Henri Letondal was a multifaceted French-Canadian individual, whose impressive repertoire of talents included being a music critic, administrator, cellist, playwright, and actor. His diverse interests led him to write numerous sketches and revues, occasionally even composing the music himself.
In his early years, Letondal studied the cello under the guidance of Gustave Labelle. Around 1920, he began reviewing concerts and variety shows for "La Patrie" in Montreal, and later served as the paper's Paris correspondent from 1926 to 1929. Additionally, he wrote about music for "Le Petit Journal" and assumed the role of music critic for "Le Canada" around 1935.
Letondal's extensive career in radio broadcasting began in 1929, when he became the artistic director of "L'Heure provinciale" on CKAC radio in Montreal. This program, sponsored by the Quebec government, aimed to promote the province's musicians and composers. Furthermore, he served as the director general of the film company France-Film.
It is estimated that Letondal penned approximately 160 radio plays and sketches between 1937 and 1948. He not only wrote these productions but also occasionally composed the music and produced them himself. In 1946, he embarked on a lucrative Hollywood film career, appearing in a total of 36 films, including one Canadian production, before his passing in Hollywood in 1955.
