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Lew Grade

Lew Grade, Baron Grade (born Lev Winogradsky; 25 December 1906 – 13 December 1998), was a Russian Empire-born British media proprietor, impresario, and television executive of Jewish descent who emigrated to the United Kingdom as a child.^[1]^[2]
Beginning his career as a teenage dancer specializing in the Charleston, Grade transitioned into talent management and show business promotion before entering television in the 1950s.^[3]^[4]
In 1954, he founded the Incorporated Television Company (ITC Entertainment), which became one of Britain's foremost independent producers and distributors of television content, exporting adventure series such as The Saint, The Avengers, and The Prisoner to international audiences and pioneering commercial television financing in the country.^[4]^[5]
Grade's ventures extended to film production and distribution, contributing to the global reach of British entertainment, and he was recognized with a knighthood in 1969 and a life peerage as Baron Grade of Elstree in 1976 for his services to the industry.^[4]^[5]

Early Life

Birth and Family Origins

Lew Grade was born Lev Winogradsky on December 25, 1906, in Tokmak, a town in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast region of what was then the Russian Empire (now Ukraine).^[6]^[2] His parents, Isaac Winogradsky (born circa 1879 in Odessa) and Olga (née Eisenstadt), were Jewish and part of a broader wave of Eastern European Jewish families facing persecution under the Tsarist regime.^[7]^[8] Isaac Winogradsky worked in the garment trade, initially as a presser and later as a mechanic, reflecting the modest socioeconomic status common among many Jewish immigrant families from the Pale of Settlement.^[9] Olga Winogradsky exerted significant influence as the family matriarch, a dynamic observed in numerous Jewish households of the era navigating instability and cultural transitions.^[3] The Winogradskys had at least three sons—Lew (the eldest), Boris, and Leslie (born 1916)—whose later anglicized surname "Grade" derived from a phonetic adaptation of their original patronymic.^[10]^[7] The family's Jewish heritage shaped their early experiences amid recurrent pogroms and anti-Semitic violence in the Russian Empire, prompting emigration shortly after Lew's birth; these events underscored the precarious causal links between ethnic identity, imperial policies, and survival for such communities.^[11]^[1]

Immigration to Britain

Lew Grade, born Louis Winogradsky on December 25, 1906, in Tokmak, a small town in the Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine), immigrated to Britain at age six with his Jewish family in 1912.^[12]^[4] His parents, Isaac and Olga (or Golda) Winogradsky, along with his brothers Leslie and Bernard (later Lord Delfont), fled the widespread anti-Semitic pogroms that ravaged Jewish communities under Tsarist rule, including violent riots and persecution in southern Russia and Ukraine.^[1]^[13]^[5] The family settled in London's East End, a densely packed immigrant enclave where many Eastern European Jews established tailoring and rag-trade businesses amid economic hardship and cultural adjustment.^[1]^[14] Isaac Winogradsky worked in the garment trade, reflecting the occupational patterns of Jewish refugees who arrived via similar routes from the Pale of Settlement.^[13] This migration wave, peaking around 1900–1914, saw over 120,000 Jews enter Britain to evade pogroms and conscription, though Grade's family benefited from relatively open pre-World War I policies before stricter Aliens Acts curtailed such inflows.^[15] The East End's Yiddish-speaking communities provided initial support networks, enabling survival in an environment of poverty and labor-intensive work.^[16]

Childhood and Formative Influences

Louis Winogradsky, later known as Lew Grade, was born on December 25, 1906, in Tokmak, a small town near the Black Sea in the Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine), to Jewish parents Isaac and Olga Winogradsky.^[3] As the eldest of three sons—his siblings being Leslie and Bernard (later Bernard Delfont)—he experienced early instability due to anti-Semitic pogroms targeting Jewish communities in the region.^[17] In 1911, at the age of five, his family emigrated to Britain to escape persecution, settling in a cramped two-room flat in London's East End, specifically the Bethnal Green area, where they faced poverty amid the immigrant Jewish enclave.^[3]^[18] His father worked in shoe repair and the garment trade, instilling in the family a work ethic rooted in manual labor and small-scale entrepreneurship.^[3] Upon arrival, young Louis quickly adapted, mastering English and enrolling at Rochelle Street School in Shoreditch, where he demonstrated exceptional aptitude, including a photographic memory and proficiency in mathematics that briefly earned him a place in grammar school.^[19]^[9] However, economic pressures forced him to leave formal education at age 14 to assist in the family garment business, an experience that honed his resilience and practical skills amid the harsh realities of East End life, including exposure to street culture and the vibrant, if gritty, Jewish immigrant community.^[3] These formative years in a deprived, multi-ethnic urban environment, marked by resource scarcity and familial solidarity, shaped his pragmatic outlook and aversion to idleness, while the pervasive influence of Yiddish theater and music halls in the area sparked an early interest in performance.^[20] A pivotal influence emerged through dance, as Grade, inspired by the era's ballroom craze, trained in styles like the Charleston under the guidance of his brother Leslie, a professional dancer.^[3] By his late teens, he competed successfully, culminating in a victory at the World Charleston Championships held at the Royal Albert Hall around 1926, and performed professionally in London, Paris, and Berlin before knee injuries curtailed his career.^[3] This immersion in the performing arts, combined with the brothers' collaborative dynamic—foreshadowing their joint ventures in entertainment—fostered Grade's entrepreneurial instincts and appreciation for talent scouting, traits that would define his later success. The immigrant struggle, familial bonds, and hands-on engagement with popular culture thus formed the bedrock of his worldview, emphasizing self-reliance over formal credentials.^[18]

