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    Adelaide - Streets

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    Street Musicians

    An Anecdotal Essay on Street Musicians

    Introduction

    Since Rundle Street was converted into a mall in the 1970s the art of "busking" has been introduced to that thoroughfare. In Adelaide's early days musicians roamed the streets at the mercy of their audiences which, over all but a century, passed varying opinions on their offerings. The following documentation presents a clear picture of the life and times of these itinerant musicians - it is presented in tabular form and in chronological order.

    Newspaper References

    Under the heading "Street Music" the Observer of 28 May 1853, page 5f says, inter alia:

    A correspondent to the Register on 20 September 1865, page 3b comments on "Street Bands":

    A letter complaining about street musicians is in the Register of 21 October 1867, page 2f:

    This type of "entertainment" met with disapproval from another correspondent to the Register on 2 May 1872, page 5e:

    On 23 December 1872, page 5d a long suffering citizen implored the authorities to rid the streets of the "nuisance":

    Five months later another agitated and concerned rate-payer warned that "young boys are being trained by the organ-grinders to be a future pest to society". (Register, 1 May 1873, page 7a.)

    Still the problem persisted - "From early morn till dewy eve in Rundle Street is one continual noise..." "I would cheerfully subscribe weekly, monthly or yearly to be rid of them...". (Register, 9 and 10 July 1875, pages 6g and 5f.)

    No further complaint was made until 15 March 1877, page 5g when a citizen exclaimed:

    Another form of "musical" annoyance in the streets is reported in the Register, 4 January 1878, page 6c in respect of a band which:

    On 21 January 1880 at page 6g of the Register a correspondent drew attention to:

    In reply to this epistle another reader mildly chided the author on 26 January 1880 (supp.), page 1b:

    After a three year lull in complaints the following comments were made in the Register on 10 March 1883 at page 6a:

    On 18 June 1887 at page 6b a correspondent to the Register said:

    An irate businessman aired his complaint in the Register, 10 July 1889, page 6h:

    Another complainant appeared on the scene in the Register,
    19 September 1889, page 3f:

    "Music of the Streets" is in the Register, 15 August 1898, page 4g:

    "A Plea for the Street Musicians" is in the Register, 21 November 1903, page 4f, "Street Music" on 9 April 1920, page 9d:

    The Advertiser of 6 November 1930, page 8e says, inter alia:

    General Notes

    Under the heading "Street Music" the Observer of 28 May 1853, page 5f says, inter alia:

    "The Circus Band" is in the Register,
    16 September 1865, page 3b.
    Also see Entertainment - Circuses.

    A correspondent to the Register on 20 September 1865, page 3b comments on "Street Bands":

    "Blind Musicians" is in the Chronicle,
    28 December 1867, page 2b.

    A letter complaining about street musicians is in the Register of 21 October 1867, page 2f:

    This type of "entertainment" met with disapproval from another correspondent to the Register on 2 May 1872, page 5e:

    On 23 December 1872, page 5d a long suffering citizen implored the authorities to rid the streets of the "nuisance":

    Five months later another agitated and concerned rate-payer warned that "young boys are being trained by the organ-grinders to be a future pest to society".
    (Register, 1 May 1873, page 7a.)

    Still the problem persisted - "From early morn till dewy eve in Rundle Street is one continual noise...". "I would cheerfully subscribe weekly, monthly or yearly to be rid of them...".
    (Register, 9 and 10 July 1875, pages 6g and 5f.)

    No further complaint was made until 15 March 1877, page 5g when a citizen exclaimed:

    Another form of "musical" annoyance in the streets is reported in the Register, 4 January 1878, page 6c in respect of a band which:

    "Street Pauperism" is in the Register,
    26 January 1880, page 1b (supp.).

    On 21 January 1880 at page 6g of the Register a correspondent drew attention to:

    In reply to this epistle another reader mildly chided the author on 26 January 1880 (supp.), page 1b:

    "Street Beggars" is in the Register,
    8 and 11 December 1880, pages 7a and 7b.

    After a three year lull in complaints the following comments were made in the Register on 10 March 1883 at page 6a:

    A poem titled "The Street Musician" is in The Lantern,
    4 July 1885, page 24,
    "The Trio" on
    21 January 1888, page 17,
    "The Blind Musician" on
    14 April 1888.

    Sketches of various musicians are in the Pictorial Australian in
    October 1886, page 156;
    a cartoon is in The Lantern,
    5 April 1890, page 19.

