Been a fan for years,being from Scotland,I first saw Bilko in 70s,and realized it is the first worlds best comedy's, Bilko was like Elvis the king Presley, he was first, and still after all this time still truly brilliant, and Bilko was also first in making from Silvers,Ford,the hall cast was amazing, sad Steve Martin made such a mess of the film,but then you can't replace Martin with Silves,he was and will always be Bilko,as Ford was col Hall,truly the greatestest ever cast first formed and Harkening written truly brilliant.

I was brought up watching Bilko, and in a strange way I guess it actually shapped my attitude to life, you learn as the moral of Bilko "That you will never get Rich" if you try to be dishonest. It is the milestone of all good comedy ,with a cast that could not have been bettered.

Great to learn about your website and museum dedicated to the immortal Mr Silvers, star of the best comedy show of all time.

Congratulations on your new Phil Silvers museum. I wish I could afford to fly to England and visit it.
I remember that The Phil Silvers Show was a favorite growing up. I also enjoyed him in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" along with an all-star cast.

I was a huge fan of the show, which I watched on a Saturday night in the early 70s along with 'That's Life' and 'Match of the Day' when my parents were out. The whole cast was brilliant and the dialogue cracked along faster than the Colonel's jeep. I'd rather watch it again than most of the offerings passing as comedy these days!

Read about your museum and I have been watching Bilko on YouTube the last few nights. It took me back to the 1950's and watching the show with my dear Dad as we laughed out loud. I still laugh out loud at these brilliant episodes. Thanks for your efforts, guys.
As an aside, when I attended Sunday School for a short time, the teacher told us there is only one Creator. I told him I'd seen on television a caption saying "Created by Nat Hiken" so there must be more than one. He went ballistic at me, shouting and raging. I gave up Sunday School after that.

Great to find this fan club, Bilko is timeless

Just discovered this via the BBC site.
Bilko conjures up such wonderful memories not just of watching the series but of recalling my Dad's rapturous laughter at the show. I remember it as being the highlight of the week, of being a beacon of joy at a time when, economically, things at home were tough.
It was so well written and superbly acted with a natural and spontaneous sense of comic timing.
Bilko is a fond and abiding memory of my childhood and thank you so much for creating this.
Although I live a couple of hundred of miles away I definitely visit the museum!

Hi. I heard Phil silvers wrote the lyrics to Nancy (with the smiling face) one of my favourite tunes as he was a friend of sinatra. Is this true?

I used to see Phil Silvers' show (Sergeant Bilko) when it was on U.S. television, which was actually in the 1950s, though apparently it didn't make it to the U.K. until the mid 1960s. I was astonished to learn recently that the British consider Silvers a comic genius, and rate his show the top television situation comedy of all time, above even "Fawlty Towers" and "Yes Minister". It is sad that Phil Silvers has been almost completely forgotten in the U.S., and it is difficult to account for it since he was an extremely talented performer who enjoyed a very long and successful career on stage, on radio, in movies and on television.

Bilko is still the best sitcom ever. It doesn't age, and the fast-talking sergeant is perhaps the greatest comedy character ever created. Bless you, Phil.

I have memories as a young boy watching Bilko and the tricks he got up too , he was and is a true legend and a hard act to follow.

Many fond teenage memories watching Billko, Harold Lloyd and Laurel n Hardy in 80's.

I have been a fan of Phil Silvers AKA Sgt E Bilko since the show was first show on BBC in the 1950's. I remember cycling home from work Hull Paragon Station I did not own a car then and could not afford the bus fares either. I never missed a programe. I now own the full set OF DVDs of every show as well as three books, two about Bilko and the other Phil Silvers.
Bilko was, and still is my favorite of all time. Brilliant is to modest to describe this genius. I only learnt about the appreciation Society Today and at the age of 78 I appreciate what you have done so far and what you are doing now.
Thank you so very much for sharing this with me. Good luck Steve Everitt and Mick Clews with your venture in Coventry
Best wishes Jim Dobson, Doncaster, Yorkshire

The best comedy ever.I will always remember the episode with Harry speak up .brilliant

my dads favourite, can still see him laughing in chair. I know he wrote the lyrics to Nancy with the laughing face,did he do anything else musically?

Sgt. Bilko was the greatest and Sgt Knocker stupendous
I,ve seen most of the episodes of Bilko and there is nothing that comes close to Phil's timing. He was the greatest

The Phil Silvers show is by far and away the best comedy of all time without exception. No foul language ( not that i am a prude ) just clean straightforward comedy. i defy anybody to watch Bilko in Wall Street and not laugh . ( my favourite episode ) The show has stood the test of time and will continue to do so for many a year to come as long , as we appreciate comedy Bilko will be number one , R.I.P Phil .

Would love to get a dvd set of the phil silvers show. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Loved his show growing up.

I grew up in 1950s watching stg bilko on the tv and i am now experiencing these shows all over again with the complete twenty disc box set. In my opinion Phill Silvers was an all time great and was made for this part, when he was around all eyes were on him.

How many shows that you thought were funny in your teens are still just as funny 40 years later? The Phil Silvers show has stood the test of time like no other I can think of.

We couldn't agree with you more Paul. A landmark show that has stood the test of time. As Phil would've said "Funny is funny!!".

Phil Silvers, genius - that one with the chimp was unbelievable. I remember his interview when quite ill and said how you go on stage with the same act in the day and get a standing ovation and do the same act at night and walk off to the sound of your own footsteps - no wonder comedians have nervous breakdowns- I was a teacher for 20 years and I remember that.

