Tom Meehan - Revision history

Fogterop at 14:55, 9 October 2022

2022-10-09T14:55:13Z

Fogterop at 18:04, 9 January 2019

2019-01-09T18:04:09Z

Fogterop at 17:39, 9 January 2019

2019-01-09T17:39:38Z

Fogterop at 17:38, 9 January 2019

2019-01-09T17:38:27Z

Fogterop at 17:36, 9 January 2019

2019-01-09T17:36:44Z

Johann van Heerden at 08:17, 29 May 2015

2015-05-29T08:17:21Z

Johann van Heerden at 08:17, 29 May 2015

2015-05-29T08:17:03Z

Johann van Heerden: Created page with "'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played..."

2015-05-29T08:14:59Z

Created page with "'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played..."

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'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played in many production for NAPAC in Durban.

== Source ==
[[NAPAC]] theatre programme for production of ''[[Double Yolk]]'' (undated).

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 After the war he was again shipped to India and on board he met Betty (Joy) Mungavin, whom he married at Fort William in Calcutta soon afterwards.  The young couple eventually moved to South Africa, where he became a sports reporter on the Johannesburg newspaper [[The Star]].  Thereafter he joined the [[Daily News]] in Durban, wrote a weekly column for the [[Sunday Tribune]] and became a freelancer for the [[SABC]].  He played the lead in the soap opera ''[[Brave Voyage]]'' opposite [[Yolande d’Hotman]] and, with her, adapted the Leslie Charteris books featuring the character of ''[[The Saint]]'' for [[Springbok Radio]].  He played the lead role of Simon Templar for nearly six years.  Amongst the shows he presented was the popular ''Desert Island Date'' and in addition he interviewed many visiting celebrities.
-A popular actor, he appeared in such radio plays as ''[[Limes of Sicily]]'' by Luigi Pirandello ([[Humphrey Gilbert]]/1958) and ''[[The Man from Thermopylae]]'' ([[Cedric Messina]]/1958).  For [[NAPAC]] he appeared on the stage in ''[[Hamlet]]'' (as Claudius), ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' and ''[[With Intent]]'' (part of a double bill with ''[[By Accident]]'', presented as ''[[Double Yolk]]'').  In 1965 he started his own production company and three years later embarked upon his greatest hit, the South African version of the British comedy series ''[[The Men from the Ministry]],'' with the pilot programme being recorded in August 1968.  He produced many of the more than 900 episodes that were produced and took the role of Sir Gregory Pitkin, with [[John Simpson]] as Number One and [[Roger Service]] as Number Two.  In 1971 its success resulted in a feature film directed by Meehan himself.  The series came to an end in 1985 with the closing down of [[Springbok Radio]], but was later revived for [[Radio South Africa]].
+A popular actor, he appeared in such radio plays as ''[[Limes of Sicily]]'' by Luigi Pirandello ([[Humphrey Gilbert]]/1958) and ''[[The Man from Thermopylae]]'' ([[Cedric Messina]]/1958).  For [[NAPAC]] he appeared on the stage in ''[[Hamlet]]'' (as Claudius), ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' and ''[[With Intent]]'' (part of a double bill with ''[[By Accident]]'', presented as ''[[Double Yolk]]'').  In 1965 he started his own production company and three years later embarked upon his greatest hit, the South African version of the British comedy series ''[[The Men from the Ministry]],'' with the pilot programme being recorded in August 1968.  He produced many of the more than 900 episodes that were made and took the role of Sir Gregory Pitkin, with [[John Simpson]] as Number One and [[Roger Service]] as Number Two.  In 1971 its success resulted in a feature film directed by Meehan himself.  The series came to an end in 1985 with the closing down of [[Springbok Radio]], but was later revived for [[Radio South Africa]].
 He also had small roles in the films ''The Tangent Affair'' ([[Neil Hetherington]] & [[Hanro Möhr]]/1989) and ''Barrett'' ([[Anthony Bond]]), and narrated the documentary ''The 1962 Veteran and Vintage Car Rally'' for [[Ken Clarke]]’s [[Impala Films]].  Meehan was a prolific producer of radio plays, mini series and serials, but will probably be best remembered for comedy programmes like ''[[The Men from the Ministry]]'', ''[[Father, Dear Father!]]'' and ''[[The Navy Lark]]''.  He also wrote a number of radio plays himself.  [[Brian Squires]], who often worked with him, is his son.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, 9 January 2019
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−	'''Tom Meehan''' (b. Lower Darwen, Lancashire, 07/03/1915 – KZN Midlands, 02/01/2003) was primarily a radio actor, writer and producer.	+	'''Tom Meehan''' (b. Lower Darwen, Lancashire, 07/03/1915 – KZN Midlands, 02/01/2003) was primarily a radio actor, writer and producer, mostly Durban-based.

