Australia magazines, newspapers, industry columns and series etc

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AUSTRALASIAN SKETCHER WITH PEN AND PENCIL

A monthly journal published between 1873 and 1889, each edition of Australasian Sketcher featured a number of black and white illustrations and engravings to accompany some of the articles. These often included scenes from current theatrical productions or prominent performers. Each edition also included a section devoted to the theatre. A number of well-known artists and political cartoonists contributed illustrations to the journal during the 16 years it was published.

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AUSTRALIAN VARIETY

aka Australian Variety and Sporting Gazette / Australian Variety and Show World

(1913-1920) Established by Martin C. Brennan, Australian Variety was devoted not only to vaudeville, but also other popular entertainments, ranging from legitimate theatre, moving pictures and amusement parks, to sports like boxing and racing. The magazine took on the sub-title “Sports Gazette” in 1915, and the following year had its name changed to Australian Variety and Show World. From 1917 onwards it was co-published by Brennan and bookmaker/theatrical entrepreneur Andy Kerr. The magazine merged with Everyone’s [below] in March 1921.

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“THE BUSKER”

aka “The Busker: Greasepaint, Patter, Burn Cork Chronicles” / “Movies and Mummers” 

(1906-1931) An irregularly published column in Perth’s Sunday Times, “The Busker” provided isolated Western Australians with gossip, news and insights into both the local and the Australia-wide theatrical and films worlds. Ranging from one line (often cryptic) pars to paragraph-sized reports, the column complimented the Times more regular entertainment news and gossip section “Peeps at People” (1904-1949). “The Busker” was superseded in 1923 by “Movies and Mummer’s.” In continued under that name until 1931.

• See also: “Peeps at People“

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[CHARLIE VAUDE SPORTING GLOBE SERIES]

aka “As told to J.M. Rohan”

See: Historical Insights page.

The “Newspaper and Magazine Articles” section provides direct access to issues published through Trove (National Library of Australia’s free digitised newspaper resource). See also Charlie Vaude / Vaude & Verne.

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EVERYONE’S

aka Everyone’s: For Train, Tram, Boat and Home / Everyone’s: The Motion Picture Authority

First published in 1920 as a general interest magazine, Everyone’s soon afterwards merged its interests with Australian Variety and Show World [above]. Under the editorship of former Variety publisher, Martin C. Brennan, the magazine began paying more attention towards the entertainment industries. Following Brennan’s departure in 1926 Everyone’s changed its focus more intently towards cinema (both in Australia and abroad) thus fulfilling its claim to be the country’s “motion picture authority.” The magazine continued through until 1937.

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FOOTLIGHTS

(1907-1915) One of several magazines to use the title Footlights during the early-1900s, this publication was also known by its subtitle “Australia’s Representative Musical and Dramatic Newspaper.” While largely devoted to “legitimate” theatre, Footlights nevertheless included news on organisations such as The Chasers and the Terriers (both with strong vaudeville connections) and the Australian Variety Artists’ Association (A.V.A.A.). Martin C. Brennan (later editor of Australian Variety [above]) was also employed as vaudeville columnist from 1910. Although declaring itself the “People’s Popular Penny Playpaper’ from 1913 (under the editorship of Fred Weierter), it struggled during the war and eventually folded in November 1915.

Footlights incorporated The Stage in 1909 and The Australian Moving Picture Magazine in 1915.

Source: Jill Julius Matthews’ 2006 entry in AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource. Image: 9 June 1909.

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FULLER NEWS

Fuller News was an in-house weekly magazine produced by Benjamin Fuller and John Fuller Jnr (Fullers’ Theatres Ltd) and sold at their venues between circa 1921 and 1930. It included previews and “reviews” of current productions or programmes as well as a selection of regular or frequent columns and pages, including “In the Limelight at the Fuller Theatres,” “Facts About Stage Stars,” “Personalities at the Fullers Theatres,” “Personalities of the Moment,” “Stories to Tell” and “Around the Fuller Circuit.”

