Entrepreneurs [G-L]

ARTHUR GARNER

(1851-) English actor, manager, writer, entrepreneur.

Garner, Arthur [NLA]Arthur Garner turned from architecture to the theatre while still a young man, and after touring the British provinces came to Australia in 1873, remaining for three years. He returned in 1879 with the London Comedy Company, and the followed year opened Garner’s Theatre in Adelaide. In late 1881 he joined forces with J.C. Williamson and George Musgrove to lease theatres in Sydney and Melbourne and the following year they formally established their “The Triumvirate” (1882-1890). Little is known of Garner’s life after his 1897 insolvency, largely a result of property speculation hit by the 1890s depression.

1: Garner’s wife, actress Blanche Stammers, came to Australia with Garner in 1873 and again in 1879. She died here in 1883 following a brief illness.
2: Garner’s Theatre was previously known as White’s Assembly and Concert Rooms
Image source: National Library of Australia.

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PAT HANNA

(1888-1973) New Zealand-born comedian, entertainer, artist, film actor/scriptwriter/ director and producer, entrepreneur, inventor, sportsman.

A comedian who specialised in “digger” roles, Pat Hanna’s multifaceted saw him excel as an inventor (including the game Batinton), lightening sketch artist, creator and producer of the Famous Diggers troupe, and as a film producer. His most popular creations were the military sketches featuring himself as Chic (Chic and Bert, and later Chic and Joe). Hanna’s films were Diggers (1931), Diggers in Blighty and Waltzing Matilda (1933).

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WILL HARRIS

Circuit operator, manager, producer.

Small-time Sydney theatrical entrepreneur Will Harris is known to have operated a variety circuit around the city’s suburbs as early as 1919. The venture, styled as Will Harris’s All-Star Vaudeville, initially showed at the Ryde Town Hall on Monday nights and soon afterwards expanded to include the Haberfield School of Arts (Wednesdays). Managed by Waldemar Johnson, the circuit was still running in the early 1920s.

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C.B. HICKS

(aka Colonel C.B. Hicks )

Hicks, C. B. [Turnbull Library](-1902) African-American entrepreneur, performer, manager.  [Born Charles Barney Hicks]

One of the most significant African-American minstrel showmen of the late 19th century, Charles B. Hicks formed the Georgia Minstrels in 1865 and over the next 37 years piloted various black troupes through the USA, Europe, the East and the Antipodes. His Australasian tours were 1877-79 (Georgia Minstrels); 1879-80 (with R.B. Lewis’ Georgia Minstrels, as manager); 1888-89 (Hicks-Sawyer Minstrels); 1889-91 (American Coloured Minstrels); and 1898-1899 (Harmston’s Circus, as general manager). Following his last visit to Australia he took Harmston’s Circus through India and the Dutch Indies but died in Surabaya, Java, in 1902.

  • For further details see: Waterhouse, Richard. “Antipodean Odyssey: Charles B. Hicks and the New Georgia Minstrels in Australia 1877-1880.” Journal of the Royal Historical Society 72 (1986), 19-39.
  • See also: Georgia Minstrels [2]
Image source: Irene Cox Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library (National Library of New Zealand)

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F.E. HISCOCKS

(1842-1901) Businessman, manager, producer, troupe owner.

Englishman Frederick Hiscocks established a map publishing business in Victoria in the early 1870s. He later turned his entrepreneurial attention to the stage and in partnership with Alf Hayman managed several high profile minstrel troupes before establishing Hiscocks and Hayman’s Mammoth Minstrels. After touring Great Britain in 1881 Hiscocks returned to Australia and in 1883 founded the troupe he is best remembered for – Hiscocks’ Federal Minstrels (1883-89). He was later associated with the New English Specialty Co, Hicks-Sawyer Coloured Minstrels, and two Gaylord and Silbon companies.

