Web Page 3040 5th February 2023 Eli Woods First Picture: Eli Woods

Second Picture: Jimmy James

Third Picture: Roy Castle, Jimmy James and Eli Woods

Eli Woods was born John Casey on the 11th January 1923 comic actor, who was born in Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and, possibly best known for his work with stage comedian Jimmy James (who in reality his uncle), and particularly for his part in the famous 'elephant-in-the-box' routine. He made his first professional appearance on the stage of the Hippodrome Theatre in Aldershot in Hampshire. Jimmy James developed his famous act over many years, but from the first it required two 'stooges'. One was John "Jack" Casey—tall and stick-thin, with a bony face and a stammering delivery—who originally appeared as "Bretton Woods" (named after the location of the famous 1944 United Nations monetary and financial Conference), and only later redubbed as "Eli" Woods (often "Our Eli"). The other stooge, 'Hutton Conyers' would be played either by members of the Casey family - including, on occasion, James Casey - or (from 1956 to 1959) by Roy Castle. Much later, Eli Woods was in the support cast of Castles in the Air, a comedy series that was on BBC Radio 2. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Eli Woods featured in three Eddie Braben scripted comedy shows: The Worst Show on the Wireless (20 episodes, 1973 -75) The Show With Ten Legs (26 episodes, 1978–80) and The Show with No Name (13 episodes, 1982–84). Both shows harked back to the UK’s music hall tradition. As a performer, Eli Woods turned his lifelong stutter to his advantage, using it to comic effect in many contexts. For many years he was active as a stage and radio performer, he also appeared in a number of television comedies, as well as playing small parts in a variety of films including A Private Function released in 1984. The apex of his career (in terms of recognition) was appearing in a comedy sketch (the elephant in a box routine) with James Casey and Roy Castle in the 1982 Royal Variety Performance in which they also sing Kisses Sweeter than Wine. Although Eli Woods's birth name was John Casey, he was always better known to his family as Jack. He died at home in Stockton-on-Tees in the early hours of Thursday 1st May 2014, aged 91 Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com