British comedy legend, writer/producer David Croft, has died at age 89. Responsible for such classic sitcoms as Dad’s Army, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi, ‘Allo ‘Allo and Are You Being Served?, Croft began his career in show business with an early childhood advertisement appearance and then a small part in the 1939 film, Goodbye Mr. Chips, starring Robert Donat and Greer Garson.

In 1968, Croft teamed up with Jimmy Perry to create, arguably, the most successful British situation comedy of all-time, Dad’s Army followed by It Ain’t Half Hot Mum in 1974. In-between, in 1972, Croft teamed with Jeremy Lloyd to write Are You Being Served and then, later, ‘Allo ‘Allo in the early 80’s.

During our 1999 public television production of Salute to British Comedy on American Public Television, we had the distinct privilege of sitting down with both David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd to discuss their classic sitcoms, Are You Being Served and ‘Allo ‘Allo. Here Croft and Lloyd, in somewhat of a genius stream of consciousness exchange, talk about their early remembrances AYBS and, in particular, of Mr. Humphries, John Inman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjdA–C4h9U

More tomorrow from our 1999 interview in which David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd talk ‘Allo ‘Allo. Here’s to you Mr. Croft. Thanks for the endless smiles and laughs not only over the years but in the years to come. And, thanks, for sharing your time along with some classic insights that delighted U.S. audiences and fans of British comedy on public television.

In: Comedy