Pat Dixon - Revision history

Kurt at 13:44, 6 February 2023

2023-02-06T13:44:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:44, 6 February 2023
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	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}~~

	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| image = Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg~~<!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->~~		\| image = Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg
	\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->		\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name = Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon<!-- only use if different from name -->		\| birth_name = Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon<!-- only use if different from name -->
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}<!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age\|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}}. -->		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}
	\| birth_place =		\| birth_place =
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1958\|10\|08\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}~~<!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->~~		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1958\|10\|08\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}
	\| death_place =		\| death_place =
	~~\| nationality = <!-- use only when necessary per [[WP:INFONAT]] -->~~
	\| other_names =		\| other_names =
	\| occupation = Radio producer, journalist		\| occupation = Radio producer, journalist

Kurt: /* Biography */clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

2023-01-22T00:46:22Z

Biography: clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 21 January 2023
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	Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />		Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />

	Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=w:Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[~~w:BBC\|~~BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}		Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=w:Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}

	In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}		In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}

Kurt at 15:56, 14 August 2022

2022-08-14T15:56:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 14 August 2022
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	Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />		Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />

	Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}		Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=w:Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[w:BBC\|BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}

	In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}		In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}
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	<ref name="Glasg Hrld">		<ref name="Glasg Hrld">
	{{cite news\|title=BBC Variety Producer\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OjY1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3061%2C4899261\|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)\|The Herald]]\|date=9 October 1958\|location=Glasgow\|page=9		{{cite news\|title=BBC Variety Producer\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OjY1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3061%2C4899261\|newspaper=[[w:The Herald (Glasgow)\|The Herald]]\|date=9 October 1958\|location=Glasgow\|page=9
	}}		}}
	</ref>		</ref>

	<ref name="Times obit">		<ref name="Times obit">
	{{cite news\|title=Obituary: Mr. Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[The Times]]\|date=10 October 1958\|location=London\|page=89		{{cite news\|title=Obituary: Mr. Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=10 October 1958\|location=London\|page=89
	}}		}}
	</ref>		</ref>

	<ref name="WMD in WW">		<ref name="WMD in WW">
	{{cite web\|title=Dixon, William Macneile\|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U224724\|work=[[Who's Who (UK)\|Who's Who]]\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|access-date=16 August 2012\|location=Oxford		{{cite web\|title=Dixon, William Macneile\|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U224724\|work=[[w:Who's Who (UK)\|Who's Who]]\|publisher=[[w:Oxford University Press\|]]\|access-date=16 August 2012\|location=Oxford
	}} {{subscription}}		}} {{subscription}}
	</ref>		</ref>
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	{{refbegin\|30em}}		{{refbegin\|30em}}

	* {{cite book\|last=Carpenter\|first=Humphrey\|author-link=Humphrey Carpenter\|title=Spike Milligan\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dF9zDXmpsI0C&pg=PP1\|publisher=[[Hodder & Stoughton]]\|location=London\|year=2004\|isbn=978-0-340-82612-6}}		* {{cite book\|last=Carpenter\|first=Humphrey\|author-link=w:Humphrey Carpenter\|title=Spike Milligan\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dF9zDXmpsI0C&pg=PP1\|publisher=[[w:Hodder & Stoughton\|Hodder & Stoughton]]\|location=London\|year=2004\|isbn=978-0-340-82612-6}}
	* {{cite book\|last= Secombe\|first= Harry \|author-link=Harry Secombe\|title=Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiFCb4oecMIC&pg=PA3\|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers\|Pan Macmillan]]\|location=London\|year=1997\|isbn=978-0-330-35463-9}}		* {{cite book\|last= Secombe\|first= Harry \|author-link=Harry Secombe\|title=Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiFCb4oecMIC&pg=PA3\|publisher=[[w:Macmillan Publishers\|Pan Macmillan]]\|location=London\|year=1997\|isbn=978-0-330-35463-9}}
	* {{cite book\|last= Webber \|first= Richard \|title= Fifty Years of Hancock's Half Hour \|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c3-gxwTNLaIC&pg=PP1 \|publisher=[[Random House]]\|location=London\|year=2011\|isbn=978-1-4464-0998-5 }}		* {{cite book\|last= Webber \|first= Richard \|title= Fifty Years of Hancock's Half Hour \|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c3-gxwTNLaIC&pg=PP1 \|publisher=[[w:Random House\|Random House]]\|location=London\|year=2011\|isbn=978-1-4464-0998-5 }}
	* {{cite book\|last1=Wilmut\|first1=Roger\| last2=Grafton\|first2=Jimmy\|authorlink1=Roger Wilmut\|authorlink2=Jimmy Grafton\|title=The Goon Show Companion: A History and Goonography\|publisher=[[Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-903895-64-1}}		* {{cite book\|last1=Wilmut\|first1=Roger\| last2=Grafton\|first2=Jimmy\|authorlink1=Roger Wilmut\|authorlink2=Jimmy Grafton\|title=[[The Goon Show Companion]]: A History and Goonography\|publisher=[[w:Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-903895-64-1}}