Entry into Entertainment

Vaudeville and Dance Career

Grade, born Louis Winogradsky, developed an early interest in dance through his father's instruction in traditional Cossack styles, which he later adapted to the emerging Charleston craze of the 1920s.^[21] In his late teens, he participated in local dance events in London's East End, winning competitions that provided initial earnings of up to £20 per night.^[22] His breakthrough came on December 15, 1926, when, at age 20, he entered and won the World Charleston Championship solo event at the Royal Albert Hall, securing the title of world champion and adopting the stage name Lew Grade.^[23]^[22] This victory, amid the event's spectacular staging as the "Charleston Ball," propelled him into professional vaudeville circuits across British theaters.^[24] Grade partnered initially with Al Gold as the act "Grad and Gold," performing fast-paced routines that earned acclaim for innovative steps like his "crossover" move, later commanding £50 per week at venues such as the Piccadilly Hotel.^[22] Over the subsequent years, Grade toured Europe, headlining at the Moulin Rouge in Paris by 1928 for £30 weekly and appearing in Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland.^[22] Billed variably as the "Charleston Champion of the World" or "The Man with the Musical Feet," he also collaborated with partners including Joe Collins, father of actresses Joan and Jackie Collins, sustaining a vaudeville presence on stages for approximately eight years.^[5]^[25] By the early 1930s, the waning popularity of the Charleston, combined with physical injuries such as water on the knee, prompted Grade to retire from performing around 1934, shifting focus to talent representation.^[22]^[25] This period marked his initial foray into the entertainment industry's business side, leveraging contacts from dance halls and theaters.^[3]

Establishing the Talent Agency

Following the decline of his dancing career in the early 1930s, Lew Grade transitioned into talent management by partnering with Joe Collins, a theatrical agent who had previously represented him as a performer.^[3]^[23] This collaboration formed the agency Collins & Grade around 1934, marking Grade's entry as a professional talent agent focused on booking variety acts for British theaters.^[7] Grade's firsthand experience from international dance tours enabled him to scout and recommend novelty performers from Europe, which the agency successfully booked, capitalizing on his network to secure engagements in variety shows and music halls.^[23]^[26] The agency's early operations emphasized representation of theatrical and novelty talent, including dancers, comedians, and continental acts, amid the competitive London variety circuit dominated by Moss Empires and other promoters.^[3] Grade handled client negotiations and bookings personally, building a reputation for aggressive deal-making and expanding the roster through acquisitions of smaller agencies' talents.^[4] By the mid-1930s, Collins & Grade had established a foothold in pre-war entertainment, though reliance on European performers later proved vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.^[26] The partnership with Collins laid the groundwork for Grade's later dominance, but tensions arose over business direction, leading to its termination in 1945. Grade then formalized a new venture with his brother Leslie, creating Lew and Leslie Grade Ltd., which absorbed prior operations and positioned the firm for post-war growth as one of Britain's largest talent agencies.^[3]^[4] This shift integrated family management, with Leslie focusing on accounting and administration while Lew drove client acquisition and deals.^[27]

Building the Agency

Key Talent Acquisitions

In 1934, Lew Grade partnered with agent Joe Collins to form a talent agency focused on booking performers for variety theaters and music halls.^[22] Among the earliest and most notable signings was harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler, whose innovative performances helped elevate the agency's profile in the mid-1930s.^[3]^[7] The agency secured representation of the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the UK, including guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli, whose 1934 formation and subsequent tours introduced gypsy jazz to British audiences; Grade organized their 1938 short film Jazz 'Hot' to promote the group.^[28]^[7] By absorbing smaller agencies, Grade's firm built a roster encompassing variety acts, musicians, and emerging theatrical stars, positioning it as a leading force in pre-war British entertainment booking despite competition from American agencies.^[18]

Pre-War Expansion and Challenges

In the early 1930s, following a knee injury that ended his dancing career, Lew Grade transitioned into talent representation by scouting acts for Joe Collins' music agency.^[22] His knack for identifying promising performers led to successful bookings on major circuits, prompting Collins to offer him a partnership and forming the Collins and Grade Agency around 1934.^[22] ^[21] This collaboration provided Grade access to theater managements previously uninterested in him, enabling the agency to expand by representing European variety acts and securing placements in British music halls and hotels.^[21] ^[22] The agency's growth accelerated through steady bookings for live entertainment venues, capitalizing on the demand for vaudeville-style performers amid the era's variety theater scene.^[22] By the mid-1930s, operations had stabilized, with Grade handling client negotiations and circuit deals that built a reputation for reliability in an industry reliant on personal networks.^[21] However, expansion faced headwinds from the lingering effects of the Great Depression, which reduced audiences and led to closures of smaller music halls, squeezing fees and opportunities for agents.^[22] Personal challenges compounded business pressures; after his father's death in 1935, Grade assumed greater financial responsibility for his family, relying on agency earnings to support siblings amid economic uncertainty.^[22] Partnership dynamics with Collins also strained over time, foreshadowing later splits, while the shift toward cinema competition eroded traditional music hall viability.^[21] Steady progress continued until September 1939, when the outbreak of World War II disrupted circuits and halted further pre-war development.^[22]

