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James Hay: A tenor lowly-born who married into a world of wealth

Jeff Clarke

‘Over the Moon’ by H.M. Brock, designed for the front cover of the programs for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co.’s 1919–1920 season at the Princes Theatre, London. Courtesy of David Lovell. Having trained with the best teachers, performed with…

The Simonsens of St Kilda: Preface

Roger Neill

The Simonsens of St Kilda. Cover features a portrait of Madame Frances Saville painted by Arthur von Ferraris. Australian Performing Arts Collection. Arts Centre Melbourne. March 2023 sees the release of ROGER NEILL’s new book, The…

A Brown Slouch Hat—80 Years On

Richard Fotheringham

RICHARD FOTHERINGHAM takes a fresh look at the story behind the George Wallace song ‘A Brown Slouch Hat’, written in the early 1940s and famously sung by Jenny Howard in various Tivoli revues. Introduction Cover of Jenny Howard’s own…

Said J.C. Williamson

J.C. Williamson, with picture research by Rob Morrison

After forty-five years of the stage, the veteran actor-manager J.C. WILLIAMSON tells Bookfellow the story of his professional career in Part 1 of a two-part transcript of an article first published in 1907. “AND NOW” (he said) “it is…

Frank Neil—‘He Lived Show Business’ (Part 1)

Frank Van Straten

FRANK VAN STRATEN explores the life and tumultuous times of Frank Neil, one of Australia’s near-forgotten entrepreneurs. Frank Neil: A publicity portrait from the late 1920s. Author’s collection.Part 1: ‘I had the showman’s spirit born in…

A Child Among You (Part 1)

Charles Heslop; with picture research and endnotes by Rob Morrison

In July 1923, Hugh J. Ward engaged British comedian, Charles Heslop in London to play the male lead in the Australian premiere of the British farce Tons of Money, to be staged at the Palace Theatre, Melbourne in November by Hugh J. Ward…

Marcus Clarke and the Theatre (Part 2)

Mimi Colligan

MIMI COLLIGAN concludes her exploration of the life and legacy of Marcus Clarke, journalist, playwright and author, and his relationship with two actresses, the Dunn sisters, Marian and Rosa. Marian’s stage career Marcus Clarke married…

Clara Clifton: From England’s provincial theatres to the Australian stage (Part 3)

Bob Ferris

BOB FERRIS concludes his appraisal of the career of musical comedy performer Clara Clifton. Part 3 charts her appearances with J.C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company, from her role as Mrs. Girdle in the 1906 production of The Spring…

The Comedy Theatre: Melbourne's most intimate playhouse (Part 3)

Ralph Marsden

From 1928, when it first opened its doors, the Comedy Theatre established itself as Melbourne's premier playhouse, perfectly suited to the staging of drawing room comedies and intense dramas. In Part 3 of the Comedy Theatre story, RALPH…

Encounters with Stars of the Theatrical Kind (Part 3)

Raymond Stanley

In Part 3 of his ‘Encounters’, theatre and film critic RAYMOND STANLEY recalls his 1972 meeting with stage and screen legend Carol Channing, when she came to Australia to perform her one-woman show Carol Channing and Her Gentlemen Who…

Little Wunder: The story of the Palace Theatre, Sydney (Part 8)

Elisabeth Kumm

During the latter part of 1906 and for much of 1907 the Palace Theatre enjoyed a steady flow of high-class performers from Meynell, Gunn & Varna’s New English Comedy Company in the farce The Little Stranger to the first Australian…

Event: Barry Dickins

Diana Burleigh

After a three-year hiatus we were able to resume our very popular Saturday afternoon sessions at The Channel in the Arts Centre. Our first speaker on the 4 February 2023 was one of Melbourne’s favourite sons, Barry Dickins. The Channel is…

The Simonsens of St Kilda: Book Review

Kurt Gänzl

BOOK REVIEW: The Simonsens of St. Kilda: A family of singers by Roger Neill, Australian Society of Authors, 2023 The Simonsens of St Kilda. The cover features a portrait of Madame Frances Saville painted by Arthur von Ferraris. Australian…

Obituary: Carole Cook

Kevin Trask

Carol Cook, 1965. Photo by David Cumming. State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. KEVIN TRASK pays tribute to the late Carole Cook, the Broadway musical theatre star who created the role of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! in Australia in…

The Memoirs of J. Alan Kenyon or Behind the Velvet Curtain (Part 12)

J.A. Kenyon; edited by Judy Leech

In Part 12 of his memoirs, J. ALAN KENYON recalls amusing episodes working on sets for Nellie Melba’s grand opera season in 1924 to Joan Sutherland’s in 1965, plus a few local and international stars of musicals and dramas in between.…

February 01, 2023

Kissing Time Overview

Author: Elisabeth Kumm, with additional research by Rob Morrison

When war broke out in Europe in August 1914, P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) was in America. For the next five years he remained there, keeping a healthy distance between himself and the hostilities. Though accused by some critics for displaying unpatriotic behaviour, poor eyesight made him ineligible… Read more