Dr. Crock and His Crackpots

Harry Hines (clarinet, alto and baritone sax) AKA Doctor Crock (1911-1971) recorded with Spike Hughes, Ambrose and Ray Noble in the 1930s. In March 1947, he was asked by Radio Promoter Maurice Winnick, to form a comedy band to replace Sid Millward and the Nitwits, on a BBC radio show called "Ignorance is Bliss". They were to be called "Professor Crock And His Crackpots". He later changed this to "Doctor Crock". Hines agreed and formed the band. In July 1947, Hines decided to leave the show and go on the road with his new band. Winnick said they could not do that as he created and owned the name. It went to Court. The case is on record "Hines Vs. Winnick" 1947. Hines won, so they went on the road for the next 15 years. They worked mainly on the "Moss Empires" circuit, such as "Hackney Empire", and "Finsbury Park Empire", as well as many other Variety Theatres all over Great Britain. They were also the favorite English act in Green's Playhouse in Glasgow. My Father, Larry Jay, was not a musician, but was a comedian, with the band, originally doing Studio "warm-ups" for "Ignorance is Bliss". Other non-musical comedians with the band were Willy O'Leary from Glasgow, and Charlie Rossi, who later joined the "Nitwits". Musicians were - Duggie Ward, Freddie Burgess, Les Thomas, Fred Thompson, Jack Saville, Johnny Walker, Harry Norman, and singers Rex Eaton, Billie Campbell, and later Larry Page (The Teenage Rage) who became better known as Manager of the Kinks and Troggs, among others. They were at the "Top of the Bill", everywhere they went. Above huge names such as Max Wall and Max Miller. They were very much a British version of Spike Jones and His City Slickers, as were several other bands.