Friday, July 22, 2011
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I have not updated for some time due to work committments. I am working on adding some photos and information to the blog and website soon.
Thanks to all who are buying the ebooks- your support is appreciated.
-Leann
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Circus: The Australian Story.
Mark St Leon, Australia's premier circus historian is releasing a new book through Melbourne Books which will be available in May.
Mark has studied Australian Circus for many years and this book will be the definitive history of Circus in Australia.
Anybody who has had the privilege of listening to Mark speak about circus will know that he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, he is the expert in this field. I'm happy that the book will include the stories of May Wirth and Con Coleano, which will make it an unforgettable reading experience. If you are interested in circus, you will love it.
Anyway, it will cost 39.99 and will be in a soft cover large format.More information at Melbourne Books at www.melbournebooks.com.au
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Little Cliff/Laddie Cliff
Here is the post card again.
And here is part of John Perry's email.
The postcard on your HAT posting of 27th February is, indeed, the English 'wonder' performer Little Cliff.
He was 14 years of age when he toured the Rickards theatres in Sydney, Melbourne and various parts of NZ in the second half of 1906. I imagine the source you found giving his age as 4 years old had dropped off the first '1'!
Little Cliff (proper name Clifford Perry) rebranded himself as Laddie Cliff the following year, when he started touring the United States. He went on to become a big star of vaudeville in US and UK in the 1920s and '30s.
He was my late father's first cousin. The family ostracised him for both going on the stage, and divorcing his first wife; both were shameful acts in those days! He died in 1937 without issue.
I also found the autograph below in my collection.
Many thanks to John for contacting me and for allowing me to reprint part of his email.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
New Postcards
This is Andrew Mack, the Irish American comedian/singer, who toured Australia in 1905. He liked it so much he returned in 1907.
The inscription says, "A Tribute in memory of your debut from The Knuts. 1917." The back of the card looks like this.
The handwriting says," From your stage assistant." The print identifies the card as being a souvenir from the , " National Committee of YMCAs on active service with the Australian Imperial Forces."
So is it a wartime joke? or a souvenir of a performance? It certainly is interesting.
The postcard fair always provides surprises!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Scenic Design- 1901
Jack wrote;
This sketch shows the painting frame of the late Criterion Theatre and depicts the writer and William Diamond of New Zealand at work on the scenery for the opening of the Josephine Stanton Company. This drawing, which was presented to the writer by the artist will give readers of this article an idea of the work room of the professional scenic painter.
Unlike England where scenic designers worked in their own work rooms, in Australia, the scenic designers worked in special areas in the theatre. The backdrops were painted by hand in sections and lowered on a winch to the stage. It was painstaking and demanding work.
The picture above was drawn by C Gordon Stanhope.
More on Scenic designers here
Friday, January 28, 2011
More HAT at the ibookstore
Details here
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gertrude Concannon- A Great Queenslander
She was born in Maryborough in 1899, to Tim and Annie Concannon. The family was quite musical. Gertrude sang, and her two sisters, Josephine and Eileen played the piano and violin respectively.
In the early 20s Gertrude was very popular in Queensland. Her voice was described as having 'crystaline clarity.'
Around 1924 she started studying with Madame Christian in Sydney, a year later she was on her way to the United States to work with the Doree Opera Company.
She stayed away from Australia for 13 years and sang in the United States, London, Egypt, and India.
In 1943 she married John Degnian a man she had known from her Maryborough childhood. The couple married at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
Gertrude continued her career as a singer, composer and teacher of singing in Australia until her death in 1978.
She was a great and talented Queenslander...
If you are able, please help some other great and talented Queenslanders by donating to the Queensland Premier's Flood Appeal . These floods are a terrible disaster for the people of Queensland.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
HAT-Website Update
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Alfred Tischbauer- Scenic designer
Many years ago I found this lovely print of George Street Sydney, bought it, and put it on my wall.
It was titled, George Street Sydney, 1883 from the original oil by Alfred Tischbauer at the Dixson Galleries.
Last year, I purchased a box of memorabilia which originated with Jack Ricketts, a scenic designer. In the box were many letters some of them were from...Alfred Tischbauer.
Tischbauer, known as 'Tish ' to his friends was a French born artist who was involved in the Paris Commune. According to legend he was deported to New Caledonia and from there came to Australia He was born around 1854 and arrived in Melbourne in 1879.
He began his career as a teacher and fine artist in Sydney, but by the late 1880s was working for theatrical manager Alfred Dampier as a scenic designer.
The Frenchman was not only an artist , he was also a romantic chap. In Melbourne he had an affair with his boss's maid. The poor girl fell madly in love with the exotic artist, and when he didn't return her feelings, she committed suicide. During the subsequent enquiry, Dampier and his family stuck by Tish .
The good relationship between Tish and Dampier didn't last, and in 1893 Dampier declared himself bankrupt and amongst his creditors was Alfred Tischbauer who was owed 591 pounds in salary.
Tischbauer never got over Dampier's betrayal.He worked for a while in Australia as a teacher and then departed for America with his wife in 1903. He worked as a designer for some American managers but didn't enjoy the work.
In 1909 he wrote the above letter to Jack Ricketts.
Tish's wife returned to Australia in 1922 and she was described as his widow. It is assumed that Tish died in the US shortly before her return.