Anton and his Orchestra
Anton
and his orchestra were
regularly featured on the
BBC Light Programme and
Home Service for more
than two decades. Anton
(real name Arthur
Sweeting) was working in
theatres in the 1930s
when he was advised to
find himself a more
imposing name - so Anton
he became!
During the latter half of the thirties he was conductor of the Paramount Theatre orchestra in London's Tottenham Court Road, from where the orchestra gave weekly broadcasts as well as making many records for HMV, often accompanied by Al Bollington on the cinema organ. Some of the broadcasts came from the Brixton Astoria and for those occasions the orchestra was retitled the Paramount Astoria Orchestra.
During the latter part of the war, Anton formed his own orchestra of fifteen players specifically for broadcasting, giving the first of his 252 'Music While you Work' programmes in 1946. The orchestra also made many appearances in other series, such as 'Marching and Waltzing', 'Bright and Early' and 'Morning Music'.
The
orchestra consisted of
strings, woodwind,
accordion, piano and
percussion and was almost
a who's who of the light
music profession as it
consisted of top session
players, many of whom had
their own orchestras on
the air. Famous names of
the era such as Bernard
Monshin,
Ralph
Elman,
Gerald
Crossman,
Sidney
Davey,
Hugh
James
and Jack Mandel were
regularly to be found
playing in the orchestra.
Arthur Anton was also a reserve conductor to the BBC's own staff orchestras and made countless broadcasts with the BBC Northern Ireland Light Orchestra and BBC Scottish Variety Orchestra. A reliable and temperate man, he was highly respected by his fellow musicians. In 1965 he also became Musical Director for the London show 'Charlie Girl'. In retirement, Anton became joint president (with Joseph Muscant) of the Vintage Light Music Society which was run by the late Stuart Upton, a man respected for his encyclopaedic knowledge of traditional light music.
Arthur Anton died in March 1980 and many of his early records have been issued on a series of CDs.
(The pictures above are courtesy of Lynne Chapman, Anton's Neice)
Anton and
his Orchestra
broadcasting from the
Camden Theatre, London
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Home Service at 10.31
a.m. on 26th September
1964
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 26th September 1964
 |
Calling
All Workers (sig) Lady of Madrid Alpine Echoes Jangle Bells This is my Prayer Little Senorita Medley: . Song of the Dawn . A Bench in the Park . Happy Feet Spanish Harlequin Begorrah Parlez moi d’amour Spanish Gypsy Dance Sophie Galop Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Tolchard Evans Pilatus Kenneth Baynes Nisa Cyril Watters Milton Ager
Peter Haysom Craddy |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 10.31
a.m. on 21st November
1966
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 21st November 1966
| Calling
All Workers (sig) La Mattchiche Toujours le vin blanc Chico C'est Si Bon Jangle Bells Memories are made of this Rusticanella Top Hat Medley . Putting on my top hat . Cheek to cheek . Piccolino Pancho from Peru The Grenadiers Waltz Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Borel Clerc Jimmy Leach Donald Phillips Henri Betti Kenneth Baynes Gilkyson Don Cortopassi Irving Berlin
Cyril Watters |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Home Service at 10.31
a.m. on 16th November
1963
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 16th November 1963
| Calling
All Workers (sig) Scenic Railway Piermont Waltz Pico Carpentero Medley: . Lullaby of Broadway . Keep young and beautiful . Tip toe through the tulips . Avalon Autumn Concerto Gaylord Pearly King Polka Canary Twist Tango Time Selection: Annie Get your Gun Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Roger Roger Green Monia Liter arr.Papworth Harry Warren Harry Warren Joe Burke Vincent Rose Bargoni Shepherd Harry Dexter Barber Bernard Monshin Irving Berlin Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 10.31
a.m. on 25th September
1967
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 25th September 1967
| Calling
All Workers (sig) El Relicario Trapeze Waltz This Little Piggy Jealousy Zaragoza Village Band Top Hat (selection) Viva Villa Pancho from Peru Romantic Gipsies Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Padilla arr.Ronald Binge Sidney Torch Eric Jupp Jacob Gade Kenneth Baynes M.Freyburg Irving Berlin Jack Leon Cyril Watters Ralph Elman Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Home Service at 10.31
a.m. on 8th July 1961
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 8th July 1961
| Calling
All Workers (sig) Here's to Love Echoes of Paris Bizet Melodies The Frightened City Sel: The Sound of Music Alcantara The Apache Dance Medley: . Shepherd of the hills . Have you ever been Lonely . Ain't that a Glorious Feeling . Nobody's Sweetheart Mon Reve Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Charles Mougeot Edward White arr. Ronald Hanmer Norrie Paramor Richard Rodgers Maurice Arnold arr. Eric Jupp arr. Leonard Horatio Nicholls Peter de Rose Milton Ager Gus Kahn Waldteufel Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 10.31
a.m. on 10th July 1967
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 10th July 1967
| Calling
All Workers (sig) Playboy in Paris Fiesta in Brazil Kisses in the dark Fiddler on the Roof (Selection) Jangle Bells Little Brazilian Soldier Cafe sous les arbres Dixie Doodle Rag Medley: . Play a simple melody . A pretty girl is like a melody . You're in Love Spring Double Espana Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates Gledhill Rodriguez de Michelo JerryBock/Harnick Kenneth Baynes Douglas Rossiter Jimmy Leach J.HollandIrving Berlin Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Albert Marland Waldteufel Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Home Service at 10.31
a.m. on 26th October 1963
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
on 26th October 1963
| Calling
All Workers (sig) Zaragoza Under the Bridges of Paris Romantic Gipsies Little Brazilian Soldier Selection: The Merry Widow Carlo's Theme Playboy in Paris El Pandero Selection: Boys of Syracuse Laughing Polka Can Can Dancers Calling All Workers (sig) |
Coates Baynes Scotto Raphael Rossiter Lehar Slaney Gledhill Lanjean Rodgers Steurs Crossman Coates |
BRIGHT
AND EARLY at 6.30a.m. on
8th August 1952
played by Anton and his
Orchestra
| Barcelona Princess Ninetta Swing Three Quarter Liebesfreud Zaragoza Spider of the Night Cheeky Chappie Waves of the Danube |
Evans Strauss Johnson Kreisler Baynes Manilla Porter-Brown Ivanovici |