Elisabeth Kumm
Elisabeth is a founding member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. Her series Pets of the Public was a regular feature of On Stage from 1999 to 2005, looking at “forgotten” nineteenth century performers. She continues to contribute articles for the THA website, and from 2018 has been editor of the THA Newsletter. As a theatrical historian and biographer she assisted Viola Tait with her book on pantomime – Dames, Principal Boys…and All That (published by Macmillan in 2001) and also worked with her on her memoirs I Have a Song to Sing (published by THA in 2018). Elisabeth has also undertaken research for the Riley/Hailes Scrapbook and JCW Scene Books projects. Most recently she has been working on the Falk Studios album project including acting as editor of The Falk Studios book (published by THA in 2021).
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
RIGNOLD, George (1839-1912)
English actor & manager. Né George Richard Rignall. Born 1839, Birmingham, England. Son of William Ross Rignold (actor) and Patricia Blaxland (actress). Brother of William Rignold (actor). Married (1) Marie Braybrooke Henderson (actress), 28 September 1865, (2) Georgina Harriet Dora Coppin, 3 October 1907. Died 16 December 1912, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
On stage in England, USA, Australia and New Zealand from 1860s. Settled in Australia in 1894. Known as 'handsome George' and best remembered for his portrayal of Henry V.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
RICKARDS, Harry (1840-1911)
English music hall performer & manager. Né Benjamin Henry Leete. Born 4 December 1843, Stratford, Essex, England. Married (1) Carrie Tudor (actress), (2) Lottie D'Aste (gymnast) (de facto), (3) Kate Roscow (actress), 24 November 1880, Manchester, England. Died 13 October 1911, London, England. Father of Noni Rickards (actress).
Cockney music hall singer; visited Australia several times prior to founding the Tivoli circuit in 1893, and establishing himself as Australia's King of Vaudeville.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
REEVE, Wybert (1829-1906)
English actor & playwright. Born 1829, London, England. Died November 1906, England.
On stage in England and Australia from 1849. Provincial theatre manager in England, 1859-1879, and in Australia again 1879-1900 managing theatres in Adelaide.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
REEVE, Ada (1874-1966)
English actress & vocalist. Née Adelaide Mary Isaacs. Born 3 March 1874, London, England. Daughter of Samuel Isaacs and Harriet Seaman. Married (1) Bert Gilbert (actor), 1894, Nottingham, England (div.), (2) Wilfrid Cotton (manager), 14 July 1902, Maidenhead, England. Died 5 October 1966, London, England. Mother of Goodie Reeve (actress) and Bessie Hazlewood (actress).
Made numerous trips to Australia between 1897 and 1924, appearing variously for Rickards, McIntosh, JC Williamson, and Fullers.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
REES, Alice (d. 1923)
Australian operatic vocalist (soprano). Born Ballarat, VIC, Australia. Married Max Vogrich (composer), 1884, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Died 29 December 1923, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
On stage in Australia during 1880s. Studied under Lucy Chamber and sang in G&S, but retired soon after marriage.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
REBOTTARO, Alice (d. 1926)
Operatic vocalist (soprano). Married Achille T Rebottaro (Loprieno?). Died 1 April 1926, Blackburn, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
On stage in Europe, America and Australia. Performed in Australia with Simonsen’s Opera Company, achieving success in Lucia di Lammermoor and La Somnambula.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
RAINFORD, James H. (1846-1900)
Australian actor & manager. Born 15 November 1846, Meerut, India. Died 30 April 1900, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
On stage in Australia from 1868.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
QUINLAN, Thomas (1881-1951)
English opera producer. Born 10 March 1881, Bury, England. Son of Dennis Quinlan (railway clerk) and Ellen Carroll. Married Dora Collins, 4 July 1907, London, England (div. 1926). Died 20 November 1951, London, England.
Founder of Quinlan Opera Company in 1911, touring England, South Africa and Australia. Visited Australia in 1912 and 1913 for JC Williamson Ltd, performing many premieres including Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
PRINCE, Victor (1879-1947)
Australian actor. Né Richard Victor Prince Lett. Born 1879, Hong Kong, China. Son of Howard Vernon (vocalist) and Mary Jane Walker. Died 2 July 1947, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, aged 67.
On stage in Australia, India, China, Japan and South Africa.
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