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 9 January 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:

−	'''Tom Meehan''' (b. Lower Darwen, Lancashire, 07/03/1915 – 02/01/2003) was primarily a radio actor, writer and producer.	+	'''Tom Meehan''' (b. Lower Darwen, Lancashire, 07/03/1915 – KZN Midlands, 02/01/2003) was primarily a radio actor, writer and producer.

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 A popular actor, he appeared in such radio plays as ''[[Limes of Sicily]]'' by Luigi Pirandello ([[Humphrey Gilbert]]/1958) and ''[[The Man from Thermopylae]]'' ([[Cedric Messina]]/1958).  For [[NAPAC]] he appeared on the stage in ''[[Hamlet]]'' (as Claudius), ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' and ''[[With Intent]]'' (part of a double bill with ''[[By Accident]]'', presented as ''[[Double Yolk]]'').  In 1965 he started his own production company and three years later embarked upon his greatest hit, the South African version of the British comedy series ''[[The Men from the Ministry]],'' with the pilot programme being recorded in August 1968.  He produced many of the more than 900 episodes that were produced and took the role of Sir Gregory Pitkin, with [[John Simpson]] as Number One and [[Roger Service]] as Number Two.  In 1971 its success resulted in a feature film directed by Meehan himself.  The series came to an end in 1985 with the closing down of [[Springbok Radio]], but was later revived for [[Radio South Africa]].
-He also had small roles in the films ''The Tangent Affair'' ([[Neil Hetherington]] & [[Hanro Möhr]]/1989) and ''Barrett'' (Antony Bond), and narrated the documentary ''The 1962 Veteran and Vintage Car Rally'' for [[Ken Clarke]]’s [[Impala Films]].  Meehan was a prolific producer of radio plays, mini series and serials, but will probably be best remembered for comedy programmes like ''[[The Men from the Ministry]]'', ''[[Father, Dear Father!]]'' and ''[[The Navy Lark]]''.  He also wrote a number of radio plays himself.  [[Brian Squires]], who often worked with him, is his son.
+He also had small roles in the films ''The Tangent Affair'' ([[Neil Hetherington]] & [[Hanro Möhr]]/1989) and ''Barrett'' ([[Anthony Bond]]), and narrated the documentary ''The 1962 Veteran and Vintage Car Rally'' for [[Ken Clarke]]’s [[Impala Films]].  Meehan was a prolific producer of radio plays, mini series and serials, but will probably be best remembered for comedy programmes like ''[[The Men from the Ministry]]'', ''[[Father, Dear Father!]]'' and ''[[The Navy Lark]]''.  He also wrote a number of radio plays himself.  [[Brian Squires]], who often worked with him, is his son.
 == Sources ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 9 January 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played in productions for [[NAPAC]] in Durban, including ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Claudius) and a role in ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]''.