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TED HOLLAND

(ca. 1862-1914) Dancer, entertainer, businessman, theatre lessee, troupe owner, manager, producer.

holland-ted-ql-21-apr-1898-15Ted Holland first came to prominence in the mid-1870s as a member of “the Australian team,” Delohery, Craydon and Holland. After the trio separated in the early 1900s Holland turned to full-time vaudeville management. He initially formed his own touring company before settling in the Brisbane in 1904, where he leased the Theatre Royal from Harry Rickards and later from Percy St John, presenting Holland’s Vaudeville Entertainers there for six unbroken years. In 1911 he and St John joined forces to lease the Empire Theatre.

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BERT HOWARD

Sports promoter, film exhibitor, manager, businessman, circuit owner, vaudeville producer, theatre lessee, theatrical agent.

Bert Howard (aka the “Droll” and “Lord Mayor of Poverty Point”) worked for Harry Rickards, Harry Clay and J.C. Bain in his early career. Around 1910 he began exhibiting films in the Sydney suburbs while also involving himself in the boxing industry. He later established a booking agency and his own vaudeville circuit (occasionally joining forces with other managers). Howard was associated with agent James H. White in the late 1920s, and continued showing vaudeville, pantomime and pictures in Sydney and New South Wales into the early 1930s.

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P.A. HOWELLS

(1853-1921) Manager, entrepreneur and businessman [Born Philip Arthur Howells in Croydon, Surry, England]

During his five decades in the entertainment industry, most of it spent in Adelaide, P.A. Howells helped develop the early careers of many local artists and also bought some of the world’s leading artists to South Australia. He began his working life in 1868 with Marshall and Sons music warehouse (Rundell Street, Adelaide) and remained with the company for 24 years. In 1890 he independently established Adelaide’s Saturday Pops, and a few years later formed his own management business. The Pops continued to be a feature of Adelaide’s entertainment world until the early 1900s, and after they ended Howells remained active within Adelaide’s musical and theatrical worlds up until his death. From 1911 to 1918 he also managed various Dandies troupes for Edward Branscombe.

1. Howell’s was prominently linked at times to the Chamber of Manufacturers Exhibitions, to Adelaide’s Elder Music Conservatorium and to Williamson and Musgrave.
2. Among the many local artists he engaged and helped nurture were contralto Ada Crossley, violinist Abbie Rosser (mother of Leila Doubleday), Armes Beaumont (often described as Australia’s greatest tenor), and flautist John Lemmone. The international artists who appeared under his management were similarly numerous – and included were C.J. Stevens, Charles Santlym Mark Hambourg, Evangeline Florence, Antoinette Stirling, Emily Spada, pianist Ignacy Paderweski, organist E.H. Lemare, the Watkin Mills Concert Company, and Phillip Newbury (who later settled in Australia).
3. Among Howells final events were the Elder Conservatorium’s opening concert for the 1921 season (4 April) as business manager, and H. Brewster Jones’ recital at the Adelaide Town Hall on 16 August (as manager). He died eight days later on 24 August, having been in indifferent health for about a year.
Image: Critic (Adelaide) 9 Oct. 1918, 9.

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TOMMY HUDSON

(ca. 1842-1909) Comedian/endman, dancer, musician (banjo), entrepreneur, manager.

Hudson, Thomas [ASA 1901, 41]Thomas P. Hudson first came to Australia in 1868/69, securing engagements with several Australian-based minstrel companies. He returned in 1874, billed as late of the St James Christy Minstrels, and teamed up with ex-Billy Emerson artists to form the US Minstrels. After the troupe disbanded in 1879 he founded Hudson’s Surprise Party, engaging many Australian-based performers over the next 25 years for tours through Australasia and the East. During his career he also leased venues in Adelaide (Bijou Theatre – aka Hudson’s Bijou) and Calcutta, and managed tours for stars like Nellie Stewart and Antoinette Sterling. Hudson died in Bournemouth, England.