	{{refend}}		{{refend}}

Kurt at 15:46, 14 August 2022

2022-08-14T15:46:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:46, 14 August 2022
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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| ~~name~~ = Pat Dixon		\| image = Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg<!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
	~~\| image =~~ <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
	\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->		\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
	\| caption =		\| caption =
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	'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].		'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[w:BBC Radio\|BBC Radio]].

	==Biography==		==Biography==
	Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford.<ref name="Times obit" />		Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />

	Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[The Times]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''Third Division'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}		Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}

	In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian ~~that~~ Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political ~~preferences~~ or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}		In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}

	Dixon worked with [[Tony Hancock]], when he produced the first episode of the fifth series of [[Hancock's Half Hour]], ''The New Radio Series''.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=137}} He also produced the series ''[[Ignorance is Bliss (radio show)\|Ignorance is Bliss]]'' and ''[[These Foolish Things (radio show)\|These Foolish Things]]''.<ref name="Times obit" /> Dixon also worked again with [[Michael Bentine]] on the first series of ''[[Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes]]''.<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=1wsbAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&dq=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&source=bl&ots=aoMryj-vUh&sig=lSVP1SlvIYR2lNZccw7eIoAFTjs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eDMvUKTvKdO00QWwo4HoDA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ -->		Dixon worked with [[Tony Hancock]], when he produced the first episode of the fifth series of [[Hancock's Half Hour]], ''The New Radio Series''.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=137}} He also produced the series ''[[Ignorance is Bliss (radio show)\|Ignorance is Bliss]]'' and ''[[These Foolish Things (radio show)\|These Foolish Things]]''.<ref name="Times obit" /> Dixon also worked again with [[Michael Bentine]] on the first series of ''[[Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes]]''.<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=1wsbAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&dq=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&source=bl&ots=aoMryj-vUh&sig=lSVP1SlvIYR2lNZccw7eIoAFTjs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eDMvUKTvKdO00QWwo4HoDA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ -->

Kurt at 20:06, 29 July 2022

2022-07-29T20:06:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 29 July 2022
Line 101:		Line 101:
	[[Category:British radio producers]]		[[Category:British radio producers]]
	[[Category:The Goon Show]]		[[Category:The Goon Show]]
			[[Category:Goon Show producers]]

Kurt at 15:44, 22 July 2022

2022-07-22T15:44:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:44, 22 July 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[~~File~~:~~Pat Dixon~~ (~~BBC Producer~~)~~.jpg~~\|~~thumb~~\|~~200px~~\|~~right~~\|~~Pat Dixon~~]]
			{{Infobox person
			\| name = Pat Dixon
			\| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
			\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
			\| caption =
			\| birth_name = Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon<!-- only use if different from name -->
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}<!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age\|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}}. -->
			\| birth_place =
			\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1958\|10\|08\|1904\|06\|15\|df=yes}}<!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->
			\| death_place =
			\| nationality = <!-- use only when necessary per [[WP:INFONAT]] -->
			\| other_names =
			\| occupation = Radio producer, journalist
			\| years_active = 1940–1957
			\| known_for = [[The Goon Show]]
			\| notable_works =
			}}


	'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].		'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].

	== Biography ==		==Biography==
	Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor [[William Macneile Dixon]]<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[Winchester College]] and [[Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />		Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford.<ref name="Times obit" />

	Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ~~[[The Herald (Glasgow)\|~~''Glasgow Herald'']],<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[The Times]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''Listen, My Children'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''Third Division'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}		Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[The Times]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''Third Division'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}

	In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian that Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political preferences or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}		In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian that Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political preferences or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}

	Dixon worked with [[Tony Hancock]], when he produced the first episode of the fifth series of [[Hancock's Half Hour]], ''The New Radio Series''.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=137}} He also produced the series ''Ignorance is Bliss'' and ''These Foolish Things''.<ref name="Times obit" /> Dixon also worked again with Michael Bentine on the first series of ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes''.<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=1wsbAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&dq=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&source=bl&ots=aoMryj-vUh&sig=lSVP1SlvIYR2lNZccw7eIoAFTjs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eDMvUKTvKdO00QWwo4HoDA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ -->		Dixon worked with [[Tony Hancock]], when he produced the first episode of the fifth series of [[Hancock's Half Hour]], ''The New Radio Series''.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=137}} He also produced the series ''[[Ignorance is Bliss (radio show)\|Ignorance is Bliss]]'' and ''[[These Foolish Things (radio show)\|These Foolish Things]]''.<ref name="Times obit" /> Dixon also worked again with [[Michael Bentine]] on the first series of ''[[Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes]]''.<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=1wsbAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&dq=%22Pat+dixon%22+%22round+the+bend%22&source=bl&ots=aoMryj-vUh&sig=lSVP1SlvIYR2lNZccw7eIoAFTjs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eDMvUKTvKdO00QWwo4HoDA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ -->

	He died of cancer on 8 October 1958, aged 54.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=63}}<ref name="Times obit" />		He died of cancer on 8 October 1958, aged 54.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=63}}<ref name="Times obit" />

	== Selected credits ==		==Selected credits==
	* ''[[Take It From Here]]'' (Radio)		*''[[Take It From Here]]'' (Radio)
	* ''[[It's That Man Again]]'' (Radio, 1941–44)		*''[[It's That Man Again]]'' (Radio, 1941–44)
	* ''Tom Arnold's Hoop-La!'' (Radio, 1944–45)		*''[[Tom Arnold's Hoop-La!]]'' (Radio, 1944–45)
	* ''It's a Pleasure'' (Radio, 1945)		*''[[It's a Pleasure]]'' (Radio, 1945)
	* ''Our Shed'' (Radio, 1946)		*''[[Our Shed]]'' (Radio, 1946)
	* ''Ignorance is Bliss'' (Radio, 1947–1949)		*''[[Ignorance is Bliss (radio show)\|Ignorance is Bliss]]'' (Radio, 1947–1949)
	* ''Night Comes too Soon'' (Film script, 1947)		*''Night Comes too Soon'' (Film script, 1947)
	* ''Listen, My Children'' (Radio, 1948)		*''[[Listen, My Children]]'' (Radio, 1948)
	* ''Third Division'' (Radio, 1949)		*''[[Third Division]]'' (Radio, 1949)
	* ''The Bradens'' (Radio, 1950–1956)		*''[[The Bradens]]'' (Radio, 1950–1956)
	* ''Let's Settle For Music with the Baker's Dozen'' (Radio, 1952-?)		*''[[Let's Settle For Music with the Baker's Dozen]]'' (Radio, 1952-?)
	* ''In All Directions'' (Radio, 1952–55)		*''[[In All Directions]]'' (Radio, 1952–55)
	* ''Starstruck'' (Radio, 1955)		*''[[Starstruck]]'' (Radio, 1955)
	* ''Finkel's Café'' (Radio, 1956)		*''[[Finkel's Café]]'' (Radio, 1956)
	* ''These Foolish Things'' (Radio, 1956)		*''[[These Foolish Things (radio show)\|These Foolish Things]]'' (Radio, 1956)
	* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio, 1956–1957)		*''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio, 1956–1957)
	* ''Passing Parade'' (Radio, 1957)		*''[[Passing Parade]]'' (Radio, 1957)
	* ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes'' (1957–58)		*''[[Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes]]'' (1957–58)
	* ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (Radio, 1958)		*''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (Radio, 1958)

