Adelaide - Entertainment and the Arts
- Art
- The Art Gallery
- Chess
- Circuses
- Miscellany
- Ballooning
- Fireworks
- Playgrounds
- Skating
- Moving Pictures and Television
- Music
- Organs
- Picture Theatres
- Theatre
- George Coppin
- Miscellany
- Theatre Royal
- Tivoli Theatre
Theatre - Theatre Royal
General Notes
The First Theatre
(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)
-
[The new Queen's Theatre is] a hot-bed of demoralization whose impure precinct
no lady could enter could enter without contamination, at which no man could
sit out a performance without being disgusted, and from which all parents
were bound to exclude their children.
(Observer, 9 March 1850, page 1.)
There is an old adage that suggests that people, irrespective of their station in life, want to be amused during their leisure hours; indeed; as a corollary they may even wish to be enlightened! Accordingly, the citizens of Adelaide patronised theatrical and musical ventures which began to blossom in the embryo city, the first of which was a makeshift theatre situated above the Adelaide Tavern in Franklin Street, about 100 yards east of West Terrace.
It opened on 28 May 1838 and was advertised as 'small and commodious' with seating accommodation for 400 people. In those days of crinolines and mutton-chop whiskers it is difficult, today, to comprehend how that number of people could have been accommodated in a space measuring 50 by 18 feet. There were nine boxes and a pit, but it lacked stalls.
Adelaide's first theatre opened late in 1838 under the auspices of a Mr Cameron, an enterprising Scotsman, who erected a building on North Terrace near Morphett Street. The structure was built mainly of stringy bark and in the summer time the ventilation accorded by ill-joining tree trunks was said to have been 'very agreeable'. Planks on uprights were utilised as seating in the pits while the dress circle just had benches, with a rail in front to prevent patrons from tumbling into the pits about five feet below.
Theatre in the 1850s
The old Victoria Theatre, Currie Street, now a horse bazaar, greatly assists me in the matter of 'memories' now under notice. One of the first records connected with the old theatre at Gilles Arcade, which obtains a place in the pages of the paper, is dated 21 June 1853 and at that performance Mr and Mrs Lambert appeared in a piece entitled 'Sarah and the Jewess', and in the afterpiece Mr Radford introduced his beautiful mare Beda, and went through the performance of the 'Arab Steed'.
The theatre was not then lighted by either camphine gas or the electric light, but only by tallow candles or rush lights, which were not sufficiently illuminous to occasion to men, women, or a mare, what is now termed, both in the old country and little Adelaide, 'stage fright'.
Mr George Coppin, was then of the old Exchange Hotel, Hindley Street, whose pictures of Paul Pry I well remember having seen in Professor Hall's studio, just below the Victoria Hotel, after its transference thither from North Terrace.
In June 1853 our German friends are noticed and the then as now much-admired musical institution, the German Club had been established four years previously and their Liedertafel in 1858. On the date under notice they gave a 'most agreeable entertainment' at the Hamburg Hotel, Madame Cranz being the soloist and Herr Linger presided at the piano. The latter, be it remembered, obtained the prize for the music he wrote for the 'Song of Australia', the words being from the pen of Mrs C.J. Carleton. In May 1855 we trace the record of the first concert given by the North Adelaide Choral Society, in which we read the names of Miss Chalker and Messrs. J.W. Daniel and G.T. Light as performers, with Mr W. Holden then and now of the Register office as Hon. Secretary.
Then we find that the old Pantheon was opened, having been erected in King William Street, near where Mr Nicholas James had an office and a house at the corner where the Bank of New South Wales and D.& J. Fowler's premises now stand. During this period the balls given by the bachelors and Masons afforded infinite diversion to the young of both sexes.
On 26 November 1855, Lola Montez first appeared in the old theatre, and met with, of course, an enthusiastic reception. Her most appreciated performance was what was called the 'Tarantula' dance, wherein the dancer was supposed to have been bitten by a spider of that name, poisoned thereby, and fell in agony on the stage. The prices charged for seeing this well-renowned performer were, 7s. 6d. dress circle, stalls 4s. pit, and 2s. 6d. Gallery.