Although Hudson was often billed as an American it is likely that he was either born or raised in England. Evidence for this comes from a report in The Star (New Zealand) which records: Hudson “commenced his career as a boy of seven… at a benefit to E.D. Davies, ventriloquist, in England… forty-five years ago” (6 Oct. 1894, 2).
Image: Australian Stage Annual (1901), 41

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FRANK HUSSEY

Hussey, Frank [HTC](1831-1889) American comedian, entertainer, songwriter, actor, troupe manager, entrepreneur

Frank Hussey made his professional debut in the USA in the early 1850s but had to (temporarily) abandon this career due to family pressure. He returned to the stage during the California gold rush and went on to carve out a significant reputation in America and internationally – notably as a troupe manager/leader. Hussey came to Australia in 1869 and was initially associated with Frank Weston. He later toured his own troupes and starred in Walter Cooper‘s Hazard (written for him) in 1872. He left Australia that same year but returned in 1884 for F.E. Hiscocks. Hussey settled in Launceston in 1886 and died there three years later.

Hussey’s US career included the following companies: Wells and Hussey Minstrels, Hussey’s New York Minstrels, Hussey and Taylor’s California Minstrels, Hussey’s Male and Female Minstrels, and Hussey’s Minstrels (aka Frank Hussey’s Troupe). In 1859 he created headlines around America after accidentally shooting and killing a colleague while being attacked back stage at a theatre in San Francisco.
Image source: Houghton Library, Harvard University

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CEDRIC JOHNSON

Johnson, Cedric [PT 26 June 1915, 5]Cedric Johnson’s name has first been identified as manager of several Melbourne suburban cinemas during the early to mid-1910s. In October 1915 he engaged Huxham’s Serenaders to play at the Follies Theatre, St Kilda, and over the next two years also produced the troupe’s tours of Victoria and Tasmania. His career as a theatrical manager/entrepreneur later involved the proprietorship of such companies as Vogues and Vanities (1919-21) and the New Ideas (1922-23). Johnson likely turned to real estate management in 1924, initially being engaged by the Melbourne Sub-Divisions Company as its representative for the Corio Estate, Geelong.

Image Source: Prahan Telegraph (Melbourne) 26 June 1915, 5.

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GEORGE H. JONES

Character and descriptive artist, singer, comedian, actor, entrepreneur.

George H. Jones started performing at Sydney smoke concerts and social activities, in the early to mid-1890s, and later appeared at such venues as the Bondi Aquarium and Coogee Palace Aquarium. By the end of the decade he was working as both a vaudeville performer and as an actor in musical comedy/pantomime and burlesque – notably with Albert Powell, William Cosgrove, M.L. Raphael and (reportedly) for Williamson and Musgrove. By 1903 he had begun his entrepreneurial career, first with the American Star Entertainers. Other known ventures were an open-air People’s Concerts (Sydney, ca. 1904-05), Jones’s Huge Surprise Party (ca. 1907), Jones’s Mammoth Moving Theatre (1908-1911) and Jones’s Entertainers (1912).

Jones, whose career after 1912 is yet to be determined, should not be confused with another variety performer and entrepreneur from the same era – George A. Jones.

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RICHARD KENNA

(1863-1926) Entrepreneur, theatrical showman, publican. [Born Richard Phillip Kenna in Country Clare, Ireland]

The son of Richard Kenna Snr (-1879), who settled in Australia and became a prominent and wealthy publican in Bathurst, New South Wales, Richard “Dick” Kenna attempted to serve in the Soudan in 1885 as a dresser (hoping to later practice medicine) but was thwarted when his father’s trustee successfully sued him for defamation. Although forced into bankruptcy Kenna soon afterwards turned to show business, at first in Bathurst and  later in England (with a “talking horse”) and the USA (with fighting kangaroos). After returning to Australia in 1894 he ran a theatrical agency in Melbourne with Joseph MacMahon then returned to Bathurst where he establishing himself as both a rural showman and publican. He ran the family-owned Grand Hotel from 1902 and later owned and/or operated at least three other hotels.

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ANDY KERR

Kerr, Andy(ca. 1867-1955) Bookmaker, magazine co-owner, theatre and cinema lessee, producer, businessman.