−	== ~~Source~~ ==	+	'''Tom Meehan''' (b. Lower Darwen, Lancashire, 07/03/1915 – 02/01/2003) was primarily a radio actor, writer and producer.
		+
		+	== Biography ==
		+
		+	Tom Squires Meehan was the son of Michael Meehan and Janet Squires. He was educated at schools in nearby Manchester and excelled at sport. As a young man he is said to have gained some acting experience in repertory theatre in Lancashire. At the outbreak of World War II he signed up and was sent to France, where he was part of the Dunkirk evacuation. This was followed by an officer’s course at Sandhurst, after which he eventually became a captain in the 11th Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army. In June 1942, after the Battle of Mersa Matruh, he was taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war in prisoner-of-war camps, first in Italy, then in Silesia and finally near Brunswick, in Germany. While incarcerated in the latter he produced the pantomime ''Aladdin'' and also took the role of the Widow Twankey.
		+
		+	After the war he was again shipped to India and on board he met Betty (Joy) Mungavin, whom he married at Fort William in Calcutta soon afterwards. The young couple eventually moved to South Africa, where he became a sports reporter on the Johannesburg newspaper [[The Star]]. Thereafter he joined the [[Daily News]] in Durban, wrote a weekly column for the [[Sunday Tribune]] and became a freelancer for the [[SABC]]. He played the lead in the soap opera ''[[Brave Voyage]]'' opposite [[Yolande d’Hotman]] and, with her, adapted the Leslie Charteris books featuring the character of ''[[The Saint]]'' for [[Springbok Radio]]. He played the lead role of Simon Templar for nearly six years. Amongst the shows he presented was the popular ''Desert Island Date'' and in addition he interviewed many visiting celebrities.
		+
		+	A popular actor, he appeared in such radio plays as ''[[Limes of Sicily]]'' by Luigi Pirandello ([[Humphrey Gilbert]]/1958) and ''[[The Man from Thermopylae]]'' ([[Cedric Messina]]/1958). For [[NAPAC]] he appeared on the stage in ''[[Hamlet]]'' (as Claudius), ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' and ''[[With Intent]]'' (part of a double bill with ''[[By Accident]]'', presented as ''[[Double Yolk]]''). In 1965 he started his own production company and three years later embarked upon his greatest hit, the South African version of the British comedy series ''[[The Men from the Ministry]],'' with the pilot programme being recorded in August 1968. He produced many of the more than 900 episodes that were produced and took the role of Sir Gregory Pitkin, with [[John Simpson]] as Number One and [[Roger Service]] as Number Two. In 1971 its success resulted in a feature film directed by Meehan himself. The series came to an end in 1985 with the closing down of [[Springbok Radio]], but was later revived for [[Radio South Africa]].
		+
		+	He also had small roles in the films ''The Tangent Affair'' ([[Neil Hetherington]] & [[Hanro Möhr]]/1989) and ''Barrett'' (Antony Bond), and narrated the documentary ''The 1962 Veteran and Vintage Car Rally'' for [[Ken Clarke]]’s [[Impala Films]]. Meehan was a prolific producer of radio plays, mini series and serials, but will probably be best remembered for comedy programmes like ''[[The Men from the Ministry]]'', ''[[Father, Dear Father!]]'' and ''[[The Navy Lark]]''. He also wrote a number of radio plays himself. [[Brian Squires]], who often worked with him, is his son.
		+
		+	== Sources ==
		+
	[[NAPAC]] theatre programme for production of ''[[Double Yolk]]'' (undated).		[[NAPAC]] theatre programme for production of ''[[Double Yolk]]'' (undated).
		+
		+	https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6565685/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_2
		+
		+	http://www.saint.org/actor-tom-meehan.htm
		+
		+	http://www.schajer.org/mftm/announce-sa.htm
		+
		+	http://www.artsmart.co.za/drama/archive/716.html
		+
		+	https://rooda.home.xs4all.nl/Pages/InfoFiles/mftm/men.htm
		+
		+	== Return to ==
		+
		+	Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
		+
		+	Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities\|South African Theatre Personalities]]
		+
		+	Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
		+
		+	Return to [[Main Page]]

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-'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played in productions for [[NAPAC]] in Durban, including ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Claudius) and a role in ''[[The Man Who Came To Dinner]]''.
+'''MEEHAN, Tom''' (19**- ). British-born South African actor and radio playwright. Repertory theatre in Lancashire and moved to South Africa shortly after World War II. Played in productions for [[NAPAC]] in Durban, including ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Claudius) and a role in ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]''.
 == Source ==
 [[NAPAC]] theatre programme for production of ''[[Double Yolk]]'' (undated).