JIMMY PATTON- “No Slacking”

Here at IBY Simon and I were saddened to hear the news that Jimmy Patton, of The Patton Brothers fame has died aged 87.

Jimmy Elliott and his brother Brian were the longest comedy partnership in Showbusiness-well over fifty five years working together- with Jimmy starting in Pantomime in 1946, where he joined Britain’s “Dead End Kids” and performed in five Pantomimes before being joined by younger brother Brian. They teamed up in “Aladdin” at Wimbledon in 1956, and became the Patton Brothers double act in 1954.

The were the sons of Variety Artiste Gene Patton, who worked with Ernie Lotinga and Bobby Thompson for many years. Their younger Brothers, Paul and Barry Elliott became the Harmon Brothers and later, of course The Chuckle Brothers.

   

Jimmy and Brian joined their brothers in the TV series “Chucklevision” (The original home of the “Chucklehound” characters Paul and Barry created) which ran from 1987 to 2009.

Jimmy, like Brian performed in over 54 pantomimes and never missed one season. They played the London Palladium frequently, both in Pantomime and in Variety- “Sunday Night At The London Palladium”, and appeared in countless TV Variety shows- The Vera Lynn Show, The Harry Secombe Show, The Good Old Days to name but a few, and enjoyed a lengthy variety season with Ronnie Corbett at The London Palladium.

Our sincere condolences and love to Amy, and to Brian, Barry and to their family- The Patton name is continued in Pantomime to this day- a truly legendary legacy that has lost one of its brightest members. A huge loss to Pantoland.

Here is a list of the Patton Brothers Pantomimes, as well as some excerpts from YouTube.

First The YouTube extracts:

 

You may also enjoy hearing Jimmy’s tales of ShowBiz in Hayden Parker’s recent Panto Podcast

https://pantopodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-20-jimmy-patton/

THE PATTON BROTHERS PANTOMIMES

The first Pantomimes Jimmy did solo, as Brian was touring with Bill West & His Harmony Boys. They Were :

1949 The Dudley Hippodrome. Aladdin, followed by 1950 Wimbledon Theatre Aladdin, and in 1951 The Swansea Empire in Robinson Crusoe. 

 

My thanks to Damian Patton for reminding me that Jimmy and Brian appeared in two further pantomimes- in 2015 At The Bolton Macron Arena in Jack and The Beanstalk- as Dame and as Henchman.

2015 Bolton Macron Arena

Their last Pantomime was the following year 2016-17 at The Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight in “Aladdin” as The Chinese Policemen.

Thanks for those wonderful Pantomimes Jimmy- For that amazing partnership with Brian and we will continue to remember- No Slacking!

 

 

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