Michael Green (humorist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Green is a British journalist
and author of humorous books. He is best known for The Art of Coarse Rugby
, The Art of Coarse Acting
and other books with similar titles.
. He later joined the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, where he worked on both the sporting and theatrical fronts, then the Birmingham Gazette
as a subeditor. Later he was a sports writer on The Observer
and a contributor to the Sunday Times, among others.
The Art of Coarse Rugby which became a bestseller in 1960 and The Art of Coarse Acting were both products of his Midlands
days, when he was involved with amateur rugby and dramatics. Green was commissioned to write The Art of Coarse Rugby by Hutchinson to go with a republication of The Art of Coarse Cricket by Spike Hughes
, who had intended the title as a play on Coarse Fishing. Green describes a coarse actor as "one who can remember his lines, but not the order in which they come. One who performs ... amid lethal props." and goes on: "The Coarse Actor's aim is to upstage the rest of the cast. His hope is to be dead by Act Two so that he can spend the rest of his time in the bar. His problems? Everyone else connected with the production." In similar vein, the coarse rugby player is described as differentiated from the rugger player in that he does not enjoy playing, but instead plays for any one of a number of other reasons, such as to get away from his wife, or because he dare not admit he is too old. Other books in the series followed, and The Art of Coarse Moving subsequently became the 1977 BBC TV series A Roof Over My Head with Brian Rix.
His book about journalism, Don't Print My Name Upside Down, was based largely on his Northampton days. Stanley Worker, the paper's long-serving chief sub-editor, was so proud of references to him in the book that he kept a copy in his desk drawer to peruse with quiet satisfaction during rare lulls in his working day. Green also published two autobiographical books, The Boy Who Shot Down an Airship which includes reminiscences about his National Service
experiences, and Nobody Hurt in Small Earthquake about his postwar journalist and sub-editor experiences in Northampton, Birmingham and London.
He also created and wrote the character of Squire Haggard for a newspaper
column
written by Peter Simple
; subsequently a novel and the Haggard
TV series 1990-92 on ITV
. He has created three Coarse Acting Shows, two of which were performed at the Edinburgh Festival
in 1977 and 1979; these are essentially a series of sketches about bad acting. Tonight Josephine is a book of amusing imaginary letters written by historical figures.
Green is famed for his zany and slightly eccentric behaviour. Members of the Masque Theatre in Northampton
were able to recall Green's antics in minute detail many years (decades?) after his departure, and the Northampton Chronicle office was awash with Green stories, all on the theme of good intentions leading to all-round chaos. At the Leicester Mercury he was firewatching one night with Maurice Barsby. Maurice said when looking at the huge printing presses in the basement “I know how these things work …” Michael said “Go on, then". He pulled the main switches and Maurice pressed the button. The press started but not gradually, and the enormous reel of paper broke and spewed into the machine-room. So there was no midnight edition of the Mercury, and as the presses did not stop when the button was pressed they had to switch off the mains. Next day Michael was questioned and then sacked, but not Maurice. Green admits that he “had a reputation for playing the fool." The overnight firewatching job was unpopular, except with lads of 16 or 17 who were too young to be called up; they could drink brown ale, use the typewriters and telephones and smoke the editor’s cigars (leaving burns in the carpet).
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 author of humorous books. He is best known for The Art of Coarse Rugby
The Art of Coarse Rugby
The Art of Coarse Rugby is a 1960 humorous book on amateur rugby by British journalist Michael Green. After writing a newspaper article on rugby union, he was commissioned to write The Art of Coarse Rugby by Hutchinson to go with a republication of The Art of Coarse Cricket by Spike Hughes, who had...
, The Art of Coarse Acting
The Art of Coarse Acting
The Art of Coarse Acting is a 1964 humorous book on amateur theatre by British journalist Michael Green, following the success of his The Art of Coarse Rugby in 1960....
and other books with similar titles.
Career
Green began his career as a junior journalist on the Leicester MercuryLeicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, for the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland...
. He later joined the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, where he worked on both the sporting and theatrical fronts, then the Birmingham Gazette
Birmingham Gazette
The Birmingham Gazette, known for much of its existence as Aris's Birmingham Gazette, was a newspaper that was published and circulated in Birmingham, England from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries...
as a subeditor. Later he was a sports writer on The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and a contributor to the Sunday Times, among others.
The Art of Coarse Rugby which became a bestseller in 1960 and The Art of Coarse Acting were both products of his Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
days, when he was involved with amateur rugby and dramatics. Green was commissioned to write The Art of Coarse Rugby by Hutchinson to go with a republication of The Art of Coarse Cricket by Spike Hughes
Spike Hughes
Patrick "Spike" Cairns Hughes was a British jazz musician, composer and music journalist. He was the son of Irish composer, writer and song collector Herbert Hughes...
, who had intended the title as a play on Coarse Fishing. Green describes a coarse actor as "one who can remember his lines, but not the order in which they come. One who performs ... amid lethal props." and goes on: "The Coarse Actor's aim is to upstage the rest of the cast. His hope is to be dead by Act Two so that he can spend the rest of his time in the bar. His problems? Everyone else connected with the production." In similar vein, the coarse rugby player is described as differentiated from the rugger player in that he does not enjoy playing, but instead plays for any one of a number of other reasons, such as to get away from his wife, or because he dare not admit he is too old. Other books in the series followed, and The Art of Coarse Moving subsequently became the 1977 BBC TV series A Roof Over My Head with Brian Rix.