One of Australia’s best-known bookmakers of the early 1900s, Andy Kerr immigrated to Australia from Scotland in the mid-1880s. Widely known as the “Coogee Bunyip,” he further cemented his association with the suburb by taking over the management of the Boomerang Theatre in 1917. That same year he also became manager and co-publisher of Australian Variety and Show World. In 1918 he briefly partnered Harry Sadler as a director at the Gaiety Theatre and following Sadler’s death in 1919 formed a partnership with Harry Clay to run the theatre.

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JACK LANDOW

Circuit owner, manager, producer, theatre lessee.

Landow, Jacky [AV 3 Mar 1915, 7]Sydney vaudeville entrepreneur Jack (Jacky) Landow initially established himself as a mercantile businessman before turning to the entertainment industry in 1911. Landow’s Entertainers toured the south and south-western regions – including Surrey Hills, Lakemba, Kogarah and Bankstown, through until 1919, albeit with several interruptions. Highly regarded within the industry for his policy of employing mostly local acts, Landow’s “small-time” status did not restrict him to small time acts – with Charlie Pope, Arthur Tauchert, George Sorlie, Desmond and Jansen, and Maud Fanning being among those engaged.

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JOE LASHWOOD

Lashwood, Joe [AV 31 May 1916](ca. 1880-1954) English-born “eccentric” comedian, entertainer, entrepreneur. [Born: John Richard Barnes Davies]

Described in 1916 as a “real hustler,” Joe Lashwood came to Australia in his twenties and by 1906 was appearing regularly on Harry Rickards’ bills. A specialist endman (“bones”) and “eccentric” comedian he worked for most of the leading Australia and New Zealand vaudeville firms over the following two decades but found his greatest success in the 1910s in partnership with Kitty Remby. During this period Lashwood also operated his own theatrical agencies and various vaudeville troupes, and in the early 1920s combined performing with spruiking in Sydney before settling in Newcastle as a promoter/producer and performer.

Lashwood was the father of radio star, television presenter, writer, director/producer and politician, Hal Lashwood (1916-1992). He is perhaps best remembered as Roy Rene’s straightman in the McCackie Mansion radio series and for his television variety show Hal Lashwood’s Alabama Jubilee (1958-61).
Image source: Australian Variety (Sydney) 31 May 1916, 12.

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GEORGE R. LAWRENCE

(1867-1926). Sharpshooter, theatrical manager, producer, film exhibitor.

Lawrence, G R [WM 11 Feb 1898, 44]A promoter/manager in his early career, English-born George Lawrence later toured a “William Tell” act with his wife for ten years. In the mid-1890s he co-founded the Perth-based firm Jones and Lawrence, which between 1896 and 1902 managed three key venues – the Ye Olde Englyshe Fayre, the Theatre Royal and Cremorne Gardens. He later  pioneered Sunday pictures in Perth and ran the Kings Theatre (Fremantle) for many years.

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JOHN LAZAR

Lazar, John [Adelaide Jewish Museum](1801-1879) Actor, theatre lessee, producer, director, writer, politician, businessman.

Born in Scotland of Jewish heritage, John Lazar came to Australia in 1837. He managed Sydney’s Theatre Royal and Royal Victoria, before settling in Adelaide in 1840 where he managed the Queen’s Theatre until moving back to Sydney in 1843. Lazar returned to Adelaide in 1848 but within two years had entered the jewellery profession and between 1855 and 1858 served as the city’s mayor. Lazar moved to New Zealand in 1863. During his time in Australia Lazar was also involved in the theatre as both an actor and writer.

  • See also Samuel Lazar [below]
While running the Queen’s Theatre in 1850 Lazar sued John Stephens, proprietor of the South Australian Register over an article which denounced his establishment as “hot-bed of demoralisation” (“Licentious Stage” 16 Jan. 1850, 3). Although Lazar won the verdict his claim for £200 damages was ignored by the jury who awarded him only one farthing. For a full report of the trial see “Lazar vs Stephens” (Adelaide Observer 9 Mar. 1850, Supp 1-2).

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SAMUEL LAZAR

(1838-ca. 1883) Theatre manager/lessee, writer, producer, director.