Transition to Broadcasting

Post-War Opportunities

Following the end of World War II in 1945, Lew Grade partnered with his brother Leslie to form the Lew and Leslie Grade Agency, rapidly expanding by acquiring smaller agencies and securing international bookings for major acts, such as sending George Formby to Australia and Tommy Trinder to New York.^[26]^[21] By 1951, the agency had established offices in London, New York, and California, facilitating the importation of American stars like Abbott and Costello and Judy Garland to Britain, which strengthened Grade's position as a dominant figure in global entertainment.^[21] Grade's post-war network-building included cultivating relationships with key American television executives, such as Ed Sullivan and William Paley of CBS, while his wife Kathie Moody's appearances on BBC radio and variety programs in June 1946 provided early exposure to the medium's potential.^[26] This groundwork positioned him to capitalize on emerging broadcasting trends, though his primary focus remained on variety and theatrical representation amid Britain's recovering entertainment industry. The pivotal post-war opportunity arose in August 1954 with the British government's authorization of commercial television under the Independent Television Authority (ITA), prompting Grade—initially reluctant due to the £3 million capital requirement—to form the Incorporated Television Company (ITC) consortium with investors including Syd and Phil Hymans and Val Parnell, committing £15,000 personally from a total £3 million pool.^[29]^[21] ITC's bid for a London franchise, submitted after an advertisement in The Times highlighted by Jo Stafford's manager Mike Nidorf, was rejected on 26 October 1954 over concerns about Grade's agency monopoly, but this led to ITC's pivot as a program producer and subcontractor.^[26]^[29] On 11 March 1955, ITC partnered with Associated Broadcasting Development Company (ABDC) to create the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC), soon renamed Associated Television (ATV), securing a weekday London franchise and launching broadcasts on 24 September 1955 with productions like The Adventures of Robin Hood.^[29] This transition transformed Grade's agency expertise into a broadcasting powerhouse, despite early financial strains resolved by late 1956 through additional investment.^[29]

Formation of ATV and ITC

In 1954, Lew Grade, alongside theatre owners Prince Littler and Val Parnell of Moss Empires, formed the Incorporated Television Company (ITC) to bid for a commercial television franchise from the Independent Television Authority (ITA), established under the Television Act 1954 to introduce advertising-funded broadcasting in Britain.^[30]^[31] ITC's application emphasized Grade's entertainment industry expertise but was rejected by the ITA, which favored other consortia amid concerns over potential monopolies in show business.^[29] Following the rebuff, ITC partnered with the Associated Broadcasting Development Company (ABDC), led by former BBC executive Norman Collins, to create Associated Television Ltd (ATV) in early 1955; this merger combined ABDC's broadcasting ambitions with ITC's talent resources and production capabilities.^[32]^[17] The ITA awarded ATV the weekday franchise for the London region (population over 12 million) and the weekend franchise for the Midlands region on 26 June 1955, recognizing the consortium's financial stability—backed by £750,000 in capital—and programming potential rooted in Grade's variety theatre background.^[33]^[23] ATV launched its London weekday service on 24 September 1955 from studios at 17 Great Cumberland Place, initially broadcasting 45 hours weekly with a focus on light entertainment, including imported American shows and live variety acts drawn from Grade's agency roster.^[18] Grade assumed the role of deputy managing director under Val Parnell, exerting significant influence over content strategy, while ITC functioned as ATV's dedicated production and international sales subsidiary, handling exports to markets like the United States.^[34]^[35] This structure enabled ATV to prioritize high-volume, exportable formats, establishing Grade's model of leveraging television for global syndication revenue.^[23]

Television Empire

Early ITV Productions (1955–1962)

Associated Television (ATV), co-founded by Lew Grade in 1954 as a weekend contractor for the Independent Television (ITV) network in London, commenced broadcasting on 24 September 1955 under the management of Val Parnell, with Grade serving as deputy managing director.^[4] Drawing on Grade's background in variety entertainment, ATV's initial output emphasized live variety spectacles to attract mass audiences and compete with the BBC, prioritizing accessible, high-energy programming over experimental content.^[34] A flagship production, Sunday Night at the London Palladium, debuted in 1955 and ran until 1965, featuring top vaudeville acts, comedians, and singers hosted by Parnell; it regularly drew audiences of 20–28 million viewers, equivalent to over half the UK population at the time, underscoring ATV's early dominance in ratings.^[4] This variety format exemplified Grade's strategy of leveraging familiar theatrical talents to build viewer loyalty and advertising revenue, with episodes often broadcast live from the Palladium theatre to capture the immediacy of stage performance.^[18] ATV also pioneered filmed adventure series for export potential through early collaborations with production entities like Sapphire Films. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1959), comprising 143 episodes starring Richard Greene, marked the first major ITC-associated drama; it depicted Robin Hood's resistance against Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, achieving domestic success while generating substantial foreign sales, particularly to the United States, where it aired on networks like CBS and helped establish British TV's international viability.^[36]^[4] Comedy series such as The Army Game (1957–1961) further solidified ATV's appeal, satirizing British National Service experiences with recurring characters like Sergeant-Major 'Bull' Baxter; the show spawned spin-offs including Don't Forget to Write! and contributed to ITV's growing reputation for light-hearted, relatable programming that resonated with post-war audiences.^[18] By 1962, these productions had positioned ATV as a commercial powerhouse, prompting Grade's ascension to managing director after internal maneuvers sidelined Parnell, enabling expanded ambitions in scripted content and global distribution.^[4]

Peak Exports and Shows (1962–1970)

