Singer, comedian and actor George Formby, famous for his light-hearted movies in the 1930s, was also a talented ukulele player. He enjoyed plenty of radio airplay with the chirpy ditties from his films - but despite being a wholesome family entertainer, he was once banned from the BBC for being too racy!
One of his most famous songs, When I'm Cleaning Windows, was written and performed by Formby for the 1936 British comedy, Keep Your Seats Please. It took a humorous look at the life of a window cleaner, but when the record was released, the censors were outraged!
They considered the lyrics to be too risqué for the British public and banned the song from being played on the radio. BBC director general John Reith described it as a "disgusting little ditty" and said people must be content to hear it only in the cinema, rather than over the airwaves.
I’ll climb that blinking ladder ‘til I get right to the top!
The reason for the ban was quite tame by today's standards, as it related to a suggestion that window cleaners might inadvertently see things they weren't supposed to see! The line that really offended the censor was about honeymoon couples, when Formby trilled, "You should see them bill and coo - you'd be surprised at things they do!"
Formby's humour was full of double entendres, in the same style as a saucy seaside postcard. No one had ever taken exception to his style before.
The lyrics went unnoticed as part of the film, in which Formby, then 32, played George Withers, the beneficiary of an inheritance from his aunt. However, the rather strait-laced BBC felt the song might corrupt public decency. The ban continued for five years.
When it was finally lifted in 1941, this was only because Formby pointed out the song was a favourite of the royal family. He said he had sung it at the 1937 Royal Variety Performance for the King and Queen, who had not taken offence. The BBC finally relented - after all, if a song was suitable for royalty, who were they to disagree?
From stable boy to celebrity
Formby, born in Wigan in May 1904, was one of the biggest celebrities of his day. He started out working as a stable boy in 1911, at the age of only seven. By the time he was ten, he was riding as a professional jockey. He had a complete career change at 17.
Formby Snr had been a famous comedian and stage actor but hadn't wanted young George and his six siblings to have a show business career, as he felt a "proper job" would be more stable. However, George realised his own comedy and musical talents and began playing in music halls after his dad's death.
After years of treading the boards, he made his first record with the Jack Hylton Band in 1932, Chinese Blues. Not only did it become a hit, but it also turned into Formby's signature tune, Chinese Laundry Blues. He made numerous films during the 1930s, all of them in musical roles.
He travelled around the world, entertaining the troops in war zones during World War II. He performed for an estimated three million Allied troops throughout Europe and the Middle East. He also became a star in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and became the highest-paid entertainer in Britain.
He was the equivalent of a modern-day celebrity, earning more than £100,000 per year, which equates to £1.7 million today, taking inflation into account.
Royal fan
After more than 100,000 copies of When I'm Cleaning Windows were sold, he received a silver disc award from Regal Zonophone.
In recent years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed a performance of the song, when Ed Balls, Harry Hill and Frank Skinner sang their own version at her 92nd birthday party in 2018. She was spotted nodding her head in time to the music when they sang the song live on stage, complete with ukuleles, at the Royal Albert Hall. The Queen had revealed earlier she was a George Formby fan.
Sadly, the entertainer died after suffering a heart attack at the age of only 56, on 6th March 1961, leaving a lifetime legacy of his wonderful films and music that have made generations of people laugh.
When I'm Cleaning Windows was always intended as a humorous ditty to entertain listeners but in the modern world, it is an important part of keeping our home and workplace fresh and appealing – you can’t beat sparkling clean windows!
Gloveman Supplies offers a wide range of cleaning products that are second to none. Please contact us for more details.
© Carpenter (Sgt), No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit / wikipedia.org / Public Domain