    On 18 June 1887 at page 6b a correspondent to the Register said:

    An irate businessman aired his complaint in the Register, 10 July 1889, page 6h:

    Another complainant appeared on the scene in the Register,
    19 September 1889, page 3f:

    A satirical poem on organ-grinding is in the Observer,
    6 February 1892, page 26b.

    "Street Singing" is in the Express,
    29 September 1892, page 4c,
    3 November 1892, page 4d.

    "Music of the Streets" is in the Register,
    15 August 1898, page 4g:

    "A Plea for the Street Musicians" is in the Register,
    21 November 1903, page 4f,
    "Street Music" on
    9 April 1920, page 9d:

    "The Blind Man's Music" is in the Register,
    18 November 1905, page 4e.

    "Blind Men's Squabble - Rival Street Musicians" is in the Register,
    16 June 1908, page 4d.

    "Street Music - Will the Lord Mayor Please Stop It" is in the Register,
    9, 10 and 15 April 1920, pages 9d, 11d and 8f.

    The Advertiser of 10 June 1925, page 8g has an editorial which says, inter alia:

    "Street Musicians Against Ban" is in the Observer,
    15 May 1930, page 29b.

    The Advertiser of 6 November 1930, page 8e says, inter alia:

    An obituary of Francisco Setaro, musician, is in the Register,
    18 January 1926, page 11d.

    Streets - Choose again

    Paving and Watering

    The watering of the streets is discussed in the Observer,
    5 November 1853, page 7d,
    Register,
    3 and 5 November 1856, pages 2g and 2e,
    "New Water Cart" on
    16 and 23 January 1877, pages 5b and 5h,
    "Street Watering Pump" in the Observer,
    12 April 1879, page 14c; also see
    Express,
    4 April 1879, page 2c.

    "Street-Making" is in the Observer, 27 May 1854, page 8c.

    "Roadmaking in Adelaide", the reminiscences of Richard Nottle, is in The Mail,
    24 October 1925, page 1d.
    Also see South Australia - Transport - Roads.

    "Street Paving - An Improvement Needed" is in the Advertiser,
    14 and 23 October 1902, pages 6d and 9e,
    "Tar Dressing" on
    29 March 1907, page 4f.

    "Improved Pavements" is in the Advertiser,
    11 October 1878, page 8h.
    "Asphalt Pavements" in the Observer,
    11 September 1880, page 446c,
    20 November 1880, page 875b,
    Register,
    14 December 1880, page 5a,
    16, 17, 19 and 20 January 1885, pages 5b, 5a-b, 7d and 4g-5c.

    "Asphalt or Wood Blocks" is in the Register,
    3 and 17 February 1903, pages 4f and 4e.
    "Woodpaving of Streets" is in the Register,
    28 and 29 January 1909, pages 4d and 7b,
    5 February 1909, page 3b,
    3 August 1909, page 9c,
    6 November 1909, page 13a.
    "Asphalt Contract" on
    15 December 1910, page 10h.

    "Paving the City's Streets" is in the Advertiser,
    9 August 1882, page 6f.

    "Laying the Dust" is in the Register,
    16 August 1904, page 7h.
    Also see Public Nuisances.

    "Dusty Roads - Oil for Streets" is in the Register on 3 December 1902, page 5f:

    "Laying the Dust" is in the Register,
    28 April 1903, page 4f,
    16 August 1904, page 7h.
    Also see Public Nuisances.

    "The Dust Nuisance is in the Register,
    16 August 1904, page 7h,
    "Fighting Dust" on
    19 September 1904, pages 3f-4g,
    "Laying the Dust" on
    10 and 18 November 1904, pages 4g and 6e,
    "Watering the Streets" on
    29 July 1905, page 6i,
    "Remedies for Dust" in the Register,
    10 April 1906, page 4h; also see
    15 February 1907, page 4e.

    "Woodpaving for Adelaide' is in the Express,
    3 September 1902, page 2b,
    30 September 1902, page 3d,
    14 October 1902, page 4f,
    4 and 12 November 1902, pages 3f and 2h.

    "Adelaide's Muddy Streets" is in the Register,
    1 and 8 August 1905, pages 3c and 3h.

    "Is Road-Making a a Lost Art?" is in the Register,
    12 August 1905, page 6g.

    "Street Paving for Adelaide" is in the Observer,
    19 October 1907, page 48c,
    Register,
    24 December 1907, page 4d,
    11 and 16 January 1908, pages 6c and 4e.

    A concern at the evils of street watering is expressed in the Register,
    12 February 1909, page 3d.
    "Tar and Oil to the Rescue" appears on
    22 January 1910, page 15d; also see
    15 March 1910, page 10a.

    Streets - Choose again