Sid James; Tony Hancock
3 of 22 portraits of Tony Hancock
© estate of Bob Collins / National Portrait Gallery, London
Sid James; Tony Hancock
by Bob Collins
bromide print, 1959
9 1/2 in. x 7 5/8 in. (240 mm x 194 mm)
Given by Bob Collins, 1994
Photographs Collection
NPG x45334
Sittersback to top
- Anthony John ('Tony') Hancock (1924-1968), Comedian. Sitter in 22 portraits.
- Sid James (1913-1976), Actor. Sitter in 14 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Bob Collins (1924-2002), Photographer. Artist or producer of 220 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Hancock's Half Hour began on radio in 1954, transferred to television two years later and ran until 1961. It featured the lugubrious Anthony Hancock, whose elaborate schemes to improve his lot in life were doomed to failure and to cynical commentary by his room-mate Sid. This photograph was taken on the set of Hancock's Half Hour in 1959.
Placesback to top
- Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (on the set of 'Hancock's Half Hour', Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith ,London)
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Comedians: From the 1940s to now (17 September 2011 - 8 January 2012)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1959back to top
Current affairs
Harold Macmillan wins the general election with an increased majority, returning to office as Conservative prime minister. The victory was the result of perceived economic improvement under the Conservative government, and his (misquoted) boast: 'you've never had it so good.' During his premiership he earned the nickname 'Supermac', coined by cartoonist, Victor 'Vicky' Weisz.Art and science
Claudia Jones organises the first West Indian-style carnival in the country, starting the tradition of the annual Notting Hill carnival. The event was a response to the race riots of 1958, and an attempt to celebrate West Indian culture and help overcome racial prejudice by giving the whole community the opportunity to join in the event.International
Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba. After defeating the American-backed Batista government, Castro's revolutionary army arrived in Havana on 8th January where Castro proclaimed himself Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Within a month, Prime Minister José Miró Cardona had resigned, and Castro took over.In Tibet, an uprising against Chinese rule is brutally crushed, and the Dalai Lama flees to India, beginning his long exile.
Comments back to top
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Tristan Brittain-Dissont
21 January 2017, 14:57
There are several images in your collection of Tony Hancock with cast and crew taken by Bob Collins. It states that these were taken from the show 'Hancock'. This is incorrect. The programme in question was 'Hancock's Half Hour'. 'Hancock' was a later series which featured Tony but not Sid James