Mike & Bernie Winters
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Mike & Bernie Winters, born Michael Weinstein (15 November 1930) and Bernard Weinstein (6 September 1932 – 4 May 1991), were two English brothers who formed a comedy double act. The act was very popular in the United Kingdom from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s.
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[edit] Early life
The Winters were born in Islington, London to Jewish parents.[1]
In the brother's biography, 'Shake a Pagoda Tree', published in 1976 by W.H. Allen, Mike remembered the area as one of the toughest in London. "Thieving and violent robbery were commonplace, shootings not infrequent, and the police patrolled always in pairs."
When Bernie was three the Weinstein family moved to a house in Tottenham across the road from Georgie Marks, who later became Harrison Marks, innovator of a new concept in photography. Mike recalled that it was with Georgie that he mounted his first 'promotion'. "We would dress up in whatever clothes we had managed to scrounge from our parents and put on shows in our garden." Bernie's friend was Danny Sewell, younger brother of George who went on to star in such shows as 'Special Branch' and 'UFO'. Danny was the local heavy and used to look after Bernie. "If anybody said anything nasty to me, he (Danny) hit them."
Mike attended college at Oxford University. He also attended the Royal Academy of Music. Bernie, however, moved along the apprenticeship route, getting a job at the Regency Club in London's Soho where he played the ukulele and performed as a stand-up comedian.
[edit] Career
During World War II, the brothers won a talent contest held in Manchester, England. They won the first-prize which was a one-week tour. Despite changing their stage name to The Winters Brothers, they were not successful at first, and went their separate ways for a time.
On June 25, 1955 Mike and Bernie as appeared for the first time on television, on the BBC show called Variety Parade. The show was an undoubted hit for both the BBC and the act. The brothers remained with the show until 1958. Their next move, orchestrated by their agent Joe Collins (father of Joan Collins and Jackie Collins), was to the ITV television network and the show Sunday Night At The London Palladium. Due to their popularity highlighted by this show, they were invited to appear before Queen Elizabeth II at the 1962 Royal Variety Show. By 1965, the act was a verifiable success, thanks in part to the shows Big Night Out and its follow-up, Blackpool Night Out. Finally, the brothers were awarded with their own show that ran from 1965 to 1973. The act fell apart by 1978, among well-publicized animosity between them.
Mike emigrated to the United States while Bernie went solo in the UK, signing a contract with Thames Television. His biggest success was his eponymous series where his comedy 'partner' was a St. Bernard named Schnorbitz. Schnorbitz was owned and trained by comedian Winters, and played a major part in his later career. The comic Harry Hill also introduced a St. Bernard named Schnorbitz into his act, although he was keen to stress that it was not the same dog.
[edit] Later years
Bernie hosted a long since forgotten HTV quiz show called Scribble in 1987. He also presented a UK version of Make Me Laugh, a Tyne Tees Television production for ITV. The show kickstarted the comedy career of Brian Conley. He was also one of the hosts of the long running ITV show Whose Baby?, taking over from Leslie Crowther in the mid-1980's.
Schnorbitz once fell into a swimming pool at Terry Scott's house, only to be rescued by Barbara Windsor. In the 1980s, the brothers finally made their peace with each other, though they never worked together again.
Bernie Winters died on May 4, 1991, at age 58, from stomach cancer. As of 2007, Mike lives in Miami, Florida.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
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