Charles Chilton: Difference between revisions

From The Goon Show Depository

No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|BBC radio presenter, writer and producer (1917–2013)}}
{{Short description|BBC radio presenter, writer and producer (1917–2013)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix  =
| image              = Charles Chilton.jpg
| name              = Charles Chilton
| honorific_suffix  = [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| honorific_suffix  = [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| birth_name        =  
| birth_name        =  
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1917|06|15}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1917|06|15}}
| birth_place        = [[Bloomsbury]], [[London]], England, [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|UK]]
| birth_place        = [[w:Bloomsbury|Bloomsbury]], [[w:London|London]], England, [[w:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|UK]]
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2013|01|02|1917|06|15}}
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2013|01|02|1917|06|15}}
| death_place        = [[Hampstead]], London, England, UK
| death_place        = [[w:Hampstead|Hampstead]], London, England, UK
| death_cause        =  
| death_cause        =  
| resting_place      =  
| resting_place      =  
Line 25: Line 22:
* Radio producer
* Radio producer
}}
}}
| employer          = [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]]
| employer          = [[w:British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]]
| organization      =  
| organization      =  
| agent              =  
| agent              =  
Line 37: Line 34:
| awards            =  
| awards            =  
}}
}}
'''Charles Chilton''' [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (15 June 1917&nbsp;– 2 January 2013) was a British presenter, writer and producer who worked on [[BBC Radio]]. He created the 1950s radio serials ''Riders of the Range'' and ''[[Journey into Space]]'', and also inspired the stage show and film ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9778926/Charles-Chilton.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Charles Chilton | date=3 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/charles-chilton-producer-and-writer-who-created-classic-bbc-radio-shows-and-inspired-oh-what-lovely-war-8439157.html | title= Charles Chilton: Producer and writer who created classic BBC radio shows and inspired 'Oh, What A Lovely War!' | work=The Independent | first=Cy | last=Young | date=4 January 2013 | accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref>
'''Charles Chilton''' [[w:Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (15 June 1917&nbsp;– 2 January 2013) was a British presenter, writer and producer who worked on [[w:BBC Radio|BBC Radio]]. He created the 1950s radio serials ''Riders of the Range'' and ''[[Journey into Space]]'', and also inspired the stage show and film ''[[Oh! What a Lovely War]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9778926/Charles-Chilton.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Charles Chilton | date=3 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/charles-chilton-producer-and-writer-who-created-classic-bbc-radio-shows-and-inspired-oh-what-lovely-war-8439157.html | title= Charles Chilton: Producer and writer who created classic BBC radio shows and inspired 'Oh! What A Lovely War' | work=The Independent | first=Cy | last=Young | date=4 January 2013 | accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==


Born in [[Bloomsbury]] in London, England, he never knew his father – who was killed during the [[First World War]] – and when he was six his mother died as a result of having a botched abortion,<ref name="What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?">Interview with Charles Chilton, ''What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?'', [[BBC Four]], 2007</ref> with the result that Chilton was brought up by his grandmother. He was educated at [[St Pancras, London|St. Pancras]] [[Church of England]] School.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
Born in [[w:Bloomsbury|Bloomsbury]] in London, England, he never knew his father – who was killed during the [[w:First World War|First World War]] – and when he was six his mother died as a result of having a botched abortion,<ref name="What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?">Interview with Charles Chilton, ''What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?'', [[w:BBC Four|BBC Four]], 2007</ref> with the result that Chilton was brought up by his grandmother. He was educated at [[w:St Pancras, London|St. Pancras]] [[w:Church of England|Church of England]] School.


