Talk:Michael Bentine

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I'm afraid that his TV shows, particularly IT'S A SQUARE WORLD, are never repeated today, making him in many ways a forgotten talent. It's also unfortunately true that, while a nice man and a brave individual, he was on the United Nations' blacklist of performers who had appeared in South Africa, during the 1980's. Dolmance (talk) 17:31, 3 January 2008 (UTC) Perhaps there should be a reference to his grandfather having been Vice-President of Peru (sometime in the 1880s or 90s, I think), and MB still having a lot of Peruvian relatives, hence many of the references to Peru in his comedy. Arwel 22:08 Feb 7, 2003 (UTC)

"Their two surviving children"? What happened to the rest of their children? — riana_dzasta • t • c • e • 23:03, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

Bentine was a marksman with myopia

It reads slightly oddly that MB had ruined eyesight but was also a crack shot; did he wear glasses for shooting or was it before his accident?

Apepper 20:55, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

Woeful!

This "article" is atrocious. It's no more than a rambling collection of trivia. It needs serious work by someone who has a clue about Mr Bentine. Typical Wikiality quality. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.120.254 (talk) 21:28, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

If you have copies of his autobiographical books you are invited to improve the article. Any lack in Wikipedia quality is down to whingers who could, but do not, contribute. It is an unpaid activity by volunteers.Chemical Engineer (talk) 13:32, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

The RAF rejected him, then didn't. Why?

I find this a bit puzzling. We're told "In World War II he volunteered for all services when the war broke out (the RAF was his first choice due to the influence of his father's experience), but was rejected because of his father's Peruvian nationality", however a short time later "he was called up for service in the RAF". What changed in the meantime? Tonywalton ^Talk 20:39, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

It was maybe because of his ability to speak many languages. Unfortunately, one of them wasn't German as he often quoted and then the RAF parachuted him into German Speaking Areas during the war. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.152.135.106 (talk) 01:20, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

IIRC, it was because of the Bentine family's connections, i.e., the Peruvian Ambassador. He pulled some strings and got Bentine accepted by the RAF. Unfortunately, Bentine was on a theatrical tour at the time and missed his call-up papers. The first he knew of being accepted was when some RAF Police turned up to arrest him. Bentine was on stage and dressed in 'doublet and hose' and carrying a period sword when arrested. The mistake was sorted out and Bentine was able to enter the RAF. It was the inoculations that damaged his eyesight and prevented him becoming aircrew. For a while he was Intelligence Officer to a Polish Bomber Command squadron on Wellingtons. Ian Dunster (talk) 13:17, 5 November 2008 (UTC)

Bruce Lacey

I belive Bruce Lacey [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lacey ] constructed and operated the sandbox 'flea circus' on 'It's a Square World' - crouching underneath unseen and uncredited and pulling down footstep shaped dowels to make the footprints and other effects. It is what started him in his automaton career.

89.168.89.0 (talk) 23:39, 15 February 2011 (UTC)

Anglo-Peruvian parentage

What does that exactly mean here?
His father was English, went out to Peru, learned Spanish, came back? Or what precisely?
Is Bentin a Spanish name? Bentín? Varlaam (talk) 23:45, 29 January 2012 (UTC)

His father was Peruvian, his mother was British. I have tried to clarify this in the text.Chemical Engineer (talk) 13:06, 30 January 2012 (UTC)