Franklin Engelmann ("Jingle")

Franklin Engelmann was born in London, and entered the Stock Exchange in 1925. In 1936 he began radio broadcasting as a commentator for the America National Broadcasting Company. In 1940 he became a staff announcer for the BBC, but in 1942 he gained a commission in the Royal Engineers. In 1946 Engelmann rejoined the BBC as ‘Senior Announcer and Assistant Controller, Light Programme,' and in November 1948 he was the BBC newsreader who announced the birth of Prince Charles. Engelmann also did some work as a newsreel commentator, his first credit coming when he stood in for Movietone’s regular commentator, Leslie Mitchell [qv], in British Movietone News No.1068A of November 1949. He seems not to have been contracted to Movietone, however, for in July 1953 Engelmann was credited as both scriptwriter and commentator for British Paramount News Nos.2335 and 2236. In 1954 Engelmann resigned from the BBC to become a freelance broadcaster, and in 1961 he was named Radio Personality of the Year by the Variety Club. In January 1967 Engelmann returned to Movietone for a brief spell as relief commentator for Mitchell, his credits starting with British Movietone News No.1961, and running until No.2037 of June 1968. He is also credited at this time as commentator for the Look At Life issue entitled ‘SO MUCH HOT AIR’, released in 1967.

Sources

BUFVC, British Paramount News files, Issue Number 2335 (script for ‘THIRD TEST DRAWN,' July 1953): NoS Number 350636; Look At Life Number 446; Year released 1967.