His book about journalism, Don't Print My Name Upside Down, was based largely on his Northampton days. Stanley Worker, the paper's long-serving chief sub-editor, was so proud of references to him in the book that he kept a copy in his desk drawer to peruse with quiet satisfaction during rare lulls in his working day. Green also published two autobiographical books, The Boy Who Shot Down an Airship which includes reminiscences about his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
experiences, and Nobody Hurt in Small Earthquake about his postwar journalist and sub-editor experiences in Northampton, Birmingham and London.
He also created and wrote the character of Squire Haggard for a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
column
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
written by Peter Simple
Michael Wharton
Michael Wharton was a newspaper columnist who wrote under the pseudonym Peter Simple in the British Daily Telegraph. He began work on the "Way of the World" column with illustrator Michael ffolkes three times a week in early 1957...
; subsequently a novel and the Haggard
Haggard (TV series)
Haggard a 1990—1992 British comedy television series. "Haggard" is about the exploits of Squire Haggard, the Squire's 21-year-old son Roderick, and their servant Grunge...
TV series 1990-92 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. He has created three Coarse Acting Shows, two of which were performed at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in 1977 and 1979; these are essentially a series of sketches about bad acting. Tonight Josephine is a book of amusing imaginary letters written by historical figures.
Green is famed for his zany and slightly eccentric behaviour. Members of the Masque Theatre in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
were able to recall Green's antics in minute detail many years (decades?) after his departure, and the Northampton Chronicle office was awash with Green stories, all on the theme of good intentions leading to all-round chaos. At the Leicester Mercury he was firewatching one night with Maurice Barsby. Maurice said when looking at the huge printing presses in the basement “I know how these things work …” Michael said “Go on, then". He pulled the main switches and Maurice pressed the button. The press started but not gradually, and the enormous reel of paper broke and spewed into the machine-room. So there was no midnight edition of the Mercury, and as the presses did not stop when the button was pressed they had to switch off the mains. Next day Michael was questioned and then sacked, but not Maurice. Green admits that he “had a reputation for playing the fool." The overnight firewatching job was unpopular, except with lads of 16 or 17 who were too young to be called up; they could drink brown ale, use the typewriters and telephones and smoke the editor’s cigars (leaving burns in the carpet).
Autobiography
- The Boy Who Shot Down an Airship Heinemann, London, 1988, ISBN 0-434-30412-3
- Nobody Hurt in Small Earthquake Heinemann, London, 1990, ISBN 0-434-30410-7
The ‘Coarse’ Series
- The Art of Coarse RugbyThe Art of Coarse RugbyThe Art of Coarse Rugby is a 1960 humorous book on amateur rugby by British journalist Michael Green. After writing a newspaper article on rugby union, he was commissioned to write The Art of Coarse Rugby by Hutchinson to go with a republication of The Art of Coarse Cricket by Spike Hughes, who had...
, HutchinsonHutchinson (publisher)Hutchinson & Co. was an English book publisher, founded in 1887. The company merged with Century Publishing in 1985 to form Century Hutchinson, and was folded into the British Random House Group in 1989, where it remains as an imprint in the Cornerstone Publishing division...
, London, 1960 - The Art of Coarse Sailing, Hutchinson, London, 1962
- Even Coarser Rugby, or what did you do to Ronald?, Hutchinson, London, 1963
- The Art of Coarse ActingThe Art of Coarse ActingThe Art of Coarse Acting is a 1964 humorous book on amateur theatre by British journalist Michael Green, following the success of his The Art of Coarse Rugby in 1960....
, or how to wreck an amateur dramatic society, Hutchinson, London, 1964 - The Art of Coarse Sport, Hutchinson, London, 1965
- The Art of Coarse Golf, Hutchinson, London, 1968
- The Art of Coarse Moving, Hutchinson, London, 1969
- The Art of Coarse Drinking, Hutchinson, London, 1973
- The Art of Coarse Cruising, Hutchinson, London, 1976
- Even Coarser Sport, Hutchinson, London, 1978
- The Art of Coarse Sex, Hutchinson, London, 1980
- The Art of Coarse Office Life, or 'He's just popped out' , Hutchinson, London, 1985
Novels
- Don’t Print My Name Upside Down, Hutchinson, London, 1963 (about newspapers)
- Squire Haggard’s Journal, Hutchinson, 1975
Plays
- Four Plays for Coarse Actors, Samuel French, 1978
- The Coarse Acting Show Two, Samuel French, 1980
- The Third Great Coarse Acting Show, Samuel French, 1985
- Coarse Acting Strikes Back, Samuel French, 2011
Others
- Tonight, Josephine, Secker and WarburgSecker and WarburgHarvill Secker is a British publishing company formed in 2004 from the merger of Secker and Warburg and the Harvill Press.Secker and Warburg was formed in 1936 from a takeover of Martin Secker, which was in receivership, by Fredric Warburg and Roger Senhouse...
, 1981 - Don’t Swing from the Balcony, Romeo, Secker and Warburg, 1983
- Rugby Alphabet, Pelham, 1971
- Stage Noises and Effects, Herbert Jenkins, 1958 (a handbook)