HOORAY FOR THE WILLIAMS BOYS!!!

The following is a review by CP Lee of the wonderful Williams Trio of Books published Xmas 2006

Here at Itsahotun we get asked quite regularly - when is 'Hooray For Jollywood' being
republished? Well, the answer is that it's finally arrived and not only that but it's brought two
chums along with it in the shape of a biography of Frank Randle entitled 'Wired To The
Moon' and a compendium of Randle comic strips from 'Film Fun' the children's favourite of
the 1940/50s.

First things first, and if you already own a copy of 'Jollywood' you might want to put it to the
back of your bookshelf and treat yourself to this brand new, updated edition. The
comprehensively illustrated volume contains a lot more information and interviews than the
original which was a bumper book of facts even then!! More pictures, ranging from the
personal to press adverts and posters. The usual appendices are there too including the
(again updated) Filmography which is indispensible to the true Mancunian fan, featuring as
it does, running times, cast lists, production credits, and most importantly where the films
are stored now. This is an invaluable resource for both the fan and the serious researcher. A
must for everyone's Xmas booklist!

As is 'Wired To The Moon'. It's amazing to think that it was practically thirty years ago that
Jeff Nuttall's biography of Frank Randle - 'King Twist' was published. It's been a long wait for
another biography but finally the Williams brothers have completed theirs and the wait was well
worth it. Much more painstakingly researched than Jeff's and lavishly illustrated - no Randle
or Mancunian fan can afford to be without this book. Its pages are packed with anecdotes,
reminisinces and press cuttings. They paint a very caring picture of a difficult, even
dangerous character, and they don't spare their punches when it comes to 'telling it like it
was'.

'Moon' puts some of the most cherished myths about Frank in the right perspective - For
years we've all believed that he bombarded Blackpool from the air with toilet rolls. The truth
is that he didn't, but what he actually was doing is just as interesting as readers will find out.
Another myth that the Brothers manage to debunk is the idea that Frank and Josef Locke
had a falling out at Hulme Hippodrome in 1953. Not so - Yes they did eventually come to
blows in a drunken melee, but it was some years later and at a different place entirely.
Still, as Trotsky said 'you should never let the facts interfere with the truth!'

We learn about Randle's kindness and consideration as well as his manic psychotic
outbursts. What we never knew here at Itsahotun was that the Priest who officiated at
Randle's reqiuem mass was the Parish priest of St Cuthberts!! ... A fact we'll be sure to tell
every one at the Cuthbert Club's next meeting.

I needn't tell you how absolutely essential this book is - it just is!

Finally, and at just the right time of year a bumper bundle of fun with lashings of grub and
lemonade - the collected Randle comic strips from the pages of Film Fun. A lovely colour
cover and a 'this book belongs to ... ' intro page - What more could anybody want at
Christmas!?

Cuthbert Towers 19 December 2006