Maxi pays tribute to the Irish comedian, satirist, actor and painter who died twenty years ago this year

 

While touring with The Beatles, Dublin-born, David Tynon O Mahoney became Dave Allen. Advised by an agent called Richard Stone, to change his name to something more pronounceable for his market, he did. He chose Allen because he noticed that most posters billed their acts alphabetically. An ‘A’ name would ensure top billing!

His mother was a nurse, and his father was the managing editor of the Irish Times. This meant that Dave was open to the joys of Irish Literature at a young age. All kinds of creative people, poets, writers, and industry leaders used to come to the house. In this way, Dave’s narrative skills began. By just listening, he learned the syntax of storytelling, how to start, pace, structure and finish a tale.

The newspaper background kicked his creative imagination to life. Soon he was learning how to deliver a spellbinding story. This time gave him great joy, but it ended abruptly upon the sudden death of his father. His mother had to return to nursing and Dave and the family were impoverished. He felt deprived of strength, vitality and finances. Going to school in hand-me-downs meant he was open to bullying.

Dave had begun his life in show n the nineteen fifties, as a holiday resort red coat. Asked to keep some holidaymakers amused, he went on stage and told gags.
‘I got stuck in a ballroom with a lot of campers and was told to amuse them, so told a few gags and got a few laughs. Then I found myself on the ‘Red Coat Show’ and that led to my finding little bits for an act. That developed into a six-minute spot. Then I formed a double act with another red coat and we had our first professional engagement in a Music Hall in London.’

At this point Dave was stealing jokes and using an American accent. He had yet to learn to slow down, relax and tell stories about his upbringing. This did lead to his love of the audience reaction and an application by him to appear on the talent show ‘New Faces’ as a solo artist.

Success on television led to the offer of a tour with Helen Shapiro, the pop singer who had just had a hit record with ‘Please don’t treat me like a child’

At this point in time, he was also advised, by a more experienced artist, to change his act from telling jokes to telling stories. Dave was the friend considered, more entertaining as a storyteller. So, he turned his act into a narrative of observational comedy using his childhood growing up in Fir house in Dublin as the foundation.

His scepticism was based on his memories of the strictness of his schooling and severe beatings in school. He mocked rituals in religion, never the beliefs. He was a sceptic and often joked, ‘I am an atheist, Thank God’ At the end of his act, Dave always finished with the words ‘May Your God Go with You.’ His style ceased to be gag-driven and became observational – a style that gave influence to many up-and-coming comedians. He was the progenitor of alternative comedy.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own