Glen Michael
Encyclopedia
Glen Michael is a former children's television presenter and an entertainer. His career at Scottish Television
spanned several decades with the popular show Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade. He was born in Devon, England, but has found the majority of his success in Scotland
.
comedians Rikki Fulton
and Jack Milroy
. Michael also made an uncredited appearance as "Larry" in the police drama The Blue Lamp
in 1950; he and his date witnessed the shooting of Jack Warner
(Dixon of Dock Green
) as they entered a cinema.
productions and dramas including :
He also starred in several one-off plays for the BBC
and STV.
Cavalcade has been broadcast on a two other ITV stations, Westward in 1967–70 and has also made it on to Grampian TV in the early 1970s and again the ealry 1980s. Originally broadcast as Cartoon Cavalcade between 1966–73, series went out on during the week around 5pm until 1970 when it moved to Saturdays. From 5 January 1974 the programme moved to its Sunday afternoon slot and renamed Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade. From January 1989 – December 1992 it moved to fixed slot at 10:45 most Sundays.
The show is still fondly remembered by many people in Scotland as their first exposure to many famous cartoons such as Asterix
and Bugs Bunny
. The show is also remembered for Michael's companions Paladin the talking lamp, Totty the Robot and dogs Rudi and Rusti. The programme also included superhero
cartoons, which would be introduced by "The Space Teller"; Michael's disembodied head (often wearing a crown) seemingly "floating" in space. The readings of children's birthday cards that viewers had sent in was also very popular, with Michael also sending birthday cards personally to those who could not have their cards read on air. From late 1966–86 the show also broadcast on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, but was changed to only New Year's Day from 1988.
, Michael decided not to move across to Smooth Radio
.
in Glasgow, the Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
and the Edinburgh Kings in various productions and plays.
Michael made a brief cameo in an episode of the BBC series VideoGaiden
, playing himself in a speaking role. In the episode, Michael receives a coconut and some flowers in the mail (in an attempt to recreate the Nintendo
game Animal Crossing
) and sends a thankful letter in response.
He lives in the Ayrshire
community with Beryl and has two children, Yonnie and Christopher, and three grandchildren, Grant, Fraser and Mark.
His son, Chris Buckland, is a film editor who has worked extensively on STV productions
such as Taggart
. He can often be seen at Somerset Park
attending Ayr United matches.
Mark Millar
, writer of the comic book Kick-Ass, helped Michael to get a cameo role in the film version of the comic-book series. Miller said that Cartoon Cavalcade inspired him to become a writer and none of his comic books would exist if it wasn't for Michael and his show. However his part was cut from the final edit. Michael said, "I never expected to be in it at all. I think it was meant as a gesture. I think they were trying to make me feel like a real star. I had a trailer which was as big as a coach."
Michael did attend the premiere of the movie in London.
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
spanned several decades with the popular show Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade. He was born in Devon, England, but has found the majority of his success in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Early career
Born Cecil Buckland, in 1926, Glen Michael began his career as an entertainer on stage for the army, and working his way up with his many successful shows that encompassed his talent for comedy, in particular, impersonations. Upon leaving his native England for the theatre circuit of Scotland, he found further success in stage shows with noted ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
comedians Rikki Fulton
Rikki Fulton
Robert Kerr Fulton, OBE , more commonly known as Rikki Fulton, was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry. He was also known for his appearances as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside...
and Jack Milroy
Jack Milroy
Jack Milroy was a Scottish comedian . Born James Cruden in Govanhill and educated at Shawlands Academy, Milroy is noted for his partnership with comedy actor Rikki Fulton, as Francie and Josie...
. Michael also made an uncredited appearance as "Larry" in the police drama The Blue Lamp
The Blue Lamp
The Blue Lamp is a British crime film released in early 1950 by Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Balcon. It stars Jack Warner as police constable George Dixon, Jimmy Hanley and Dirk Bogarde in an early role...
in 1950; he and his date witnessed the shooting of Jack Warner
Jack Warner (actor)
Jack Warner OBE was an English film and television actor. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played until the age of eighty....
(Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
) as they entered a cinema.
Television years
Glen Michael eventually turned his attention to television, starring in many Scottish TelevisionScottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
productions and dramas including :
- Living with computers
- Howard and Wyndham's Five Past Eight Show
- Over to Una, a comedy show with Una McLeanUna McLeanUna McLean MBE is a Scottish actress and comedienne, best known for appearing in pantomimes. She was married to Scottish stage and film actor Russell Hunter from 1991 until his death in 2004....