During the period from 1962 to 1970, ITC Entertainment, led by Lew Grade, reached the zenith of its television export strategy, capitalizing on the demand for polished, adventure-oriented series tailored for international markets, especially the United States. Building on the precedent of earlier half-hour successes like The Adventures of Robin Hood, Grade pivoted to producing one-hour filmed dramas with high production values, exotic locations, and star appeal to meet American network preferences and overcome barriers to syndication. This approach reversed the prior dominance of U.S. imports in Britain, positioning ITC as a leading exporter of British content and generating substantial foreign revenue through sales to broadcasters worldwide.^[18] The Saint (1962–1969), featuring Roger Moore as the sophisticated thief-turned-detective Simon Templar, exemplified this era's triumphs, running for 118 episodes and achieving massive syndication in the U.S., where it aired extensively and bolstered ITC's reputation for marketable action series. Other notable exports included Gideon's Way (1965–1966), a police procedural; The Baron (1966), starring Steve Forrest as an art dealer and spy; and Man in a Suitcase (1967–1968), following private investigator McGill's global investigations. These series emphasized self-contained stories and international settings to maximize overseas appeal, with ITC prioritizing U.S. sales deals that often recouped production costs before UK transmission.^[37] Supermarionation productions under Gerry Anderson further highlighted ITC's innovative edge, including Thunderbirds (1965–1966), a puppet-based rescue adventure series exported to approximately 30 countries, though it secured U.S. syndication rather than a network slot due to Grade's aggressive but ultimately unsuccessful bidding against competitors. Successors like Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–1968) continued this vein, blending science fiction with espionage for broad audiences. Later entries such as The Champions (1968–1969), involving superhuman agents, and Department S (1969–1970), a stylish detective drama, sustained the momentum into the decade's end, with ITC amassing thousands of hours of programmable content primed for global distribution.^[38] Grade's export prowess earned formal accolades, including the Queen's Award to Industry in 1967—the first for the British entertainment sector—and a knighthood in 1969 explicitly for services to television exports, reflecting ITC's role in elevating UK programming's economic impact abroad.^[21]^[13]

Regulatory Battles and Adaptations

In the mid-1970s, Lew Grade faced significant regulatory constraints from the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which mandated that chairmen of ITV companies retire at age 70 to prevent entrenched control. Born on 25 December 1906, Grade turned 70 in 1976, compelling his departure from the chairmanship of Associated Television (ATV), the ITV franchise he had led since 1955.^[39] This rule, intended to promote fresh leadership and public service obligations, effectively sidelined Grade from direct operational control of ATV's domestic broadcasting, though he retained influence through family ties and ITC Entertainment, ATV's production subsidiary.^[40] The most protracted regulatory conflict arose during the 1981 ITV franchise renewals under the IBA's review process, which scrutinized franchise holders for compliance with programming quality, regional representation, and financial stability amid economic pressures. ATV's bid, dominated by Grade's family interests and emphasizing entertainment exports over local content, was deemed insufficiently responsive to these criteria; the IBA awarded the Midlands and London weekday contracts to a new consortium, Central Independent Television, effective 1 January 1982.^[40] Grade contested the decision through legal challenges, arguing bias and procedural flaws, but the IBA upheld its ruling, citing ATV's over-reliance on imported formats and perceived neglect of educational programming—issues exacerbated by Grade's export-focused strategy that generated over 80% of ATV's revenue from international sales by the late 1970s.^[41] These battles highlighted tensions between Grade's commercial imperatives and the IBA's quasi-public service model, influenced by post-war broadcasting policies prioritizing cultural balance over profit maximization. To adapt, Grade pivoted ATV's production arm, ITC, toward unregulated international syndication, producing filmed series like The Muppet Show (1976–1981), which bypassed ITV quotas on foreign content by targeting global networks and achieving sales in over 100 countries.^[42] Post-franchise loss, he reoriented toward cinema via Associated Communications Corporation, securing deals for films such as The Eagle Has Landed (1976) and leveraging ITC's back catalog for revenue, amassing personal assets exceeding £100 million by 1980 despite domestic setbacks.^[18] This shift underscored Grade's resilience, transforming regulatory curbs into opportunities for transnational media dominance unbound by UK oversight.

Film and Global Ventures

Cinema Production Strategies

Grade's entry into cinema production in the 1970s relied on independent financing models that capitalized on his established television infrastructure at ITC Entertainment. Rather than depending on traditional studio advances or theatrical pre-sales alone, he prioritized securing commitments for ancillary revenue streams, particularly international television broadcast rights, to underwrite production costs upfront. This method reduced exposure to box-office volatility by guaranteeing partial budget recovery before principal photography began.^[43] Central to this strategy was the formation of ITC Pictures in 1975 as a dedicated feature film division, enabling Grade to package projects with global market potential. Productions emphasized star-driven narratives in genres like action-adventure and disaster films, often utilizing British locations and crews for cost efficiencies while incorporating American or European talent to appeal to U.S. networks. Budgets for these films typically ranged from $5 million to $20 million, with pre-sales to broadcasters covering 30-50% of expenses in successful cases. For example, The Tamarind Seed (1974), directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif, achieved moderate theatrical returns but was insulated by prior television rights deals arranged through ITC's distribution channels.^[21]^[43] Grade's deal-making extended to co-production arrangements and selective acquisitions, favoring properties adaptable across media platforms. This cross-pollination from television—evident in ITC's prior success with filmed series like The Saint and The Avengers—informed a focus on episodic-friendly storytelling elements, such as ensemble casts and self-contained action sequences, to enhance downstream syndication value. Risks were further managed through diversified rights bundles, including home video and pay-TV licensing, though over-reliance on U.S. pre-sales exposed vulnerabilities to network programming shifts.^[43]