General Notes
"Bouquet Girls" is in the Register,
27 August 1870, page 6b-c.
The new Theatre Royal is described in the Express,
9 January 1868, page 3b,
Chronicle,
18 April 1868, page 14b,
Register,
18 January 1869, page 3a.
A sketch is in Frearson's Weekly,
12 April 1879, page 65 and
of the theatre's bar in the SA Figaro,
13 October 1877 (supplement). Also see
Register,
13 June 1884, page 5c.
The opening season of the Theatre Royal is discussed in the Observer,
25 July 1868, pages 4 and 5,
"Religious Services at the Theatre Royal" on
19 July 1873, page 8b.
"A New Theatre for Adelaide" is in the Register,
28 August 1877, page 6b; also see
Chronicle,
1 September 1877, page 13c.
Sketches of the interior and exterior are in the
Pictorial Australian in
March 1878. Also see
Register,
8 August 1884, page 6b,
5 January 1885, page 7e.
An obituary of George Cahill, "mechanist at the Theatre Royal", is in
the Register,
12 February 1902, page 5b,
Observer,
15 February 1902, page 29b,
of John Nagle on
7 July 1923, page 35d.
"Among the Gods - In the Theatre Royal Gallery" is in the Express,
26 August 1903, page 4h,
25 October 1904, page 4d.
"Theatre Royal Case - Alleged Overcrowding" is in the Register,
20 April 1907, page 4g.
A photograph of members of the Adelaide Benevolent Dramatic Club who performed
at the Theatre Royal in the 1870s is in the Observer,
11 April 1914, page 31.
A report of a performance by the Adelaide Dramatic Society is in the Express,
12 September 1876, page 2d.
"German Entertainment at the Theatre Royal" is in the Chronicle,
27 October 1877, page 16c.
Information on the Theatre Royal is in the Observer,
27 October 1877, page 5d.
The opening of the Theatre Royal in Hindley Street is reported in the Advertiser,
25 and 26 March 1878, pages 5d and 6d.
A presentation to E. Chapman, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, is reported
in the Register,
20 December 1878, page 6d.
"The Back Bar at the Theatre Royal" is in the Register,
9, 12 and 13 March 1883, pages 4d, 7f and 4f-6e.
"Improvements at the Theatre Royal" is in the Express,
25 May 1883, page 2f,
Observer,
10 May 1884, page 8b,
Advertiser,
10 January 1889, page 6a.
Sketches of a performance of "The Mikado" are in the Pictorial Australian in August 1886, page 116.
"Panic at the Theatre Royal" is in the Register,
9 March 1891, page 5b.
A fire station at the theatre is discussed in the Register,
22 April 1891, page 5c.
"Theatre Royal Auction Sale" is in the Register,
20 June 1891, page 4h.
A visit to the Royal Adelaide Theatre is reported in the Observer on 1 January 1848, page 3a.
A Theatre Royal picnic is reported in the Express,
28 February 1893, page 3e.
A sketch of and information on a lessee, F.H. Pollock, are in The Critic,
28 July 1900, page 15.
"Drama at the Theatre Royal" is in the Register,
29 June 1901, page 6e.
"Overcrowding at Theatre Royal" is in the Register,
18 June 1910, page 13g.
"The Oldest Theatre" is in the Advertiser,
28 December 1912, page 23a,
"Early Days at the Royal" on
14 July 1913, page 15c.
"Old-Time Thespians at the Royal" is in The Mail,
30 August 1913, page 9a,
"To Be Remodelled" in the Register,
13 February 1914, page 9b; also see
The Mail,
14 March 1914, page 19f.
Information on the Theatre Royal is in the Register,
1 October 1904, page 4a.
An obituary of Frederick Newson, caretaker, is in the Observer,
15 April 1905, page 34c,
of Jacob Sparbier, drummer in the orchestra, on
14 December 1907, page 40a,
of Mrs Elizabeth Lazar on
30 April 1910, page 38a.
A photograph of the Theatre Royal's orchestra is in The Critic,
25 March 1908, page 7.
An obituary of F.H. Pollock, lessee of the Theatre Royal, is in the Register,
11 November 1908, page 7a.
A history of the Theatre Royal is in the Register,
28, 29 and 31 January 1914, pages 6h, 9a and 18f,
2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 13 February 1914, pages 6h, 7f, 7g, 9a, 8f and 9a.
Its sale is reported in the Advertiser,
24 December 1921, page 12a.
A photograph of its demolition is in The Critic,
25 February 1914, page 14.
Information on the "old" and "new" theatres is in the Register,
4 and 31 March 1914, pages 15e and 7g,
10 April 1914, page 6e.
Biographical details of Miss Jean Robertson, actress, are in the Register,
6 March 1919, page 6i,
an obituary of John Nagle, stage doorkeeper, on
5 July 1923, page 6g.
Reminiscences are in the Register, 30 July 1921, page 12e.
