James Alexander Young (June 23, 1918 - July 5, 1974), better known as Jimmy Young or just Jimmy We in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland and grew up in Belfast.
He performed on stage and on television. His comic records sold over a quarter of a million copies. His stage performance is closely tied to Group Theater, where his one-man show gained the list in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest in the world. He also toured extensively in Ireland, Canada and the United States.
He is best remembered for the characters in the sketch, which uniquely reflects the character of the Belfast community. These include "Orange Lil", "The Lady from Cherryvalley", and "Derek the Window Cleaner" from the BBC Radio Ulster series The McCooeys . He is also one of the first comedians to face Troubles in his material, while still appealing to both sides of the divided community.
A blue plaque in his memory is displayed at his birthplace on Union Street, Ballymoney and at his family's home on Fernwood Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast.
Video James Young (comedian)
Life
James Alexander Young was born on June 23, 1918 at 33 Union Street Ballymoney, fourth son of Alexander and Grace Young. In the economic uncertainty after World War I, Youngs moved to Belfast industry where Alexander found employment as a stable hand for a local bakery. Until the age of 14, Young attended Cooke Church School on Ravenhill Road. Even at this early stage, the natural talent for humor is very real. His mother often says "stop imitating the visitors, because after you do it, I find it impossible to take them seriously."
During his youth, Young's mother often took her to the cinema around Belfast. At the age of 6 Young went with his mother to see a show that starred Jimmy O'Dea. O'Dea will be a big influence on Young who, like Young, is a comic impersonator and a highly skilled woman. He will also be influenced by many who visit the British music room.
At the age of 14, Young left school and got a job as a rent collector for a local property agent. Young collected rent from some of Belfast's toughest districts. Young visits the houses on Falls Street, Shankill Road and Crumlin Road in the city. During this visit he will find inspiration for many of his future comedic characters.
After two years, Young tired of collecting the rent and volunteering for the Savoy Player, a British company based at the Grand Opera House during World War II. Young did a backstage backstage job for the company but soon wanted to perform on stage. She joined the Youth Association Youth Drama Group in 1943 and in the first year she won an award for best actor for her performance in Jack Loudan's Story For Today.
Due to some praise for her performance at A Story For Today , Young was offered a role in the production of Ulster Group Theater from Joseph Tomelty's Right Again, Barnum . Young appeared in the production and production of Theater Groups further to other companies in Belfast but in 1944 Young left Northern Ireland to seek greater success in the UK.
He found a job at a treasury firm based in Stockport Hippodrome near Manchester that featured in over a hundred productions in various genres. He immediately left the company and joined the West End production of SeÃÆ'¡n O'Casey's Red Roses for Me . The drama lasted for seven months and was a huge success. After this, Young has to work with his hero, Jimmy O'Dea, in the production of Phil the Flutter's Ball . However, after an accident with a member of the audience, Young was released from the show.
Young then joins the event that is being arranged by the National Association of Entertainment Services and is scheduled for a tour to the Middle East. While on the tour Young meets Jack Hudson who will be a big part of his personal and professional life until his death.
At the end of the tour Young starts feeling the hospital for Northern Ireland and he, along with Hudson, returns to Belfast. They moved into a flat on Newtownards Street above a butcher's shop. Young returns to the Ulster Group Theater while Hudson becomes the local ballroom manager.
Success will not come and for a while Young and Hudson immigrate to Australia. Young's luck was changed, however, when he was cast in the BBC Radio Ulster series Joseph Tomelty The McCooeys . Tomelty composed a character called Derek loosely based on the character Young played in Right Again, Barnum . Derek is a camp window cleaner of the title character. Derek appeared in only five episodes of the series but became a big hit with the public and made Young a household name.
Young soon begins to receive a lucrative offer to make an appearance that is equivalent to a few months working in the Group. Driven by this success, Young and Hudson formed James Young Productions and immediately made appearances across the country. The show features Young and Hudson in sketches interspersed with musical and dance numbers.
In 1951 Young was offered the BBC Radio series himself. The Young Idea is another success and spawned several series in the following years. The series continues to lift Young's profile and in 1954 he realizes his dream of appearing on his own show at the Grand Opera House.
Young founded a favorable pattern of Spring and Autumn shows at the Empire Theater, Belfast, a summer show in Bangor, a radio and show series in London. But the owner of the Empire decided to sell the place and eventually became a department store Littlewoods.
After the withdrawal of Sam Thompson's play Over The Bridge from the Ulster Group Theater, Young was invited to bring his unique comedy talent to the venue. Young asked one of his popular sketch writers, Sam Cree to adapt Glenn Melvyn The Love Match to Ulster audiences. The drama aired on March 8, 1960 and lasted for ten weeks. The drama was a success and Young and Hudson were invited to become managing director of the Group Theater in the fall of 1960.
Around this time Young and Hudson's relationship moved from personal settings to more business-based settings. However, both will remain strong friends and co-workers for the rest of Young's life.
The Theater Group became the home of the Young theater for the next decade and he will premier hit play after the hit play. Young will serve as the director and star of these dramas who will be alternated with a series of successful one-man performances. The recording of this one-man show will be the basis for a series of comic recordings released by Emerald Records. She is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for featuring one of the longest-running shows ever and also claims that she sold more albums in Northern Ireland than the Beatles.
Young also toured his one and only live show in Canada and America playing at the Wilshire Ebell Theater.
In 1972, Young was at the peak of his fame and BBC Northern Ireland offered him a chance to appear on the television series. The first episode of the show, Saturday Night , aired on October 14, 1972. The show aired when The Troubles were in the worst condition and breathed fresh air for spectators in Northern Ireland.
In 1974, Young calls Hudson to let him know that there is a mysterious question about his date of birth. Hudson's suspicion that Young will be nominated in the New Year's award list seems correct. Young will be given MBE in early 1975.
However, Young never received his award. While driving home on the afternoon of July 5, 1974 Young suffered a major heart attack and was declared dead on the scene.
In 2013, a biography drama about Young is shelved after Sunday World Belfast's sensationalist tabloids publishes unfounded accusations that she was involved in child molestation.
Maps James Young (comedian)
Movie credits
Here is a list of dramas in which Young appears in the inaugural production.
Discography
References
External links
- BBC Northern Ireland Your place & amp; Mine - Part James Young
- James Zamrud on CD/DVD
- Ulster's Circle of History James Youngs Blue Plaque the
- Vacuum article on James Young
- Irish Playography James Young Section
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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