Silly Billy
Encyclopedia
Silly Billy was a type of clown
common at fair
s in England during the 19th century. They were also common in London as a street entertainer, along with the similar clown Billy Barlow. The act included playing the part of a fool or idiot, impersonating a child and singing comic song
s.
The name is popular because of its nice rhyme
and was used as a generic nickname for foolish people, especially those named William
such as
Prince William Frederick
and King William IV. The nickname was popularised in the 1970s by impressionist Mike Yarwood
, putting it in the mouth of the chancellor, Denis Healey
, who took the catchphrase up and used it as his own.
In 1850, the costume of a Silly Billy was short, white trousers with a long white pinafore
, white shoes with a strap around the ankle, red sleeves, a ruff
around the neck, and a boy's cap. The hair or wig was arranged to stick out behind the ears. Red makeup was daubed to emphasise the nose with two smears of black for the eyebrows. Multiple pairs of white trousers were needed because women liked to tease the clown by smearing gingerbread
or sticking pins into his legs so that they bled.
Comic routines included a mesmerism act in which Silly Billy was hypnotised, a parody of a preacher giving a sermon
, and a parody of a temperance campaign. Comic songs included "O'ive getten a Soft Pleace i' my Yead" and "Dolly and the Swill Tub".
The wages of a Silly Billy at the time were about two or three half-crowns per day, averaging about a pound a week, over the year. About a dozen performers made their living in this way in the London area.
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
common at fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s in England during the 19th century. They were also common in London as a street entertainer, along with the similar clown Billy Barlow. The act included playing the part of a fool or idiot, impersonating a child and singing comic song
Comic song
A comic song is a humorous song. These songs were especially popular in the music halls of the 19th and 20th century....
s.
The name is popular because of its nice rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
and was used as a generic nickname for foolish people, especially those named William
William (name)
William is a popular given name of old Germanic origin. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era...
such as
Prince William Frederick
Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandson of George II and nephew of George III.-Early life:...
and King William IV. The nickname was popularised in the 1970s by impressionist Mike Yarwood
Mike Yarwood
Mike Yarwood, OBE is an English impressionist and comedian. He was one of Britain's top-rated entertainers, regularly appearing on television from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. He left Bredbury Secondary Modern School in 1956 and worked as a messenger and then salesman at a garment warehouse...
, putting it in the mouth of the chancellor, Denis Healey
Denis Healey
Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey CH, MBE, PC is a British Labour politician, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979.-Early life:...
, who took the catchphrase up and used it as his own.
In 1850, the costume of a Silly Billy was short, white trousers with a long white pinafore
Pinafore
A pinafore is a sleeveless garment worn as an apron.Pinafores may be worn by girls as a decorative garment and by both girls and women as a protective apron. A related term is pinafore dress, which is British English for what in American English is known as a jumper dress, i.e...
, white shoes with a strap around the ankle, red sleeves, a ruff
Ruff
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird that breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia...
around the neck, and a boy's cap. The hair or wig was arranged to stick out behind the ears. Red makeup was daubed to emphasise the nose with two smears of black for the eyebrows. Multiple pairs of white trousers were needed because women liked to tease the clown by smearing gingerbread
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is a term used to describe a variety of sweet food products, which can range from a soft, moist loaf cake to something close to a ginger biscuit. What they have in common are the predominant flavors of ginger and a tendency to use honey or molasses rather than just sugar...
or sticking pins into his legs so that they bled.
Comic routines included a mesmerism act in which Silly Billy was hypnotised, a parody of a preacher giving a sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
, and a parody of a temperance campaign. Comic songs included "O'ive getten a Soft Pleace i' my Yead" and "Dolly and the Swill Tub".
The wages of a Silly Billy at the time were about two or three half-crowns per day, averaging about a pound a week, over the year. About a dozen performers made their living in this way in the London area.