"Musicians' Discord - The Theatre Royal Case" is in the Register,
18 October 1921, page 8d.
Biographical details of Miss Noel Boyd, actresss, are in the Register,
12 August 1927, page 7b.
Theatre - Tivoli Theatre
Information on the Tivoli Theatre is in the Observer,
16 June 1900, page 22c.
An editorial on the Tivoli Theatre is in the Register,
20 June 1901, page 4d-7h.
"Footlights of the Fifties", a history of the Tivoli Theatre, is in the Register,
5 January 1916, page 7d; also see
11 January 1916, page 7d.
"Panic at the Tivoli" is in the Express,
18 July 1905, page 4d; also see
14 February 1906, page 2d,
2 March 1906, page 2d.
"Tivoli to be Rebuilt" is in the Advertiser,
4 October 1912, page 9h; also see
Register,
6 September 1913, page 17e,
Express,
5 September 1913, page 2h;
a photograph of its demolition is the Observer,
29 January 1916, page 30.
"Old Tivoli Memories" is in The Mail,
5 February 1916, page 5b.
Theatre - George Coppin
His arrival in Adelaide is reported in the Observer,
19 September 1846, page 4c and
his departure for England on
20 June 1857, page 1d (supp.); also see
Register,
20 May 1899, page 6d.
Coppin's English Opera Company" is in the Register,
27 and 30 September 1856, pages 3c and 2f,
6 and 10 October 1856, pages 3b and 3d.
"Mr Coppin and the Town Hall" is in the Register,
1 October 1867, page 2d.
The reminiscences of George Coppin - "A Grand Old Actor" - are in the Register,
12, 14 and 22 September 1896, pages 7a, 7h and 7g.
Also see Express,
20 February 1868, page 2d,
3 March 1868, page 2d,
5 November 1883, page 3e,
Register,
13 December 1881, page 5c,
Observer,
27 May 1899, page 44e.
His photograph is in the Observer,
29 July 1905, page 29e and
an obituary in the Register,
15 and 21 March 1906, pages 4c-5e and 7c.
Historical information is in the Register,
30 May 1922, page 3f.
"George Coppin and Ned Kelly" is in the Observer,
4 May 1929, page 48a.
Theatre - Miscellany
Also see Adelaide- Buildings - White's Rooms
Music and Concerts
(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)
-
I used to attend the theatre in my youth. When I became seriously religious
I forsook the theatre, as I found by experience that the theatre did not
favour piety, but the reverse... The brevity of the dresses of girls in the
ballet is notorious...
(Register, 12 October 1885, page 3.)
A large proportion of our early colonists came from England where the Celtic element, with its strong emotional content, was predominant - Cornishmen for the copper mines and Welshmen for the smelters while, before them, the German immigrants formed rural settlements such as Hahndorf and Langmeil, where the love of harmony was deep-seated. Among the colonists was the first of a long line of critics and his venom was evident on 28 December 1836 when it was said of the playing of the National Anthem on the hot and dusty plains of Glenelg adjacent to the Old Gum Tree, that 'it had more grandeur in its simplicity than those who have only heard it in a theatre can conceive.'
Nostalgia descends upon me when I recall the concerts I attended in the early 1840s. The programmes usually consisted of a variety of items, singing, recitations, comic songs and the playing of musical instruments. In addition, a highlight of the entertainment would be a 'stump speech' - the orator, seeking to hide his identity, usually appeared in a fancy dress costume. These speeches, usually a humorous monologue, gave the settlers an opportunity of airing the latent talent in their midst.
The 1851 goldrush to Victoria brought about an economic collapse of its male population to the new 'El Dorado' but, as the wealth generated by the gold filtered back over the border by means of gold escorts and returning 'diggers', the stage was set for an impetus to the presentation of music and other civilised performing arts for, in a matter of two decades, all houses were considered ill-furnished if there was not a piano or some other musical instrument in it. Indeed, the influence of music on the social life of the time could be accepted fairly as a sure index of the general condition of the mental culture of the people.
In April 1859, Handel's 'Messiah' was performed for the first time in South Australia on the 100th anniversary of the composer's death; it took place in White's Rooms under the conductorship of Carl Linger. William Chapman, an outstanding violinist of the day, led the orchestra and a choir of 70, trained by J.W. Daniel, assisted in the performance that took place before 'distinguished citizens'. Of a later rendition of this sacred piece, a critic was to say :
-
Few constitutions can digest Christmas pudding and Handel simultaneously. Apart
from the probability of the weather being oppressively hot, December 25 is
specially devoted by most Englishmen to social festivities and family gatherings.
The feast of roast goose and the flow of sacred music are regarded by most
connoisseurs as slightly heterogeneous.
