From: catstyle@cathouse.aiss.uiuc.edu (Jason R. Heimbaugh)
Subject: Re: are you being served
Reply-To: jrh@uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 21:46:51 GMT

In article <khallida.6.726614944@alexandria.lib.utah.edu>  
khallida@alexandria.lib.utah.edu (Karen Halliday) writes:
> Does anyone have a series list for the old Are You Being Served? Our 

I have a bunch of episode guides sent to me by K.G. Brayton  
(kgb8752@ultb.isc.rit.edu), but haven't had time to move them over to rest  
of my archives.  Here's the AYBS guide:

From ai888@cleveland.Freenet.Edu Tue Oct 20 21:01:03 1992


This is a revision of the episode list and principal cast list 
I posted some time ago on rec.arts.tv.uk. My thanks to Jerry Kohl 
for his generous assistance. Additions and corrections will be 
gratefully received.

Notes:
(1) A movie, titled simply "Are You Being Served?", was made in 1977, 
and concerned a group holiday taken by the staff of Grace Brothers.
(2) Some episodes were made in Australia, with John Inman and local  
actors.
(3) John Inman has referred to episodes subsequent to the 1984 season, 
but as far as I know these have never been shown in the U.S. (Were
these the Australian episodes?)
I know nothing further about these items.


"Are You Being Served?" Episode List
     Episodes are grouped by copyright year.

---------- 1972 ----------
[untitled pilot]
     The ladies' department must share a floor with the gentlemen's.
     [This is shown in a black and white copy, but the credits refer to it 
     as "A BBC Colour Production"]

---------- 1973 ----------
Dear Sexy Knickers...
     Mr. Lucas' love note to Miss Brahms goes astray.
Our Figures are Slipping
     The staff are concerned about the decrease in sales.
Camping In
     The staff must spend the night in Grace Brothers.
His and Hers
     A perfume retailer causes agitation among the staff.
Diamonds are a Man's best friend
     The staff try to find a diamond lost by a customer.

---------- 1974 ----------
The Clock
     Mr. Grainger fears he will be forcibly retired.
Cold Comfort
     The staff try to cope with a shortage of heat.
The Think Tank
     The staff put on a fashion show.
Big Brother
     Surveillance cameras are installed at Grace Brothers.
Hoorah for the Holidays
     The staff try to choose a group holiday package.

---------- 1975 ----------
The Hand of Fate
     Mr. Humphries displays his talent for telling fortunes.
Coffee Morning
     The staff protest the monitoring of their breaks.
Up Captain Peacock
     Capt. Peacock gains senior staff privileges.
Cold Store
     The staff try to cope with seasonal illnesses.
Wedding Bells
     Mrs. Slocombe thinks Mr. Grace is going to ask her to marry him.
German Week
     The staff try to promote the sale of German goods.
Christmas Crackers
     Holiday events at Grace Brothers.

---------- 1976 ----------
Shoulder to Shoulder
     The ladies' department temporarily move into the gentlemen's.
New Look
     The staff try a Twenties sales theme.
No Sale
     The staff try not to increase sales to avoid longer hours.
Forward Mr. Grainger
     Mr. Grainger temporarily takes over Mr. Rumbold's position.
Fire Practice
     The staff have a fire drill.
Fifty Years On
     The staff celebrate Mrs. Slocombe's 50th birthday.
Oh What A Tangled Web
     Capt. Peacock appears to be having an affair.
The Father Christmas Affair
     The staff all want to play Father Christmas.

---------- 1977 ----------
Mrs. Slocombe Expects
     The staff think Mrs. Slocombe is going to have a baby.
A Change Is As Good As A Rest
     The staff temporarily are transferred to the toy department.
Founder's Day
     The staff compile a retrospective for Mr. Grace's 80th birthday.
The Old Order Changes
     The staff dress in mod fashions as a sales gimmick.
Take-over
     The staff prevent a takeover of Grace Brothers by another firm.
Goodbye Mr. Grainger
     Mr. Grainger may have to leave Grace Brothers.
It Pays To Advertise
     The staff make a TV commercial for Grace Brothers.

---------- 1978 ----------
By Appointment
     The staff prepare for a visit by the Queen.
The Club
     The staff try to decorate a clubroom in Grace Brothers' basement.
"Do You Take This Man?"
     Mrs. Slocombe stages her wedding.
Shedding the Load
     The staff must decide which of them will lose a job.
A Bliss Girl
     Mr. Humphries takes the place of an absent salesgirl.
Happy Returns
     The staff plan a ballet to celebrate Mr. Grace's birthday.

---------- 1979 ----------
The Junior
     Mr. Goldberg blackmails Capt. Peacock.
Strong Stuff This Insurance
     The staff must take physicals to get insurance.
The Apartment
     Mrs. Slocombe moves into a display apartment in Grace Brothers.
Mrs. Slocombe, Senior Person
     Mrs. Slocombe temporarily takes the place of Mr. Rumbold.
The Hero
     Capt. Peacock is challenged to a boxing match.
Anything You Can Do
     The staff try to run the canteen.
The Agent
     Mr. Goldberg tries to get the staff better jobs.
The Punch and Judy Affair
     The staff enact a life-size Punch and Judy show.

---------- 1981 ----------
Is It Catching?
     The staff contract a strange illness.
A Personal Problem
     Capt. Peacock's wife works at Grace Brothers.
Front Page Story
     Mr. Humphries is made editor of the staff magazine.
Sit Out
     The staff go on strike.
Heir Apparent
     Old Mr. Grace thinks Mr. Humphries is his long-lost son.
Closed Circuit
     Miss Brahms attracts the amorous attention of a lord.
The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe
     Mrs. Slocombe falls in love with Mr. Humphries.
Roots?
     The staff celebrate Old Mr. Grace's 90th birthday.

---------- 1983 ----------
The Sweet Smell of Success
     Mrs. Slocombe sells her home-made perfume.
Conduct Unbecoming
     Mr. Humphries is accused of stealing.
Memories Are Made of This
     Mrs. Slocombe is hit by a golf ball and thinks she's a little girl.
Calling All Customers
     The staff perform a play on CB radio to advertise Grace Brothers.
Lost and Found
     Mrs. Slocombe's cat is missing.
Monkey Business
     Grace Brothers may be bought by the Japanese.

---------- 1984 ----------
Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe
     Mrs. Slocombe is forcibly retired but the staff get her job back.
Grounds for Divorce
     Capt. Peacock's marriage appears to be in trouble.
The Hold Up
     The staff try to foil two burglars.
Gambling Fever
     The staff bet on horse races.
The Night Club
     The staff film a commercial for a nightclub.
Friends and Neighbours
     The staff use apartments in the Grace Brothers building.
The Pop Star
     Mr. Spooner's vocal talents are discovered.



Are You Being Served? Principal Cast List
[position
     character: actor (years on show, if not 1972-1984)]

Senior Saleslady, Ladies' Department
     Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Jennifer Rachel Yiddell Abergavenny  
Slocombe: Mollie Sugden
Junior Saleslady, Ladies' Department
     Miss Shirley Brahms: Wendy Richard
Senior Salesman, Gentlemen's Department
     Mr. Ernest Grainger: Arthur Brough (1972-1977)
     Mr. Tebbs: James Hayter (1978)
     Mr. Harry Goldberg: Alfie Bass (1979)
     Mr. Grossman: Milo Sperber (1981)
     Mr. Klein: Benny Lee (1981)
Assistant (later Senior) Salesman, Gentlemen's Department
     Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries: John Inman
Junior Salesman, Gentlemen's Department
     Mr. James (aka Dick) Lucas: Trevor Bannister (1972-1979)
          [Mr. Lucas is called James in "The Clock" and Dick in "The Old  
Order Changes".]
     Mr. Bert Spooner: Mike Berry (1981-1984)
Floorwalker, First Floor
     Capt. Stephen Peacock: Frank Thornton
          [In "The Junior", Mr. Goldberg reveals that Peacock's rank is  
really Corporal.]
Manager, First Floor
     Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold: Nicholas Smith
Owners, Grace Brothers
     Young Mr. Grace: Harold Bennett (1972-1981)
     Old Mr. Henry Grace: Kenneth Waller (1981)
Head, Packing and Maintainance
     Mr. Mash: Larry Martyn (1972-1976)
     Mr. Beverly Harmon: Arthur English (1976-1984)

--
Jason R. Heimbaugh (CatStyle)
jrh@uiuc.edu
"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" --Ronnie Van Zant
Newsgroups: alt.comedy.british,alt.fan.monty-python