Léon Zitrone
Encyclopedia
Léon Zitrone was a Russian-born French journalist
and television presenter.
on 25 November 1914. He died on 25 November 1995, in Levallois-Perret
(France
).
He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. He graduated from the ESJ Paris
. He began by training in scientific studies but his mastership of Russian, French, English and German gave him entrance in 1948 to the radio foreign broadcasting services of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
(RTF). In 1959, he joined the television activity of RTF. From 1961, he became news presenter, function he occupied for nearly 20 years, first until 1975, on the first French television channel (now TF1
), then also on Antenne 2, the other public service channel. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach
called him back in 1979. He then took charge of the news program during the week-end (his contract was established until 1 February 1981). He would come back for those news programs also during the Easter and Pentecost week-ends.
But Léon Zitrone's celebrity is due to the programs he presented or co-presented. He was host of the televised program Intervilles (French counterpart of England's It's a Knockout
) with Guy Lux
. He commented 6 times the Tour de France
, and he is remembered for his prodigious memory for names of riders. He presented the Olympics for 8 times, commented the Eurovision song contest
s and presented 16 Bastille Day
military parades.
Above all, he was the key-commenter for big events, such as weddings, burials or investitures of world's key figures, some thirty of them during the course of his career.
He was also keen on horses and was a horse-races commenter.
He was one of the best guests for the RTL
radio program "les Grosses Têtes
".
He spoke a distinguished French, simple and literary, as it would be written and he was capable of drawing out his commentary for several hours on if it was necessary, without monotony or repetition. People can remember him being rattled only once: in July 1989 with his commentary of the parade of Jean-Paul Goude
for the bicentenary of the French Revolution
when the images that were sent by producer Jean-Paul Jaud became repetitive (cameras had been placed in different places along the parade and the images came confusively and with repetitions).
In 1978, following French singer Marie Myriam
's victory the previous year, the Eurovision song contest took place in Paris. Léon Zitrone co-presented with Denise Fabre
and made the presentation in English.
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Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and television presenter.
Biography
Léon Zitrone was born in Petrograd, RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
on 25 November 1914. He died on 25 November 1995, in Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.-Name:The name Levallois-Perret comes from two housing developments, Champerret and Village Levallois , and which resulted in the incorporation of the...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
).
He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. He graduated from the ESJ Paris
Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris
The Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme is an institution of higher education, a French Grande École in Paris dedicated to journalism and related studies...
. He began by training in scientific studies but his mastership of Russian, French, English and German gave him entrance in 1948 to the radio foreign broadcasting services of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française
Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française was the French national public broadcasting organization established on 9 February 1949 to replace the post-war "Radiodiffusion Française" , which had been founded in 1945...
(RTF). In 1959, he joined the television activity of RTF. From 1961, he became news presenter, function he occupied for nearly 20 years, first until 1975, on the first French television channel (now TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
), then also on Antenne 2, the other public service channel. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach
-Biography:Elkabbach was born in Oran in 1937, then the prefecture of the département Oran in French Algeria. He began his journalistic career in 1960 as a radio correspondent in Algiers, but having taken part in the strikes of May 1968 he was sidelined and sent to Toulouse. Elkabbach would later...
called him back in 1979. He then took charge of the news program during the week-end (his contract was established until 1 February 1981). He would come back for those news programs also during the Easter and Pentecost week-ends.
But Léon Zitrone's celebrity is due to the programs he presented or co-presented. He was host of the televised program Intervilles (French counterpart of England's It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout was adapted from the French show Intervilles. It ran between from 7 August 1966 to 25 December 1988 on BBC1, 28 May 1990 on ITV, 3 August 1991 to 24 December 1994 on S4C and from 3 September 1999 to 6 January 2001 on Channel 5, produced by Richard Hearsey and Ronin Entertainment...
) with Guy Lux
Guy Lux
Maurice Guy, better known as Guy Lux was a French game show host and producer perhaps best known for his 1961 creation of the game show Intervilles . He also repopularized the word "Schmilblick"....
. He commented 6 times the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, and he is remembered for his prodigious memory for names of riders. He presented the Olympics for 8 times, commented the Eurovision song contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
s and presented 16 Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
military parades.
Above all, he was the key-commenter for big events, such as weddings, burials or investitures of world's key figures, some thirty of them during the course of his career.
He was also keen on horses and was a horse-races commenter.
He was one of the best guests for the RTL
RTL (French radio)
In France, RTL is a popular nation-wide commercial radio network owned by the RTL Group.In 1931, Radio Luxembourg, the public radio network from Luxembourg, was privatised. Beginning in 1946, it could be heard easily in France. Until the 1980s, only the French public radio networks could transmit...
radio program "les Grosses Têtes
Les Grosses Têtes
Les Grosses Têtes is a daily French radio program on the RTL French radio network, created by Jean Farran and Roger Krecher on 1 April 1977. The host is Philippe Bouvard....
".
He spoke a distinguished French, simple and literary, as it would be written and he was capable of drawing out his commentary for several hours on if it was necessary, without monotony or repetition. People can remember him being rattled only once: in July 1989 with his commentary of the parade of Jean-Paul Goude
Jean-Paul Goude
Jean-Paul Goude is a French graphic designer, illustrator, photographer and advertising film director. He created several well-known campaigns for brands such as Perrier, Citroën and Chanel....
for the bicentenary of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
when the images that were sent by producer Jean-Paul Jaud became repetitive (cameras had been placed in different places along the parade and the images came confusively and with repetitions).
In 1978, following French singer Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam is a French singer of Portuguese origins...
's victory the previous year, the Eurovision song contest took place in Paris. Léon Zitrone co-presented with Denise Fabre
Denise Fabre
Denise Fabre is a former French television personality, best known for her role as an in-vision continuity announcer.Fabre, born in Nice, began her career with Télé Monte Carlo in 1961 before she progressed to announcing work with Antenne 2 and most famously, TF1, where Fabre was chief announcer...
and made the presentation in English.
See also
- List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters
- Le Gentleman d'EpsomLe Gentleman d'EpsomLe Gentleman d'Epsom , is a French comedy film from 1962, directed by Gilles Grangier, written by Michel Audiard, starring Jean Gabin and Louis de Funès...
(film, 1962)
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