Nils Erik Bæhrendtz
Encyclopedia
Nils Erik Bæhrendtz was a Swedish literary historian, and radio and television personality. Bæhrendtz played an important role in creating Sweden's first television news show Aktuellt
, and in bringing new television show formats to Sweden. He was head of Swedish Radio and Swedish Television during the 1960s. After his sudden resignation as powerful manager, he was the executive president of the Skansen
open-air museum foundation in Stockholm during the 1970s.
. He was the son of chancery secretary Erik and his wife Ida, born Jacobsson. Bæhrendtz studied Latin in high school, and literary history at Stockholm University
. Awarded a Ph.D. in 1952 for a thesis on the Norwegian
realistic
writer Alexander Kielland
, Bæhrendtz became an associate professor of literature in Stockholm later that year.
Kvitt eller dubbelt was based on the American television show The $64,000 Question and is regarded as the definite breakthrough for a popular television program in Sweden. The first Kvitt eller dubbelt episode was aired on January 12, 1957. In that episode, 14-year-old Ulf Hannerz
, presented by his nickname Hajen (The Shark), competed in the subject "tropical aquarium fish". Hannerz succeeded in winning 10,000 Kronor due to a judgment error in the program. The judge asked him which of the seven displayed fish had eyelids. He answered "hundfisk¨" (mudminnow). No, the judge said, it's "slamkrypare" (mudskipper
); he wanted to dismiss Ulf from the game show. However, Ulf was indeed correct and the name slamkrypare entered the Swedish language as a term for a cocksure, but incorrect, assertion.
Bæhrendtz's success in introducing news television and entertainment show formats resulted in him becoming program director and manager of Swedish Television in 1959. This position made him quite powerful, and he did not hesitate to fire one of Sweden's most popular television presenters, Olle Björklund
, after his name appeared in a tobacco advertisement in 1961. When Swedish Television introduced íts second national television channel, SVT2
, Bæhrendtz was a strong supporter of a system based on one television channel financed by commercials along the original license-paid
channel. However, he never gained any support by the Swedish social-democratic government to introduce commercials in Swedish television, and this is believed to be the main reason for his unexpected resignation from being television executive in 1968.
foundation in 1969, a post he served for 13 years, until 1982. In 1969 the Skansen open-air museum was in deep financial difficulties, but Bæhrendtz's close connection to the government made sure that state funds to the museum park increased substantially. He also brought life into founder Arthur Hazelius's original spirit, made sure craftsmanship flourished, re-established the Solliden scene as an important entertainment stage, and raised the number of visitors to the museum park by more than 600,000 per year.
As the executive president of Skansen, Bæhrendtz effectively remained a public figure in Sweden. On September 22, 1973, he made a brief comeback in television, hosting another season of Kvitt eller dubbelt, one of the most popular television shows in Swedish history. Nils Erik Bæhrendtz was married to Maj-Britt. He died in 2002 in Saltsjö-Boo, east of Stockholm.
Aktuellt
Aktuellt is a once-daily news programme produced by Sveriges Television and broadcast on its second channel, SVT2 in Sweden....
, and in bringing new television show formats to Sweden. He was head of Swedish Radio and Swedish Television during the 1960s. After his sudden resignation as powerful manager, he was the executive president of the Skansen
Skansen
Skansen is the first open air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era....
open-air museum foundation in Stockholm during the 1970s.
Early life
Nils Erik Bæhrendtz was born in 1916 in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He was the son of chancery secretary Erik and his wife Ida, born Jacobsson. Bæhrendtz studied Latin in high school, and literary history at Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
. Awarded a Ph.D. in 1952 for a thesis on the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
realistic
Literary realism
Literary realism most often refers to the trend, beginning with certain works of nineteenth-century French literature and extending to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century authors in various countries, towards depictions of contemporary life and society "as they were." In the spirit of...
writer Alexander Kielland
Alexander Kielland
Alexander Lange Kielland was one of the most famous Norwegian realistic writers of the 19th century. He is one of the so-called "The Four Greats" in Norwegian literature, along with Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Jonas Lie.-Background:Born in Stavanger, Norway, he grew up in a rich...
