Peter Eton - Revision history

Kurt at 12:52, 15 August 2024

2024-08-15T12:52:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:52, 15 August 2024
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	\| notable_works =		\| notable_works =
	}}		}}
	'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[~~w:Dunkirk evacuation\|~~Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.		'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.

	He worked at the Variety Department of the BBC from 1951 onwards and oversaw a number of radio series, most notably ''[[The Goon Show]]''.		He worked at the Variety Department of the BBC from 1951 onwards and oversaw a number of radio series, most notably ''[[The Goon Show]]''.
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	==Biography==		==Biography==
	Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[~~w:World War II\|~~World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by [[w:Fragmentation (weaponry)\|shrapnel]] during the [[~~w:Dunkirk evacuation\|~~Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}		Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by [[Fragmentation (weaponry)\|shrapnel]] during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}

	In 1951 Eton worked with [[Spike Milligan]] on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[~~w:situation comedy\|~~situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}		In 1951 Eton worked with [[Spike Milligan]] on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}

	In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}		In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}
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	* ''[[The Army Game]]'' (TV, 1960)		* ''[[The Army Game]]'' (TV, 1960)
	* ''[[Bootsie and Snudge]]'' (TV, 1960–63)		* ''[[Bootsie and Snudge]]'' (TV, 1960–63)
	* ''[[w:Foreign Affairs (1964 TV series)\|Foreign Affairs]]'' (TV, 1964)		* ''[[Foreign Affairs (1964 TV series)\|Foreign Affairs]]'' (TV, 1964)
	* ''Colonel Trumper's Private War'' (TV, 1961)		* ''Colonel Trumper's Private War'' (TV, 1961)
	* ''Comedy Four'' (TV, 1963)		* ''Comedy Four'' (TV, 1963)
	* ''[[w:A Little Big Business\|A Little Big Business]]'' (TV, 1963–65)		* ''[[A Little Big Business\|A Little Big Business]]'' (TV, 1963–65)
	* ''Mr. Aitch'' (TV, 1967)		* ''Mr. Aitch'' (TV, 1967)
	* ''[[Carry On Christmas Specials]]'' (TV, 1969 & 1970)		* ''[[Carry On Christmas Specials]]'' (TV, 1969 & 1970)
	* [[w:Quest for Love (1971 film)\|''Quest for Love'']] (Film, 1971)		* [[Quest for Love (1971 film)\|''Quest for Love'']] (Film, 1971)
	* ''Le Petomane'' (TV, 1979)		* ''Le Petomane'' (TV, 1979)

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	{{refbegin\|30em}}		{{refbegin\|30em}}

	* {{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=[[Hodder & Stoughton]]\|location=London\|year=2004\|isbn=978-0-3408-2612-6}}		* {{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=978-0-3408-2612-6}}
	* {{cite book\|last=Took\|first=Barry\|author-link=Barry Took\|title=Laughter in the Air: An informal history of British radio comedy\|publisher=[[Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-563-17197-9}}		* {{cite book\|last=Took\|first=Barry\|author-link=Barry Took\|title=Laughter in the Air: An informal history of British radio comedy\|publisher=[[Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-563-17197-9}}
	* {{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=9781-4-4640-998-5 }}		* {{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=[[Random House]]\|location=London\|year=2011\|isbn=9781-4-4640-998-5 }}

Kurt at 05:26, 5 February 2023

2023-02-05T05:26:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:26, 5 February 2023
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	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}~~

	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->		\| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->

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

2023-01-22T00:46:30Z

Biography: clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 21 January 2023
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	==Biography==		==Biography==
	Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[w:World War II\|World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by [[w:Fragmentation (weaponry)\|shrapnel]] during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[~~w:BBC\|~~BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}		Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[w:World War II\|World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by [[w:Fragmentation (weaponry)\|shrapnel]] during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}

	In 1951 Eton worked with [[Spike Milligan]] on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[w:situation comedy\|situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}		In 1951 Eton worked with [[Spike Milligan]] on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[w:situation comedy\|situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}

Kurt at 16:09, 29 September 2022

2022-09-29T16:09:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 29 September 2022
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	~~[[File:\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|}}]]~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->		\| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->
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	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place =		\| birth_place =
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1980\|01\|~~<!-- Unknown -->~~\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1980\|01\|06\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}
	\| death_place =		\| death_place =
	\| occupation =		\| occupation =
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	In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}		In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}

	Eton was married to Squirrel.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=219}} He died at his home in Sussex in January 1980, aged 62.<ref name="Obs: Eton" />		Eton was married to Squirrel.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=219}} He died at his home in Sussex 6 January 1980, aged 62.<ref name="Obs: Eton" />

