Comics Mourn the Loss of 'The Great' Dave Allen

[RuleofLaw]

Leading Irish performers today paid tribute to the comedian and TV presenter Dave Allen who died last night at the age of 68..

The Irish-born comedian was a mainstay of British television – at once urbane and relaxed but whose use of the f-word in one programme raised questions in Parliament.

His shows from the 1960s and 1980s on the BBC, presented with a glass of whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other, poked fun at the absurdities of life.

<snip>

Comedian Roy Walker said of Allen: “He was the greatest comedian since the war.

“He was better than Jackie Mason and Bob Hope and all those guys.

“He had a tremendous warmth and he was one of the few who could cross over from joke-teller to modern-day comedian.”

He added: “There isn’t a person who won’t be sad about the news.

“It’s like your uncle dying, someone you knew and trusted.”

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4242979

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Damn, that sucks

I loved his show. RIP, Dave.

[Patsy Stone]

2. oh, no

I loved Dave Allen. His shoe always made me laugh... RIP.

[Wat_Tyler]

3. Shit. He was good.

[Botany]

4. I saw him live in london in 1987

The best comedy show I ever saw .

One person on stage and he was killer. He ended by giving a zinger to
the audience. "Have you ever been w/ friends and the time just seemed to
float away?" He asked, the crowd. We gave a happy sigh. Then he said, "well,
this sure has been one of those nights for me." STANDING O.

[JawJaw]

5. "Goodnight, and may your god go with you....."

[buczak]

6. good night.

I loved Dave Allen. When I was a kid I used to watch 'Dave Allen at Large'. I can't remember if it was on PBS or a UHF station from Canada. But I do remember it had naughty bits. I fondly remember this one bit where this young women is walking next to a garden pool and she dips her toe into the water. Suddenly she falls into the pool and jumps out naked. And some guy in scuba gear is holding her clothes.

As a young catholic, I thought I was going to go blind.

Also, one of my favorite Dave Allen Stories punch line was:
"I didn't realize Catholics and Protestants were that different".

You can imagine the rest of the yarn. :)

"... and may your god go with you"

[quispquake]

8. Are you from Maine?

I used to watch Dave Allen on channel 38 from Boston on Cable in the late 70's...

R.I.P. to one of the greats...

[Lisa]

11. yes, the one with the two little kids!

I loved how he told that story. Still cracks me up, years later -- I really missed those broadcasts when I moved out to the West Coast. Some of the people back home were Benny Hill fans, but I always preferred Dave Allen.

Another favourite of mine was showed the Pope, riding in a sedan chair, getting impatient with how slowly they're going -- and we see him reaching for a highly-decorated gear shift! Just when I thought that was the end of it, a policeman in another sedan chair pulls out from behind a hedge and stops him for a breathalyzer test!

[Roland99]

7. Dave Allen At Large...damn, that was some funny stuff!!

:(

[CBHagman]

9. Sorry to see him go.

I haven't seen him in a number of years, but I used to make a point of watching his program when it ran on PBS here in the States, and I remember talking about Dave Allen with one of my students.

Goodbye, D.A. Sorry to see you go so soon.

[truebrit71]

10. That is such a shame..he was absolutely brilliant...

I have very fond memories of watching his TV shows growing up in England....

For those of you that have never seen him you missed a comic genius...

Dave, may your God go with you...