Ronald Cass
| Ronald Cass | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Cass 21 April 1923 Llanelli, Wales |
| Died | 2 June 2006 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, composer, playwright, novelist, musical director |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 1949–1979 |
| Genre | Musical |
| Notable works | Summer Holiday, The Young Ones |
| Spouse | Valerie Carton |
| Children | Debbie, Stephen and Nicola |
Ronald Cass (21 April 1923 – 2 June 2006) was a British screenwriter and a composer. He co-wrote the screenplays for the Cliff Richard films The Young Ones (1961) and Summer Holiday (1963).
Cass was born in Llanelli, Wales to Saul and Rachel Cass, the second of five sons. One of his brothers, Leslie Cass, also worked in the same field as Ronnie, and composed his own play entitled The Story of Ruth, which was performed in Sheffield.
Ronald "Ronnie" Cass first pursued a career as a maths teacher but in 1951 was recognized more for his contributions to several musicals produced at Leicester Square's Irving Theatre club. Cass was studying economics at Aberystwyth University when World War II began and he joined the RAF. When he and his squadron were posted into Burma, he insisted that they took a piano with them so that he could continue entertaining the troops.
Cass returned to Wales after the war ended in 1945, but travelled to London in 1949 in search of musical opportunities. It did not take much searching before Cecil Landeau hired him as musical director at Ciro's night-club, and it was there that Cass met Peter Myers, who was preparing a new revue. They soon put together an after-the-show-show called 10:15, which successfully took place at the Irving Theatre.
In 1952, Cass attended a show performed by the students of the London School of Economics, and was so impressed by one of them, Ron Moody, that he and Myers decided to let him make a début performance in Intimacy at 8, a revue presented at the New Lindsay Theatre. This show was retitled High Spirits when it reopened in the Hippodrome Theatre in 1953. Cass said that High Spirits had always been his favourite show. Among the cast was an actress named Valerie Carton, whom he married in 1955.
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