown, had a gardening column in the News of the World newspaper and also appeared in several West End plays. He gave talks on cruises about his life and career. In 1989, he made a guest appearance in Rainbow Series 17, Episode 1276. He wrote his autobiography, Still on My Way to Hollywood, in 1990. In 1995, after suffering a stroke, Wise announced his retirement from show business.
Ernie Wise is most commonly known as a comedian, who entertained people for 43 years while playing the straight man to partner Eric Morecambe.
Their famous "Morecambe and Wise Show," particularly the Christmas specials, became an immensely popular national institution, attracting huge audiences. Their 1977 Christmas show made the Guiness Book of Records as the television program with the largest British television audience (27.5 to 28 million viewers). Their show also attracted many famous people to appear, including actor Laurence Olivier, rock group The Beatles and actress Glenda Jackson. They also made motion pictures and were famous for the song "Bring Me Sunshine."
Ernie Wise, together with Eric Morecambe, was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to entertainment. They received the Top Comedy Act award at the 1973 Sun Awards, as well.
In March 2010, Wise's widow Doreen unveiled a statue of him in his home town of Morley, West Yorkshire, where he won a talent contest in 1936.
(At one time Morecambe and Wise were as much a part of Chr...)
(A compilation of great gags and sketches from the incompa...)
Wise described himself as the “business” part of the partnership, while Morecambe was the “show”. But a peer of Wise’s said that Wise was the “absolute best” as a straight man, a role that is difficult to play.
On 18 January 1953, Wise married a dancer Doreen Blythe. They had no children.
14 May 1930 - 14 April 2018
John Eric Bartholomew (14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984), known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise.