Chilton left school at the age of 14, and after a brief apprenticeship making electric signs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/archive/111104/f111104_03.htm|work=[[Camden New Journal]]|title=Charles tries to keep the past alive|date=11 November 2004|accessdate=11 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927070123/http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/archive/111104/f111104_03.htm|archivedate=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> he joined the BBC as a messenger boy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3672646/On-Radio-Journey-Into-Space.html|title=On Radio: Journey Into Space|date=15 April 2008|accessdate=11 June 2011|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|author=Gillian Reynolds|location=London}}</ref> A year later he became an assistant in their [[gramophone record|gramophone]] library.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} He had a passion for [[jazz]] music, and in 1937 formed the BBC Boys' Jazz band.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
Chilton left school at the age of 14, and after a brief apprenticeship making electric signs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/archive/111104/f111104_03.htm|work=[[w:Camden New Journal|Camden New Journal]]|title=Charles tries to keep the past alive|date=11 November 2004|accessdate=11 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927070123/http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/archive/111104/f111104_03.htm|archivedate=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> he joined the BBC as a messenger boy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3672646/On-Radio-Journey-Into-Space.html|title=On Radio: Journey Into Space|date=15 April 2008|accessdate=11 June 2011|work=[[w:The Daily Telegraph|The Daily Telegraph]]|author=Gillian Reynolds|location=London}}</ref> A year later he became an assistant in their [[w:gramophone record|gramophone]] library. He had a passion for [[w:jazz|jazz]] music, and in 1937 formed the BBC Boys' Jazz band.


==Career==
==Career==


His first role as a producer was for ''I Hear America Singing'', after which he moved to the BBC variety department. He then presented his own show between 11pm and midnight called ''Swing Time'', and a weekly jazz programme called ''Radio Rhythm Club''. Next came five years' war service with the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]], after which he was sent to [[Ceylon]] to run the forces radio station with broadcaster [[David Jacobs (broadcaster)|David Jacobs]], later to participate in Chilton's radio series ''[[Journey into Space]]''.
His first role as a producer was for ''I Hear America Singing'', after which he moved to the BBC variety department. He then presented his own show between 11pm and midnight called ''Swing Time'', and a weekly jazz programme called ''Radio Rhythm Club''. Next came five years' war service with the [[w:Royal Air Force|RAF]], after which he was sent to [[w:Ceylon|Ceylon]] to run the forces radio station with broadcaster [[w:David Jacobs (broadcaster)|David Jacobs]], later to participate in Chilton's radio series ''[[Journey into Space]]''.


Back in the BBC he wrote and produced programmes for, among others, [[Roy Plomley]], [[Michael Bentine]] and [[Stéphane Grappelli]]. He also met and married his wife, Penny, who was a secretary at the corporation. He was then sent to the United States to research, write and produce a number of series based on American western history. One of these, ''Riders of the Range'', lasted for five years until 1953. During its run, ''Riders of the Range'' attracted audiences of around 10 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Writer of Horse Operas Will Finally Visit West|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ys8vAAAAIBAJ&pg=6557,2917841|newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen|Evening Citizen]]|date=22 September 1950|accessdate=11 June 2011|page=20}}</ref> Chilton wrote a comic-strip version of the series drawn by [[fr:Frank Humphris|Frank Humphris]] for the ''[[w:Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]'' which outlasted the radio version, and wrote another western series, "Flying Cloud", for the ''Eagle''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sister comic ''[[w:Girl (comic)|Girl]]''.<ref name=Eagle>{{cite web |url=http://eagle-times.blogspot.com/2008/07/eagle-writers-charles-chilton-1917.html |title=Eagle Writers – Charles Chilton (1917 – ) |date=30 July 2008 |work=eagle-times.blogspot.com |accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> Chilton was also briefly a producer on the comedy series ''[[The Goon Show]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Goon Show must go on – 60 years since its first broadcast|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/may/27/goon-show-60th-birthday|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=Jonathan Sale|date=27 May 2011|accessdate=11 June 2011|location=London}}</ref>
Back in the BBC he wrote and produced programmes for, amongst others, [[w:Roy Plomley|Roy Plomley]], [[Michael Bentine]] and [[w:Stéphane Grappelli|Stéphane Grappelli]]. He also met and married his wife, Penny, who was a secretary at the corporation. He was then sent to the United States to research, write and produce a number of series based on American western history. One of these, ''Riders of the Range'', lasted for five years until 1953. During its run, ''Riders of the Range'' attracted audiences of around 10 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Writer of Horse Operas Will Finally Visit West|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ys8vAAAAIBAJ&pg=6557,2917841|newspaper=[[w:Ottawa Citizen|Evening Citizen]]|date=22 September 1950|accessdate=11 June 2011|page=20}}</ref> Chilton wrote a comic-strip version of the series drawn by Frank Humphris for the ''[[w:Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]'' which outlasted the radio version, and wrote another western series, "Flying Cloud", for the ''Eagle''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sister comic ''[[w:Girl (comic)|Girl]]''.<ref name=Eagle>{{cite web |url=http://eagle-times.blogspot.com/2008/07/eagle-writers-charles-chilton-1917.html |title=Eagle Writers – Charles Chilton (1917 – ) |date=30 July 2008 |work=eagle-times.blogspot.com |accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> Chilton was also briefly a producer on the comedy series ''[[The Goon Show]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Goon Show must go on – 60 years since its first broadcast|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/may/27/goon-show-60th-birthday|work=[[w:The Guardian|The Guardian]]|author=Jonathan Sale|date=27 May 2011|accessdate=11 June 2011|location=London}}</ref>


Major international recognition came with his science-fiction trilogy ''Journey into Space'', which he wrote and produced between 1953 and 1958.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3670690.ece|title=Journey into Space – Frozen in Time|author=Paul Donovan|date=6 April 2008|accessdate=11 June 2011|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|location=London}}</ref> His interest in space travel also led him to join the [[w:British Interplanetary Society|British Interplanetary Society]].<ref name="Round Midnight">Interview with Charles Chilton, ''Round Midnight'', [[BBC Radio 2]], 1989</ref>
Major international recognition came with his science-fiction trilogy ''Journey into Space'', which he wrote and produced between 1953 and 1958.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3670690.ece|title=Journey into Space – Frozen in Time|author=Paul Donovan|date=6 April 2008|accessdate=11 June 2011|work=[[w:The Sunday Times|The Sunday Times]]|location=London}}</ref> His interest in space travel also led him to join the [[w:British Interplanetary Society|British Interplanetary Society]].<ref name="Round Midnight">Interview with Charles Chilton, ''Round Midnight'', [[w:BBC Radio 2|BBC Radio 2]], 1989</ref>


He was presented with an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jan/14/charles-chilton | title= Charles Chilton obituary | work=The Guardian | first=David | last=Rayvern Allen | date=14 January 2013 | accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref>
He was presented with an [[w:Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jan/14/charles-chilton | title= Charles Chilton obituary | work=The Guardian | first=David | last=Rayvern Allen | date=14 January 2013 | accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref>


He spent his last years acting as a tour guide for the Original London Walks company.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
He spent his last years acting as a tour guide for the Original London Walks company.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
In January 2014, [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra|BBC Radio 4 Extra]] broadcast a selection of programmes to celebrate the life and work of Charles Chilton.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01p464s ''The Charles Chilton Collection'' – BBC Radio 4 Extra – January 2014]</ref> This included ''The Long, Long Trail'', telling the story of the [[w:First World War|First World War]] through the songs sung by soldiers, broadcast for the first time since its original transmission on the [[w:BBC Home Service|BBC Home Service]] in 1961.


In January 2014, [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]] broadcast a selection of programmes to celebrate the life and work of Charles Chilton.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01p464s ''The Charles Chilton Collection'' – BBC Radio 4 Extra – January 2014]</ref> This included ''The Long, Long Trail'', telling the story of the [[First World War]] through the songs sung by soldiers, broadcast for the first time since its original transmission on the [[BBC Home Service]] in 1961.
On 4 January 2014, in conjunction with [[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra|BBC Radio 4 Extra]], [[w:BBC Radio 4|BBC Radio 4]] broadcast ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03nrn9m ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail'' – BBC Radio 4 – 4 January 2014]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jan/04/david-hepworth-radio-review |title=David Hepworth on the First World War centenary |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 January 2014 |location= London}}</ref><ref>[http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/english-and-drama/2014/01/fifty-years-after-its-first-productionand-marking-the-centenary-of-the-outbreak-of-the-first-world-war-oh-what-a-lovel.html '''The most influential radio programme ever'?'' – British Library English and Drama Blog – 6 January 2014]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/5f06454a-7871-11e3-a148-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2q61y3fHN |author= AN Wilson |title=The obvious lesson of the 1914–18 war is not one we'd expect many politicians to have learnt |newspaper=Financial Times |date=10 January 2014 |location= London}}</ref> [[Roy Hudd]] told the story of Chilton's ground-breaking 1961 musical documentary. Interviewees included satirist [[w:Ian Hislop|Ian Hislop]], Chilton's widow Penny and their children Mary and David Chilton, and the producer was [[w:Amber Barnfather|Amber Barnfather]]. In a five-star review, the ''[[w:Financial Times|Financial Times]]'' said "Chilton ... merits this tribute – as does the British soldier's stoic humour that so movingly illumines the four-year hell."<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e35e5fac-a7b7-11dd-865e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 ''Radio choice'', Martin Hoyle, ''Financial Times'', 4 January/5 January 2014]</ref> ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail'' won a Silver Radio Award in the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards 2014.<ref>[http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/radio/ ''New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs'']</ref>
 
