The Emile Littler story
Told by himself to Eric Maschwitz
The Singers:
Iris Villiers
Billie Baker
Laurie Payne
Bruce Trent
BBC Chorus
(Chorus-Master, Leslie Woodgate )
BBC Concert Orchestra
(Leader, John Sharpe )
Conductor, Charles Mackerras
Programme produced by Michael North
Still in his very early fifties, Emile Littler has a theatrical record going back forty years, to the days when as a child he sold programmes in his father's theatre in Woolwich. In 1934, after a front-and-backstage career as jack of all trades (and master of most of them), he went into management on his own. Since then he has given us splendid revivals, including The Belle of New York ' and ' The Quaker Girl' (his own favourite musical); such brilliant American importations as ' Panama Hattie' and ' Annie Get Your Gun,' and a handful of highly successful originals, among them ' Blue for a Boy,' ' Dear Miss Phoebe,' and ' Love from Judy.'