Notable Film Deals and Outputs

In the 1970s, Lew Grade expanded ITC Entertainment into feature film production through Associated Communications Corporation (ACC), aiming to capitalize on international markets with high-budget adaptations and star-driven projects.^[4] This shift followed successes like The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), prompting investments in theatrical releases distributed via the newly formed Associated Film Distribution (AFD), a 1978 joint venture with brother Bernard Delfont's EMI Films for U.S. and global rollout.^[4] ^[44] However, AFD's operations faltered amid escalating costs and market challenges, contributing to ACC's financial strain by the early 1980s.^[4] One notable output was The Eagle Has Landed (1976), a World War II thriller directed by John Sturges and adapted from Jack Higgins' novel, starring Michael Caine as German paratrooper Colonel Kurt Steiner, Donald Sutherland, and Robert Duvall.^[23] Grade, who financed the production, expressed pride in its execution despite mixed critical reception, viewing it as a solid entry in his film portfolio.^[23] The film grossed moderately but exemplified Grade's strategy of leveraging British talent and historical narratives for crossover appeal.^[4] The Muppet Movie (1979), executive-produced by Grade and directed by James Frawley, marked a commercial triumph, earning over $80 million worldwide on a modest budget and featuring Jim Henson's puppets alongside stars like Charles Durning and Orson Welles, who portrayed a studio mogul named "Lew Lord" as a nod to Grade.^[4] This deal built on Grade's prior backing of The Muppet Show, securing Henson's first major cinematic venture through personal negotiations and ITC's distribution network.^[17] In contrast, Raise the Titanic! (1980), directed by Jerry Jameson and based on Clive Cussler's novel, represented a high-risk gamble with a $36 million budget—unprecedented for a British-led production at the time—focusing on a fictional salvage operation starring Jason Robards and Richard Jordan.^[11] The film underperformed, grossing only $8 million at the box office, prompting Grade's wry remark that "it would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic," and accelerating his ouster from ACC control in 1982 amid boardroom disputes.^[11] ^[23] Later outputs included co-production of Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata (1978) with Liv Ullmann and Ingrid Bergman, which garnered critical acclaim including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and distribution successes like On Golden Pond (1981) and Sophie's Choice (1982), both acquired and released via AFD to strong returns before its collapse.^[4] These ventures highlighted Grade's deal-making acumen in securing prestige projects through direct outreach to talent, though inconsistent oversight on costlier films underscored risks in his expansion.^[11] ^[23]

James Bond Franchise Role

In the late 1950s, Lew Grade, through his company Incorporated Television Company (ITC), pursued the adaptation of Ian Fleming's James Bond character for a television series, involving discussions with Fleming and producer Ralph Smart to develop the project.^[45] However, Fleming had previously sold the film rights to Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, who formed Eon Productions in 1961, preventing repurchase and dooming the TV initiative.^[45] Unable to proceed, Grade pivoted to original espionage programming, commissioning Danger Man (originally titled Secret Agent in some markets) in 1960, starring Patrick McGoohan as NATO agent John Drake—a character inspired by Bond's suave spy archetype but emphasizing moral complexity over gadgetry and glamour.^[45] The series, produced by ITC, ran for 47 episodes across two runs (1960–1962 and 1964–1968), achieving international syndication success and influencing the spy genre amid Bond's cinematic rise.^[45] Grade's ITC also produced The Saint (1962–1969), casting Roger Moore as the debonair thief-turned-vigilante Simon Templar, whose sophisticated persona mirrored Bond's appeal and helped establish Moore's on-screen elegance.^[46] When Moore was selected as the third actor to portray Bond in Eon's Live and Let Die (1973), Grade, as Moore's longtime television backer, opposed the move, warning it would "ruin your career" by shifting focus from lucrative TV commitments like the ongoing The Persuaders! (1971).^[47] Moore proceeded regardless, portraying 007 in seven Eon films through 1985, though the decision contributed to the abrupt end of The Persuaders! after one season due to scheduling conflicts.^[48] Grade's early Bond ambitions and talent cultivation thus indirectly shaped the franchise's television-adjacent legacy, even as his film efforts focused elsewhere.

Later Business Activities

1970s Diversifications

In the late 1960s and through the 1970s, Lew Grade's Associated Communications Corporation (ACC), the holding company overseeing ATV and ITC, maintained and expanded a portfolio of non-broadcast investments that included music production and publishing. A pivotal acquisition occurred in 1969 when ATV secured a controlling stake in Northern Songs, the publisher of the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue encompassing nearly all compositions by John Lennon and Paul McCartney from their Beatles era. This move established ATV Music as a major player in music publishing, generating substantial royalty income during the 1970s from enduring hits like "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude," which offset risks in other sectors.^[49] ACC also held Pye Records, the United Kingdom's third-largest record label at the time, which produced and distributed pop and rock music, contributing to diversified revenue streams amid the decade's booming music industry. Complementary holdings encompassed Muzak, a piped-music service providing background audio for commercial spaces, and investments in bowling alleys as part of leisure entertainment ventures. Publishing interests further broadened the group's scope beyond media production. These assets, integrated under ACC since its 1966 formation, provided financial stability and growth opportunities, with pre-tax profits rising significantly by the late 1970s—reaching £20.5 million for the year ended March 1978—prompting a formal rebranding from Associated Television Corporation to Associated Communications Corporation in 1979 to emphasize the multifaceted operations.^[4]^[50] While core strengths remained in television and film exports, these diversifications mitigated regulatory pressures on UK broadcasting franchises and capitalized on global trends in entertainment consumption. However, the music publishing triumph contrasted with variable performance in leisure sectors, where bowling and Muzak faced competition from emerging consumer preferences. Grade's strategy prioritized high-yield intellectual property like song rights over physical assets, aligning with his emphasis on scalable, exportable content.^[4]

