{"product_id":"charles-shadwell-wien-austria-wanderer-bbc-ww2-radio-hand-signed-letter","title":"Charles Shadwell Wien Austria Wanderer BBC WW2 Radio Hand Signed Letter","description":"\u003cp\u003eCHAU4769 A rare opportunity to secure the autograph of famous band leader and historic conductor Charles Shadwell on this vintage 1941 official wartime letter specially typed sent on headed BBC paper to a military Major with fascinating content about playing Wanderer In Wien on his 1941 radio show which I invite you to enlarge and read. One of Shadwell’s most notable contributions to the 1940s BBC music scene was his frequent participation in Music While You Work, a legendary radio program launched in 1940 and I believe this letter is for the music of that show.  It is personally written typed and hand signed by Charles Shadwell and whilst folded where originally posted (which is how I will send) and lightly aged (two small left side holes from filing) it is great condition. Please see all our historic musicians, big band, and conductors letters secured from this same BBC collection at our store.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"...In the 1940s, Charles Shadwell was a prominent bandleader and conductor for the BBC Variety Orchestra. He served in this role from 1936 through 1946, playing a major role in entertaining the British public and boosting wartime morale through popular light music and swing.  The BBC Variety Orchestra performed in countless radio broadcasts under Shadwell's control between 1936 and 1946. As well as programmes such as Music Hall, which featured his music and ended with his theme tune, \"Down with the Curtain\", his own composition, he actively participated in the tradition, started in Britain by variety stars Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon, of banter between the comedians and their shows' bandleader. Charlie Shadwell became a well-known public figure through this, which peaked with the interchanges between Shadwell and Tommy Handley on ITMA, when Shadwell \"virtually became one of the cast of characters\" and was jokingly insulted on a regular basis by Handley. Shadwell also came up with the idea for the wartime radio variety series Garrison Theatre, based on his experiences as an entertainments officer in the First World War  ...\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Postcard Finder","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56848855466310,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0965\/3216\/9030\/files\/20260625_001.jpg?v=1782370168","url":"https:\/\/postcardfinder.co.uk\/products\/charles-shadwell-wien-austria-wanderer-bbc-ww2-radio-hand-signed-letter","provider":"Postcard Finder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}