Nervo and Knox
Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox were part of the original Crazy Gang. They started their stage careers as an acrobatic dancing team. They used this ability in many of the earlier Crazy Gang shows. Among their many routines, a slow motion wrestling act was developed into a humorous show stopper. In December 1926, the British division of DeForest Phonofilm released a short sound film of Nervo and Knox performing their song "The Love of Phtohtenese" (pronounced "Hot Knees").[1]
Jimmy Nervo
Jimmy Nervo was born as James Hollaway in London on 2 January 1898. Both his father and grandfather were circus owners, and he started performing in the circus at an early age. By the time he was eight, he was in a high wire act with his brothers. He started performing in Music Hall as a juggler when he was sixteen, using the name Jimmy Nervo. He married Minna Scott who was in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. One of his famous catchphrases, in the portent of unfavourable circumstances or the like, was 'Aye Aye, Taxi!'. He died in London on 5 December 1975.
Teddy Knox
Teddy Knox was born in Gateshead on 12 July 1896. His full name was Albert Edward Cromwell Knox and he also started his career as a juggler, working with his brother under the stage name of The Cromwells. In 1922, he was in the USA on Broadway in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1922. He married Clarice Mayne who was also acting in the Music Halls. He died on 1 December 1974.
Selected filmography
- Nervo and Knox (1926) short film made in the sound-on-film process Phonofilm, released December 1926
- Alf's Button (1930)
- Skylarks (1936)
- It's in the Bag (1936)
- O-Kay for Sound (1937)
- Life Is a Circus (1960)