	== Notes and references ==		== Notes and references==

	'''Notes'''		'''Notes'''
Line 65:		Line 83:
	}}		}}

	== Bibliography ==		==Bibliography==
	{{refbegin\|30em}}		{{refbegin\|30em}}

Line 75:		Line 93:
	{{refend}}		{{refend}}

	== External links ==		==External links==
	* {{BFI\|4ce2bb3a25162\|name=Pat Dixon}}		*{{BFI\|4ce2bb3a25162\|name=Pat Dixon}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Pat}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Pat}}

Kurt at 03:34, 21 July 2022

2022-07-21T03:34:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:34, 20 July 2022
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	~~{{for\|Pat Dixon (comedian)\|Pat Dixon (comedian)}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2021}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[File:Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|~~<div style="text-align: center;">~~Pat Dixon~~</div>~~]]		[[File:Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Pat Dixon]]

	'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].		'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-07-20T19:22:46Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:22, 20 July 2022
(No difference)

2A00:23C7:2909:5801:69AB:8EA0:110A:E592 at 22:33, 19 June 2022

2022-06-19T22:33:14Z

New page

{{for|Pat Dixon (comedian)|Pat Dixon (comedian)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
[[File:Pat Dixon (BBC Producer).jpg|thumb|200px|right|<div style="text-align: center;">Pat Dixon</div>]]

'''Patrick Kenneth Macneile Dixon''' (15 June 1904 – 8 October 1958) was an English radio producer for [[BBC Radio]].

== Biography ==
Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor [[William Macneile Dixon]]<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[Winchester College]] and [[Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />

Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the [[The Herald (Glasgow)|''Glasgow Herald'']],<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news|last=Meynell|first=Francis|title=Pat Dixon|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=14 October 1958|author-link=Francis Meynell|location=London|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''Listen, My Children'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=96}}{{sfn|Secombe|1997|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''Third Division'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|pp=105-06}}

In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian that Eton in his approach,{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=126}}{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political preferences or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=184}}

Dixon worked with [[Tony Hancock]], when he produced the first episode of the fifth series of [[Hancock's Half Hour]], ''The New Radio Series''.{{sfn|Webber|2011|p=137}} He also produced the series ''Ignorance is Bliss'' and ''These Foolish Things''.<ref name="Times obit" /> Dixon also worked again with Michael Bentine on the first series of ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes''.

He died of cancer on 8 October 1958, aged 54.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=63}}<ref name="Times obit" />

== Selected credits ==
* ''[[Take It From Here]]'' (Radio)
* ''[[It's That Man Again]]'' (Radio, 1941–44)
* ''Tom Arnold's Hoop-La!'' (Radio, 1944–45)
* ''It's a Pleasure'' (Radio, 1945)
* ''Our Shed'' (Radio, 1946)
* ''Ignorance is Bliss'' (Radio, 1947–1949)
* ''Night Comes too Soon'' (Film script, 1947)
* ''Listen, My Children'' (Radio, 1948)
* ''Third Division'' (Radio, 1949)
* ''The Bradens'' (Radio, 1950–1956)
* ''Let's Settle For Music with the Baker's Dozen'' (Radio, 1952-?)
* ''In All Directions'' (Radio, 1952–55)
* ''Starstruck'' (Radio, 1955)
* ''Finkel's Café'' (Radio, 1956)
* ''These Foolish Things'' (Radio, 1956)
* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio, 1956–1957)
* ''Passing Parade'' (Radio, 1957)
* ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes'' (1957–58)
* ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (Radio, 1958)

== Notes and references ==

'''Notes'''

{{notes|30em}}

'''References'''

{{reflist
| colwidth = 25em
| refs =

<ref name="Glasg Hrld">
{{cite news|title=BBC Variety Producer|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OjY1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3061%2C4899261|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=9 October 1958|location=Glasgow|page=9
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Times obit">
{{cite news|title=Obituary: Mr. Pat Dixon|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=10 October 1958|location=London|page=89
}}
</ref>

<ref name="WMD in WW">
{{cite web|title=Dixon, William Macneile|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U224724|work=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|access-date=16 August 2012|location=Oxford
}} {{subscription}}
</ref>
}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|30em}}

