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Col Elliott: In Between The Laughter
Col Elliott has become one of Australia's favourite entertainers.Most know him from his many albums, television appearances, live work and DVD’s… However, there is a whole lot more to this man, who's own life story will surprise and delight!.From a ten quid Pommie, to a life in poor working-class Melbourne...In the stables at 14, to the Navy at 16, and sent to vietnam at 17 ... old enough to serve, yet too young to vote or drink. He writes a graphic account of gun-line operations in North Vietnam. Still a kid, surrounded by danger, and under fire. . Life before show business, was as a Navy Sonar Operator and eventual Instructor.He spent his 18th birthday in Vietnam, as part of the rescue team, when the USS Forestal lost 134 brave souls.At 19, he was part of the rescue team that operated when the ‘Melbourne’ cut the ‘U.S.S. Frank. E. Evans’ in half ... 74 men died that morning. Col’s early life is related with much humour and honesty.And throughout the book, you continue to follow his journey, as he and a rag tag bunch of unlikely heroes travel to exotic and often dangerous ports, as a rough and ready band of wandering minstrels.Through all of this, humour plays an integral part... This is a story of survival and as a reader, Col gives you an insight into his battles with depression, alcoholism and at just 37, a major heart attack. He regroups and emerges unbeaten.It tells of his rise through the tough ranks of Aussie comedy...Many long and wonderful, event filled years of marriage.When Asked, his wife (Karen) states" it has never been boring" !!Three daughters, several granchildren and growing.This is an Australian story that covers all bases. Belly laughs, Aussie humour, adversity , pathos , mate-ship , action and adventure. Col Elliott's story will surprise many ... An enthralling read.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2014
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About the author
Col Elliott
1 bookCol Elliott has been pushing our belly-laugh buttons for over 40 years. He is one of Australia's most loved and in demand performers. Col takes his audience on an incredible ride with his stand-up, his zany characters and his unique brand of story-telling and music ......He does it all.
His many album and DVD releases have not only given him gold and platinum status, but have generated a huge fan base which manages to cross all generational boundaries.
His first taste of the business was in his Navy days, moonlighting in the bars of Singapore and Hong Kong for drinks and tips. He left the Navy in 1972 and as Col puts it, he wasn’t quite prepared for Civilian life. He joined the Navy as a boy of 16. Col said “I left the Navy with a basic knowledge of Bingo, I could ask for a beer in five different languages, and track a submarine, that didn’t exactly give me many options in the middle of Melbourne in 1972".
He stumbled into show business in 1973. On the way to a gig, he knew that he needed tyres for his clapped out old car and the coppers had put it off the road - “...they didn’t like my Angry Anderson tyres"! He subsequently won the finals of “Kevin Dennis New Faces” a then, Melbourne TV talent show. Over 40 years later Col says he’s got a garage full of tyres!!!! Col has created many memorable characters over the years and has featured them on his videos, DVD’s, CD’s and television shows. His latest creation is “Briden Backpack”, a hi-camp cowboy who is president of “The Country and Precious Western Club of Australia, Briden doesn’t do the Charlie Daniel’s Hit song “ The Devil went down to Georgia”, his version goes something like.. “Bruce went down to Sydney”, and must be heard to be believed. Col can adjust to any format, whether it be one of his own shows, Television appearances or a Corporate event.
In his recent debut as a book-writer, he has opened up his life, for the scrutiny of all. Be amazed by his story of courage and determination as you read ‘In Between The Laughter’. Col never fails to entertain and his story-telling expertise allows you insights into the ups and downs, along his life’s journey, as he shares a few more laughs along the way.
His many album and DVD releases have not only given him gold and platinum status, but have generated a huge fan base which manages to cross all generational boundaries.
His first taste of the business was in his Navy days, moonlighting in the bars of Singapore and Hong Kong for drinks and tips. He left the Navy in 1972 and as Col puts it, he wasn’t quite prepared for Civilian life. He joined the Navy as a boy of 16. Col said “I left the Navy with a basic knowledge of Bingo, I could ask for a beer in five different languages, and track a submarine, that didn’t exactly give me many options in the middle of Melbourne in 1972".
