Ronald Cass
Encyclopedia
Ronald Cass was a screenwriter
and a composer
. He co-wrote the films Summer Holiday and The Young Ones
.
, Wales
to Saul and Rachel Cass, the second of five sons. One of his brothers, Leslie
, also worked in the same field as Ronnie, and composed his own play entitled The Story of Ruth, which was performed in Sheffield
.
Ronald "Ronnie" Cass first pursued a career as a maths teacher but in 1951 was recognized more for his contributions to several musicals produced at Leicester Square
's Irving Theatre club. Cass was studying economics at Aberystwyth University when World War II
began and he joined the RAF. When he and his squadron were posted into Burma, he insisted that they took a piano with them so that he could continue entertaining the troops.
Cass returned to Wales after the war ended in 1945, but travelled to London
in 1949 in search of musical opportunities. It did not take much searching before Cecil Landeau hired him as musical director at Ciro's night-club, and it was there that Cass met Peter Myers, who was preparing a new revue. They soon put together an after-the-show-show called 10:15, which successfully took place at the Irving Theatre.
In 1952, Cass attended a show performed by the students of the London School of Economics
, and was so impressed by one of them, Ron Moody
, that he and Myers decided to let him make a début performance in Intimacy at 8, a revue presented at the New Lindsay Theatre. This show was retitled High Spirits when it reopened in the Hippodrome Theatre in 1953. Cass said that High Spirits had always been his favourite show. Among the cast was an actress named Valerie Carton, whom he married in 1955.
Cass went on to write TV plays, cantatas, and cabaret shows for cruise liners. He joined his old friend, Warren Mitchell
, to write The Thoughts of Chairman Alf in 1975, which travelled with them and was performed all over the country for the next twenty years. Cass worked with another friend, Tom Jones
, on more than 70 television shows and musicals. In the 1990s he acted as Programme Associate on ITV's Highway programmes with Sir Harry Secombe.
Having joined the theatre from the world of cabaret, Cass tried cabaret again in 1979, co-writing Blondes and Bombshells. He wrote two novels, True Blue and Fringe Benefits, and a book of theatrical humour called A Funny Thing Happened or an Anthology of Pro's.
Ronald Cass married actress Valerie Carton in 1955, and had three children. He died in June 2006, at the age of 83.
Film scores
Teleplays
Writings
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He co-wrote the films Summer Holiday and The Young Ones
The Young Ones (film)
The Young Ones is a British musical released in 1961, featuring singer Cliff Richard. The musical was directed by Sidney J. Furie and was produced by Kenneth Harper and Andrew Mitchell for the Associated British Studios at Elstree. The original screenplay was written by Peter Myers and Ronald...
.
Biography
Cass was born in LlanelliLlanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to Saul and Rachel Cass, the second of five sons. One of his brothers, Leslie
Leslie Cass
Leslie Cass is a Welsh songwriter, lyricist and musician, mostly known as the brother of Ronald Cass, the musical writer to Summer Holiday and The Young Ones.-Early and personal Life:Cass was born in Llanelli, Wales...
, also worked in the same field as Ronnie, and composed his own play entitled The Story of Ruth, which was performed in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Ronald "Ronnie" Cass first pursued a career as a maths teacher but in 1951 was recognized more for his contributions to several musicals produced at Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
's Irving Theatre club. Cass was studying economics at Aberystwyth University when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began and he joined the RAF. When he and his squadron were posted into Burma, he insisted that they took a piano with them so that he could continue entertaining the troops.
Cass returned to Wales after the war ended in 1945, but travelled to London
London
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...
in 1949 in search of musical opportunities. It did not take much searching before Cecil Landeau hired him as musical director at Ciro's night-club, and it was there that Cass met Peter Myers, who was preparing a new revue. They soon put together an after-the-show-show called 10:15, which successfully took place at the Irving Theatre.
In 1952, Cass attended a show performed by the students of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and was so impressed by one of them, Ron Moody
Ron Moody
Ron Moody is an English actor.- Personal life :Moody was born in Tottenham, North London, England, the son of Kate and Bernard Moodnick, a studio executive. His father was of Russian Jewish descent and his mother was a Lithuanian Jew. He is a cousin of director Laurence Moody and actress Clare...
, that he and Myers decided to let him make a début performance in Intimacy at 8, a revue presented at the New Lindsay Theatre. This show was retitled High Spirits when it reopened in the Hippodrome Theatre in 1953. Cass said that High Spirits had always been his favourite show. Among the cast was an actress named Valerie Carton, whom he married in 1955.
Cass went on to write TV plays, cantatas, and cabaret shows for cruise liners. He joined his old friend, Warren Mitchell
Warren Mitchell
Warren Mitchell is an English actor who rose to initial prominence in the role of bigoted cockney Alf Garnett in the BBC television sitcom Till Death Us Do Part , and its sequels Till Death... and In Sickness and in Health , all of which were written by Johnny Speight...
, to write The Thoughts of Chairman Alf in 1975, which travelled with them and was performed all over the country for the next twenty years. Cass worked with another friend, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, on more than 70 television shows and musicals. In the 1990s he acted as Programme Associate on ITV's Highway programmes with Sir Harry Secombe.
Having joined the theatre from the world of cabaret, Cass tried cabaret again in 1979, co-writing Blondes and Bombshells. He wrote two novels, True Blue and Fringe Benefits, and a book of theatrical humour called A Funny Thing Happened or an Anthology of Pro's.
Ronald Cass married actress Valerie Carton in 1955, and had three children. He died in June 2006, at the age of 83.
Credits
Theatre works- Deja Revue, Move Along Sideways (1975)
- The Thoughts of Chairman Alf (1977)
- 10:15 Revue (1951)
- The Irving Revue (1952)
- Jack and the Beanstalk (composition contributor) (1968)
- Just Lately, Intimacy at Eight (1952)
- High Spirits (1953)
- Intimacy at 8:30 (1954)
- For Amusement Only (1956)
- Harmony Close (1957)
- For Adults Only (1958)
- The Lord Chamberlain Regrets (1961)
- Enrico (1963)
- Deja Revue (1975)
- Blondes and Bombshells (1979)
Film scores
- Summer Holiday (1963)
- Best House in London (1969)
- The Virgin and the Gypsie (1970)
- The Young Ones
- Go to Blazes
- French Dressing
- Wonderful Life
Teleplays
- Affair On Demand
- The Other Side of London
Writings
- A Funny Thing Happened, or An Anthology of Pro's
- The Highway Companion
- True Blue
- Fringe Benefits