General Notes
A history of early theatres is in the Observer,
30 March 1929, page 71a.
An Historic Playhouse" is in the Register,
30 June 1914, page 6f.
"From Playboard to Talkie Screen" is in the Advertiser (special edition),
1 September 1936, page 80.
"Theatrical Activities in the '40's" is in the Advertiser,
7 October 1933, page 9c.
Information on the foundation stone of "Adelaide's first theatre" and other
historical information is in the Register,
29 November 1901, page 4f; also see
2 December 1901, page 4g.
"On Some Old Playbills" is in the Observer,
27 May 1893, page 3a,
Register,
28 December 1894, page 3e,
"Adelaide's Old Theatres" is in The Mail,
13 April 1929, page 28.
"A Licentious Stage", the subject of controversy and court action, is reported
in the Register,
16, 22 and 30 January 1850, pages 3b, 3c-d and 3a,
4, 11 and 12 March 1850, pages 2c, 3d and 4b.
The first professional concert is reported in the Register,
22 February 1840, page 4b.
The Queen's Theatre is described in the Southern Australian,
29 December 1840, page 3b.
Its conversion into a Court House is reported on
4 August 1843, page 2d.
Information on the Queen's Theatre appears in the Register on
9 January 1841, page 2e,
Observer,
1 July 1843, page 5c.
Information on the "New Queen's Theatre" is in the Observer,
9 March 1850, page 1e:
-
A hot-bed of demoralization whose impure precinct no lady could enter could
enter without contamination, at which no man could sit out a performance
without being disgusted, and from which all parents were bound to exclude
their children.
The opening of the New Royal Adelaide Theatre is reported in the Register,
on
24 June 1846, page 2e; also see
Observer,
4 July 1846, page 9c,
Register,
1 December 1847, page 2d.
Reminiscences of early theatres are in the Advertiser,
29 November 1912, page 12b,
"Footlights of Long Ago" in the Observer,
26 October 1918, page 20a,
"Stage Celebrities - Old Favourites Recalled" on
27 November 1926, page 16b.
"When We Wept in the Theatre" is in The News,
12 March 1934, page 4e.
A series of 14 articles "Plays of Long Ago - Early Adelaide Theatres" commences
in the Advertiser,
20 August 1921, page 13f and appear on all but a regular weekly basis.
The opening of the Olympic Theatre is reported in the Observer,
23 December 1843, page 5a and
of the Royal Victoria Theatre in the Register,
24 and 25 December 1850, pages 3c and 3a; also see
15 and 23 July 1861, pages 3e and 3h.
Historical information on the Victoria Theatre is in the Register,
20 December 1877, page 7e,
Express, 5 February 1879, page 3d.
A sketch is in the Pictorial Australian in August 1892, page 133;
also see Register,
12 July 1919, page 8a.
A visit to the Royal Adelaide Theatre is reported in the Observer on 1 January 1848, page 3a.
A comparison between the entrance fees to theatres in Melbourne and Adelaide
is in the Register,
25 March 1863, page 3g.
A proposed new theatre is reported in the Register,
3 August 1865, page 2f,
5 October 1865, page 2c,
21 November 1865, page 2f,
Observer,
12 August 1865, page 4f (supp.),
7 October 1865, page 3a (supp.),
Register,
6 and 28 February 1866, pages 3d and 2e.
"The Nuisance of Encores" is in the Advertiser,
30 May 1868, page 3b.
A performance by the Benevolent Dramatic Society is reported in the Express,
7 August 1872, page 2f.
The opening of Garner's Theatre is reported in the Register,
18 May 1880, page 5g; also see
24 May 1880, page 6g.
A sketch of its interior is in Frearson's Weekly,
7 August 1880, page 340.
An attack on a drama critic by an actor is reported in the Advertiser,
14 December 1880, page 4e.
"Escape From Theatre Fires" is in the Register,
19 January 1882, pages 4g-5g.
Also see Adelaide - Fires and the Fire Brigade.
"The Stage Thirty Years Ago - Some Reminiscences" is in the Advertiser,
18 June 1912, page 12a.
Anti-fire precautions in theatres are discussed in the Chronicle,
13 May 1882, page 6a.
"The Theatre" is in the Observer,
6 May 1882, page 24e.
"Important Theatrical Cases" is in the Observer,
20 January 1883, page 31b.
"Behind the Curtain" is in the Register,
14 March 1883, page 6a.
"Our Theatres and Their Management" is in the Advertiser,
7 February 1884, page 6a,
Express,
13 February 1884, page 3e.
An obituary of A.J. Solomon, former proprietor of the Victoria Theatre, is
in the Register,
11 January 1889, page 5a.
An interesting letter under the heading "Theatre-Going" appears in the Register,
12 October 1885, page 3h:
-
I used to attend the theatre in my youth. When I became seriously religious
I forsook the theatre, as I found by experience that the theatre did not
favour piety, but the reverse... The brevity of the dresses of girls in the
ballet is notorious...