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• See also: Fullers’ Theatres Ltd

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THE GRAPHIC OF AUSTRALIA

(1916-1918) As its name suggests The Graphic of Australia included numerous images within each issue. Photographs of theatrical identities, soldiers and war-related events (as well as hand drawn illustrations) were well-represented throughout the paper’s brief lifespan. Published out of Melbourne by William Sydney McDermott (The Graphic Newspaper Co) the paper’s readership was primarily located in either that city or in regional Victoria. While much of the content was devoted to the war, the paper did include a number of special interest sections, including pages devoted to the theatre (“The Stage and Those on It” and later “Stage Lights”) and film, short stories, motoring, horse racing and women’s fashion.

• More details  (research notes)
• See also: “Stage Lights” [below]

Variety performers to be featured in The Graphic of Australia included: Vera Pearce, Barry Lupino, Ada Reeve, Maggie Dickinson, Bert Bailey, Bill Le Brun, Leonard Nelson.

Image source: The Graphic of Australia 21 Jan. 1916, 1

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THE GREEN ROOM

(1913-1927) Harry Rickards Tivoli Theatres’ managing director Hugh D. McIntosh registered the Green Room Company of Australia Ltd in April 1914 for the purpose of taking over Herbert R. Syme and Albert R. Park’s Green Room Company (Adelaide). The following year the new firm published the first issue of the Green Room: Australia’s Smartest Illustrated Moving Picture and Theatre Magazine. Also referred to somewhat facetiously as the “Tivoli Bible,” contained reviews and synopses of films, vaudeville, and theatre from both Australia and New Zealand. The magazine also specialised in behind-the-scenes film and theatrical gossip and anecdote.

• See also: Hugh D. McIntosh • Harry Rickards Tivoli Theatres Ltd

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JUST IT

(1926-1927) Continuing on from Theatre, Society and Home, Just It’s stated objective was to “keep pace with the Dramatic, Photoplay, and Social events as they occur” via a weekly format. The content comprised articles, gossip, anecdote and industry columns (including “Vaudeville”), interviews, show listings, critiques of performances, fiction, fashion news, recipes, and household hints. Although advertising, and to a certain degree the focus of content, was dominated by US film interests, the magazine nevertheless attempted to support the local variety and film industries, a stance which possibly contributed to its demise some 12 months later.

• See also: Theatre Magazine [below] • M.A. Keup

Images: Vol 1, No 1 26 Aug 1926; Vol 1, No 32 31 Mar. 1927.

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THE LORGNETTE: JOURNAL OF AMUSEMENTS

(1876-1898) A four page program published by theatrical agent J.J. Liddy, The Lorgnette was circulated around Melbourne theatres for over twenty years. Each venue would have its own special edition, with the front page featuring a cast list for its current production. The rest of the playbill comprised a mix of theatrical news and advertisements.

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“OLD PROGRAMMES”

by “Athos”

(1933-1937) ‘Old Programmes” is the series title of a section published within the weekly “Theatrical Records” section of Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin newspaper. Devoted to historical insights and memoir relating to Rockhampton, the column was written by a journalist using the nom deplume, “Athos,” and appears in the Saturday edition of the newspaper between  9 September 1933 and 13 February 1937 (163 installments in all). The range of subjects covers is expansive and includes information about touring variety and legitimate theatre troupes (Australian and international), local amateur dramatic societies, Rockhampton theatres, events (including yearly Show weeks) and theatrical history etc.

Athos’s name is first associated with the Morning Bulletin in 1932 as a sports reporter.

• “Old Programmes” results page from Trove (National Library of Australia).

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“PEEPS AT PEOPLE”

aka “Peeps at People: A Breezy Budget of Personal Pars”

(1904-1949) A weekly column published in Perth’s Sunday Times, “Peeps at People” provided isolated Western Australians with gossip, news and insights into national and visiting international celebrities, as well as local identities. The subjects came from a vast array of social, business and entertainment backgrounds. Between 1907 and 1923 “Peeps at People” also complimented the Times’ irregular theatre and film column “The Busker. By the late-1920s entertainment-related content had largely disappeared from “Peeps at People,” being taken up by other sections within the paper. From 1949 it focused almost entirely on the local social scene.

