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Ernest Longstaffe made his first radio broadcasts in 1926, as composer and presenter of a variety programme, ''The Bee Bee Cabaret''. He became a leading producer of music and variety programmes in the early days of the BBC, and also operated as the programmes' composer and conductor, often of the [[BBC Dance Orchestra]].<ref name=bbc>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/20/20?order=asc&q=%22Ernest+Longstaffe%22#search Ernest Longstaffe, ''BBC Genome'']. Retrieved 16 April 2024</ref> The BBC radio programmes that he produced included ''[[Palace of Varieties]]'' {{dash}} reportedly the favourite radio programme of [[King George VI]] {{dash}} and ''[[The Happidrome (radio)|The Happidrome]]''. Although none of his programmes were televised, Longstaffe insisted that all his radio performers wore [[stage costume]] when performing.<ref name=tyler>Max Tyler, "''Palace of Varieties'': The Story of a BBC Radio Programme", ''Music Hall Studies'', No.5, 2010, pp.207-211</ref>
Ernest Longstaffe made his first radio broadcasts in 1926, as composer and presenter of a variety programme, ''The Bee Bee Cabaret''. He became a leading producer of music and variety programmes in the early days of the BBC, and also operated as the programmes' composer and conductor, often of the [[BBC Dance Orchestra]].<ref name=bbc>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/20/20?order=asc&q=%22Ernest+Longstaffe%22#search Ernest Longstaffe, ''BBC Genome'']. Retrieved 16 April 2024</ref> The BBC radio programmes that he produced included ''[[Palace of Varieties]]'' {{dash}} reportedly the favourite radio programme of [[King George VI]] {{dash}} and ''[[The Happidrome (radio)|The Happidrome]]''. Although none of his programmes were televised, Longstaffe insisted that all his radio performers wore [[stage costume]] when performing.<ref name=tyler>Max Tyler, "''Palace of Varieties'': The Story of a BBC Radio Programme", ''Music Hall Studies'', No.5, 2010, pp.207-211</ref>


He retired from the BBC in 1949, and died in hospital in London in 1958 at the age of 74.<ref name=tyler/><ref>Obituary, ''Taunton Courier'', 29 November 1958, p.7</ref>
He retired from the BBC in 1949, but continued to appear on ''Palace of Varieties'' until shortly before his death,<ref name=bbc/> in hospital in London in 1958 at the age of 74.<ref name=tyler/><ref>Obituary, ''Taunton Courier'', 29 November 1958, p.7</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:59, 19 April 2024

Ernest Longstaffe (5 April 1884 – 23 November 1958) was an English composer, conductor, and radio producer.

He was born in Newport, Essex, the son of the landscape painter Edgar Longstaffe.[1] He started his career in concert parties and summer variety shows.[2] He wrote many tunes for the big band, including "When the Sergeant-Major's on Parade", first published in 1925, for which he wrote both words and music. He also wrote a musical comedy, His Girl, and the revue Up With the Lark.[3]

Ernest Longstaffe made his first radio broadcasts in 1926, as composer and presenter of a variety programme, The Bee Bee Cabaret. He became a leading producer of music and variety programmes in the early days of the BBC, and also operated as the programmes' composer and conductor, often of the BBC Dance Orchestra.[4] The BBC radio programmes that he produced included Palace of Varieties  – reportedly the favourite radio programme of King George VI  – and The Happidrome. Although none of his programmes were televised, Longstaffe insisted that all his radio performers wore stage costume when performing.[2]

He retired from the BBC in 1949, but continued to appear on Palace of Varieties until shortly before his death,[4] in hospital in London in 1958 at the age of 74.[2][5]

References

  1. ^ Gerald Norris, A Musical Gazetteer of Great Britain & Ireland, 1981, p.16
  2. ^ a b c Max Tyler, "Palace of Varieties: The Story of a BBC Radio Programme", Music Hall Studies, No.5, 2010, pp.207-211
  3. ^ Philip Scowcroft, "A Ninth Garland of British Light Music Composers", Music Web. Retrieved 16 April 2024
  4. ^ a b Ernest Longstaffe, BBC Genome. Retrieved 16 April 2024
  5. ^ Obituary, Taunton Courier, 29 November 1958, p.7