1980s Deals and Reversals

In the early 1980s, Lew Grade pursued ambitious film production deals through his companies, including ITC Entertainment, focusing on high-budget adaptations with international appeal. One prominent venture was the 1980 release of Raise the Titanic!, directed by Jerry Jameson and based on Clive Cussler's novel, which Grade financed at a cost of $36 million in an effort to capitalize on disaster-adventure genres.^[11] However, the film grossed only $8 million at the box office, marking a severe financial reversal that strained ITC's resources and prompted Grade's quip, "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic."^[11] This flop exacerbated broader challenges for Grade's Associated Communications Corporation (ACC), which had diversified into feature films amid declining television dominance. Additional 1980s productions, such as The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981), compounded losses through poor commercial performance, eroding investor confidence and leading to diminished control over ITC by mid-decade.^[17] In 1982, these cumulative film failures necessitated the sale of key production assets, transitioning Grade away from operational leadership in his longstanding enterprises.^[12] Concurrently, the Independent Broadcasting Authority's 1980 franchise review mandated restructuring of Associated Television (ATV), requiring separation of London and regional interests, which diluted ACC's majority stake and rebranded the entity as Central Independent Television in 1982, effectively curtailing Grade's influence over the ITV network he had built.^[51] By 1985, Grade reorganized under the Grade Company, seeking new distribution and production partnerships, including international television syndication deals to leverage his library of classics like The Muppet Show.^[2] Yet these efforts faced headwinds from the era's shifting media landscape, including rising competition from cable and video markets, which limited recovery from prior overextensions into costly cinema ventures. Grade's persistence in deal-making persisted into the late 1980s, as evidenced by his continued pursuit of script acquisitions and co-productions, though without recapturing earlier dominance.^[11]

Personal Beliefs and Philanthropy

Political Views and Zionism

Lew Grade, born Louis Winogradsky to Jewish parents in the Russian Empire, emigrated to the United Kingdom as a child amid rising antisemitism and pogroms, which informed his enduring connection to Jewish causes.^[5] While he rarely articulated explicit political affiliations or ideologies in public, preferring to concentrate on commercial entertainment enterprises, his actions reflected pragmatic support for free-market principles that aligned with conservative economic policies, though he received honors from Labour governments, including a life peerage in 1976 from Prime Minister Harold Wilson. This elevation, part of Wilson's controversial resignation honours list, included other business figures but did not indicate partisan loyalty, as Grade navigated regulatory environments across administrations, including initial Labour opposition to commercial television.^[52] Grade's Zionism manifested primarily through philanthropy toward Israel rather than ideological advocacy. In June 1967, during the Six-Day War, he and his brother Bernard Delfont each donated £40,000 to support the Israeli war effort, a significant sum equivalent to over £900,000 in contemporary terms, underscoring personal commitment to the Jewish state's survival amid existential threats.^[53] Such contributions aligned with broader Anglo-Jewish communal solidarity for Zionism post-Holocaust and amid Arab-Israeli conflicts, though Grade avoided polemical statements on the movement's political dimensions, focusing instead on practical aid. No records indicate involvement in Zionist organizations or public endorsements of specific Israeli policies, distinguishing his support as charitable rather than activist.^[3]

Family Dynamics and Personal Traits

Lew Grade, born Louis Winogradsky on December 25, 1906, in Tokmak, Ukraine, was the eldest of three sons to Jewish parents Isaac and Olga Winogradsky, who emigrated to London's East End in 1912 to escape pogroms, settling in a two-room flat.^[3] His brothers, Leslie and Bernard (later Lord Delfont), also entered show business, forming a family dynasty that dominated British entertainment through complementary roles: Bernard as a theatrical impresario booking acts, Leslie as a talent agent representing stars, and Lew handling television broadcasting and production.^[27] In 1934, Lew and Leslie co-founded the Grade Organisation, and the brothers collectively controlled key productions like Sunday Night at the Palladium, with interconnected operations spanning theatre, agency, and TV, though investigations later scrutinized their empire's dominance.^[27] Grade was closer to Leslie than to Bernard, with whom he shared sibling rivalry, once learning of his name change through newspapers.^[3] Grade married Kathleen Sheila Moody, a rising teenage singer known as "the Singing Starlet," on June 23, 1942—her 21st birthday— in a union lasting 56 years until his death.^[54] Moody abandoned her West End and radio career to support Grade's ambitions, driving him to work, managing their Knightsbridge home, and even endorsing asset sales for his 1955 ITV bid; she introduced him to large Havana cigars, enhancing his confidence.^[54] His mother Olga, a formidable matriarch, opposed the marriage due to Moody's Roman Catholic background and refused to attend the wedding.^[3] The couple had no biological children but adopted a son, Paul, who died in 2012; they hosted showbiz gatherings but eschewed traditional holidays, opting for Dorchester Hotel stays.^[54] Known for a flamboyant, buoyant personality, Grade was a habitual cigar smoker, consuming up to seven Montecristos daily as a "security blanket," often arriving at events in a 1971 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.^[5] He maintained a rigorous work ethic, logging 12-hour days starting at 7 a.m. into his nineties, prioritizing personal relationships and handshakes over contracts, which he viewed as binding as any legal document.^[3] Resilient and humorous, he quipped after the flop of Raise the Titanic (1980), "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic," reflecting his feisty, exuberant wit amid business setbacks.^[5]