	==Selected credits==		==Selected credits==

Kurt at 16:08, 29 September 2022

2022-09-29T16:08:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:08, 29 September 2022
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[File:~~Peter Eton.jpg~~\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[The Goon Show\|Goon Show]] recording}}]]		[[File:\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|}}]]
			{{Infobox person
			\| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->
			\| image = Peter Eton.jpg
			\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
			\| caption = Eton at a [[The Goon Show\|Goon Show]] recording
			\| birth_name = Peter Randolph Eton
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}
			\| birth_place =
			\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1980\|01\|<!-- Unknown -->\|1917\|05\|28\|df=y}}
			\| death_place =
			\| occupation =
			\| years_active =
			\| known_for =
			\| notable_works =
			}}
	'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.		'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.

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	In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}		In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}

	Eton was married to Squirrel.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=219}} He died at his home in Sussex in ~~December 1979~~, aged 62.<ref name="Obs: Eton" />		Eton was married to Squirrel.{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=219}} He died at his home in Sussex in January 1980, aged 62.<ref name="Obs: Eton" />

	==Selected credits==		==Selected credits==

Kurt: /* Selected credits */

2022-08-18T02:40:33Z

Selected credits

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 17 August 2022
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	* ''[[The Army Game]]'' (TV, 1960)		* ''[[The Army Game]]'' (TV, 1960)
	* ''[[Bootsie and Snudge]]'' (TV, 1960–63)		* ''[[Bootsie and Snudge]]'' (TV, 1960–63)
	* ''[[Foreign Affairs (1964 TV series)\|Foreign Affairs]]'' (TV, 1964)		* ''[[w:Foreign Affairs (1964 TV series)\|Foreign Affairs]]'' (TV, 1964)
	* ''Colonel Trumper's Private War'' (TV, 1961)		* ''Colonel Trumper's Private War'' (TV, 1961)
	* ''Comedy Four'' (TV, 1963)		* ''Comedy Four'' (TV, 1963)
	* ''[[A Little Big Business]]'' (TV, 1963–65)		* ''[[w:A Little Big Business\|A Little Big Business]]'' (TV, 1963–65)
	* ''Mr. Aitch'' (TV, 1967)		* ''Mr. Aitch'' (TV, 1967)
	* ''[[Carry On Christmas Specials]]'' (TV, 1969 & 1970)		* ''[[Carry On Christmas Specials]]'' (TV, 1969 & 1970)
	* [[Quest for Love (1971 film)\|''Quest for Love'']] (Film, 1971)		* [[w:Quest for Love (1971 film)\|''Quest for Love'']] (Film, 1971)
	* ''Le Petomane'' (TV, 1979)		* ''Le Petomane'' (TV, 1979)

Kurt at 16:11, 14 August 2022

2022-08-14T16:11:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:11, 14 August 2022
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[Goon Show]] recording}}]]		[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[The Goon Show\|Goon Show]] recording}}]]
	'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.		'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.

Kurt at 16:09, 14 August 2022

2022-08-14T16:09:31Z

Kurt at 20:07, 29 July 2022

2022-07-29T20:07:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:07, 29 July 2022
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	[[Category:British film producers]]		[[Category:British film producers]]
	[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of World War II]]		[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of World War II]]
			[[Category:Goon Show producers]]

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-07-20T19:22:42Z

1 revision imported

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:11, 14 August 2022
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[Goon Show]] recording}}]]		[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[The Goon Show\|Goon Show]] recording}}]]
	'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.		'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 14 August 2022
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	{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2012}}
	[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[Goon Show]] recording}}]]		[[File:Peter Eton.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|{{center\|Eton at a [[Goon Show]] recording}}]]
	'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.		'''Peter Randolph Eton''' (28 May 1917 – December 1979) was a producer for BBC radio and television. He was invalided out of the navy after being wounded during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]] and joined the BBC.

	He worked at the Variety Department of the BBC from 1951 onwards and oversaw a number of radio series, notably ''[[The Goon Show]]''.		He worked at the Variety Department of the BBC from 1951 onwards and oversaw a number of radio series, most notably ''[[The Goon Show]]''.