, Bæhrendtz became an associate professor of literature in Stockholm later that year.
Media career
In 1951 Bæhrendtz joined the Swedish Radio, becoming its program production manager the following year. He later moved on to Swedish Television, at the time a department of the Swedish Radio. As the manager of the news desk, he successfully introduced the news show Aktuellt in 1957. Although the first transmission was deemed a virtual disaster, Aktuellt soon became an important part of news media in Sweden. Bæhrendtz also participated in the introduction a number of popular television shows in Sweden. He is probably best known for presenting the television show Kvitt eller dubbelt – 10.000 kronorsfrågan (literally: Double or Nothing – The 10,000 Kronor Question).Kvitt eller dubbelt was based on the American television show The $64,000 Question and is regarded as the definite breakthrough for a popular television program in Sweden. The first Kvitt eller dubbelt episode was aired on January 12, 1957. In that episode, 14-year-old Ulf Hannerz
Ulf Hannerz
Ulf Hannerz, born June 9, 1942 in Malmö, is an emeritus professor of social anthropology at Stockholm University. His research includes urban societies, local media cultures, transnational cultural processes, and globalization....
, presented by his nickname Hajen (The Shark), competed in the subject "tropical aquarium fish". Hannerz succeeded in winning 10,000 Kronor due to a judgment error in the program. The judge asked him which of the seven displayed fish had eyelids. He answered "hundfisk¨" (mudminnow). No, the judge said, it's "slamkrypare" (mudskipper
Mudskipper
Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae , within the family Gobiidae . They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land...
); he wanted to dismiss Ulf from the game show. However, Ulf was indeed correct and the name slamkrypare entered the Swedish language as a term for a cocksure, but incorrect, assertion.
Bæhrendtz's success in introducing news television and entertainment show formats resulted in him becoming program director and manager of Swedish Television in 1959. This position made him quite powerful, and he did not hesitate to fire one of Sweden's most popular television presenters, Olle Björklund
Olle Björklund
Sven Olof Björklund , better known as Olle Björklund, was a Swedish actor and television host. Björklund was the first Swedish television news presenter, hosting the national news show Aktuellt as of 1958. In that capacity, he quickly earned his popular nickname Mr. Aktuellt...
, after his name appeared in a tobacco advertisement in 1961. When Swedish Television introduced íts second national television channel, SVT2
SVT2
SVT2, until 1996 TV2, is one of two television channels broadcast by Sveriges Television in Sweden. It was started by Sveriges Radio in 1969. SVT2 is generally more specialist, compared to SVT1.-History:...
, Bæhrendtz was a strong supporter of a system based on one television channel financed by commercials along the original license-paid
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
channel. However, he never gained any support by the Swedish social-democratic government to introduce commercials in Swedish television, and this is believed to be the main reason for his unexpected resignation from being television executive in 1968.
Skansen and later life
After his resignation from television, Bæhrendtz became executive president of the SkansenSkansen
Skansen is the first open air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era....
foundation in 1969, a post he served for 13 years, until 1982. In 1969 the Skansen open-air museum was in deep financial difficulties, but Bæhrendtz's close connection to the government made sure that state funds to the museum park increased substantially. He also brought life into founder Arthur Hazelius's original spirit, made sure craftsmanship flourished, re-established the Solliden scene as an important entertainment stage, and raised the number of visitors to the museum park by more than 600,000 per year.
As the executive president of Skansen, Bæhrendtz effectively remained a public figure in Sweden. On September 22, 1973, he made a brief comeback in television, hosting another season of Kvitt eller dubbelt, one of the most popular television shows in Swedish history. Nils Erik Bæhrendtz was married to Maj-Britt. He died in 2002 in Saltsjö-Boo, east of Stockholm.
External links
- Kvitt eller dubbelt with Ulf "Hajen" Hannerz, February 9, 1957.