He stumbled into show business in 1973. On the way to a gig, he knew that he needed tyres for his clapped out old car and the coppers had put it off the road - “...they didn’t like my Angry Anderson tyres"! He subsequently won the finals of “Kevin Dennis New Faces” a then, Melbourne TV talent show. Over 40 years later Col says he’s got a garage full of tyres!!!! Col has created many memorable characters over the years and has featured them on his videos, DVD’s, CD’s and television shows. His latest creation is “Briden Backpack”, a hi-camp cowboy who is president of “The Country and Precious Western Club of Australia, Briden doesn’t do the Charlie Daniel’s Hit song “ The Devil went down to Georgia”, his version goes something like.. “Bruce went down to Sydney”, and must be heard to be believed. Col can adjust to any format, whether it be one of his own shows, Television appearances or a Corporate event.
In his recent debut as a book-writer, he has opened up his life, for the scrutiny of all. Be amazed by his story of courage and determination as you read ‘In Between The Laughter’. Col never fails to entertain and his story-telling expertise allows you insights into the ups and downs, along his life’s journey, as he shares a few more laughs along the way.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 23, 2014
In Australia we have a habit of making our criminals our heroes, Ned Kelly and Mark Chopper Read are just a couple, But after reading this book, My New Australian hero is Col Elliott, For someone who had defended our country, risking his life and saving others, Keeping us entertained and brave enough to admit to his flaws in this amazing Memoir, Col is truly an Aussie Icon and Hero.
I grew up hearing about Col Elliott he is a favorite of my parents, although I may have been too young to understand his jokes, those I were allowed to watch anyway he was still a house hold name growing up. As I got older only then did I understand the brilliance of this man’s unique brand of Comedy.
Col Elliott has a fantastic way of making the audience feel involved in his skits, and with his Aussie humor and adult jokes, you can’t help but laugh throughout his performance. What I didn’t hear though is what started his comedy career and what was going on off stage in his life. In Between the Laughter you get and Inside pass too his life from when he joined the Navy at a really young age to his honest account with his battle with Alcohol. although the book has some strong subjects like war and Alcoholism, it does not stop you from laughing at his stories and feeling touched about the positive points in his life.
When I picked up this book I thought it would be like every other Memoir I have read, a long-winded dark and drawn out story reliving the dark days of his career, like you get with a lot of Memoirs these days, I was pleasantly surprised though when I started reading and It was nothing like that at all.
We have a tradition in Australia, that when we have BBQ’s and no we don’t eat Shrimp on a Barbie, The men mostly will drift off and spend the night drinking and talking about funny events in their lives, basically Talking Shit. This is what It felt like too me, Short wonderful stories, still in chronological order, from Col Elliott’s life.
I found his stories, to be entertaining, funny and human, I particularly loved reading about his exploits in the Navy.
Overall I loved this book and I am giving it 5 Stars, In between the laughter kept me up at night reading and laughing at his exploits, as well as feeling emotional when he talks about his family and his problems with Alcohol. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting a lighter memoir to read, or even if you are just up for a laugh, grab this book you won’t be disappointed, I know I wasn’t .
I grew up hearing about Col Elliott he is a favorite of my parents, although I may have been too young to understand his jokes, those I were allowed to watch anyway he was still a house hold name growing up. As I got older only then did I understand the brilliance of this man’s unique brand of Comedy.
Col Elliott has a fantastic way of making the audience feel involved in his skits, and with his Aussie humor and adult jokes, you can’t help but laugh throughout his performance. What I didn’t hear though is what started his comedy career and what was going on off stage in his life. In Between the Laughter you get and Inside pass too his life from when he joined the Navy at a really young age to his honest account with his battle with Alcohol. although the book has some strong subjects like war and Alcoholism, it does not stop you from laughing at his stories and feeling touched about the positive points in his life.
When I picked up this book I thought it would be like every other Memoir I have read, a long-winded dark and drawn out story reliving the dark days of his career, like you get with a lot of Memoirs these days, I was pleasantly surprised though when I started reading and It was nothing like that at all.