Honours and Recognition

Titles Conferred

In 1969, Lew Grade was knighted in the New Year Honours for his contributions to the entertainment industry, particularly television, permitting him to style himself as Sir Lew Grade.^[55]^[56] On 2 June 1976, Grade was elevated to the peerage as Baron Grade, of Elstree, in the County of Hertfordshire, a life peerage conferred under the Life Peerages Act 1958, enabling him to sit in the House of Lords as Lord Grade.^[57]^[58] He took his seat in the Lords later that year, participating occasionally in debates on media and broadcasting matters.^[12] No hereditary titles were conferred, reflecting the non-hereditary nature of the peerage granted during Harold Wilson's resignation honours list.^[57]

Industry Tributes

Film producer Lord David Puttnam described Grade as "an extraordinary man, ebullient, generous and unique," emphasizing his pivotal role alongside Sydney Bernstein of Granada in developing the Independent Television network, noting that "he always wanted to make a deal and you could never surprise him."^[59] Director Michael Winner praised Grade's boldness, stating he "plunged in and had a go" and was "the epitome of the word 'entrepreneur'," adding that "we'll never see anyone like that again" and he was "a wonderful man to do a deal with."^[60]^[59] Producer Bob Baker, known for Doctor Who and the Daleks, called Grade "the last of the great ones, an original" who "lived show-business" and made "no-one... a greater contribution to television in the sixties and seventies."^[60] Actress Barbara Windsor attributed his success to instinct: "What made him special was that he had a great feel for what would be popular and that's what made him loved by thousands in show business."^[59] These sentiments reflected widespread recognition of Grade's deal-making prowess and programming innovations during ATV's dominance from the 1950s to 1970s.^[60] Grade's funeral on 16 December 1998 drew hundreds of entertainment figures, underscoring his enduring influence.^[61] Rabbi Albert Friedlander, delivering the eulogy, portrayed him as "irreplaceable, the greatest, warmest man of his time," likening his life to a grand production that had concluded.^[61] Earlier, on his 80th birthday in 1986, Variety published a special tribute honoring his ascent from tailoring to leading British media exports.^[62]

Criticisms and Controversies

Aggressive Deal-Making

Lew Grade's negotiation tactics were characterized by a blend of theatrical flair, persistence, and strategic bluffing, often employing dramatic gestures to unsettle counterparts. During boardroom discussions, he would feign confusion or bang a gavel to assert dominance, while in private deals, he staged simulated high-stakes phone calls—such as speaking to himself in a closet—to create urgency.^[18] These methods, rooted in his background as a talent agent, allowed him to secure favorable terms but drew accusations of manipulation from rivals who viewed them as grifter-like deceptions.^[18] A notable instance of aggressive maneuvering occurred in 1962 when Grade orchestrated the ousting of long-time partner Val Parnell from Associated Television (ATV), leveraging board support to consolidate control despite their prior collaboration on variety programming.^[18] Similarly, in 1969, ATV's acquisition of Northern Songs—the catalog holding The Beatles' publishing rights—was executed through rapid financial pressure on stakeholders, granting Grade leverage over the band's intellectual property. This enabled him to compel Paul McCartney to perform on an ATV special in 1973 and John Lennon to appear in a 1975 tribute gala, moves McCartney later decried as coercive exploitation of the deal's terms.^[18] Critics labeled Grade the "Show Business Octopus" amid his 1954 bid for stakes in the Independent Television Corporation (ITC), arguing his tactics fostered undue concentration of power in entertainment agencies and broadcasting.^[18] Howard Thomas, head of ABC Television, once called Grade's threats to withdraw Palladium shows from rival networks a bluff, highlighting how such brinkmanship strained industry relations without always yielding concessions.^[34] While biographers like Lewis Chester portrayed these as legitimate tools for a self-made impresario navigating competitive markets, detractors contended they prioritized personal empire-building over collaborative equity, contributing to perceptions of ruthlessness in British media.^[63]

Quality and Monopoly Charges

In the formation of Independent Television in the mid-1950s, the Independent Television Authority (ITA) rejected Lew Grade's Incorporated Television Company (ITC) bid for a broadcasting franchise, citing risks of monopolistic control over entertainment supply. Grade, alongside associates like Prince Littler and Val Parnell, dominated talent agencies and variety bookings, which the ITA viewed as potentially enabling undue influence over programming across the nascent ITV network.^[29]^[64] This decision stemmed from fears that granting ITC a license would consolidate entertainment monopolies, as articulated by ITA officials who argued it could "dominate Independent Television from the outset."^[29] Subsequent concerns persisted regarding Grade's integrated operations between ATV (as broadcaster) and ITC (as producer-distributor), which supplied adventure series and filmed content to ITV stations. Critics, including rival executives, highlighted vertical integration allowing Grade to prioritize exportable formats over diverse domestic output, potentially squeezing independent producers and fostering network dependency on ATV/ITC packages.^[34] While no formal antitrust charges materialized under UK competition laws of the era, these dynamics fueled perceptions of dominance, particularly as ITC's international sales arm—handling shows like The Saint and The Avengers—generated revenues exceeding £100 million by the 1970s, bolstering ATV's financial leverage within ITV.^[21] Quality charges centered on accusations that Grade's productions favored commercial viability and formulaic spectacle over substantive content. Rival ABC Television head Howard Thomas lambasted ITC offerings as "cheap versions" of highbrow formats, designed to skirt ITA quotas for originated British programming since filmed series often evaded full counting toward live-content requirements.^[34] Shows like Thunderbirds (1965–1966) and The Protectors (1972–1974), while achieving global syndication, drew fire for glossy, action-oriented repetition lacking narrative depth or cultural nuance, prioritizing U.S. market appeal—evident in budgets exceeding £10,000 per episode for The Saint—over artistic innovation.^[65] Detractors, including ITA reviewers during ATV's 1970 franchise renewal, criticized the emphasis on entertainment-heavy schedules with minimal educational or regional focus, contrasting with BBC's public-service benchmarks, though Grade defended his approach as blending popularity with profitability.^[66]

