| Eric Maschwitz |
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Born in Edgbaston , Birmingham , the son of Lithuania n immigrants, Maschwitz was educated at Repton School and Cambridge . As a lyricist, Maschwitz wrote the Screenplay s of several successful films in the 1930s and 40s , but is perhaps best remembered today for his lyrics to 1940s popular songs such as " A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square " and " These Foolish Things ". Maschwitz started his stage acting career in the early 1920 s and joined the BBC in 1926 . His first Radio show was '' In Town Tonight '' and his first television show was '' The Black And White Minstrel Show ''. In 1939 , he went to Hollywood under contract to MGM , where he worked on '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips '' (for which he shared an Academy Award nomination) and '' Queen Of Song '', among other successful Film s. During the Second World War , he served with the Intelligence Corps and became Chief Broadcasting Officer with the 21st Army Group. He left the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel . In 1958, at the start of the BBC / ITV Ratings wars, he rejoined the BBC as Head Of Television Light Entertainment . About the job he said, "I don't think the BBC is a cultural organisation. We've got to please the people. The job of a man putting on a show is to get an audience." Maschwitz left to join the rival ITV in 1963 . During the course of his varied entertainment career, Maschwitz also adapted French comedies such as '' and published in 1931, revolves around a radio play disrupted by the murder of one of the cast. Maschwitz was married twice: firstly to Hermione Gingold , who was granted a divorce in 1945 , and then immediately to Phyllis Gordon who remained his wife until his death. |
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