Some Joe You Don't Know: An American Biographical Guide to 100 British Television Personalities

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Americans have been watching and enjoying British television programming since the mid-1950s, but the information on the personalities involved is difficult, if not impossible, to find in the United States. This guide provides biographical essays, complete with bibliographies, on 100 of the best-known and loved actors and actresses, from Richard Green (Robin Hood) and William Russell (Sir Lancelot) in the 1950s through stars of "Masterpiece Theatre", including Robin Ellis and Jean March, to the new generation of British comedy performers, such Alexei Sayle and Jennifer Saunders. Not only are serious dramatic actors and actresses, such as Joan Hickson and Roy Marsden, to be found here, but also the great comedy stars, including Benny Hill and John Inman. Among the many shows discussed in the text are: "Absolutely Fabulous", "Are You Being Served", "Dad's Army", "Doctor Who", "EastEnders", "Fawlty Towers", "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Yes, Minister". The guide offers not only factual information, but also samplings of contemporary critical commentary and in-depth interviews with Terence Alexander, Richard Briers, Benny Hill, Wendy Richard, Prunella Scales and Moray Watson. This reference source should serve as an entree into the world of British television. Anthony Slide is the author of "The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville", "The Television Industry: A Historical Dictionary" and "The American Film Industry: A Historical Dictionary".

Reviews

The book is written specifically for an American audience assumed to be unfamiliar with British television. The articles include full credits for each actor, and for the more prominent individuals, a bibliography of articles from a mix of British and American publications (everything from TV Guide to scholarly books about Patrick McGoohan's strange allegorical television series The Prisoner, which McGoohan both created and starred in). Above all, these vignettes are mature and well written, and scholarly without being overly sober, flippant, or adulatory. A worthwhile acquisition for any academic or public library.-Choice
"The book is written specifically for an American audience assumed to be unfamiliar with British television. The articles include full credits for each actor, and for the more prominent individuals, a bibliography of articles from a mix of British and American publications (everything from TV Guide to scholarly books about Patrick McGoohan's strange allegorical television series The Prisoner, which McGoohan both created and starred in). Above all, these vignettes are mature and well written, and scholarly without being overly sober, flippant, or adulatory. A worthwhile acquisition for any academic or public library."-Choice

Author Bio

ANTHONY SLIDE is the author or editor of more than 50 books on the history of popular entertainment and editor of the Scarecrow Press Filmmakers series./e Among Slide's previous books for Greenwood Press are The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville (1994), The Television Industry: A Historical Dictionary (1991), and The American Film Industry: A Historical Dictionary. He is the former associate archivist of the American Film Institute and resident film historian of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is also a documentary filmmaker. In 1990, in recognition of his work in documenting the history of popular entertainment, Slide was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Bowling Green University.