* {{cite book|last=Carpenter|first=Humphrey|author-link=Humphrey Carpenter|title=Spike Milligan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dF9zDXmpsI0C&pg=PP1|publisher=[[Hodder & Stoughton]]|location=London|year=2004|isbn=978-0-340-82612-6}}
* {{cite book|last= Secombe|first= Harry |author-link=Harry Secombe|title=Arias and Raspberries: An Autobiography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiFCb4oecMIC&pg=PA3|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Pan Macmillan]]|location=London|year=1997|isbn=978-0-330-35463-9}}
* {{cite book|last= Webber |first= Richard |title= Fifty Years of Hancock's Half Hour |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c3-gxwTNLaIC&pg=PP1 |publisher=[[Random House]]|location=London|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4464-0998-5 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Wilmut|first1=Roger| last2=Grafton|first2=Jimmy|authorlink1=Roger Wilmut|authorlink2=Jimmy Grafton|title=The Goon Show Companion: A History and Goonography|publisher=[[Anova Books|Robson Books]]|location=London|year=1981|isbn=0-903895-64-1}}

{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{BFI|4ce2bb3a25162|name=Pat Dixon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Pat}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1958 deaths]]
[[Category:British radio producers]]
[[Category:The Goon Show]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 21 January 2023
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	Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />		Dixon was born on 15 June 1904; his parents were Professor William Macneile Dixon<ref name="Times obit" /> (1891–1946) and Edith (née Wales, ?–1945).<ref name="WMD in WW" /> He was educated at [[w:Winchester College\|Winchester College]] and [[w:Christ Church, Oxford\|Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Times obit" />

	Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=w:Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[~~w:BBC\|~~BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}		Dixon worked for a time as a journalist with the ''Glasgow Herald'',<ref name="Glasg Hrld" /> and then in the publicity section of [[w:Gaumont-British]\|Gaumont British]] before moving to the advertising agency Mather & Crowther.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Meynell\|first=Francis\|title=Pat Dixon\|newspaper=[[w:The Times\|]]\|date=14 October 1958\|author-link=w:Francis Meynell\|location=London\|page=13}}</ref> He joined the [[BBC]] in October 1940 as a producer and, in the summer of 1948, produced ''[[Listen, My Children]]'', a series which included [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Benny Hill]] in the cast.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=96}}{{sfn\|Secombe\|1997\|p=166}} At the end of 1948 he produced the radio series ''[[Third Division]]'', which was broadcast in early 1949; the shows were written by [[Frank Muir]] and [[Denis Norden]] and the cast included Secombe, [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Peter Sellers]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=95-96}} Bentine noted that Dixon was "scholarly and intelligently humorous ... and as radical in his approach to comedy as we were",{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=105}} while Muir considered him "a terrific chap, and a rebel ... he started all sorts of ideas and shows.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=105-06}}

	In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}		In 1951 Dixon agreed to a request from [[Spike Milligan]] to record an audition tape which included Milligan, Sellers, Bentine and Secombe; he passed the tape on to the BBC planners and stressed that a series would be an asset to the corporation. They agreed and ''Crazy People'' was produced, which was subsequently re-named ''[[The Goon Show]]'', although Dixon was not the producer.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=34}} Dixon had a further impact on the show as he introduced [[Max Geldray]] and [[Ray Ellington]] into the format.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=114}} Towards the end of the sixth series of ''The Goon Show'', the regular producer, [[Peter Eton]], left the show to work on [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]]: Dixon became the show's producer for the remaining six episodes.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=124}} Dixon was less disciplinarian than Eton in his approach,{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although there was some friction with Milligan and Eton returned to produce the first two shows of series seven, before Dixon completed the rest of the 25 episode series.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} His last ''Goon Show'' was broadcast on 28 March 1957.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}} During his tenure as ''Goon Show'' producer, Dixon came under pressure from the BBC to ensure no overtly political references or jokes were in the script; he resented such coercion, and wrote to the Assistant Head of Variety, "I think it is very dangerous to have these subtle encroachments on free speech".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|pp=174-75}} Spike Milligan considered that Dixon was, "the only producer ... who knows what the ''Goon Show'' is all about".{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=184}}