Sid Colin

Sid Colin (born Sidney Coblentz; 31 August 1915 – 12 December 1989) was an English scriptwriter, working for radio, television and the cinema. He is best remembered for creating the television comedy The Army Game (1957–1959) and writing for Up Pompeii! (1969–1970), as well as films including Carry On Spying and Percy's Progress. He occasionally collaborated with regular Carry On series writer Talbot Rothwell. Earlier in his career, he was a musician and occasional lyricist.

Biography Colin was born in Islington, London; his father Benjamin Coblentz was a Jewish immigrant from Vilnius in the Russian Empire, who worked in the fur trade. Colin learned guitar and became a jazz fan.

After becoming an accomplished guitarist in the style of Django Reinhardt, he left school and joined Ambrose and his Orchestra. As well as playing with the band in theatres and on radio broadcasts, Colin became known for interposing one-liner jokes and wisecracks in the style of Groucho Marx. In 1938, he was approached by musician and radio producer John Burnaby to join the comedy band Sid Millward and His Nitwits for their new BBC radio series. Colin wrote material for the show, and was described in the Radio Times as "Muddler of Ceremonies".

After the start of the Second World War, Colin and other members of Ambrose's orchestra formed the Heralds of Swing, and then The Squadronaires (officially the RAF Dance Orchestra). They toured extensively with ENSA, and Colin wrote the lyrics to the song "If I Only Had Wings", composed by Ronnie Aldrich and recorded by Geraldo and his orchestra, which became an RAF anthem during the war and was later recorded by Vera Lynn. In 1944, the Squadronaires were commissioned to provide music for the film Starlight Serenade, and Colin became one of the film script's co-writers.

In 1946, Colin was about to get married, did not want to continue touring, and was unwilling to make the fashionable change from acoustic to electric guitar. In 1974, he co-wrote the film Percy's Progress with Harry H. Corbett and Ian La Frenais. Colin also continued as a staff writer for both the BBC and ITV, contributing on such shows as Love Thy Neighbour.

In 1977, he wrote the six-part television series And the Bands Played On, and accompanying book, an anecdotal history of pre-war English dance bands.

Colin died in 1989, aged 74.

Selected filmography Golden Arrow (1949)