New Lew Grade Book!

[mighty ATV]

Hi all

dont know if anyone knows about this but i stumbled accross a new book thats been published about our very own Mr ATV- Lew Grade called (aptly) 'All my shows are great!'. I didnt even know that this was in the making. Looks good .

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesw ... =lew+grade

cheers

Greg
mighty atv
(moderators-please feel free to move this elsewhaere if you dont fel that i put this topic in the right place. thanks)

[westward]

Ooh not heard of that one.... might give it a go once I have read the other umpteen books I have bought on TV related subjects......

[mighty ATV]

Hi peter

it took me by surprise too but a pleasant one

i notice that the publish date is 25/2/2010 so it really is hot off the press.

i havnt shopped around for a better price yet but not too bad at £16.00 at the moment.

cheers

Greg

[Lee Bannister]

I'm a little late on this I know, but I received the Press Release for this book a couple of weeks ago...

The Life Of Lew Grade: New Biography Of A Showbiz Legend
• The first biography of a giant of British show business
• The story of a pioneer of commercial television – the man who brought the Muppets and Thunderbirds to our screens
• The leading light of the Grade family show business dynasty, whose TV tradition Michael Grade continues at ITV
• A portrait of a genuinely larger-than-life figure legendary for his witticisms

Lew Grade was the last of the old-time media moguls – a genuine show business tycoon. From humble Jewish immigrant beginnings in east London, he became the world Charleston dance champion (and could dance it well into his eighties), from which he drifted into theatrical agenting, at which he discovered he was extremely good.

Soon he was a top impresario, with his brothers Bernard (Delfont) and Leslie Grade putting together variety bills, owning theatres, and eventually booking showbiz’s biggest names from both sides of the Atlantic.

The birth of commercial television saw him win a franchise with ATV, where Grade was a pioneer of popular culture, responsible for such TV hits as Saturday Night at the London Palladium, Robert Powell’s epic portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth and bringing shows like Thunderbirds and The Muppets to British TV screens. He then went into films, most notoriously with Raise the Titantic! whose cost over-runs inspired his most memorable witticism, that “It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic”.

Grade was still working until he died in his early nineties, in the office at dawn, puffing on his trademark giant Montecristo cigars, and never losing his love of a deal. “Some of my shows are good, some are bad,” he once said. “All of them are great”. Lew Chester’s biography – the first to be written, is an endlessly entertaining portrait of someone who was truly larger than life.

Lewis Chester was a member of the celebrated Sunday Times Insight Team of investigative journalists. His last book was The Troublemaker.

All My Shows are Great by Lewis Chester is published by Aurum Press on 18th February at £20

Some good news... I've been working with the lovely people at Aurum Press and I've got a tentative agreement from the author Lewis Chester to be interviewed by ATV Land for our forthcoming documentary!

[Peter Thomas]

I've been working with the lovely people at Aurum Press and I've got a tentative agreement from the author Lewis Chester to be interviewed by ATV Land for our forthcoming documentary!

Abso-staggeringly-lutely amazing!

[mighty ATV]

Well done Lee. a real coup for ATVland productions

should be an interesting interview.

cheers
Greg

[mighty ATV]

Just found an excellent price on the new Lew Grade book £11.99
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/97 ... -Are-Great

A deal even Lew would be proud of

Greg
Mighty ATV

[stuartfanning]

Here's a review.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 22856.html

Check Amazon Marketplace sellers for best price.

[mighty ATV]

cheers stuart, good write up .
This has to be the 'LBarfe' that was/is a member of this site who has done that review, although i havnt seen him posting on here for some time now.

Greg

[Peter Thomas]

Louis Barfe is a friend of mine, and recently came up with that Central Bridge Street picture.

His current avatar on Twitter is of a certain Central badge: http://www.twitter.com/LFBarfe

[Thwaity]

Has anyone got this book yet?

Mine has been on order at Waterstones since mid Fab! Grrr


Steve

[mighty ATV]

Steve,

Havent got my copy yet mate but hopefully soon. If you get yours first, let us know what you think.

cheers

Greg

[banbury_oddball]

I ordered my copy on the WH Smith website yesterday £12.40 - delivered

Was waiting for me when I came home tonight. Will have a read of this later tonight when the darts has finished.

Had a quick look through and a few pics of Lew and his family in the middle, the pic with The Muppets and a few other pics. Overall impressed with this already and some interesting sections in it.

[mighty ATV]

I ordered my copy on the WH Smith website yesterday £12.40 - delivered

Was waiting for me when I came home tonight. Will have a read of this later tonight when the darts has finished.

Had a quick look through and a few pics of Lew and his family in the middle, the pic with The Muppets and a few other pics. Overall impressed with this already and some interesting sections in it.

Cheers Tony, look forward to hearing your thoughts. Pictures sound good and Not a bad price there either .

cheers

Greg

[LFBarfe]

Yes, one and the same. Sorry I've been absent for a bit. Which Central Bridge Street picture was that, Peter? Oh, I know which one you mean. Ahem. Nice weather we're having. As for the "Let's Get Together" badge in my old Twitter avatar, there was a box of them at the last Kaleidoscope do. Another reason to pop along.