Cultural Impact Debates

Grade's export-oriented productions via ITC Entertainment, including series like The Saint (1962–1969) and Thunderbirds (1965–1966), adapted British formats with glamorous visuals and action-driven narratives to penetrate the U.S. market, reversing the prior dominance of American imports in British schedules.^[18]^[67] This transatlantic hybridity—blending British settings with American stylistic preferences—prompted scholarly debate on whether it fostered cultural globalization or eroded national specificity, as shows prioritized broad appeal over regionally rooted storytelling.^[67]^[68] Proponents of Grade's model highlighted its economic and promotional benefits, arguing that successes like The Muppet Show (1976–1981), which aired in over 100 countries, amplified British creative output internationally and secured Queen's Awards for Export in 1967 and 1969 for ITC's contributions.^[68]^[69] These efforts generated revenues exceeding £100 million annually by the 1970s from U.S. syndication alone, enabling reinvestment in talent like Morecambe and Wise, whose ATV specials drew 20–30 million UK viewers per episode in the late 1960s and 1970s.^[18] Critics, however, contended that the commercial imperative subordinated artistic depth to formulaic escapism, with some ATV content dismissed as mediocre due to scant regional focus despite the Midlands franchise mandate, potentially homogenizing British television toward profit-driven spectacle over public-service depth.^[18] This tension mirrored broader 1960s–1970s discussions on commercial broadcasters' role, where Grade's ATV faced Independent Television Authority scrutiny for prioritizing export quotas over domestic cultural diversity, as evidenced by ITC's 51% foreign-sales requirement for filmed series approval.^[34]^[70] In children's programming, Thunderbirds' global syndication exemplified the debate: its supermarionation format influenced international puppetry trends but was critiqued for importing American heroic individualism into British narratives, complicating assessments of cultural export as empowerment versus subtle Anglicization of global youth media.^[71] Grade's defenders countered that such innovations democratized access to high-production values, with ITC's output shaping 1960s American perceptions of British sophistication through spy thrillers like The Avengers (1961–1969), which topped U.S. Nielsen ratings in 1967.^[69] These polarized views persist in analyses of how Grade's legacy prioritized market realism over ideological purity, yielding enduring franchises amid charges of cultural commodification.^[70]

Death and Enduring Legacy

Final Years and Health

In his final years, Grade continued his long-standing involvement in the entertainment industry, having pledged never to retire and maintaining professional activities until shortly before his death. He had been a pivotal figure in British show business for over seven decades, with his career spanning from dance promotion in the 1920s to television production and film distribution.^[3] In late November 1998, at the age of 91, Grade was admitted to the London Clinic for unspecified surgery. Approximately two weeks later, he developed heart failure as a complication.^[55]^[72] He died there on December 13, 1998, at 12:45 a.m., surrounded by his wife Kathleen and close family members.^[55]^[60] No prior chronic health conditions were publicly detailed in the lead-up to this event, though his advanced age and history of knee issues from youth had previously impacted his early career as a dancer.^[14]

Economic and Cultural Assessments

Grade's stewardship of Associated Television (ATV), established in 1955 as one of Britain's inaugural commercial broadcasters, marked a pivotal shift toward profitability in the UK's nascent independent television sector, with ATV generating revenues through advertising and programme sales that sustained operations amid competition from the public-service BBC.^[5] Under his direction at ITC Entertainment, the company prioritized production of hour-long adventure series tailored for international syndication, particularly in the United States, where first-run sales covered costs and yielded surpluses—reversing the prior dominance of American imports in British schedules.^[18] This export strategy, exemplified by series such as The Saint (1962–1969) and The Persuaders! (1971), contributed to Britain's balance-of-payments improvements in media, earning Grade a knighthood in 1969 explicitly for services to exports.^[73] ITC's global distribution model under Grade amassed multiple Queen's Awards for Export, underscoring the economic multiplier effect of television production on ancillary industries like film processing and talent agencies, while fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem for British content creators.^[74] By the 1970s, ITC's revenues from overseas markets had positioned it as a leader in the UK's programme export drive, with annual sales figures supporting reinvestment in high-profile projects like Jesus of Nazareth (1977), which alone recouped costs through international licensing.^[75] Economists assessing post-war media growth have credited such ventures with injecting foreign exchange into the economy, though reliant on volatile US network deals that exposed producers to market fluctuations.^[76] Culturally, Grade's emphasis on escapist, visually lavish formats—such as puppetry in Thunderbirds (1965–1966) and variety in The Muppet Show (1976–1981)—propagated British ingenuity in popular entertainment worldwide, embedding archetypes of suave spies and whimsical adventure in global audiences and influencing subsequent transatlantic co-productions.^[77] This output elevated the UK's soft power through accessible narratives that prioritized broad appeal over artistic depth, as evidenced by ITC's role in syndicating content to over 100 countries and shaping perceptions of British media as commercially agile rather than insular.^[78] Legacy analyses highlight how Grade's model democratized entertainment exportation, enabling talents like Roger Moore and Jim Henson to achieve international stardom, though it arguably prioritized formulaic repetition—favoring spectacle-driven series—that sidelined experimental or regionally focused British programming in favor of Hollywood-compatible molds.^[11] His approach thus enduringly framed UK television as a revenue-generating cultural commodity, with ITC's archived catalogue continuing to yield licensing income decades later.^[79]

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