The Western Brothers
Kenneth Alfred Western and his second
cousin Ernest George Western (“The Western Brothers”) became famous in the late
1920’s for their vaudeville act lampooning the establishment of the times.
The “Who Was Who in 1930’s Broadcasting” web-site contains a short biography of their career:
“Kenneth
and George Western, the famous Wireless Cads. They started out their careers
together. They went through life teaching each other things. They taught each
other to sing, they taught each other to write, and they even taught each other
to fly. As early as 1926 they wrote a revue called "Vaudeville
Vanities", and were asked to put on a turn of some of their musical
numbers at a Sunday concert at the Palladium. There was nobody to do it except
themselves, and they carried on from there. Their "coat of arms"
included the old school tie, and the motto was "Adsum
Ard Labor". Their
songs would burlesque anything from the government of the day to world events,
and even the old school tie. “
Kenneth and George and their families lived nearby
each other in the Islington and Highbury areas of
The introduction
By 1924 George Western was already a successful "Entertainer at the Piano" and "Composer" in the Roosters Concert Party in London. Although he lived in London not far from his Western cousins, he had never met his second cousin Kenneth Western. Kenneth was working at the Ministry of Transportation, and was having some small successes as a song writer. A family member noticed the shared interests and suggested the two of them get in touch. Subsequently Kenneth sent George a copy of a song he had written. Fortunately George's original written reply has been kept and has been transcribed below.
And the rest, as they say, made musical history!
The Music
During WWII, Lord Haw-Haw (the Irish-American
Nazi sympathizer), was often mocked by the British media. This phenomenon grew widespread and the
Western Brothers were quick to create a song based on an “Uncle Boohoo of
Moscow”. It
contained the lines:
“Uncle Boo-Hoo of
We may be two Britishers,
but three cheers for treason!”
The song was so popular with the audiences that
the Western Brothers had to move it the end of the show to not interrupt the
flow of the skits. Subsequently
British Columbia Records issued a recording of their song with
the unusual distinction of having the Western Brothers “logo” Old School Tie on
the label.
Kenneth and George took their act on the road throughout the late 1940’s, and although their popularity was in decline, they continued to appear as late as 1962. They shared the billing with Julie Andrews, and Enso Toppano, in Harold Fielding’s “Music For The Millions” in August 1950 at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth.
Several of the Western Brothers most famous
songs can be found on several ‘Music Hall’ CD’s. Tony Barker of the Music Hall Magazine has
issue a single CD (Cylidisc 517) containing 21 of
their songs arranged chronologically from 1932 through 1941. That CD can be found at the Music Hall
web site.
The Filmography
The Western Brothers first appeared on film in a number of 1 and 2 minute long films from British Pathe Films. Their first known film short was in in December 1931 and simply was a recording of their stage act. They continued making film shorts in 1932 and 1933. By 1934 they were acting in character roles in "Mr. Cinders".
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1931 (Dec 14) | Full Short: "Gala! Filmed at the Cafe de Paris. On with
the dance, and the more crowded, the merrier, even though pretty frocks
are submerged in the scene. Eddie Gross-Bart's Boys are playing." British
Pathe films. |
Intertitle reads: "And the inimitable Kenneth & George
Western explained how "It was bound to happen in the end!" The famous comedy singing team of the Western Brothers are seen singing a topical song "It Was Bound To Happen In The End", involving several well-known people of the day, including Winston Churchill changing political parties. Kenneth Western tells a joke about the two hikers who went into the woods to pick bluebells and found so many other hikers there that they had to pick bluebells. |
| 1932 (Feb 29) | Film short: "Now Pathetone presents The Western Brothers, (Kenneth & George) of Radio, Gramophone & Variety fame - ". | Kenneth Western introducing their song as 'It Was All Hushed Up' or 'She Was Only A Woodcutter's Daughter But She Was Oak'. In the middle of the song Kenneth tells a joke about a man retreating from the front line trenches, who came across a Staff Officer and said "Have I come as far back as all that?". |
| 1932 (Apr 4) | Film short: "FAMOUS LONDON CABARETS - 'Playtime at the Piccadilly Hotel.'" (British Pathe) | Intertitle reads: "A bright verse or two from Kenneth &
George Western." Tthe two brothers (one plays the piano while the
other stands next to him) sing a comical song called 'It was Agony !'.
Several shots of the audience watching the two entertainers (they are
quite upper class looking). |
| 1932 (Jun 20) | Film short : "Now we meet the well known Broadcasters & Variety Artists, THE WESTERN BROTHERS, (Kenneth & George)." (British Pathe Films) | They play themselves. Mostly shots of George playing the piano, while Kenneth stands next to him. They sing `In the Parlour when the company's gone'. Several good shots of the pair singing. |
| 1933 (Mar 11) | "The Western Brothers (Kenneth & George) of Variety, B.B.C. and Cabaret fame." | They play themselves singing "Play the Game, you Cads!" |
| 1933 (Oct 16) | Film short: Titles read: "Now we present The Western Brothers (Kenneth & George) of Variety & B.B.C. fame in another of their well-known numbers." | The Western Brothers play themselves. It opens with a shot of Kenneth, introducing their song, saying "Hello, You Cads". They sing 'She Does It All For Me', with George playing the grand piano. |
| 1933 | One Precious Year | The Western Brothers sing "Wearing his old school tie" |
| 1934 | The Way of Youth | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Mr. Cinders | Kenneth and George Western were both writers on this movie in addition to playing the characters Lumley and Guy Lancaster. |
| 1934/5 | The Radio Parade of 1935, a.k.a. Radio Follies | They played themselves as announcers for the acts. |
| 1936 | Soft Lights and Sweet Music | The Western Brothers played themselves as hosts of the new medium of television. |
| 1938 | Old Bones of the River | They played themselves as "The Voice of Reproach" |
The Gaitskell libel broadcast on October 9th, 1948
Sometimes the Western Brothers' jokes allegedly crossed the line into libel. The following joke was broadcast by the BBC on the night of October 9th, 1948. The Mr. Gaitskell referred to in the joke was the Minister of Fuel and Power and had some influence over the National Coal Board (NCB) at the time.
Mr. Gaitskell's papers (currently available at the Special Collections, University College, London), show the flurry of complaints written to the BBC and the resultant government response.
The Solicitor-General was asked for an opinion based on a written copy of the script. The Solicitor-General writes "... there was actionable slander for which Mr. Gaitskell is entitled to recover [non pecuniary] damages." The Treasury Solicitor (Sir Thomas Barnes) brought this legal opinion to the attention of the Lord Chancellor, who was "... inclined to consider very seriously the issue of a writ against the Western Brothers. Comedians of all kinds were constantly poking fun at the government and this would be a good opportunity to teach them a salutary lesson."
However the Lord President suggested an alternative plan: "I think if they offer ample apology - fully published - it meets the case. If not, I would favor a writ (on competent legal advise), but in either case the PM should be asked for concurrence."
The following apology was subsequently drafted and sent to the BBC and to the Western Brothers.
The Western Brothers responded with a signed letter (shown to the right) agreeing to this apology and avoided a libel suit. The letter reads:
The Solicitor-General writes back to the Western Brothers and their solicitors on 16th October, 1948:
