Sid James (1913 - 1976)
"I'm a car salesman by nature, a jockey by profession & as far as the birds go..., Cor, Blimey!"- Sid James
Sid was born Soloman Joel Cohen in May 1913 in South Africa.
He trained as a hairdresser but, after serving in the army during World War Two, moved to Britain to become an actor. Initially he worked in repertory theatre until, in 1947, he made film appearances in the crime dramas Night Beat and Black Memory. Film was to become his acting love. After a role in 1951’s The Lavender Hill Mob, followed by a stint on Tony Hancock’s radio show Hancock’s Half Hour, he went on to star in 19 Carry On films. In 1967 Sid suffered a severe heart attack, prompting him to give up cigarettes, lose weight, eat more sensibly and cut down on his drinking.
He trained as a hairdresser but, after serving in the army during World War Two, moved to Britain to become an actor. Initially he worked in repertory theatre until, in 1947, he made film appearances in the crime dramas Night Beat and Black Memory. Film was to become his acting love. After a role in 1951’s The Lavender Hill Mob, followed by a stint on Tony Hancock’s radio show Hancock’s Half Hour, he went on to star in 19 Carry On films. In 1967 Sid suffered a severe heart attack, prompting him to give up cigarettes, lose weight, eat more sensibly and cut down on his drinking.
Despite his health scare, he continued to work hard. By the time of the tour of The Mating Season, he was also the star of long-running TV comedy 'Bless This House'” But, on the opening night of April 26, 1976, Sid suffered another heart attack. Sitting next to Sid on stage was actress Olga Lowe, an old friend from his days in South Africa. “I came on, said my first lines and he answered as normal. Then I sat on the sofa with him. I said my next line and he didn’t answer,” she was later to recall. “His head had slumped and his eyes had gone back into his head. I thought it was a gag. Well, you would with Sid. He was such a rascal.”
Olga tried a few ad libs, but Sid did not respond. Eventually, after realising something was seriously wrong, she told the crew to bring down the curtain. Technical director Mel James appealed to the audience: “Is there a doctor in the house?” His request sparked laughter, and even the doctor who stepped forward thought it was a gag. “But Sid was in a coma,” said Olga. “The doctor called the ambulance and I believe he died on the way to hospital. It was awful. Ten minutes earlier, he had been the same old laughing Sid. “After the curtain came down we sat in the dressing room, not knowing what to say. We were all so shocked.” Sid’s death made national headlines and, when 'Carry On' actress Barbara Windsor was later interviewed she claimed Sid would turn in his grave if he knew how he died.
Olga tried a few ad libs, but Sid did not respond. Eventually, after realising something was seriously wrong, she told the crew to bring down the curtain. Technical director Mel James appealed to the audience: “Is there a doctor in the house?” His request sparked laughter, and even the doctor who stepped forward thought it was a gag. “But Sid was in a coma,” said Olga. “The doctor called the ambulance and I believe he died on the way to hospital. It was awful. Ten minutes earlier, he had been the same old laughing Sid. “After the curtain came down we sat in the dressing room, not knowing what to say. We were all so shocked.” Sid’s death made national headlines and, when 'Carry On' actress Barbara Windsor was later interviewed she claimed Sid would turn in his grave if he knew how he died.
However, some say that Sid went onto 'Carry On' performing after his death in 1976.
In early 2018 I came across an original poster, like the one above, for 'The Mating Season'. It was for the run of the show that Sid was due to commence in June 1976 at the Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth (2 months after his death). Sadly Sid never made it but this poster, obviously produced ready for the show starting it's run at at the Windmill Theatre, survived.
I bought the poster in 2018 to add to my collection. At the same time I started researching more about the show & the legends and stories that exist about Sid's ghost that is said to haunt the Empire Theatre in Sunderland where he died onthat fateful night.
One such account is actually from fellow comedian, Les Dawson, who experienced a strange event whilst he was performing at the same theatre in the 1980's.
Below is a excerpt from an account taken from the book 'Liverpool 24' by Tom Slemen. It is an example of one such account and is included here by kind permission of Tom Slemen.
In early 2018 I came across an original poster, like the one above, for 'The Mating Season'. It was for the run of the show that Sid was due to commence in June 1976 at the Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth (2 months after his death). Sadly Sid never made it but this poster, obviously produced ready for the show starting it's run at at the Windmill Theatre, survived.
I bought the poster in 2018 to add to my collection. At the same time I started researching more about the show & the legends and stories that exist about Sid's ghost that is said to haunt the Empire Theatre in Sunderland where he died onthat fateful night.
One such account is actually from fellow comedian, Les Dawson, who experienced a strange event whilst he was performing at the same theatre in the 1980's.
Below is a excerpt from an account taken from the book 'Liverpool 24' by Tom Slemen. It is an example of one such account and is included here by kind permission of Tom Slemen.
Les Dawson had a longstanding interest in philosophy, metaphysics and the paranormal – and some who knew Les said he was psychic. In 1972, Dawson was living in a large bungalow in Bury when he saw his 4-year-old daughter talking to the hallway wall. The child said she was addressing the Grey Lady, a distinguished kind-faced woman who walked with a limp. Dawson also saw this figure on several occasions, and his wife went to see a psychic who told her there was a presence in the Dawson home – “a lame lady” in 18th century clothes. Then, in December 1980 Dawson came to Liverpool, a town he was very fond of, and he appeared at the Empire in the Babes in the Wood pantomime. While sitting in his dressing room alone he saw a tiny child’s index finger trace the numerals “13” on a mirror. Then came the sound of a little girl singing Ring a Ring o’Roses as she skipped past him. Dawson was naturally unnerved by the ghostly girl (who has haunted the Empire for around a century) and he had a bad feeling about the number 13; he wondered if it meant ‘13 years of life left’ – and it’s probably a coincidence, but Les Dawson died after a medical check-up at a hospital 13 years later – in 1993. That phantom girl still haunts the Liverpool Empire today – of that I am 100 per cent sure.
Years after this, Dawson had another supernatural encounter, again in the dressing room of a major theatre during the festive period; this time it was the Sunderland Empire in 1989. Les was appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk with the Liverpudlian comedian Ted Robbins, and Dawson had expressed misgivings about this booking, not only because it wasn’t the easiest venue to play for a non-Geordie, but because of a few ‘premonitions’. Dawson had had eerie feelings about appearing at the Sunderland Empire for a few weeks, but being professional, he accepted the booking. During the run of Jack and the Beanstalk, Dawson was sitting before the dressing room mirror, when he heard a rather familiar staccato laugh to his left. He saw the ghost reflected in the mirror, and felt a stabbing pain in his chest. It was Sid James – who had died (aged 62) from a heart attack whilst performing in a farce at the theatre in 1976 – and he looked “ghastly”. He wore some type of white shroud, and there was an aroma of whisky hanging in the air. The apparition’s face was pale and clammy looking, and the eyes were almost black and lifeless. The ghost shouted something (which I will never put into print) then vanished. Dawson almost died from shock and vowed he’d never work again at the Sunderland Empire – and he never did.
Copyright Tom Slemen 2014. All rights reserved.
Years after this, Dawson had another supernatural encounter, again in the dressing room of a major theatre during the festive period; this time it was the Sunderland Empire in 1989. Les was appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk with the Liverpudlian comedian Ted Robbins, and Dawson had expressed misgivings about this booking, not only because it wasn’t the easiest venue to play for a non-Geordie, but because of a few ‘premonitions’. Dawson had had eerie feelings about appearing at the Sunderland Empire for a few weeks, but being professional, he accepted the booking. During the run of Jack and the Beanstalk, Dawson was sitting before the dressing room mirror, when he heard a rather familiar staccato laugh to his left. He saw the ghost reflected in the mirror, and felt a stabbing pain in his chest. It was Sid James – who had died (aged 62) from a heart attack whilst performing in a farce at the theatre in 1976 – and he looked “ghastly”. He wore some type of white shroud, and there was an aroma of whisky hanging in the air. The apparition’s face was pale and clammy looking, and the eyes were almost black and lifeless. The ghost shouted something (which I will never put into print) then vanished. Dawson almost died from shock and vowed he’d never work again at the Sunderland Empire – and he never did.
Copyright Tom Slemen 2014. All rights reserved.
Left: My copy of the poster from the 1976 tour of 'The Mating Season'. This poster was created ahead of the show moving to Yarmouth in June 1976. Sadly Sid died in the April of 1976.
Above Right: A silk dressing gown that was worn by Sid in one of his films. It is believed that this was from one of the 'Carry On' films but further research has drawn a blank on which 'Carry On' this was.
If anyone can help or has any further information about the dressing gown & the film it was worn in get in touch!
Below Right: The Sunderland Empire.
Dressing gown picture provided by Nick Overy and reproduced here by kind permission of Nick Overy.
Above Right: A silk dressing gown that was worn by Sid in one of his films. It is believed that this was from one of the 'Carry On' films but further research has drawn a blank on which 'Carry On' this was.
If anyone can help or has any further information about the dressing gown & the film it was worn in get in touch!
Below Right: The Sunderland Empire.
Dressing gown picture provided by Nick Overy and reproduced here by kind permission of Nick Overy.
In April 2018 I was very fortunate to be given access to see Sid's piano at Elstree Studios. I had known about the existence of it for a while and had seen the odd picture of it, but it was a privilege to have the opportunity to see it in person and have a tinkle! (Even though I cannot play!). There is a picture of Sid at the piano on the top of it and it was wonderful to see something from Sid's private collection.
My thanks to Morris Bright MBE for arranging the access for me.
My thanks to Morris Bright MBE for arranging the access for me.
Below is a selection of rare & unseen pictures of Sid from the 'Carry On' films. These pictures are courtesy of Peter Rogers & Morris Bright MBE & are reproduced here by kind permission of Morris Bright MBE.
Top (left to right):
Sid with director Gerald Thomas on the set of 'Carry On Again Doctor' (1969), Sid with the cast of 'Carry On Up The Khyber' (1967), a behind the scenes picture of Sid in his go-kart from 'Carry On Girls' (1973), a behind the scenes shot of Sid with Barbara Windsor from 'Carry On Girls' & Sid with director Gerald Thomas on the set of 'Carry On Girls'.
Below (left to right): A portrait shot of Sid, Sid with Charles Hawtrey & Gerald Thomas on set on 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head' (1966), a behind the scenes shot of Sid with Jim Dale & Charles Hawtrey from 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head', Sid with his 'Carry On' girls in 'Carry On Up The Khyber (1968) & a behind the scenes shot of Sid with Joan Sims & Gerald Thomas on the set of 'Carry On Up The Khyber'.
Below (left to right): A portrait shot of Sid, Sid with Charles Hawtrey & Gerald Thomas on set on 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head' (1966), a behind the scenes shot of Sid with Jim Dale & Charles Hawtrey from 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head', Sid with his 'Carry On' girls in 'Carry On Up The Khyber (1968) & a behind the scenes shot of Sid with Joan Sims & Gerald Thomas on the set of 'Carry On Up The Khyber'.
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