- Harry Corbett
Infobox actor
name = Harry Corbett
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birthdate = birth date|1918|01|28
birthplace =Bradford ,West Yorkshire
deathdate = death date and age|1989|08|17|1918|01|28
deathplace =Dorset
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occupation = Puppeteer
yearsactive = 1940s-1970s
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children =Matthew Corbett
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awards =Harry Corbett OBE (born
Bradford ,West Yorkshire ,28 January 1918 — died17 August 1989 ) was an Englishpuppeteer , known as the creator in 1948 of the longrunning 'Sooty 'glove puppet character.Corbett was the nephew of the famous
Guiseley ,West Yorkshire fish and chip shop magnateHarry Ramsden and his parents owned a fish and chip shop in the same town. [cite web|url=http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2238100.0.guiseley_chip_shop_wraps_up_place_in_tv_show.php|title=Guiseley chip shop wraps up place in TV show|accessdate=2008-05-11 (Wharfedale Observer)] In 1948 he bought the original Sooty glove puppet in a novelty shop on the end ofBlackpool 's North Pier for 7 shillings and 6 pence (equiv 37.5np).His first appearance with the silent Sooty was in a 1952 BBC TV show called "Talent Night". He then got a part in
Peter Butterworth 's TV show "Saturday Special". He soon got his own show and was a regular favourite throughout the 'fifties and 'sixties.His show would combine simple magic tricks with slapstick comedy in which Sooty usually poured liquid over or hit Harry.
Corbett lived in the Dorset village of
Child Okeford for most of his life.Sooty was later taken over by his son
Matthew Corbett after Harry Corbett retired in the 1970s.Catchphrases
*"Izzy wizzy, let's get busy"
*"Bye bye everybody! Bye bye!"OBE
In 1976, Prime Minister
Harold Wilson wished to have "Steptoe and Son" actorHarry H. Corbett awarded an OBE, but the middle initial "H" was lost in the bureaucratic process, and the award went to Harry Corbett instead. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2001/01/05/tlgong05.xml&page=2 The Honours Game - Telegraph ] ] [Sin to Win: Seven Deadly Steps to Success, Marc Lewis ISBN 1841123110]References
* Tibballs, Geoff (1990). "The Secret Life of Sooty". Letchworth, UK: Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-56-2.
*imdb name|id=0179153|name=Harry Corbett
* [http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/sooty/sooty.htm Whirligig tv on Sooty]
* [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sooty.htm TV Heaven]
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