Charles de Jaeger
Encyclopedia
Charles Theophile de Jaeger (27 February 1911 - 19 May 2000) was a cameraman for the BBC
. He is best known as one of the creators of a famous April Fool's Day joke from 1957: a 3-minute spoof report on the Swiss spaghetti harvest beside Lake Lugano
broadcast by the British current affairs programme, Panorama
.
. He worked for the Free French Film Unit during the Second World War, and joined the BBC in July 1943, working as a sub-editor on news for Central Europe
. He became a television cameraman in 1948. He was the first BBC newsreel
cameraman to film outside the UK.
, and it was approved by the editor of Panorama, Michael Peacock
. A silent film was recorded in Castiglione
in Switzerland in March, and a commentary written by Wheeler was added by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby
.
. He died in London in May, 2000.
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...
. He is best known as one of the creators of a famous April Fool's Day joke from 1957: a 3-minute spoof report on the Swiss spaghetti harvest beside Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano is a glacial lake in the south-east of Switzerland, at the border between Switzerland and Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore...
broadcast by the British current affairs programme, Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
.
Early years
De Jaeger was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He worked for the Free French Film Unit during the Second World War, and joined the BBC in July 1943, working as a sub-editor on news for Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. He became a television cameraman in 1948. He was the first BBC newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
cameraman to film outside the UK.
April Fools 1957
The idea for the April Fool came from his school days, during which a teacher had once said, "Boys, you are so stupid, you'd believe me if I told you that spaghetti grew on trees." He developed the idea with producer David WheelerDavid F. Wheeler (director)
David Wheeler is a director of theatre, film and television. He was Founder and Artistic Director of the Theatre Company of Boston from 1963 - 1975. Wheeler has also taught directing and theatre at Harvard University, Boston University, and Brandeis University...
, and it was approved by the editor of Panorama, Michael Peacock
Michael Peacock
Michael Peacock was a British television executive, who from 1963 until the spring of 1965 was the first ever Controller of BBC Two, the Corporation's second television channel....
. A silent film was recorded in Castiglione
Castiglione
-Places:Towns in Italy, many of which were simply called Castiglione prior to the unification of Italy in the 19th century:* Castiglion Fibocchi, in the province of Arezzo* Castiglion Fiorentino, in the province of Arezzo...
in Switzerland in March, and a commentary written by Wheeler was added by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby CBE was an English journalist and broadcaster widely acknowledged as one of the greatest figures in British broadcasting history.-Early life:...
.
Personal life
De Jaeger left the BBC in 1959 to become a freelancerFreelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
. He died in London in May, 2000.