Just found out about you. Bilko was the greatest sitcom of them all,in my opinion. Is there any Bilko fan fiction?

Thanks for your comments Mark. If you're on Facebook then why not come along and join our ranks? Always plenty of discussion about Phil, his life, his work and of course all things Bilko!

Glorious, stupendous, amazing tribute to my all-time favourite comedian Phil SIlvers.

A colossal website devoted to one heck of a man.........Some crackerjack articles, great photos, wonderful anecdotes and insights......You guys need congratulating for having such patience and commitment to such a huge project......Well done to all concerned......and for the love of Mike get those remaining three seasons released on.......BluRay please!!

Thanks for your comments JJW...Sadly it's not good news re the DVD releases....CBS currently have no immediate plans to release seasons 2, 3 & 4 to DVD....however we ask all devotees of the show to WATCH THIS SPACE! Congratulations to you on your superb website....Gladaknowya!!

A classic series and a class comedy actor who set the standard for others to follow.

Was born too late to see Bilko in the 50s,but as a young kid in the 80s saw the episode with monkey and was hooked.Love Phil silvers and the cast.And I feel probaly the best from Paul Ford to Maurice Gosfild.Hated the THE Steve Martin Movie and the fact they change every one making the corporal a girl with attitude,which i know we live in a changed world,but some things you leave alone because of there greatness.As a Scottish person its my favourite American show and second to Only Fools and Horses a british show. America has given us many brilliant shows but thanks to Phill Silvers and the gang this was the best.This sounds lame but God Bless America for giving us Bilko.

What a fantastic tribute to one of the greats of television. I've never been on an appreciation site packed with so much information , what a great job guys ;-)

This is my first of what will be many visits to this marvelous site. I've always loved Phil Silvers and this is such a great venue for keeping his memory and talents alive. I applaud you for having this wonderfully professional website. It is filled to the brim with information. Nothing has been overlooked. I am very impressed and can't wait to explore more.

Thanks for those kind thoughts Dave. Always happy to welcome a fellow Phil-fan to the site!

Fantastic website in tribute to a great man. Not only is the Phil Silvers show my favourite show of all time, it hugely influenced so many more shows that I now adore as well. I recently watched an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry David was caught in a choice between his Jewish heritage and a hot Palestinian girl, the episode ended with Larry trying to make up his mind, for me the playful and telling facial expressions were pure Phil Silvers. It was comedy gold.
Without Phil Silvers TV would be a much sadder place and I am forever grateful to him for that.

Brilliant website, filled many gaps in my knowledge of Bilko, just the best comedy performance, montage of actors and scripts ever..
Back in 1983", I spent my first summer coaching soccer (football Uk ) out in New York state, my dream was to meet Phil Silvers, I was pretty naive!!Well fate plays a bizarre hand at times, and after getting a lift from the camp director, was in the back of he car with a kindly octogenarian, who introduced herself as Beatrice Pons, the inimitable wife of Rupert Ritzik......:she was stunned o be remembered, and was a delight, talking all things Bilko,, have a great photo of me and Beatrices at the end, would be very pleased to send this to the website, and details, just let me know
All the best,
Andy Caulton, Amherst New HAMPSHIRE, formerly Burton on Trent

Thanks Andy! Been trying to get in touch with you since reading your story on a website. The Society has been trying to find out Beatrice's whereabouts for many years. Sadly it now seems she has passed on. Please send the image and memories to steviebilko@aol.com so we can feature it on the site.

enjoyed your website - lots to come back to read up. Enjoying the DVD but saddened that palns are on hold for the others.
Keep up the good work.

A big thank you from this longtime Phil Silvers fan. A beautiful, informative site packed with facts and photos of the Great Man!

Brilliant site!

Hello fellows!! I was a member back in the mid 1980's. Great to see how you have stayed the course and created this superb tribute to our beloved Phil.

Stunning tribute to a fabulous comedian. You Brits sure seem to appreciate Phil far more than my own country does!

Glad to see you! What a great site this is....a great and deserved tribute to a fine comedian!

Always been a great fan and watched most of the episodes on british TV bbc as a kid and all the repeats since; the man was pure genius!!!!!

Thanks Terry....we're betting that Phil-fans across the UK are hoping that the Old Sarge will one day make a return to our TV screens!

What a wonderful website, and a truly devoted organisation. All concerned should be so pleased at what they have achieved. I remember watching Bilko with my late father.

What surprises me is how modern the series look, even today. True, Phil Silvers is excellent. But it all comes from the writing. If you analyse the lines, it's all: "Set up... punchline," throughout. It's a masterclass in how to write comedy. And it was lying there, waiting to be re-discovered. Not a bit of flab to be cut out; it's all so cut-throat witty.

These scripts, the whole series, are years ahead of their time.

Thank you for all you do. And for bringing a ray of sunshine into a drab, wet, Sunday March afternoon.