On 4 January 2014, in conjunction with [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]], [[BBC Radio 4]] broadcast ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03nrn9m ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail'' – BBC Radio 4 – 4 January 2014]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jan/04/david-hepworth-radio-review |title=David Hepworth on the First World War centenary |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 January 2014 |location= London}}</ref><ref>[http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/english-and-drama/2014/01/fifty-years-after-its-first-productionand-marking-the-centenary-of-the-outbreak-of-the-first-world-war-oh-what-a-lovel.html '''The most influential radio programme ever'?'' – British Library English and Drama Blog – 6 January 2014]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/5f06454a-7871-11e3-a148-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2q61y3fHN |author= AN Wilson |title=The obvious lesson of the 1914–18 war is not one we'd expect many politicians to have learnt |newspaper=Financial Times |date=10 January 2014 |location= London}}</ref> [[Roy Hudd]] told the story of Chilton's ground-breaking 1961 musical documentary. Interviewees included satirist [[Ian Hislop]], Chilton's widow Penny and their children Mary and David Chilton, and the producer was [[Amber Barnfather]]. In a five-star review, the ''[[Financial Times]]'' said "Chilton ... merits this tribute – as does the British soldier's stoic humour that so movingly illumines the four-year hell."<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e35e5fac-a7b7-11dd-865e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 ''Radio choice'', Martin Hoyle, ''Financial Times'', 4 January/5 January 2014]</ref> ''Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail'' won a Silver Radio Award in the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards 2014.<ref>[http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/radio/ ''New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs'']</ref>


== Production/writing credits ==
== Production/writing credits ==
Line 67: Line 63:
* ''Fledgling'' (writer) play based on ''Follow the Fun'' (1940).
* ''Fledgling'' (writer) play based on ''Follow the Fun'' (1940).
* ''The Long Long Trail'' (writer) – a musical about the First World War featuring popular songs of the time interspersed with scripted material.
* ''The Long Long Trail'' (writer) – a musical about the First World War featuring popular songs of the time interspersed with scripted material.
* ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]'' (originator and producer)<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2013/02/charles-chilton/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020336/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2013/02/charles-chilton/| archive-date = 2014-01-09| title = Charles Chilton : Obituaries : The Stage}} </ref>
* ''[[Oh! What a Lovely War]]'' (originator and producer)<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2013/02/charles-chilton/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020336/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2013/02/charles-chilton/| archive-date = 2014-01-09| title = Charles Chilton : Obituaries : The Stage}} </ref>
* ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes'' (producer, series 2 and 3, 1958 to 1960) – starring [[Michael Bentine]]
* ''Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes'' (producer, series 2 and 3, 1958 to 1960) – starring [[Michael Bentine]]
* ''Riders of the Range'' – a cowboy series that found its way into the 1950s ''[[Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]'' [[Comics|comic book]].<ref name=Eagle/>
* ''Riders of the Range'' – a cowboy series that found its way into the 1950s ''[[w:Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]'' [[w:Comics|comic book]].<ref name=Eagle/>
* ''Shakespeare's London''
* ''Shakespeare's London''
* ''Dickens' London''
* ''Dickens' London''
Line 75: Line 71:
* ''Cries of London''
* ''Cries of London''
* ''Ballad History of Samuel Pepys''
* ''Ballad History of Samuel Pepys''
* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (producer) – series 3 episodes 18 and 19, series 8 episodes 1–5 and 17–26, 'Vintage Goons' series episodes 1–2 and 9–14.
* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (producer) – [[The Goon Show series 3|series 3]] episodes 18 and 19, [[The Goon Show series 8|series 8]] episodes 1–5 and 17–26, '[[Vintage Goons]]' series episodes 1–2 and 9–14.
* ''How Jazz Came to Britain'' (presenter, 8 July 2000)
* ''How Jazz Came to Britain'' (presenter, 8 July 2000)
* ''[[Journey into Space]]'' (writer/producer)
* ''[[Journey into Space]]'' (writer/producer)
* ''[[Space Force (BBC radio serial)|Space Force]]'' (writer/producer, 1984 and 1985)
* ''[[w:Space Force (BBC radio serial)|Space Force]]'' (writer/producer, 1984 and 1985)
* ''Whistle and I'll Come To You - The Life and Loves of Robbie Burns''
* ''Whistle and I'll Come To You - The Life and Loves of Robbie Burns''


'''Additional production/writing credits:'''
'''Additional production/writing credits:'''
These 30-minute radio programmes were broadcast on NZBC in the 1970s, presumably from transcription disks from the Overseas Service of the BBC / [[BBC World Service]] (these discs should still be available somewhere):
These 30-minute radio programmes were broadcast on NZBC in the 1970s, presumably from transcription disks from the Overseas Service of the BBC / [[w:BBC World Service|BBC World Service]]:


* ''Botany Bay'' by Charles Chilton. The founding of [[New South Wales]], Australia.
* ''Botany Bay'' by Charles Chilton. The founding of [[w:New South Wales|New South Wales]], Australia.
* ''The Victory'' by Charles Chilton. A musical presentation about ''[[HMS Victory]]'', Nelson's flagship.
* ''The Victory'' by Charles Chilton. A musical presentation about ''[[w:HMS Victory|HMS Victory]]'', Nelson's flagship.


==References==
==References==
Line 95: Line 91:
*{{isfdb name|id=Charles_Chilton|name=Charles Chilton}}
*{{isfdb name|id=Charles_Chilton|name=Charles Chilton}}
*[http://ury.org.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/633/ Charles Chilton Interview on URY ]
*[http://ury.org.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/633/ Charles Chilton Interview on URY ]
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilton, Charles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilton, Charles}}

Latest revision as of 18:29, 1 January 2023

Charles Chilton
MBE
Charles Chilton.jpg
Born(1917-06-15)15 June 1917
Bloomsbury, London, England, UK
Died2 January 2013(2013-01-02) (aged 95)
Hampstead, London, England, UK
Other namesCharlie
Occupations
  • Radio presenter
  • Writer
  • Radio producer
EmployerBBC
RelativesBrother: John William Banbury (Jack) - (Cakey)

Charles Chilton MBE (15 June 1917 – 2 January 2013) was a British presenter, writer and producer who worked on BBC Radio. He created the 1950s radio serials Riders of the Range and Journey into Space, and also inspired the stage show and film Oh! What a Lovely War.[1][2]

Early life

Born in Bloomsbury in London, England, he never knew his father – who was killed during the First World War – and when he was six his mother died as a result of having a botched abortion,[3] with the result that Chilton was brought up by his grandmother. He was educated at St. Pancras Church of England School.

Chilton left school at the age of 14, and after a brief apprenticeship making electric signs,[4] he joined the BBC as a messenger boy.[5] A year later he became an assistant in their gramophone library. He had a passion for jazz music, and in 1937 formed the BBC Boys' Jazz band.

Career

His first role as a producer was for I Hear America Singing, after which he moved to the BBC variety department. He then presented his own show between 11pm and midnight called Swing Time, and a weekly jazz programme called Radio Rhythm Club. Next came five years' war service with the RAF, after which he was sent to Ceylon to run the forces radio station with broadcaster David Jacobs, later to participate in Chilton's radio series Journey into Space.

Back in the BBC he wrote and produced programmes for, amongst others, Roy Plomley, Michael Bentine and Stéphane Grappelli. He also met and married his wife, Penny, who was a secretary at the corporation. He was then sent to the United States to research, write and produce a number of series based on American western history. One of these, Riders of the Range, lasted for five years until 1953. During its run, Riders of the Range attracted audiences of around 10 million.[6] Chilton wrote a comic-strip version of the series drawn by Frank Humphris for the Eagle which outlasted the radio version, and wrote another western series, "Flying Cloud", for the Eagle's sister comic Girl.[7] Chilton was also briefly a producer on the comedy series The Goon Show.[8]

Major international recognition came with his science-fiction trilogy Journey into Space, which he wrote and produced between 1953 and 1958.[9] His interest in space travel also led him to join the British Interplanetary Society.[10]

He was presented with an MBE in 1972.[11]

He spent his last years acting as a tour guide for the Original London Walks company.

Legacy

In January 2014, BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast a selection of programmes to celebrate the life and work of Charles Chilton.[12] This included The Long, Long Trail, telling the story of the First World War through the songs sung by soldiers, broadcast for the first time since its original transmission on the BBC Home Service in 1961.

On 4 January 2014, in conjunction with BBC Radio 4 Extra, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail.[13][14][15][16] Roy Hudd told the story of Chilton's ground-breaking 1961 musical documentary. Interviewees included satirist Ian Hislop, Chilton's widow Penny and their children Mary and David Chilton, and the producer was Amber Barnfather. In a five-star review, the Financial Times said "Chilton ... merits this tribute – as does the British soldier's stoic humour that so movingly illumines the four-year hell."[17] Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail won a Silver Radio Award in the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards 2014.[18]

Production/writing credits

  • Follow the Fun (writer) play.
  • Fledgling (writer) play based on Follow the Fun (1940).
  • The Long Long Trail (writer) – a musical about the First World War featuring popular songs of the time interspersed with scripted material.
  • Oh! What a Lovely War (originator and producer)[19]
  • Round the Bend in Thirty Minutes (producer, series 2 and 3, 1958 to 1960) – starring Michael Bentine
  • Riders of the Range – a cowboy series that found its way into the 1950s Eagle comic book.[7]
  • Shakespeare's London
  • Dickens' London
  • London's Pleasure Gardens
  • Cries of London
  • Ballad History of Samuel Pepys
  • The Goon Show (producer) – series 3 episodes 18 and 19, series 8 episodes 1–5 and 17–26, 'Vintage Goons' series episodes 1–2 and 9–14.
  • How Jazz Came to Britain (presenter, 8 July 2000)
  • Journey into Space (writer/producer)
  • Space Force (writer/producer, 1984 and 1985)
  • Whistle and I'll Come To You - The Life and Loves of Robbie Burns

Additional production/writing credits: These 30-minute radio programmes were broadcast on NZBC in the 1970s, presumably from transcription disks from the Overseas Service of the BBC / BBC World Service:

  • Botany Bay by Charles Chilton. The founding of New South Wales, Australia.
  • The Victory by Charles Chilton. A musical presentation about HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship.

References

  1. ^ "Charles Chilton". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 January 2013.
  2. ^ Young, Cy (4 January 2013). "Charles Chilton: Producer and writer who created classic BBC radio shows and inspired 'Oh! What A Lovely War'". The Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. ^ Interview with Charles Chilton, What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?, BBC Four, 2007
  4. ^ "Charles tries to keep the past alive". Camden New Journal. 11 November 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  5. ^ Gillian Reynolds (15 April 2008). "On Radio: Journey Into Space". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Writer of Horse Operas Will Finally Visit West". Evening Citizen. 22 September 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Eagle Writers – Charles Chilton (1917 – )". eagle-times.blogspot.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  8. ^ Jonathan Sale (27 May 2011). "The Goon Show must go on – 60 years since its first broadcast". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  9. ^ Paul Donovan (6 April 2008). "Journey into Space – Frozen in Time". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  10. ^ Interview with Charles Chilton, Round Midnight, BBC Radio 2, 1989
  11. ^ Rayvern Allen, David (14 January 2013). "Charles Chilton obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  12. ^ The Charles Chilton Collection – BBC Radio 4 Extra – January 2014
  13. ^ Archive on 4: The Long, Long Trail – BBC Radio 4 – 4 January 2014
  14. ^ "David Hepworth on the First World War centenary". The Guardian. London. 4 January 2014.
  15. '^ The most influential radio programme ever'? – British Library English and Drama Blog – 6 January 2014
  16. ^ AN Wilson (10 January 2014). "The obvious lesson of the 1914–18 war is not one we'd expect many politicians to have learnt". Financial Times. London.
  17. ^ Radio choice, Martin Hoyle, Financial Times, 4 January/5 January 2014
  18. ^ New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs
  19. ^ "Charles Chilton : Obituaries : The Stage". Archived from the original on 2014-01-09.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Charles_Chilton&oldid=29616"