"Old Time Memories" is in the Observer,
1 and 15 August 1891, pages 42b and 41e,
12 September 1891, page 41e.
"Overcrowding Theatres" is in the Register,
10 March 1893, page 5c.
"The Triumph of Comic Opera" is in the Register,
15 July 1893, page 4f.
"An Unruly Member of the Gods" is in the Register,
26 July 1893, page 5d.
"Emotional and Other Drama at the Theatre" is in the Register,
2 September 1893, page 4e.
"Theatre and Music Hall" is in the Advertiser,
2 November 1895, page 4g,
"Plays and Problems" on
9 October 1894, page 4f.
An article entitled "On Some Old Playbills" is in the Register,
28 December 1894, page 3f.
An editorial headed "Theatre and Music Hall" is in the Advertiser,
16 February 1895, page 4f; also see
13 April 1895, page 4f,
4 May 1895, page 4g.
"A Novel Entertainment" is discussed on
1 June 1895, page 4f.
"Actors and Authors" on
28 September 1895, page 4h.
"Plays, Playgoers and Music" is in the Register,
22 August 1896, pages 4f-6d.
"Things Theatrical" is in the Advertiser,
12 September 1896, page 4g,
24 November 1896, page 4f,
16 August 1897, page 4f,
"The Theatrical Season" on
7 December 1896, page 4g.
"The Modern Developments of Pantomime" is in the Advertiser,
3 May 1897, page 4h, also see
23 May 1898, page 4g,
5 November 1909, page 9c.
The perils of "Hats in Theatres" is in the Express,
17 September 1897,
Advertiser,
2 December 1903, page 4d.
"Christians and the Naughty Theatre" is in the Register,
15, 16 and 17 September 1897, pages 6f, 6e and 6e and
"Theatre, Church or Both" on
18 September 1897, page 4e:
-
In the times of the early Tudors the clergy, with their choir boys, were the
regular actors in the plays or dramas of the day; but since the preachers
left the boards of the theatre they have never kindly regarded the auditorium.
(Also see Register,
21 September 1897, page 7i and
Advertiser,
18 September 1897, page 4e.)
The Church should be most grateful to the inventor of the day of rest, because unless it provides more intellectual variety for the general public it cannot compete with the week-night caterer.
"Mind, Muscle and the Stage" is in the Register,
27 November 1897, page 4g.
"The Variety Stage" is in the Advertiser,
3 April 1897, page 4g,
"Return of the Drama" on
9 April 1898, page 4e,
"The Drama at Its Best" on
16 June 1898, page 4e,
"Opera and Comedy" on
11 July 1898, page 4f.
"Theatre and Music Hall" is in the Advertiser on
3 December 1898, page 6h,
"Comic Opera" on
21 June 1899, page 4g,
"Modern Light Opera" on
22 July 1899, page 4h.
"Modern Comedy" is in the Advertiser,
2 November 1899, page 4g,
"The Theatrical Season" on
14 April 1900, page 6f,
"The Variety Stage" on
5 July 1900, page 4e.
"Theatres and Theatre-Goers" is in the Register,
24 October 1898, page 4f,
"The Adelaide Stage" on
2 December 1899, page 5f-g,
"Dramas and Theatres" on
16 June 1900, page 6c.
"A Theatrical Boom" is in the Register,
10 June 1899, page 4f.
"The Stage and Stage People" is in the Advertiser,
5 August 1899, page 11f,
"Things Theatrical" on
2 May 1900, page 9a,
"Morals and the Stage" on
20 July 1901, page 6e,
"Plays and Problems" on
12 October 1901, page 6d.
"Williamson and Musgrove's Last Performance" is in the Register,
2 December 1899, page 5f.
Information on the Bijou Theatre is in the Observer,
31 March 1900, page 30a.
A series of articles headed "Recollections of an Amateur" commence in the Observer,
14 July 1900, page 33c.
"Thirty Years in Stageland" is in the Register,
14, 21 and 28 July 1900, pages 10b, 10a, and 10b,
4, 11, 18, and 25 August 1900, pages 10a, 10b, 9f and 9f,
1, 8 and 22 October 1900, pages 10e, 10a and 10a.
Information on the Garrick Club is in the Observer,
1 September 1900, page 35a.
Biographical details of Wybert Reeve are in the Register,
24 September 1900, page 5a,
4 October 1900, page 7i,
Observer,
29 September 1900, page 16d.
"Theatrical Patronage"is in the "Vice on the Stage" is in the Register on A photograph of Mr Alfred Dampier as "Captain Starlight" is in the Chronicle, "The Theatrical Season" is in the Register, "The Modern Music Hall" is in the Register, "From Theatre to Gaol - Twenty-Four Hours Behind Bars" is in the Advertiser, "Modern Drama" is in the Advertiser, The obituary of Robert Brough "A Popular Actor-Manager" is in the Register, "Morals and the Stage" is in the Advertiser, "A New Hippodrome" is in the Register, Photographs of several entrepreneurs - Fred March, Harry Skinner, M. Marcus,
A.B. Cremer, William Boyle and Bert Sayers - are in The Critic, 27 January
1909, page 20.