Thanks for your wonderful comments Tim.

A life-long fan, as are my parents Ron & Lily Lee both 78 years of age.
I remember the BBC showing the series on Sunday afternoons in the 60's & the late Saturday night showings in the late 70' - early 80's.
I have two tee-shirts: 1 classic mono image & one unique air-brushed caricature style from an artist in Florida.

My three heroes through life have been (and still are) Ernie Bilko, Ebenezer Scrooge and Punch. What a fine trio to influence a lad.

Such is the power of the internet, and twitter I found this site, and I'm glad I did the only other Bilko connection I had was youtube and my Bilko book. Good work

Excellent website for a comic genius.if only modern day comedians could bring as much comic talent to the screen as Phil Silvers.

Great news that season 2 of Nat Hiken's superb Car 54, Where Are You? is coming to DVD. Let's hope that CBS see the error of their ways and decide to finally release the other 3 seasons of Nat's other superb comedy series, The Phil Silvers Show.

We couldn't agree more with you Mikey!

Love The Phil Silvers Show and your marvelous website. Like all fans I am disappointed about the lack of official releases however have reasonable copies of all the episodes. Just watched Rock'N'Roll Rookie again and a thought occurred to me. Does anyone know if Elvis Presley was ever approached to appear in person in this episode? Keep the memories alive!

Phil Silvers is, without a doubt, the greatest and most unique comedian in history. I just caught a full 70mm print of "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" last night at the American Cinematheque in Hollywood and, of course, Phil's every scene, every moment, brought the house down. I am a writer on "The Simpsons" and I believe it was watching that movie and, more specifically, the performance of Phil Silvers, as a little kid that inspired me to want to be a comedy writer. Thanks for this website -- it's wonderful!

Thanks Michael for your wonderful comments. As huge fans of The Simpsons ourselves it's great honour that you've taken the time to sign the Guest Book. IAMMMMW was my introduction to Phil and the film remains my favourite to this day. Both Steve and I agree that it was perhaps Phil's finest big-screen performance and I know that Phil was proud of his contribution to the film. Glad to hear you like the site too - it's a labour of love for us both! Keep in touch....Gladaseeya!!

I've just found your website after writing an article about the Bilko DVDs for my local paper. I am disappointed that Paramount DVD do not seem to want to release the three other seasons of the show. Perhaps with more Birtish fans they might do a specific region 2 release if we ask them. COuld we perhaps have a contact email for Paramount DVD UK?
I will have a look around the site tomorrow.

Just saw the Phil Silvers or Bust and wondered if anyone had any idea how much this was worth as I have the chance to buy one? I was also lucky enough to pick up a CBS pen given to Phil in the 50s with a letter from his daughter confirming its authenticity

Still the greatest comedy of all time.

Thanks Phil

Thanks for the website, still my favorite all time comedy...love Phil and love bilko....keep up the good work guys

still funniest sitcom ever

Stunning site.....superb tribute to a great comedian!

So many great shows from those days are in black and white, which probably puts many TV executives off airing them regularly nowadays. That's a shame, because some of them are timeless comedy. I would include the Bilko shows as timeless comedy. Maybe they should colorise the shows and put them out again on TV? I'm sure the owners of the show will make a tidy sum from Bilko DVDs and online media anyhow- good luck to them! What a unique talent Silvers had.

Thanks for your comments Peter! Many purists would argue that colourising The Phil Silvers Show would ruin it. Personally, as a life-long fan of the Old Sarge, I'd love to see a colourised version. The technique used a few years back to colourise some of the old Lucy shows was magnificent.

Finally managed to view "The Lost Audition Show" - part of the 50th Anniversary DVD - which is virtually the same as the first episode " New Recruits" with some fascinating facts.

Although the film is grainy it is an absolute gem which throws up some astonishing facts:- The Chaplain/Padre is actually played by Jimmy Little (Sgt Grover), not John Gibson; Colonel Hall is not played by Paul Ford; and Cpl Henshaw is not played by Allan Melvin.

I know that this will not be a "Light Bulb" moment for Steve and Mick but it's an epiphany for me! Can anybody provide details of the actors playing Col Hall/Cpl Henshaw?

No info on the chap who played Colonel Hall yet - but it was Jack Warden who played Henshaw. Jack went on to appear in films such as Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait, All The President's Men, Used Cars and The Verdict. On TV he enjoyed huge success in Crazy Like A Fox. Jack passed away aged 85 in 2006.

Tremendous site and a stunning tribute to Phil Silvers.

Thank you for your words of support Albert, truly appreciated.