• See also: “The Busker: Greasepaint, Patter, Burnt Cork Chronicles“

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THE PLAYER

(1903-1905) Published in Sydney by C.H. Willmott for the Players Club, The Player included profiles and pars on performers, critics, and performances, interviews, theatrical gossip, listings, and reviews of shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and later New Zealand. Censorship, copyright, and audience etiquette were among the issues discussed. There were also regular notes from London and short stories. Although largely interested in legitimate theatre, the magazine’s editors nevertheless recognised that “the predominant public taste [was] not for the Drama, but for Musical Comedy or the music halls,” and therefore included some content devoted to this area. This was mostly directed towards the upper echelons of the industry, chiefly Harry Rickards, J.C. Williamson’s and their imported stars.

• See also: Theatre Magazine [below]

1: During its short life span The Player was given various subtitles, including “The Player: An Illustrated Journal Published Monthly in the Highest Interests of the Dramatic Art,” and “The Player : A Monthly Journal Published by the Players’ Club in the Highest Interests of the Dramatic Art.
2: From Volume 2, Number 5, magazine was incorporated into The Theatre : An Illustrated Monthly Devoted to the Stage. It ceased altogether after Volume 3, Number 3 (June 1905).

Image: 15 August 1903. Source: National Library of Australia.

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“REMINISCENCES OF THE STAGE”

by Valentine Day (The Referee)

See: Historical Insights page.

The “Newspaper and Magazine Articles” section provides direct access to issues published through Trove (National Library of Australia’s free digitised newspaper resource). See also: Valentine Day.

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“STAGE LIGHTS”

(1917-1918) Although it focused primarily on war-related issues, the Melbourne weekly newspaper The Graphic of Australia also contained a number of special interest sections, including “Stage Lights. ” Contributed by “Star Student” for most of its lifespan, “Stage Lights” first appeared in the 3 August 1917 edition (replacing “The Stage and Those on It”). Comprising theatrical news (both legitimate and variety theatre), gossip, images, and advertisements, it was initially presented as one-page spread, but later expanded to two pages. When “Star Student” left the paper in early November 1918 “Stage Lights” was “conducted” by “The Man in the Box” until the paper’s demise some six weeks later.

• More details  (research notes)
• See also: The Graphic of Australia [above]

The first edition of “Stage Lights” began with the following par: “The theatrical section of press agents is sternly warned off this page of The Graphic. In other words “Puffs are Prohibited.” Criticism will be short, sharp, sweet or sour, as deserved. Plays and players will receive all the notice they merit.

Image source: The Graphic of Australia (Melbourne) 3 Aug. 1917, 31

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“STRAY LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF A SHOWMAN” [SERIES]

by John Smith (The Leader)

See: Historical Insights page.

The “Newspaper and Magazine Articles” section provides direct access to issues published through Trove (National Library of Australia’s free digitised newspaper resource).

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“THE STRUTTER’S PAGE”

(1900-1918) “The Strutters Page” (or pages) was a theatre-industry section included within Newsletter: An Australian Paper for Australian People (Sydney) between 1905 and 1918. Similar sections were published prior to this under the titles “In Front and Behind” (1900-01), “Music and the Drama” (1901-02) and “Bill of the Play” (1902-05). The content comprised gossip, industry insights, correspondence, publicity contributions, poetry and photographs relating to legitimate theatre, vaudeville and other popular culture entertainments. Linked to the section, too, were “stage cards” and theatre advertisements. “The Strutter’s Page” ended when Newsletter became a racing guide in late 1918.

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THE THEATRE MAGAZINE

aka The Theatre: An Illustrated Monthly Devoted to the Dramatic Arts / Theatre, Society and Home

First published in 1905 as The Theatre: An Illustrated Monthly Devoted to the Dramatic Arts, the Theatre (as it was commonly referred to) became the leading voice for both legitimate and variety theatre in Australia for almost a decade. It also provided regular reports on “the whole field of amusements throughout Australasia,” including interviews, gossip and reviews. From 1913 onwards the magazine even included a regular multi-page section called “The Month in Vaudeville.” As the Theatre, Society and Home it ceased publication in 1926, and was continued by the weekly magazine Just It (1926-27) [see above].

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Image citation details for entries without expanded biographies are noted at the bottom of the overview. All other image details are provided in the expanded PDF biographies.
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