The opening of the Empire Theatre is reported in the Register, "The New Olympia - Home of West's Pictures" is in the Register, "Ten Years of Vaudeville" is in the Register on "Theatres and Trams" is in the Register, Information on King's Theatre is in the Register, Information on the Trocadero Summer Gardens is in the Register, "Children in Theatres" is in the Register, "Children and the Stage" is in the Register, An obituary of Mr C.J. Stevens is in the Express, "Shakespeare in Adelaide" is in the Advertiser, A proposed new theatre opposite the railway station is discussed in the Register, "Adelaide Theatres" is in the Register, "Footlights of Long Ago - Reminiscences of Mrs Henry Hele" is in the Register on "Ragged Ragtime - Novices on the Boards" is in the Express, "The Adelaide Repertory Theatre - Its History, Its Ideas, Its Intentions" is
in The Mail, "A Retrospect of 1914" is in The Mail, A proposed open-air theatre and "palais-de-danse" is reported upon in the Advertiser, "Repertory Theatre and Commercial Stage" is in the Register, "Footlights of Long Ago" is in the Register, "New Garden Theatre [at the Exhibition Grounds]" is in the Register, "Old-Time Theatricals" is in the Register, An obituary of L.J. Lohr is in the Observer, "Adelaide's Theatres Popular", including historical information, is in The
News, "A Repertory Theatre" is in the Register, An obituary of Maurice C. Tuohy, actor, is in the Register, "Stage Celebrities - Old Favourites Recalled" is in the Register, "The Repertory Theatre in Adelaide - Its Present and Its Future" is in the Register, "Miss Judith Anderson - Adelaide to Broadway" is in the Advertiser, "Australia's Oldest Actor [A.G. Wells] - Early Adelaide Plays" is in the Observer, "Mr John Forde - Doyen of the Profession" is in the Register, "Theatrical Reminiscences" is in the Register, "Adelaide Theatres Down the Years" is in The Mail, "Is Stage Beaten? - Stage and Talkies" is in The Mail, "Censorship of Stage Plays" is in The News, "Seven Theatres in One" is in the Advertiser, A series of weekly articles on "The Amateur Theatre" commence in The News, "Boom in the Amateur Theatre" is in the Advertiser, Information on the Repertory Theatre is in The News, Entertainment and the Arts - Choose again
Also see: Picture Theatres
Early "panoramas" and picture shows are discussed in the Register, A performance of a cinematographe at the Theatre Royal is described in the Observer, "Picture Prosperity - Rise and Progress of West's" is in the Register, "Sunday Shows Held" is in the Observer, "A New Picture Theatre - West's Big Scheme" is in the Register, "Picture Shows - Their Great Popularity" is in the Register, "Adelaide's New Theatre - The Pavilion Picture Palace" is in the Advertiser, Information on West's Theatre in Rundle Street is in the Register, Information on the Wondergraph Theatre is in the Register, A photograph of the Central Picture Theatre in Wakefield Street is in The
Critic, Information on the new Majestic Theatre is in the Express, "New Picture Theatre [in Rundle Street contiguous to the Norfolk Arms Hotel]" is
in the Register, The proposed "The Grand" theatre is discussed in The Mail, "Conduct in Theatres" is in the Register, "Gigantic Picture Theatre for Adelaide" is in the Advertiser, The opening of the York Theatre is reported in the Register, An obituary of Fred Coombs is in the Observer, Information on Ozone Theatres is in The News, Information on the Regent Theatre is in the Register, "Adelaide's Picture Theatres - Planning Ahead" is in the Advertiser, "Amusement Tax Rises Kills State Theatre Project" is in the Observer, "Story of Adelaide's Theatres" is in The Mail, The opening of the Roxy Theatre on the bay Road is reported in The Mail, "The Panorama - Opening Night of Charle's Moving Pictures" is in the Observer, Information on "Panorama" and "Picture Shows" is in the Register, Information on the cinematograph is in the Express, "Lumiere's Cinematograph" is in the Register, An exhibition of "real moving pictures", "distinct in every detail and the
detracting flicker which was a serious defect in the early cinematographe...",
is reported upon in the Register, 11 December 1905, page 8f.