I am now 76. In earlier years our whole family glued ourselves to Phil's Sgt Bilko on the television Every show had us helpless with laughter. I am slowly collecting some of the videos/DVD's which are available

Many, many thanks for your comments John. It seems to be a common theme that Phil's comedy has been and continues to be enjoyed by families the world over!

just got the full box set as I was even contemplating putting my old bilko videos from the bbc 2 rerun onto DVD ..and yes bought the machine but now all is great,my future laughter is secure forever..good luck with the rerun on BBC 4. This needs to happen people need laughter!

Really love the show

I watched from an early age the Bilko series and it never fails to make me laugh even to this day. Phil Silvers was a true comedy genius and I think his star in Hollywood is well deserved and a great credit to his talent. Well done Steve and Mick for your ongoing dedication.
I look forward to the opening of the museum.

Why doesn't the PS Appreciation Society offer Sgt Bilko tee shirts in a range of colours, sizes and different logo's????

I was introduced to watching Sgt Bilko on TV by my dad and now I'm 69 I'm sat here watching re-runs of the series with my two young grandchildren who laugh at everything he does.
Its was way ahead of its time and is still as funny as it was back then.
Phil Silvers was a true genius and fully deserved the accolades he received.
Bilko will never die.

Been watching Bilko on every night Forces TV sky channel 264 7.25pm weekdays.
So funny and refreshing.
I am a Theatre UK promoter wish I could promote a live version ????
Any ideas anyone ??
John

I've just bought the box set of the dvd of bilko. I had a pirate copy for about 10 years but the quality wasn't great. I can't wait to watch from start to finish the greatest comedy show ever made. my dad started me watching the show when I was about 10 years old, I'm 54 now, I wish he could have lived to see it brought out on dvd.

phil did lots of movies to support the american war effort ,he always makes me smile ,laugh ,breakup, go on you phil.

Have loved Phil Silvers Bilko ,since first watching in 1960.Now I still get a lot of fun thanks to my dvd collection, Brilliant show!

I watched in the nineteen fifties when it was first broadcast on the BBC and I am still watching it now on Forces TV in 2015. Must be one of the funnest TV shows ever made. Phil Silvers and the rest of the cast were perfect in their roles. I must treat myself to the full series now its available on DVD !

I got to sign up as a total fan of Mr Silvers. US comedy was always so advanced in its intelligence and just so well produced. Bilko stands the test of time to this day. Today comedy (especially British) is so 'dark' its just misanthropic and twisted and not anywhere near as funny as US comedy even back in the 50's.

Still loving watching the repeats on Forces Tv. One of the best Tv shows in history.

I grew up with Bilko during the 80s. This program ranks amongst the true comedy classics of all time. Phil Silvers charm and sharp wit is a delight to watch. The script writing was fresh and ingenious. They certainly don't make them like this anymore.
Thanks Phil.

A great tribute to one of the funniest shows ever created. The word genius is much over used but in Phil Silver's case there is no other word that will do. That also applies to Nat Hiken and the rest of the cast. Thanks for all the information on the site.

A TRUE COMIC GENIUS. I ONLY HAVE TO THINK OF THIS SHOW AND I SMILE!!

Check out Forces TV channel,,where Mon-Fri. at 7.25pm Bilko is shown!

Great to see all these very funny shows after so many years, happy watching!

My dad, Karl Lukas, was Stash Kadowski. So nice to see your site keeps the Bilko Show alive.
Found an interview Mick did with my dad back in 1986. Thanks for the memories.
Cheers.

My dad was Stash Kadowski. So nice to see your site keeps the Bilko Show alive.
Cheers.

Takes me right back to my happy childhood to what seems like another world never mind another time. Absolute genius writing and performances and even though I have enjoyed many and various comedy performers and performances over the years this stuff is right up there with the very,very best. So my grateful thanks to the late great Phil Silvers and company for making me laugh, laugh again, and then some !

I've been watching the Phil Silvers Show on the Forces TV Channel in the UK and even after all these years it is still very funny!

Superb site for a superb actor

One of the few black and white sitcoms I can watch time and time again. My favourite episode was when they were making a film about spark plugs and Ernie turned it into a variety show with glamour, dancing and singing. Colonel Hall, was his usual exasperated self and was berating Ernie when his wife started to tell him what she had learned about engines etc. I often use this as an example when I am training, pointing out that you can get the message over without always resorting to 'Talk and Chalk'

Simply the best.

How about that! I diligently VHS - taped as many Bilko shows as I could in the 80s; the exact figure changed from time to time from a combination of tape twist (painful) and accidental erasure, no less hurtful, plus the sheer weight and size of the collection made various flats and houses resemble Doberman's sock drawer...don't go there!
Eventually the whole Hiken mess was lost, but is to be imminently replaced by the DVD box set; Diligence has led to Dillingham, in a lousy manner of words. So it's Baxter Basics from Xmas '14 on...Happy Days.
Fantastic site men, even an officer could get wise reading through it.

I found you thanks to an article on today's Guardian and I found Bilko thanks to my uncle who passed on his love of the character to me.
I haven't thought about Phil for years as I have hardly watched TV in recently but I had to click on the link as soon as I saw his face today.
What a performer and great writing from Nat Hiken, I'm smiling again just at the thought of those shows.
I shall relish exploring your site in future.

Funny, funny!!!

Hello,
Just in case you are not aware, but bilko is on "forces tv" every weekday 10:30 and 7:30.
Sky 264, freesat 652 and virgin 244

Cheers ian