Cooke, Alistair

▪ 2005

Alfred Cooke 

      British-born American broadcaster and journalist (b. Nov. 20, 1908, Salford, Greater Manchester, Eng.—d. March 30, 2004, New York, N.Y.), charmed and enlightened radio and television audiences on both sides of the Atlantic for more than five decades. His quarter-hour Letter from America (originally called American Letter) on BBC—broadcast from March 1946 to February 2004 and totaling 2,869 shows—took his personal observations to more than 50 countries and became the longest-running radio program in the world; meanwhile, as a remarkably erudite TV host on the arts magazine show Omnibus from 1952 to 1961 and PBS's Masterpiece Theatre from 1971 to 1992, he became a familiar presence in many American homes. While a student at Jesus College, Cambridge, Cooke edited a literary magazine, became active in theatre, and (on his 22nd birthday) changed his first name from Alfred to the more sophisticated Alistair. He earned a bachelor's degree summa cum laude (1930) and an education diploma (1931) and was awarded a fellowship for studies in the U.S., which took place at Yale University and Harvard University. Travels throughout the country during those years ignited Cooke's interest in the American scene, and following brief stints as a Hollywood screenwriter, a BBC film critic in London, and the London correspondent for NBC, he returned (1937) to the U.S., settled in New York City, and became (1941) an American citizen. Besides continuing his BBC broadcasts, including the first of his Letter from America programs, he worked as a freelance writer for a number of British publications and in the mid-1940s began what became 26 years of service as a correspondent for The Manchester Guardian (now The Guardian). Texts of many Letter from America programs were published in such collections as One Man's America (1952) and Talk About America (1968). Cooke's observations were also put forth in the 13-part BBC-produced NBC series America: A Personal History of the United States and in the best-selling book based on it, Alistair Cooke's America (1973). Other of his books included Six Men (1977), Masterpieces (1981), and America Observed (1988). Among Cooke's honours were Peabody Awards in 1951, 1972, and 1982 for outstanding contributions in radio broadcasting and television and an honorary knighthood in 1973.

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▪ British-American journalist

in full  Alfred Alistair Cooke 

born November 20, 1908, Salford, Lancashire [now in Greater Manchester], England

died March 30, 2004, New York, New York, U.S.

 British-born American journalist and commentator, best known for his lively and insightful interpretations of American history and culture.

      The son of a Wesleyan Methodist lay preacher, Cooke pursued literary and theatrical interests at Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated summa cum laude in 1930. Later he won a Commonwealth Fund fellowship to study in the United States, first at Yale (1932–33), then at Harvard (1933–34). Cooke's cross-country travels during the summers of these years had a profound influence on his professional life.

      Following a brief period as a scriptwriter in Hollywood, Cooke returned to England to become a film critic for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and later served as London correspondent for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) of the United States. In 1937 he returned to the United States, settled in New York City, and became an American citizen in 1941. From the late 1930s, Cooke reported and commented on American affairs for BBC radio and several major British newspapers. His weekly 15-minute program, Letter from America, broadcast from 1946 to 2004, was one of the longest-running series on radio. The texts of many broadcasts were collected in One Man's America (1952) and Talk About America (1968). From 1956 to 1961 Cooke hosted and narrated the weekly television “magazine” Omnibus, which won numerous broadcasting awards.

      Cooke's interpretation of the American experience culminated in his BBC-produced television series America (1972–73). In 13 installments, filmed on location throughout the United States, Cooke surveyed some 500 years of American history in an eclectic and personal but highly coherent narrative. Alistair Cooke's America (1973), the book based on the award-winning program, was a best-seller in the United States. From the 1970s to the early '90s, as host of Masterpiece Theatre, Cooke served as an interpreter of British culture through the presentation of BBC dramatic television programming to American audiences.

      Cooke's other works include the critical biography Douglas Fairbanks: The Making of a Screen Actor (1940); Generation on Trial: U.S.A. v. Alger Hiss (1950), based on his coverage of a celebrated Congressional investigation; The Vintage Mencken (1955); The Patient Has the Floor (1986); America Observed (1988); Memories of the Great and the Good (1999); and, with Robert Cameron, The Americans (1977).

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