Val Parnell
Encyclopedia
Valentine Charles Parnell (14 February 1892 – 22 September 1972), known as Val Parnell, was a British television producer and theatrical impresario
.
on Valentine's Day
in 1892. He began his theatrical career at age 13 by working as an office boy for a music-hall circuit. By 1945 he had become Managing Director of the Moss Empires
music hall and variety circuit, in charge of some of London's most prestigious theatres.
He auditioned and signed a twelve-year-old Julie Andrews
for her first professional performance and introduced her to her manager, Charles Tucker, aka Uncle Charlie Tucker .
In 1956 he was appointed Managing Director of Associated TeleVision
. He took a personal interest in the station's output and presented the weekly musical variety show Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
until 1965.
He lost his position on the ATV board to Lew Grade
in 1962 and retired in 1966.
He died in France
in 1972.
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
.
Life and career
Parnell was born in LondonLondon
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...
on Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
in 1892. He began his theatrical career at age 13 by working as an office boy for a music-hall circuit. By 1945 he had become Managing Director of the 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...
music hall and variety circuit, in charge of some of London's most prestigious theatres.
He auditioned and signed a twelve-year-old Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
for her first professional performance and introduced her to her manager, Charles Tucker, aka Uncle Charlie Tucker .
In 1956 he was appointed Managing Director of Associated TeleVision
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
. He took a personal interest in the station's output and presented the weekly musical variety show Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium is a British television variety show produced by ATV for the ITV network, originally running from 1955 to 1967, with a brief revival in 1973 and 1974...
until 1965.
He lost his position on the ATV board to Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
in 1962 and retired in 1966.
He died in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1972.