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Before I Forget: A Family Memoir
Brian Tesler's father David came to Britain at the age of 15
in the middle of the First World War, not speaking a word of English. It
was a long journey for David from the little village of Baremel' in the
Ukraine to the tranquil West London suburb in which he died in 1972. He
accomplished it with style, ending up a proud Englishman, a successful man
of business, the founder of a synagogue, the Worshipful Master of a Masonic
Lodge - and the father and inspiration of a major figure of British
Television, whose professional career encompassed TV's entire post-war
evolution from a single-channel BBC to today's explosion of satellite and
cable channels. This memoir reflects Brian Tesler's career throughout, but is not a record
of it. Before I Forget is a very personal account of Tesler's family, of
the East End's vibrant Jewish community in the early decades of the last
century, and of the life of a youngster in London in peacetime and in war,
immersed in the radio, theatre, movies and music hall of the 1930s and
1940s that led him to his career.
in the middle of the First World War, not speaking a word of English. It
was a long journey for David from the little village of Baremel' in the
Ukraine to the tranquil West London suburb in which he died in 1972. He
accomplished it with style, ending up a proud Englishman, a successful man
of business, the founder of a synagogue, the Worshipful Master of a Masonic
Lodge - and the father and inspiration of a major figure of British
Television, whose professional career encompassed TV's entire post-war
evolution from a single-channel BBC to today's explosion of satellite and
cable channels. This memoir reflects Brian Tesler's career throughout, but is not a record
of it. Before I Forget is a very personal account of Tesler's family, of
the East End's vibrant Jewish community in the early decades of the last
century, and of the life of a youngster in London in peacetime and in war,
immersed in the radio, theatre, movies and music hall of the 1930s and
1940s that led him to his career.
148 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Brian Tesler
2 books9 followersBrian Tesler was a British television entertainment producer and senior executive. His career encompassed British television's post-war evolution from a single-channel BBC to the arrival of multiple terrestrial, satellite and cable channels in the 1990s. After experience in radio presentation with the British Forces Broadcasting Service in the 1940s he began in television as a light entertainment producer and director for BBC Television in 1952, producing mainly panel shows before gaining experience and working his way upwards to producing larger and more significant programmes. He moved to Britain's fledgling independent commercial television service ITV in 1957, joining Associated Television (ATV), who held the franchise for weekends in London. Here he took over ITV's biggest variety show, Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
In 1960 Tesler moved into executive management by becoming Supervisor of Features and Light Entertainment at ABC Weekend TV which provided commercial television for the North of England and the Midlands. Tesler was promoted to be ABC's Programme Controller in 1962 and two years later Director of Programmes. In 1968 he became Director of Programmes at Thames Television which provided weekday programmes in London.
In 1974 Tesler was invited to become Deputy Managing Director of London Weekend Television (LWT) and in 1976 he became LWT's Chief Executive. He resigned in 1990, remaining deputy chairman until his retirement from television in 1994.
In 1960 Tesler moved into executive management by becoming Supervisor of Features and Light Entertainment at ABC Weekend TV which provided commercial television for the North of England and the Midlands. Tesler was promoted to be ABC's Programme Controller in 1962 and two years later Director of Programmes. In 1968 he became Director of Programmes at Thames Television which provided weekday programmes in London.
In 1974 Tesler was invited to become Deputy Managing Director of London Weekend Television (LWT) and in 1976 he became LWT's Chief Executive. He resigned in 1990, remaining deputy chairman until his retirement from television in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2021
Well, you know, I'm proud of my Dad. A really interesting perspective on growing up Jewish between the wars and beyond.
June 14, 2012
A fascinating, well written account of his childhood and the life of his parents. Some very interesting first hand accounts of life in wartime Britain.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews