Max Miller Appreciation Society: Come ‘ere… there’s more
Jimmy Cricket is the star performer at The Max Miller Appreciation Society’s annual lunch and convention at the weekend.
The event takes place at The Old Ship Hotel in Brighton on Sunday (20 November). It begins at 12.30pm.
Full details of the convention are here.
Max Miller, born Thomas Henry Sargent in 1894, was an English comedian often considered the greatest stand-up of his generation.
His wife, Kathleen, chose the stage name after apparently seeing it in a press notice.
He became known as the Cheeky Chappie and went on to tell jokes, dance, sing and write songs.
Max also starred in 14 feature films and frequently appeared on radio.
He volunteered for the Army in the First World War and started a troupe concert party during his time in the Forces.
Upon leaving the Army, he took up work as a light comedian, dancer and singer.
Max toured extensively, appearing in shows and, by the early 1930s, had reached top billing in large music halls, including the London Palladium.
Aims and ambitions
He made his last recording in January 1963 and died four months later at the age of 68.
A bronze statue of Max stands in the Pavilion Gardens in Brighton, where he was born and died.
The Max Miller Appreciation Society was established in January 1999 in Brighton to celebrate the Cheeky Chappie.
Over the years, it has recruited more than 1,000 members worldwide.
Past president Roy Hudd OBE helped greatly in furthering the aims and ambitions of the Society, as did the late Sir Ken Dodd (past patron).
The current president is John Fisher, the author and TV producer.
He wrote and produced, among many other programmes, the series Heroes of Comedy, an episode of which featured Max Miller.
Also read on this website: Frank Carson: Memories of a cracking comedian
