Hill's Angels in
New York, New York

Susan Daly

IMDB Entry

Susan Daly in the "New York, New York" segment of April 16, 1980. In addition to her dancing in two of the first three shows to feature the Hill's Angels in 1980, Ms. Daly appeared as an uncredited extra in filmed sketches during the 1982 series, including the 1985 sketch "The Lover" which was filmed during the making of the 1982 cycle of shows.

Louise English

IMDB Entry

From her April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" number, here is Louise English. She is considered the "unofficial" leader of Hill's Angels, alongside Sue Upton. They were both very important to the Benny Hill Show, not only as Angels, but as supporting actors in many short skits with Benny Hill. Of course today, Louise English doesn't seem to make any more TV appearances, but works on the theatrical stage in England. There was a brief period where she even had her own official website, but for some reason, the site was discontinued. Louise, if you're watching, we all miss you very much and would love to see you again in some connection with the Benny Hill Show, especially in a DVD tribute.

Nola Haynes

IMDB Entry

A shot of Nola Haynes from the April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" number. She was also in the April 25, 1979 show, where, just as one example, she figured in the "Soar-Away Sum" blooper routine. Also had a role in the 1987 made-for-TV remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Suspicion (which starred Jane Curtin of Saturday Night Live, Kate & Allie and 3rd Rock from the Sun fame); her most recent role, per IMDb, was as a "Chorus Girl" in a 1992 episode of Jeeves and Wooster.

Sharon Haywoode

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Sharon Haywoode from the April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" routine, the only other known black Angel besides Susan Daly.

Leigh Miles

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Leigh Miles in the April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" routine. Besides her 1980 run with TBHS as one of the charter "Hill's Angels," Ms. Miles also appeared as a regular on the children's show Crackerjack from 1980 to 1982. She and another ex-Angel, Nola Haynes (qv), appeared among the chorus girls in a 1992 episode of Jeeves and Wooster. As with a few ex-TBHS dancers (e.g. Samantha Spencer-Lane, Francesca Whitburn, Yvonne Dearman), Leigh is today a choreographer.

Clare Smalley

IMDB Entry

Another popular Hill's Angel, Clare Smalley, as seen in the April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" routine. She was a charter Hill's Angel, figuring prominently in the dance routines in the first five shows to feature the group. In her last credited appearance (the aforementioned 1981 show), she was the woman at the bus stop who, after many aggravations, turns into a "She-Hulk" (as played by Alison Bell). Post-TBHS, she was part of another troupe called "Auto Angels," and made an appearance in an episode of Not the Nine O'Clock News, as well as appearing with some once and future Angels as dancers in the 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. On her last two credited TBHS appearances, her name was spelled Claire Smalley.

Samantha Spencer-Lane

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Actress, singer, dancer, and fan favorite Samantha Spencer-Lane as seen in the "New York, New York" routine of April 16, 1980. A charter member of the Hill's Angels from its inception in 1980, Sam (as she is affectionately known to many fans) appeared in all but one of the shows within the first three series of the Angels' existence within the Hill show. Her electric smile and magnetic personality lit up many an Angels routine she appeared in (or, as quoted elsewhere on this site, "she was always giving 110%"). After the 1982 series wrapped up production, Ms. Spencer-Lane became part of a vocal trio, 'Girls Can't Help It,' which also consisted of Billie Adams and Jacqueline Bucknell; they put out an EP in 1983 on the Sire label, Pure Wild, and invited comparisons to another female group starting out around the same time, Bananarama; unfortunately, 'Girls Can't Help It' were never commercially successful, and disbanded in 1984. She would have one more go-round on TBHS in 1986, two of the shows of which had her as a supporting player in filmed sketches, but on the April 16, 1986 edition she figured prominently as one of the dancers in the "Funny Old World" number. In recent years, she has made a name as a choreographer in Britain. Ms. Spencer-Lane and Sue Upton accompanied Benny to see former Angel (and Hill protegée) Louise English in her first major West End (London) stage show, Me and My Girl, a few days before his death in 1992.