- Search for beauty
- Grand Tour
- Friends and Neighbours
- Would you believe it (late 1970s)
- Francie and JosieFrancie and JosieFrancie and Josie was a double act performed by two Scottish comedians Jack Milroy as Francie and Rikki Fulton as Josie. from 1958 - 1990's.-History:...
; Michael played many parts including Josie's cousin when Jack MilroyJack MilroyJack Milroy was a Scottish comedian . Born James Cruden in Govanhill and educated at Shawlands Academy, Milroy is noted for his partnership with comedy actor Rikki Fulton, as Francie and Josie...
was ill - The Rikki Fulton hour
He also starred in several one-off plays for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and STV.
Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade
Michael achieved success with his own show, which he presented, produced and wrote Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade (for a Short while Glen Michael's Cavalcade) began a record-breaking run of 26 years starting on 6 April 1966.Cavalcade has been broadcast on a two other ITV stations, Westward in 1967–70 and has also made it on to Grampian TV in the early 1970s and again the ealry 1980s. Originally broadcast as Cartoon Cavalcade between 1966–73, series went out on during the week around 5pm until 1970 when it moved to Saturdays. From 5 January 1974 the programme moved to its Sunday afternoon slot and renamed Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade. From January 1989 – December 1992 it moved to fixed slot at 10:45 most Sundays.
The show is still fondly remembered by many people in Scotland as their first exposure to many famous cartoons such as Asterix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
and Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
. The show is also remembered for Michael's companions Paladin the talking lamp, Totty the Robot and dogs Rudi and Rusti. The programme also included superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
cartoons, which would be introduced by "The Space Teller"; Michael's disembodied head (often wearing a crown) seemingly "floating" in space. The readings of children's birthday cards that viewers had sent in was also very popular, with Michael also sending birthday cards personally to those who could not have their cards read on air. From late 1966–86 the show also broadcast on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, but was changed to only New Year's Day from 1988.
Radio work
Michael presented a popular weekly show on Saga FM every Sunday, playing songs from stage shows and classic records. When Saga FM was bought by Real Radio company GMG RadioGMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
, Michael decided not to move across to Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
.
Other achievements and appearances
Michael also starred in several pantomimes with Jack Milroy and completed many enjoyable runs at the Pavilion TheatrePavilion Theatre
Pavilion Theatre may refer to:*Pavilion Theatre , Scotland*Pavilion Theatre , part of the Bournemouth International Centre complex*Pavilion Theatre , southern England...
in Glasgow, the Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
Built in 1902, the Gaiety Theatre is a category B listed performing arts venue in Ayr, Scotland. It is noted for its interior rococo features, its atmosphere and its acoustics....
and the Edinburgh Kings in various productions and plays.
Michael made a brief cameo in an episode of the BBC series VideoGaiden
VideoGaiden
VideoGaiden is a Scottish computer games television show broadcast by BBC Scotland. Its creators and presenters, Robert Florence and Ryan Macleod, are responsible for the internet-distributed videogaming show Consolevania, upon which the show is based...
, playing himself in a speaking role. In the episode, Michael receives a coconut and some flowers in the mail (in an attempt to recreate the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
game Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing
The Animal Crossing games have garnered positive response. The first three games are among the best-selling for their respective consoles. Animal Crossing has sold 2.321 million copies; Wild World 10.79 million; and City Folk 3.38 million...
) and sends a thankful letter in response.
Currently
With the end of "Cavalcade", Michael continued working, taking a touring version of the show around Scotland to primary schools. As he continued to entertain more generations with games and cartoons, he was assisted by his wife of many years, Beryl. He has however now retired from these activities.He lives in the Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
community with Beryl and has two children, Yonnie and Christopher, and three grandchildren, Grant, Fraser and Mark.
His son, Chris Buckland, is a film editor who has worked extensively on STV productions
such as Taggart
Taggart
Taggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
. He can often be seen at Somerset Park
Somerset Park
Somerset Park is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.It has been the home of Ayr United since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr F.C.. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity...
attending Ayr United matches.
Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
, writer of the comic book Kick-Ass, helped Michael to get a cameo role in the film version of the comic-book series. Miller said that Cartoon Cavalcade inspired him to become a writer and none of his comic books would exist if it wasn't for Michael and his show. However his part was cut from the final edit. Michael said, "I never expected to be in it at all. I think it was meant as a gesture. I think they were trying to make me feel like a real star. I had a trailer which was as big as a coach."
Michael did attend the premiere of the movie in London.