Chesney Allen

Chesney Allen
Chesney Allen in 1938.
Born	William Ernest Chesney Allen 5 April 1893(1893-04-05) Brighton, Sussex, England
Died	13 November 1982(1982-11-13) (aged 89) Midhurst, Sussex, England
Occupation	Comedian

Chesney Allen (5 April 1893 – 13 November 1982) was a popular English entertainer of the Second World War period. He is best remembered as part of the double act with Bud Flanagan, Flanagan and Allen.

Life and career

He was born William Ernest Chesney Allen in Brighton, Sussex, England, married Aleta Cosette Turner in Leeds in 1926 and died in Midhurst, Sussex, England. He began his career in straight acting, making his debut in stock at the Wimbledon Theatre, London in 1912. As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career as a duo with Bud Flanagan from 1924 and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently.

Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the war reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like "We're Going To Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line" mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like "Miss You" sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs such as their best known "Underneath the Arches" (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly) had universal themes such as friendship, which again, helped people relate to the subject matter. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the backing. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.

Flanagan and Allen stopped performing together with Chesney Allen's retirement on health grounds in 1946, although he continued working in theatrical management. Allen returned to make occasional guest appearances. His last recording was for the album of the stage show Underneath the Arches in 1982.

Chesney Hawkes is named after Chesney Allen.

Selected filmography

• Alf's Button Afloat (1938)
• Dunkirk (1958)

See also

• Flanagan and Allen

• The Crazy Gang

External links

• Chesney Allen at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Allen, Chesney
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	5 April 1893
Place of birth	Brighton, Sussex, England
Date of death	13 November 1982
Place of death	Midhurst, Sussex, England