User:Crosbie1960/Paddy Crosbie

Paddy Crosbie

Paddy Crosbie was born in Dublin, 1st October 1913, educated at St. Pauls's C.B.S., St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra and University College, Dublin. Paddy Crosbie is the famous creator of such radio and television programes as The School Around The Corner and Back To School. He also composed songs, comic Rhyme and scripts for stage and television. When he retired from teaching he wrote books "Tales from the School Around the Corner" and "Your Dinners Poured Out".

Paddy's interest in the entertainment world began in the early nineteen forties when he used to write scripts for the amateur shows put on by a Dublin tennis club. It was Mike Nolan who introduced him to the powers-that-were in the Dublins's Capitol Theatre soon he was writing scripts for a Metropolitan audience.

But Paddy needed more active participation and so in 1951 his famous school-boy act was born. He first took to the stage, in short trousers and skull-cap in Dublin's St. Francis Xavier Hall which was also the place which first rang to his now famous signature tune, The School Around The Corner. A few short years later in 1953 he stepped into a major place in Radio Eireann, compere of his own show, a new show conceived and conducted by himself. Starting with his own school the C.B.S. in North Brunswick Street, he launched "The School Around The Corner".

"The School Around The Corner" was born on radio at Easter, 1954, when Michael O h-Aodha gave the "idea" his blessing, the late lovable Seamus Kavanagh took over as producer of the first short series. The producers who succeeded Seamus were Joan Dalton and Padraig O'Neill. Jim (James)Plunkett guided the 'School' on to television, it was the 1st show to be pre-recorded for the new television station in 1961 and top of the TAM ratings up to when it was discontinued over five years later.