"Mr Spencer's Theatrescope" is in the Register, "Moving Pictures" at the Town Hall are described in the Register, "Swann's Moving Pictures" is in the Register, "Moving Pictures of the State" is in the Register, The process of "Fitting the Music to the Picture" is explained in the Advertiser, "Football Pictures" at the Tivoli Theatre is reported in the Advertiser, "Rise and Progress of West's" is in the Register, "The Modern Moving Picture" and information on its introduction to Adelaide
is in the Advertiser, "The Fuss About Films" is in the Register, "Fight Pictures" is in the Register, "Motion Pictures" is in the Register, "Moving Pictures of the Wild Interior [of Australia]" is in the Register, "Sunday Moving Pictures" is in the Register, "Sunday Picture Shows - Programmes not Approved" is in the Express, "The Moving Picture Business" is in the Chronicle, "Animated Pictures" is in the Register, A poem titled "The Cinematograph" is in the Register, A photograph of "The Famous Rudd Family - On Our Selection" is in the Chronicle, "Bathing Belles - Cinematographed in Scanty Clothes" is in the Express, An obituary of James A. Miller, "one of the pioneers of cinematograph", is
in the Observer, Information on the first cinematograph film to be prepared in Adelaide is
in the Advertiser, Moving picture censorship is discussed in the Register, A photograph of members of the Southern Cross Feature Film Company is in The
Critic, "Wowsers and Picture Shows" is in the Register, "Censor's New Task" is in The Mail, "Fine SA Picture [The Woman Suffers]" is in the Register, "Methodists and Picture Shows" is in the Register, "Our Own Films - Sentimental Bloke's Success" is in the Register, "Singing Pictures - A Revolutionary Invention" is in the Express, "Use of the Cinema - To Advertise the State" is in the Advertiser, "Cinema Reform" is in the Advertiser, "Budding Film Stars - Adelaide Girls Wanted" is in the Advertiser, "Cinema Pictures - Effects on the Juvenile Mind" is in the Register, "Movies and Morals" is in The Mail, "Picture Prices - Woman Patron Protests" is in The News, "Prize Fighting and the Cinema" is in the Register, "The Cinema and Church Work" is in the Advertiser, "Cinema in Adelaide Churches" is in The Mail, "Molesting Women" at picture shows is commented upon in the Advertiser, "Australian Pictures - Establishing Motion Picture Unit" is in the Advertiser, "The Greater Movie Season - Its History and Significance" is in the Advertiser, "Moving Pictures in Adelaide - What the Public Wants" is in the Advertiser, "The Cinema and Education" is in the Advertiser, A photograph of committee members of the Movie Ball is in the Register, "Children's Pictures - Should There be Regulations?" is in the Register, "Rise of Dan Clifford - News Vendor to Theatre Owner" is in The News, "Moving Picture Progress", the reminiscences of William Robertson, is in The
Mail, "Motion Picture Music - Playing Before the Screen" is in The News, "Ways and Fads of Regular [Picture Theatre] Atttendants" is in The Mail, "Marvels of the Movietone in Adelaide" is in the Observer, "Movies" is in the Observer, "Preparing for Cinesound in Adelaide" is in The News, "New Talkie Wonders Promised" is in the Register, "Talkies - Miracle of Speech and Melody" is in The Mail, "Moving Pictures in Second Week" is in the Advertiser, "Films of the Future" is in The Mail, "Films May Brighten Religious Services" is in The Mail, "Hollywood in Adelaide" is in the Advertiser, "Beaten by Progress - Musicians Down and Out" is in The Mail, "Motion Pictures - Amateur Adelaide Society" is in The News, "Corrupt Films - Demand for Better Pictures" is in the Advertiser, Information on Mr R. Dorman and his work as a movie projectionist is in The
News, "World Draws Nearer to Television" is in the Advertiser, "Television Will Make Our Education Easier" is in The News, "Morality and Moving Pictures" is in the Advertiser, "South Australia's First Talkie" is in The News, "Australian Films" is in the Advertiser, "Cavalcade of Australian Films" is in The Mail,