Lazar, Sam [Stephens-JCW Memorial]The son of John Lazar, Samuel Lazar established his entrepreneurial credentials at the Theatre Royal in Adelaide before moving to Sydney to refit and administer the Queen’s Theatre. In 1875 he moved on to look after the second Theatre Royal, situated at the corner of King and Castlereagh Streets. For the next seven years he was exclusively associated with the Royal, producing among other things the theatre’s popular Christmas pantomimes.

  • See also John Lazar [above]
Image: Stephens, A.G. J.C.W. Memorial (1913).

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BARNETT LEVEY

(1798-1837) English-born businessman, theatre producer/director, singer.

The first free Jewish settler in the colony of New South Wales, Barnett Levey arrived from London in 1821. In 1827 he incorporated Australia’s first Masonic Hall within his newly-built Sydney warehouse, and the following year converted it into the colony’s first (temporary) theatre. Neglect of his mercantile business forced Levey to rebuild the hall as a hotel (the Royal), however. Although he was granted a licence in 1829 to hold entertainments there, an acrimonious fallout with Governor Darling saw it revoked the following year. When Darling departed the colony in late-1831 Levey produced a series of “At Homes” at the Royal, and under the patronage of the new Governor, Richard Bourke, was granted the colony’s first theatre licence in December 1832. At the rear of his hotel the following year he built Australia’s first permanent theatre  – the Theatre Royal [1]).

1. Levey came to Sydney to join his brother Solomon, a prosperous emancipist. His decision to include a Masonic Hall in his Colchester warehouse was due to his involvement with the Freemasons. Levey was a member of one of the first Lodges in Australia – No 260.
2: From his arrival in the colony of New South Wales Levey had been involved in the cultural activities of Sydney. This included the singing of songs at various concerts.
3. Governor Darling’s decision to revoke the Royal Hotel entertainment license almost sent Levey bankrupt.
4: Seating around 1,000 people the Theatre Royal [1] was opened on 5 October with a presentation of The Miller and his Men. Levey ran the theatre until his death on 2 October 1837.
Painting by Auguste Earle. Held by the Art Gallery of South Australia

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G.B.W. LEWIS

(1818-1906) English-born actor, circus performer, theatre manager/lessee, producer, director. [Born George Benjamin William Lewis in London]

George Lewis was largely associated with Ducrows Circus (as a child), and later with Hengler’s Circus (as a gymnast and ringmaster). After many international tours he came to Australia in 1853 and the following year established Astley’s Amphitheatre in Melbourne (1854-57). He toured his own circus through China (ca. 1859) and brought it back to Australia, but soon afterwards decided to turn his attention to drama. During a tour of the East  he married actress Rose Edouin, and for more than a decade the couple commuted between Australia, China and India. After settling in Australia from 1876, Lewis became the first lessee of Melbourne’s Bijou Theatre and later leased and/or managed theatres in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand. He also invested in property, but ran in to financial difficulties as a result of the depression.

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MARINO LUCAS

(ca.1869-1931) Greek-born theatrical entrepreneur, businessman. [Born: Marinos Lekatsas]

Marino Lucas and his brother Anthony came to Australia in 1886 and settled in Melbourne. Both were later heavily involved in architecture and construction. Between 1907 and 1917 Lucas was largely based in Tasmania where his activities included building Launceston’s Princess (1911) and Majestic (1917) theatres; managing/leasing Hobart venues (including the Theatre Royal and Temperance Hall); and operating vaudeville companies (notably Lucas’ Gaiety Entertainers and the Grand Tivoli Vaudeville Co). He was also a film exhibitor and producer. Soon after returning to live in Melbourne he built the Victory Theatre in Malvern (1919).

Anthony John Jereos Lucas (Lekatsas) (1862-1946) was in influential Greek Australian businessman, philanthropist, builder, Greek Consul General to Australia (1921) and Consul in Melbourne (1931-46).

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Published on April 8, 2011 at 11:57 pm  Comments Off on Entrepreneurs [G-L]