We have a tradition in Australia, that when we have BBQ’s and no we don’t eat Shrimp on a Barbie, The men mostly will drift off and spend the night drinking and talking about funny events in their lives, basically Talking Shit. This is what It felt like too me, Short wonderful stories, still in chronological order, from Col Elliott’s life.
I found his stories, to be entertaining, funny and human, I particularly loved reading about his exploits in the Navy.
Overall I loved this book and I am giving it 5 Stars, In between the laughter kept me up at night reading and laughing at his exploits, as well as feeling emotional when he talks about his family and his problems with Alcohol. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting a lighter memoir to read, or even if you are just up for a laugh, grab this book you won’t be disappointed, I know I wasn’t .
May 19, 2014
Col Elliott – In Between The Laughter – Ticks all the boxes!
Entertaining – tick. Engaging – tick. Inspiring – tick. Highs – tick. Lows – tick. Uplifting – tick. Yep, there is no doubt that Col Elliott is a born story-teller. But, after years on stage, we wouldn’t expect anything less!
However, this time, believe me, it is very different. It is one thing to pull off a good yarn, it is quite another, to be able to bear your soul, empty all the proverbial skeletons from the wardrobe and relate it to complete strangers, for better or for worse….. and do it so well.
Col has opened up his life, for the scrutiny of all. From humble beginnings and the difficulties of having had an alcoholic father, to the young man whose time serving his country, saw him experience some terrible atrocities as well as some amazing adventures. We are then taken backstage, and introduced to the highs and lows of showbiz, as Col struggles with his own demons and problems with alcohol. And all the time, Col is striving to find a balance of sorts – he wants it all – the career, the success, the happy family and the home.
This is a story of courage and determination. Along the way, there are ups and downs, but the iconic Col Elliott always seems to find the positive in just about everything. So, no matter what the situation, he does not fail to ensure that there is always a laugh at the end, even though it may be on himself; he takes it in the chin!
Having read this book, (his debut no less!), I was left quite uplifted, to be honest. Col is living proof that no matter how difficult the journey, adversities can be overcome, with hard work and dedication. Personally, I believe that every person who has been in service, be it army, navy, etc., should read this book and find comfort and inspiration, in the fact that there is hope, and that one can go on to lead a normal life and achieve great things, no matter how difficult the journey. Thank you Col, for allowing us into your life, for making us laugh, and for being such an all-round great and amazing person.
Marion Andersson – 27 April 2014 – lenmar@bigpond.net.au
Entertaining – tick. Engaging – tick. Inspiring – tick. Highs – tick. Lows – tick. Uplifting – tick. Yep, there is no doubt that Col Elliott is a born story-teller. But, after years on stage, we wouldn’t expect anything less!
However, this time, believe me, it is very different. It is one thing to pull off a good yarn, it is quite another, to be able to bear your soul, empty all the proverbial skeletons from the wardrobe and relate it to complete strangers, for better or for worse….. and do it so well.
Col has opened up his life, for the scrutiny of all. From humble beginnings and the difficulties of having had an alcoholic father, to the young man whose time serving his country, saw him experience some terrible atrocities as well as some amazing adventures. We are then taken backstage, and introduced to the highs and lows of showbiz, as Col struggles with his own demons and problems with alcohol. And all the time, Col is striving to find a balance of sorts – he wants it all – the career, the success, the happy family and the home.
This is a story of courage and determination. Along the way, there are ups and downs, but the iconic Col Elliott always seems to find the positive in just about everything. So, no matter what the situation, he does not fail to ensure that there is always a laugh at the end, even though it may be on himself; he takes it in the chin!
Having read this book, (his debut no less!), I was left quite uplifted, to be honest. Col is living proof that no matter how difficult the journey, adversities can be overcome, with hard work and dedication. Personally, I believe that every person who has been in service, be it army, navy, etc., should read this book and find comfort and inspiration, in the fact that there is hope, and that one can go on to lead a normal life and achieve great things, no matter how difficult the journey. Thank you Col, for allowing us into your life, for making us laugh, and for being such an all-round great and amazing person.
Marion Andersson – 27 April 2014 – lenmar@bigpond.net.au
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews