CovSoc founder member and former Chair, Paul Maddocks, tells us the interesting tale of Coventry’s strangest museum. Paul writes….
Who would believe that an American comedian would have a special museum and archive here in Coventry?
Yes, Phil Silver is remembered here in FarGo village, off Far Gosford Street in Coventry. As far as I know it is the only museum to him in the World.
I live across the road from this wonderful place and know Steve Everitt who has run it for many years. He is Phil’s number one fan and can tell you no end of stories about Phil Silvers. He has clothes and photograph that he has collected over many years and has got to know Phil Silver’s family, visiting them in America many times. He can tell you about every film that Phil has been in and would make a great contestant on ‘Master Mind’ with questions on the life of Phil Silver.
November 1st 2022 marked both the 37th anniversary of Phil Silvers’ passing and the 7th anniversary of the official opening of The Phil Silvers Archival Museum in 2015. Located in Coventry’s popular niche retail and creative quarter Fargo Village, the museum was the realisation of the ambition of the British Phil Silvers Appreciation Society to open a permanent exhibition dedicated to the late great Phil Silvers.
Steve Everitt opened the museum and has been a life time fan of Phil Silver. Steve and the appreciation society worked exhaustively in 2014 to release the Medium Rare boxset ‘Sgt.Bilko: The Complete Collection’ which finally saw the release of all four seasons of The Phil Silvers Show to DVD. The society were keen to mark 2015, the 30th anniversary of Phil’s passing and the 60th anniversary of the debut of The Phil Silvers Show, with a celebratory event and what better way to mark that occasion than with the opening of an exhibition of Phil Silvers memorabilia.
The Museum has been self-funded since its inception but following a Crowdfunding campaign enough funds were raised which enabled the Museum to expand. Celebrity endorsements came via pledged support from comedians Phill Jupitus and Tim Vine, radio presenter Danny Baker and Star Wars icon Mark Hamill.
‘Steve and Mick: Thank you for getting this amazing place together. A joy! TAYYYYYY-UP!’ – Phill Jupitus
‘This is great work you do. I am awed. It is in the spirit of Phil Silvers the joy unfolds.’ – Danny Baker,
The Crowdfunder project gave them enough funding to facilitate freeing up some much needed space and to make some internal alterations, including a new dividing wall, light sensitive window blinds and cabinets to safely display the more sensitive items, such as the original opening credits, animation art and cels, an extensive image gallery and a large screen monitor to screen Phil’s work.
The museum is filled with many items of Phil’s personal possessions, several of which were donated personally by Phil’s family. Ephemera on display includes clothing, artefacts, letters, photos and documents along with a host of other memorabilia which celebrate both his personal life and his professional career.
Recent acquisitions include a jacket from the Debbie Reynolds Estate which Phil wore during his screen test for the 1944 film ‘Something For The Boys’ and a rare British poster for the 1950’s re-release of Phil’s 1941 film ‘You’re In The Army Now’.
The museum attracts daily visits from people from all areas of the UK and they even have visitors from overseas. Extremely proud of the fact that this the only Museum in the world dedicated to preserving Phil’s enormous legacy.
The Phil Silvers Archival Museum is open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am – 5pm. Entry is free and all visitors who sign the Guestbook will receive a complimentary Phil Silvers badge.
Isn’t it amazing that we in Coventry have the world’s only Phil Silvers museum? It’s well worth a visit and it would be lovely to see Phil Silver shows back on our screens.