George Black (Producer)
Encyclopedia
George Black was a British theatrical impresario who controlled many entertainment venues during the 1930s.
Black was born in Birmingham
. When young he helped his father set up some of the first permanent cinemas in Britain. In 1928 he took over the management of GTC (General Theatre Corporation) which was a chain of theatres, cinemas and dance halls. He also took over the management of the London Palladium
, which was the flagship
of the corporation.
In 1931 he organised "Crazy Week" at the Palladium, which brought together acts which later became the Crazy Gang
. Black devised and produced the shows and revues which starred the Crazy Gang at the Palladium until his death. Many theatre programs of the 1930s had the words "Produced by George Black" on their cover.
Black oversaw the merging of GTC with Moss Empires
in 1932. He was then in charge of the new company Moss Empires Group and was in control of a chain of 53 theatres.
In 1937 and 1938, he directed two films; "The Penny Pool" and "Calling All Crooks"
After his death in London
in 1945, Val Parnell
, who had been his booking manager, took over the running of the Group.
Black was born in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. When young he helped his father set up some of the first permanent cinemas in Britain. In 1928 he took over the management of GTC (General Theatre Corporation) which was a chain of theatres, cinemas and dance halls. He also took over the management of the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
, which was the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the corporation.
In 1931 he organised "Crazy Week" at the Palladium, which brought together acts which later became the Crazy Gang
Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang is a nickname used by the English media to describe Wimbledon F.C. during the 1980s and the 1990s.The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho behaviour of...
. Black devised and produced the shows and revues which starred the Crazy Gang at the Palladium until his death. Many theatre programs of the 1930s had the words "Produced by George Black" on their cover.
Black oversaw the merging of GTC with Moss Empires
Moss Empires
Moss Empires was a British company formed in Edinburgh from the merger of the theatre companies owned by Sir Edward Moss and Sir Oswald Stoll in 1898. This created the largest British chain of music halls...
in 1932. He was then in charge of the new company Moss Empires Group and was in control of a chain of 53 theatres.
In 1937 and 1938, he directed two films; "The Penny Pool" and "Calling All Crooks"
After his death in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1945, Val Parnell
Val Parnell
Valentine Charles Parnell , known as Val Parnell, was a British television producer and theatrical impresario.-Life and career:...
, who had been his booking manager, took over the running of the Group.