Bernard Delfont entered theatrical management in 1949 and acquired theatres in the West End of London.
16 Facts About Bernard Delfont
2.
Bernard Delfont acquired the London Casino and converted the London Hippodrome into the Talk of the Town nightclub, bringing in entertainers such as Lena Horne, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt, Judy Garland, The Ink Spots, Sophie Tucker, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr.
3.
Bernard Delfont teamed up with former rival Val Parnell to acquire a lease on the Prince of Wales Theatre and stage shows at the London Palladium.
4.
Bernard Delfont presented over 200 shows in London and New York City, including more than 50 musicals, such as the original productions of Little Me, Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, City Of Angels, Funny Girl and Sweet Charity.
5.
Bernard Delfont presented summer variety shows in over 20 towns across the UK, mainly seaside resorts.
6.
In 1950, he became stage producer for a BBC summer variety show Carefree and soon after the launch of ITV, the variety show Bernard Delfont Presents was produced by Lew's Associated Television, which ran from 1956 to 1958.
7.
From 1959 to 1962, Bernard Delfont's Sunday Show was broadcast.
8.
Bernard Delfont helped the careers of Tommy Steele, Danny La Rue, Norman Wisdom and Tommy Cooper.
9.
When Leslie fell ill, Bernard Delfont was asked to help out at the Grade Organisation.
10.
Bernard Delfont later became Chief Executive of EMI in 1979.
11.
Bernard Delfont was an active supporter of the Variety Club of Great Britain and was a former president.
12.
Bernard Delfont presented the annual Royal Variety Performance from 1958 to 1978, and saw its first television broadcast in 1960, which became a ratings hit.
13.
Bernard Delfont was involved in other entertainment charities being life president of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund and president of the Entertainment Charities Fund from 1983 to 1991.
14.
Bernard Delfont was knighted in 1974 and created a life peer as Baron Delfont of Stepney in Greater London on 29 June 1976.
15.
Bernard Delfont died from a heart attack at his Angmering home in Sussex, England.
16.
Bernard Delfont is played by Michael Gambon in the 2019 film Judy, which recounts Judy Garland's last days.