Just found your site. Most enjoyable. You may want to add another screen appearance for Phil:

"The Girl Can't Help It," staring Jayne Mansfield. Made in 1956, it was probably the best rock 'n' roll film ever made, with Little Richard, Fats Domino, Eddie Cochran, etc.. It has the brilliant dream scene with Tom Ewell in which Julie London sings 'Cry me a River.' Phil plays a milkman standing in the street holding two milk bottles. When Jayne sashays past him up some house steps, his eyes pop out and the bottle tops burst open and all the milk spills over. I suppose this could be described as a seminal scene. (groan) Surprised it got past the censor! Good luck with the site. I shall keep in touch.

Thanks for your comments Stuart. It's not actually Phil in the sequence you mention but an actor called Richard Collier who, in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it sequence, bears a resemblance to Phil.

Hi there,

Just found some of the UK lobby cards for "You're in the Army Now" from 1941 and wondered if any of you clever people could tell me how many there were in the set (I have 8). The card is very low quality tho so my chances of finding the others is slim I guess should any be missing.
Thanks for any help and congrats on such a comprehensive site

Jack

Jack...your UK lobby card set is complete. There were several YITAN lobby card sets issued in both colour and black and white, both in the US and the UK. All were issued in sets of 8 which was the industry norm.

Guys,

Just found this site what can i say, i have been a Bilko fan all of my life and it is without doubt one of if not the funniest comedy shows of all time.That's a tribute to the undoubted talent that was Phil Silvers.
It's so sad that none of the motor pool are no longer with us , but I bet Ernie is still calling the shots up there.
Regards
Alan Hindmarsh

Superb tribute to the late, great Phil Silvers.

to this day september 28th 2010, there has yet to be another actor like phil to truly blow away the digital airwaves with anything better.... phil.....i simply say you're one of the very few who will live on long after i'm dead and gone. pardon my french everybody but PHIL SILVERS F**K'N RULES!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have been a fan of Sgt. Bilko for longer than I can remember. I have many of the shows on video, thanks to the BBC showings in the 1980's. A superb show....never equalled or bettered!

used to tape bilko on bbc2,still watch them at least once a week,never fails to make me smile and i must have seen them all 20 times over at least!

This man can never be replaced. He made me laugh in what ever he did..

One of my Favorite shows I was amazed that only Season One has been released on DVD. I have signed the petition and want to thank you for this site.

Thank you so much for your support Vic. Truly appreciated!

Hello Steve and Mick.....I was an original member back in the 1980's. Great to see you guys are still doing this for Phil all these years later. A superb job by two loyal fans....Phil would be proud!

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BORING AFTERNOONS AND SOMETIMES EVENINGS ON BBC2 WITH OUT THE BILKO SHOW SPICING THINGS UP !! THANK YOU PHIL SILVERS AND HIS GANG. X

i just think phil silvers bilko is the funniest man ever 100% funny all the time

One of the greatest Comedian's ever R.I.P. but your antic's will live forever in the hearts and mind's of everyone.

I am so happy to find that there is a group who recognizes this wonderful man and his career... we loved watching Phil Silvers, whether as Sgt. Bilko, or in movies and other shows. I hope his family knows how much joy he has brought into our lives. Glad to see ya!

Pedants Corner!!

While watching the sublime, recently released "The First Season" I noticed an anomaly which cast member Maurice Brenner referred to in correspondence with BPAS. Maurice has always been known to fans as the slightly sinister Pte Fleishman (remember "Bilko and the Beast") but had mentioned that he was once Pte Zinneman ( played of course by Mickey Freeman). However, in my copy of the first series, which I believe runs sequentially, Maurice appears as Fleishman in the episode "Mardi Gras" and the as Zinneman in "The Eating Contest." As far as I can ascertain Maurice then reverts to his role as Fleishman.

Any Society member who can shed any light on this would earn my gratitude and appreciation.

Kind regards

Graham...Maurice was even called Doberman for a time....Nat (Hiken) didn't initially assign names to the platoon/support cast and it was following a meeting with Maurice Brenner, Mickey Freeman, P Jay Sidney and Karl Lukas that Nat finally gave the platoon members their final character names. Hence, as you rightly point out, in some of the early episodes many of our favourite platoon members have inter-changeable character names! Hope that answers your question...

There are certain gifted ORIGINALS that come along once in a blue Moon. Movie acting - James Cagney, De Niro. Music? Hank Williams, Jolson, Chuck Berry. In Comedy, in my humble opinion, there is Phil Silvers, Laurel & Hardy and then...everyone else. I have been watching and enjoying Bilko since I was 9 or 10. I'm now 52 and the enjoyment of the series only increases with time. Incredible. EJ Ruane, (Liverpool)

As Phil would've said...."You show great taste!". Have to agree with you that the show gets better with each passing year!

Have been watching Bilko since the age of 11, over 30 years. Have seen almost every episode. Its great to see such a website paying tribute to just the most fantastic show. Look forward to looking at more updates.

Thank you so much Matt for your comments. We also take great pride in helping promote/perpetuate Phil's amazing legacy by featuring his outstanding body of work, something Phil was fiercely proud of!