Eric Baume

Eric Baume
Born Frederick Ehrenfried Baume
May 29, 1900
Auckland, New Zealand
Died April 24, 1967 (aged 66)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality New Zealander
Occupation Australian journalist, radio, actor and talk show host

Eric Baume OBE (29 May 1900  24 April 1967) was an New Zealand-born Australian based journalist, radio presenter, actor and talk show host.

Early life

Eric Baume was born Frederick Ehrenfried Baume in Auckland, New Zealand in 1900 to a father of the same name who was a lawyer and politician. Eric moved to Sydney in the early 1920s and worked for as editor for several papers. At this time he developed what was to become a lifelong addiction to gambling, which kept the family in debt for decades.

Career

He hosted a radio series titled This I Believe. A television version aired on ATN-7 from 3 December 1956 to circa 27 July 1958.

He also hosted a short-lived show on ATN-7 on Sundays titled State Your Case during 1957.

In 1959 he hosted Men at the Top, and then began hosting Eric Baume's Viewpoint (1959-1961).

He is well remembered as "The Beast" in the Australian TV talkshow Beauty and the Beast, where his gruff style compared to the ladies on the panel kept the ratings high.

Honour

In 1966 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Death

Baume died in 1967. His debts considerably exceeded his assets.

Personal life

He was the uncle of Michael Baume and was also related to Peter Baume, both Liberal politicians and ministers.

References