I have seen some of those films, Belgian TV used to play old movies on Saturday afternoon. I must say that of all those old movies I found WC Fields movies the greatest finds, kind of dark, timeless humour. Norman Wisdom was a bit more slapstick, and dated. However, the Human League mentions him in one of their songs, together with the Ramones!

Human League - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of

Take time to see the wonders of the world
To see the things you've only ever heard of
Dream life the way you think it ought to be
See things you thought you'd never ever see
Take a cruise to China or a train to Spain
Go round the world again and again
Meet a girl on a boat meet a boy on a train
And fall in love without the pain
Refrain :
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs two or three friends
Chorus :
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Take a lift to the top of the Empire State
Take a drive across the Golden Gate
March, march, march across Red Square
Do all the things you've ever dared
(Refrain)
(Chorus)
Like fun and money and food and love
And things you never thought of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times
Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, good times
(Repeat chorus three times and fade)The Things That Dreams Are Made Of lyrics
Take time to see the wonders of the world
To see the things you've only ever heard of
Dream life the way you think it ought to be
See things you thought you'd never ever see
Take a cruise to China or a train to Spain
Go round the world again and again
Meet a girl on a boat meet a boy on a train
And fall in love without the pain
Refrain :
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs two or three friends
Chorus :
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Take a lift to the top of the Empire State
Take a drive across the Golden Gate
March, march, march across Red Square
Do all the things you've ever dared
(Refrain)
(Chorus)
Like fun and money and food and love
And things you never thought of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times
Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, good times
(Repeat chorus three times and fade)

 Jack_Jefferson wrote: 
He did indeed - "Ernie, The Fastest Milkman In The West". Up until the late 70's all comedians that I can think of had a shot at No. 1 - some rather better than others! No one treats them as serious musical or comedic efforts, more sort of wanting to buy into the joke that the record is a joke.

 hobiejoe wrote: 

I'm embarrassed to say I've never heard of him, and I like British comedy.  I like the outfit, especially the hat.  I wonder if that's where Satch from The Bowery Boys got the idea for the way he wore his hat.

I read the obit and found out he had a funny hit song in the 1950's.  It seems comedy in music is received a lot better across the pond.  That doesn't seem to be the case very often at the time of the song being a hit here in the States.  Some songs that were hits here become comedy novelty songs by way of being identified with the campier elements of our culture in the past.  Didn't Benny Hill also have a hit song in Britain in the 1960's?

He also played Billy Ingleton in the BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine

Rest in Peace Sir Norman

R.I.P

 hobiejoe wrote: 
Shame. Smashing bloke when interviewed on TV. Going to be missed in Albania (seriously).

RIP Sir Norman. A great comic actor and singer - and a great all-round entertainer of the old school.
 

 
I saw him in pantomine when I was a sprog. Happy memories.