Sue Upton

IMDB Entry

Benny Hill's favorite Angel (and many others', too), Sue Upton, seen in the April 16, 1980 "New York, New York" routine. She first joined the show during the 1977 series, among her highlights there being as the Bionic Boy's first crush. By her third appearance on Dec. 26, 1978 (she would be in every remaining Hill show from then on), Benny noticed her upturned face lent itself to an old lady character, which she first played in the "Grand Wheelchair Rally" sketch; this led not only to the "Wondergran" sketches, but a recurring characterization as a feisty old lady - the archetype once played in the show's early Thames years by such genuine old ladies as Connie Georges. On the next-to-last Thames show in 1989, she even played Stan Laurel to Mr. Hill's Oliver Hardy in a silent sketch. Ms. Upton also figured very prominently in the Hill's Angels routines in their early years, indeed is regarded as one of the unofficial leaders of the troupe (the other being Louise English); in the show's final years, she also had a hand in the selection of future Angels. Her children, Richard and Louise Whatling (qv's), were among the "Hill's Little Angels" in the fading years of TBHS; she and her family have been widely cited as being like a "second family" to Benny outside the confines of his show. There is a website, SueUpton.net, which can give more about her illustrious career, as well as film and TV credits other than the Hill show, and several photos (in one of which she posed with Mr. Hill, Suzy Mandel, Jenny Westbrook, Anne Bruzac, and the then-current members of Love Machine of which she had been a part before either they or she first appeared on the show), than can be put in so short a space here.

Commentary

New York, New York is perhaps the most popular of the Hill's Angels routines. It all starts to an uptempo number about New York city and the girls on a classic car in sexy lingerie. You'll see several of the regulars throughout this routine which takes place on a typical New York street, an alley, on a scaffolding with several Angels dancing and in a discotheque. Helen Horton also makes a brief appearance. Jackie Wright mugs Bob Todd, in drag and Louise propositions Henry McGee. Watch Benny get a slap from Sam Lane in a store window and Benny as a street busker in front of the disco. The second tune is "Oh, Rosie, don't you do that to the boy" and after that we head into the disco. This is where things really heat up, with Sam Lane, Louise English, Clare Smalley, Sue Upton and several other Angels dancing, writhing and gyrating to the tune "Way On Down". (The tune was actually called "Way Down," and was Elvis Presley's last hit prior to his tragic death in 1977. - William Brown). They wear several colorful costumes and this is probably the most sexually suggestive of all the routines. Just watch Sue Upton get on her knees and do "the shake"! Its still surprising to me today that this actually aired on network TV and wasn't somehow censored. The girls aren't afraid to show off in this number and it just shows how daring they were at the time. I don't think this kind of thing would be allowed on network TV today. It all finishes off with Benny, Bob and Jackie giving the girls the "garbage can salute" at the end.

New York, New York

We love... New York, New York
So good they named it twice!
New York, New York
All the scandal and delights... I love it!
New York, New York,
Now isn't it a pity
What they say about New York City!

New York, New York
New York, New York!

New York, New York
So good they named it twice!
New York, New York
All the scandal and delights... I love it!
New York, New York
Now isn't it a pity
What they're doin' to New York
Doin' to New York
Doin' to New York City!

Oh, Rosie

And I said Oh, Rosie
Don't you to that to the boys
Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong

It can be so chillin'
When you act so willin'
When you're warm
It's like the sun

Way On Down

Babe you're gettin' closer
The lights are goin' dim
The sound of you're breathin'
Has made the mood I'm in

Way down where the music plays
Way down, way down like a tidal wave
Way down, way down where the fire plays
Way dooo--ooown,
Dooo--oown,
Way, way on Down!

We love... New York, New York
So good they named it twice!
New York, New York
All the scandal and delights... I love it!
New York, New York
Now isn't it a pity
What they say about New York City!

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Contributing Editor:
William Brown
Associate Editor:
David Hawkins