Bob Courtney
Encyclopedia
Bob Courtney was a British
-born South Africa
n actor
and broadcaster
. Courtney appeared in more than twenty film
roles and worked as an on-air presenter and broadcaster on Springbok Radio
. Additionally, Courtney co-founded Radio Today
in 1996.
Courtney was born Christopher Robert Courtney Leaver on 25 October 1922, in Dorset
, England
. Courtney successfully studied to be an accountant. Leaver, a self taught pianist
, was drafted into the Royal Air Force
's entertainment corps as an entertainer during World War II
. Courtney served as an RAF entertainer in North Africa
, Greece
and Italy
. He met two South African entertainers, Siegfried Mynhardt
and Uys Krige
, in Rome
, Italy, near the end of World War II. Krige and Mynhardt persuaded Courtney to move from Britain to South Africa
.
Leaver emigrated to South Africa
in 1946 and began working at the South African Broadcasting Corporation
(SABC) in 1947 using the shortened name, Bob Courtney. He hosted many of the SABC's most well known radio shows during the 1940s.
In 1950, Courtney began hosting the Welcome Little Stranger childrens show on the now defunct Springbok Radio
. His radio name on the show was "Uncle Bob." However, Courtney's most famous job at Springbok Radio was the host of the hugely popular quiz show, Pick a Box
, which aired for fourteen years from 1960 until 1974. Courtney toured South Africa with the show throughout its airing, attracting large crowds of fans. In one instance, the Mayor of East London sent a limousine
to meet Courtney at the East London Airport
, where he had arrived to host Pick a Box in the city. Courtney broadcast Pick a Box from a variety of unusual locations including Antarctica, the Cango Caves
, the Union-Castle Line
and a mine shaft. The popular radio show ended in 1974. Pick a Box was briefly resurrected as a television quiz show in the 1980s with Courtney once again as its host. However, the TV version was not a hit and was quickly cancelled.
Courtney's other shows on Springbok Radio included the Eyegene Jackpot game show
, which aired from the 1950s until the 1970s, and Stop the Music, which aired for ten years. He also launched the Springbok show Greet the Bride, which would air for five days per week for twenty years on the radio. Courtney attempted to reopen Springbok Radio after the station was closed in 1985. However, the South African Broadcasting Corporation decided against the relauch of Springbok Radio in 1994, citing financial concerns.
He also co-founded Radio Today
in 1996 with former Springbok Radio broadcaster, Peter Lotis. The station's targeted audience were listeners in their 50s and older. The station attracted more than 70,000 listeners, but did not attract advertisers. Courtney hired a financial adviser, who saved Radio Today, though Courtney diagreed with some of the station's new financial and creative directions. He retired from Radio Today in 2008.
Courtney's acting career spanned several decades and included more than twenty film credits. His film roles included Lord Oom Piet in 1962, Kruger Millions, All the Way to Paris
, Dingaka
and Hans en die Rooinek. He was also a founding member of the South Africa National Theatre.
Bob Courtney died in Johannesburg
at the age of 87 on Sunday 24 October 2010, just one day before his 88th birthday. His funeral was held at the St. Martin’s-in-the-Veld Anglican Church in Dunkeld, Gauteng
. Courtney was survived by his wife, Yvonne, and their two children.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. Courtney appeared in more than twenty film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
roles and worked as an on-air presenter and broadcaster on Springbok Radio
Springbok Radio
Springbok Radio was a South African radio station that operated from 1950 to 1985.-History:On 1 May 1950, the first commercial radio station in South Africa, Springbok Radio took to the airwaves broadcasting in both English and Afrikaans...
. Additionally, Courtney co-founded Radio Today
Radio Today
Radio Today is a radio station in Bangladesh. It started airing in May 2006. It is currently available in Dhaka and Chittagong.-Info:It started as the country's first private FM radio station in May 2006 in Dhaka at 89.6 MHz. It later became available in Chittagong & Cox's Bazaar. Soon its going to...
in 1996.
Courtney was born Christopher Robert Courtney Leaver on 25 October 1922, in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Courtney successfully studied to be an accountant. Leaver, a self taught pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, was drafted into the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
's entertainment corps as an entertainer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Courtney served as an RAF entertainer in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He met two South African entertainers, Siegfried Mynhardt
Siegfried Mynhardt
-Personal life:Mynhardt was born in Johannesburg and lived in a Wynberg army camp, where his father was a padre. He had three children with his wife, Jocelyn.-Career:...
and Uys Krige
Uys Krige
Mattheus Uys Krige was a South African writer of novels, short stories, poems and plays in both Afrikaans and English. He was born in Bontebokskloof in the Cape Province and educated at the University of Stellenbosch.From 1931 to 1935 he lived in France and Spain, acquiring fluency in both...
, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy, near the end of World War II. Krige and Mynhardt persuaded Courtney to move from Britain to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Leaver emigrated to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1946 and began working at the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
(SABC) in 1947 using the shortened name, Bob Courtney. He hosted many of the SABC's most well known radio shows during the 1940s.
In 1950, Courtney began hosting the Welcome Little Stranger childrens show on the now defunct Springbok Radio
Springbok Radio
Springbok Radio was a South African radio station that operated from 1950 to 1985.-History:On 1 May 1950, the first commercial radio station in South Africa, Springbok Radio took to the airwaves broadcasting in both English and Afrikaans...
. His radio name on the show was "Uncle Bob." However, Courtney's most famous job at Springbok Radio was the host of the hugely popular quiz show, Pick a Box
Pick a Box
Pick a Box was one of first game shows to be broadcast on Australian television. Hosted by the husband and wife team Bob and Dolly Dyer, the program aired from 1957 to 1971.- History :...
, which aired for fourteen years from 1960 until 1974. Courtney toured South Africa with the show throughout its airing, attracting large crowds of fans. In one instance, the Mayor of East London sent a limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
to meet Courtney at the East London Airport
East London Airport
East London Airport is located in East London, South Africa.East London's airport is a small but bustling one that plays an important role in the growing economy of the Eastern Cape....
, where he had arrived to host Pick a Box in the city. Courtney broadcast Pick a Box from a variety of unusual locations including Antarctica, the Cango Caves
Cango Caves
The Cango Caves are located in Precambrian limestones at the foothills of the Swartberg range near the town of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The principal cave is one of the country's finest, best known and most popular tourist caves and attracts many visitors from overseas...
, the Union-Castle Line
Union-Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and cargo ships between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line...
and a mine shaft. The popular radio show ended in 1974. Pick a Box was briefly resurrected as a television quiz show in the 1980s with Courtney once again as its host. However, the TV version was not a hit and was quickly cancelled.
Courtney's other shows on Springbok Radio included the Eyegene Jackpot game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, which aired from the 1950s until the 1970s, and Stop the Music, which aired for ten years. He also launched the Springbok show Greet the Bride, which would air for five days per week for twenty years on the radio. Courtney attempted to reopen Springbok Radio after the station was closed in 1985. However, the South African Broadcasting Corporation decided against the relauch of Springbok Radio in 1994, citing financial concerns.
He also co-founded Radio Today
Radio Today
Radio Today is a radio station in Bangladesh. It started airing in May 2006. It is currently available in Dhaka and Chittagong.-Info:It started as the country's first private FM radio station in May 2006 in Dhaka at 89.6 MHz. It later became available in Chittagong & Cox's Bazaar. Soon its going to...
in 1996 with former Springbok Radio broadcaster, Peter Lotis. The station's targeted audience were listeners in their 50s and older. The station attracted more than 70,000 listeners, but did not attract advertisers. Courtney hired a financial adviser, who saved Radio Today, though Courtney diagreed with some of the station's new financial and creative directions. He retired from Radio Today in 2008.
Courtney's acting career spanned several decades and included more than twenty film credits. His film roles included Lord Oom Piet in 1962, Kruger Millions, All the Way to Paris
All the Way to Paris
All the Way to Paris is a 1965 South African comedy film directed by Jamie Uys and starring Uys, Bob Courtney and Reinet Maasdorf. International diplomats take part in a walking competition, heading towards a major conference in Paris.-Cast:...
, Dingaka
Dingaka
Dingaka is a 1965 film by South African director Jamie Uys with the soundtrack by Bertha Egnos, Eddie Domingo and Basil Gray.-Synopsis:Dingaka tells the story of a tribesman, Ntuku Makwena, who avenges the murder of his daughter according to custom tribal laws...
and Hans en die Rooinek. He was also a founding member of the South Africa National Theatre.
Bob Courtney died in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
at the age of 87 on Sunday 24 October 2010, just one day before his 88th birthday. His funeral was held at the St. Martin’s-in-the-Veld Anglican Church in Dunkeld, Gauteng
Dunkeld, Gauteng
Dunkeld is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3.- External links :* lists suburbs with Scottish placenames....
. Courtney was survived by his wife, Yvonne, and their two children.