	He died in December 1979, at the age of 62.<ref>''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007''</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=New Society \|date=1981 \|publisher=New Society Limited \|page=442 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmwpAQAAIAAJ\|language=en \|quote=Ironically, both Jack Pulman and Peter Eton died in 1979 – Pulman in July, Eton in December.}}</ref>		He died in December 1979, at the age of 62.<ref>''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007''</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=New Society \|date=1981 \|publisher=New Society Limited \|page=442 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmwpAQAAIAAJ\|language=en \|quote=Ironically, both Jack Pulman and Peter Eton died in 1979 – Pulman in July, Eton in December.}}</ref>

	==Biography==		==Biography==
	Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by shrapnel during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}		Eton studied art before working as an artist and film art director; he joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of [[w:World War II\|World War II]],{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}} but was invalided out after he was injured by [[w:Fragmentation (weaponry)\|shrapnel]] during the [[w:Dunkirk evacuation\|Dunkirk evacuation]].{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} Eton joined the [[w:BBC\|BBC]] in 1941 in the [[BBC Transcription Services\|London Transcription Service]]—a wartime propaganda unit within the BBC—as a producer.{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}} After spending time as a features and drama producer, he moved to the Variety Department in 1951.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=45}}{{sfn\|Took\|1981\|p=41}}

	In 1951 Eton worked with Spike Milligan on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}		In 1951 Eton worked with [[Spike Milligan]] on ''Bumblethorpe''; Milligan wrote the series with [[Larry Stephens]] and [[Peter Ling]], and the cast included Milligan himself, [[Robert Moreton]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Graham Stark]], [[Valentine Dyall]], [[Alfred Marks]], [[Bernard Miles]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Jack Train]] and [[Tony Hancock]].{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=109}} In the summer of 1952 Eton had pushed within the BBC for a series for [[Tony Hancock]], with the premise of Hancock playing an "estate-agent-cum-bachelor-town-councillor"; a pilot script was commissioned, but the series never materialised.{{sfn\|Webber\|2011\|p=25}} Hancock's biographer John Fisher suggests that Eton was the first person in British broadcasting to use the term "[[w:situation comedy\|situation comedy]]", in a memo dated 31 March 1953, suggesting the format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style.{{sfn\|Fisher\|2008\|p=138}}

	In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}		In 1952 Eton took over as producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', a position he held until 1956. He insisted that the Goons rehearsed properly and pushed for better facilities for the show;{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Spike Milligan noted that "Peter Eton was the one guy that used to beat the shit out of the sound-effects boys to get the right atmosphere."{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=128}} Towards the end of the sixth series of the Goons, Eton left the show to move to television production and his role was taken by [[Pat Dixon]],{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=166}} although he returned to produce the first two shows of Series 7 after friction between Dixon and Milligan.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|p=126}}{{sfn\|Carpenter\|2004\|p=173}} In 1954 he then produced the BBC radio series ''The Starlings''.{{sfn\|Wilmut\|Grafton\|1981\|pp=52-53}}
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	* ''This BBC'' (Radio, 11 November 1947—Special programme to mark the BBC silver jubilee)		* ''This BBC'' (Radio, 11 November 1947—Special programme to mark the BBC silver jubilee)
	* ''Bumblethorpe'' (Radio, 1951)		* ''Bumblethorpe'' (Radio, 1951)
	* ''Meet the Huggetts'' (Radio, 1953-1957)		* ''[[Meet the Huggetts]]'' (Radio, 1953-1957)
	* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio, 1952–1956)		* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio, 1952–1956)
	* ''The Starlings'' (Radio, 1954)		* ''The Starlings'' (Radio, 1954)
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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=978-0-3408-2612-6}}		* {{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=[[Hodder & Stoughton]]\|location=London\|year=2004\|isbn=978-0-3408-2612-6}}
	* {{cite book\|last=Took\|first=Barry\|author-link=Barry Took\|title=Laughter in the Air: An informal history of British radio comedy\|publisher=[[Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-563-17197-9}}		* {{cite book\|last=Took\|first=Barry\|author-link=Barry Took\|title=Laughter in the Air: An informal history of British radio comedy\|publisher=[[Anova Books\|Robson Books]]\|location=London\|year=1981\|isbn=0-563-17197-9}}
	* {{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=9781-4-4640-998-5 }}		* {{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=[[Random House]]\|location=London\|year=2011\|isbn=9781-4-4640-998-5 }}
	* {{cite book\|last= Fisher \|first= John \|title= [[Tony Hancock]]. The Definitive Biography \|publisher=[[Harper Collins]] \|location=London \|year=2008 \|isbn=978-0 00-726677-7 }}		* {{cite book\|last= Fisher \|first= John \|title= [[Tony Hancock]]. The Definitive Biography \|publisher=[[Harper Collins]] \|location=London \|year=2008 \|isbn=978-0 00-726677-7 }}
	* {{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=0903895641}}		* {{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=0903895641}}

	{{refend}}		{{refend}}