Donald McCullough
Encyclopedia
William Donald Hamilton McCullough (15 August 1901 – 1978) was a British
writer and broadcaster. He was the first question-master of The Brains Trust
radio programme from its foundation in 1941.
in a nutshell, which he wrote with illustrations by Fougasse
. This was a humorous look at the game of contract bridge
, which was then very fashionable in England. He followed this the following year with You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road an equally humorous book with the same illustrator. This was written at a time when the introduction could say “According to statistics, there is in Great Britain one car to every 33 persons ...”, so somewhat dated now.
After the war, McCullough and Fougasse again collaborated on light-hearted pamphlets, but with the serious intent of promoting road safety, Fancy Meeting You and Many Happy Returns – and How to Enjoy them
was initially Any Questions?. McCullough was the first chairman, or “question-master” as the role came to be called. He used the name The Brains Trust from the start of the show in January 1941, and this became its official name in September 1942. The role of question-master was later alternated with others, but McCullough remained a regular until the radio version closed in May 1949.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer and broadcaster. He was the first question-master of The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.- History :...
radio programme from its foundation in 1941.
Career as a writer
McCullough first came to public notice in 1934 with Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorumPons asinorum
Pons asinorum is the name given to Euclid's fifth proposition in Book 1 of his Elements of geometry, also known as the theorem on isosceles triangles. It states that the angles opposite the equal sides of an isosceles triangle are equal...
in a nutshell, which he wrote with illustrations by Fougasse
Fougasse (cartoonist)
Cyril Kenneth Bird, pen name Fougasse was a British cartoonist best known for his editorship of Punch magazine and his iconic World War II warning propaganda posters....
. This was a humorous look at the game of contract bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, which was then very fashionable in England. He followed this the following year with You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road an equally humorous book with the same illustrator. This was written at a time when the introduction could say “According to statistics, there is in Great Britain one car to every 33 persons ...”, so somewhat dated now.
After the war, McCullough and Fougasse again collaborated on light-hearted pamphlets, but with the serious intent of promoting road safety, Fancy Meeting You and Many Happy Returns – and How to Enjoy them
The Brains Trust
The official name of The Brains TrustThe Brains Trust
The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.- History :...
was initially Any Questions?. McCullough was the first chairman, or “question-master” as the role came to be called. He used the name The Brains Trust from the start of the show in January 1941, and this became its official name in September 1942. The role of question-master was later alternated with others, but McCullough remained a regular until the radio version closed in May 1949.
External links
- http://www.oxforddnb.com/public/themes/57/57624.html DNB entry on “Brains trust”