7 June 1901, pages 3e-4e.
3 December 1903, page 4e,
"Thespians on Strike - No Pay, No Play" on
28 December 1903, page 5a.
7 February 1903, page 43 and
a scene from "The Squaw Man" on
1 September 1906, page 32.
11 April 1903, page 4d.
30 January 1904, page 6f.
17 March 1905, page 5h,
"The Gilbert and Sullivan Season" on
31 August 1905, page 4d,
"Grand Opera in Adelaide" on
13 May 1907, page 6b.
27 June 1905, page 6d.
21 April 1906, page 5b; also see
5 June 1906, page 5f.
14 December 1907, page 10g.
3 November 1908, page 4g,
12 December 1908, page 11f (includes a sketch); also see
4 January 1909, page 6e.
12 April 1909, page 9g.
3 September 1909, page 7a.
"Wests Olympia to be Demolished" is in the Observer,
16 March 1929, page 20d.
18 January 1910, page 5a,
"Gustav Vaughan Brooke", classical tragedian and Irish comedian, on
20 August 1910, page 5e,
"Eccentric Stars" on
27 January 1912, page 12e.
7 May 1910, page 5e.
14 June 1910, page 9g;
its opening is reported in the Advertiser,
24 February 1911, page 6f,
"King's Theatre Sensation" is in the Express,
19 June 1911, page 3i,
Register,
19 June 1911, page 7f.
A photograph of the staff is in The Critic,
18 February 1914, page 15.
A "King's Theatre Ablaze" is in the Register,
27 September 1927, page 9f.
"King's Theatre Sold" is in the Advertiser,
2 February 1928, page 10e; also see
16 March 1928, page 17d and
The News,
1 February 1928, page 1e.
21 November 1910, page 6h.
4 and 8 February 1911, pages 5c and 4f.
9 February 1911, page 4d.
17 July 1911, page 4h,
of J.H. Lyons in the Register,
2 June 1913, page 12g.
6 and 7 November 1911, pages 9c and 8h.
22 September 1911, page 7e.
1 October 1912, page 6f.
24 September 1913, page 14a; also see
1, 2 and 7 October 1913, pages 11e, 10g and 8a.
12 January 1914, page 6g.
21 February 1914, page 9c; also see
The News,
28 April 1925, page 6e,
4 and 18 May 1925, pages 6g and 6g.
13 March 1915, page 16f.
25 June 1914.
"A Jazz Night at the Palais de Danse" is in the Register,
24 April 1920, page 9f.
20 February 1915, page 8c.
19 and 26 October 1918, pages 10d and 4e,
2, 16 and 23 November 1916, pages 10a, 5g and 10a.
10 November 1920, page 8e; also see
26 November 1923, page 12c.
4 January 1921, page 6f.
22 January 1921, page 34b.
9 September 1924, page 5a.
16 October 1924, page 5c.
28 July 1926, page 17d.
20 November 1926, page 7a.
9 April 1927, page 5f.
An obituary of one of its founders, F.D. Wilkinson, is in the Observer,
2 April 1927, page 43b.
30 May 1927, page 11f; also see
The News,
28 May 1927, page 1d,
2 June 1927, page 4c.
24 September 1927, page 22a; also see
23 June 1928, page 56c.
21 March 1928, page 11d.
9 and 13 August 1928, pages 13c and 10a.
29 April 1933, page 13.
15 February 1930, page 1a.
22 July 1939, page 6.
19 October 1935, page 10c.
27 June 1936, page 6f.
13 January 1937, page 22e,
"Amateur Theatre Flourishing" on
5 May 1937, page 29a.
2 January 1937, page 6e,
on the Little Theatre on
9 and 16 January 1937, pages 6e and 6g.
Moving Pictures and Television
South Australia - Entertainment and
the Arts - Moving Pictures and Television.
22 September 1923, page 13c.
9 January 1897, page 35a.
19 August 1909, page 7e;
information on the Olympia Theatre (West's) is in The Mail,
17 January 1914, page 20c,
Register,
7 March 1929, page 23a.
25 February 1911, page 41c,
11 and 18 March 1911, pages 17b and 47d.
Also see SA - Breaking the
Sabbath.
22 July 1911, page 17g.
14 November 1911, page 10f.
21 June 1912, page 12d;
a photograph is in The Critic,
18 September 1912, page 6.
29 July 1912, page 7d.
28 September 1912, page 18c;
its opening is reported in the Register,
5 September 1913, page 15c,
Advertiser,
5 September 1913, page 19d; also see
9 April 1920, page 27,
Register,
31 May 1920, page 6 (sketch).
14 August 1912, page 12.
4 February 1916, page 3f,
Register,
22 May 1916, page 4e,
5 June 1916, page 7d and
its history on
19 May 1928, page 15f; also see
Advertiser,
14 and 20 June 1928, pages 14a and 11c.
15 March 1916, page 4e,
30 November 1916, page 4e; also see
5 June 1918, page 9e.
15 July 1916, page 11c,
25 November 1916, page 6e,
Register,
17 July 1916, page 4d;
its opening on
1 December 1916, page 7h.
Information on the Victoria Theatre and Theatre Royal appears on
16 December 1916, page 5d.
23 July 1918, page 7f.
14 April 1920, page 12; also see
Register,
9 April 1920, page 7b,
Observer,
17 April 1920, page 13c.
31 October 1921, page 9,
2 November 1921, page 8b; also see
Register,
5 November 1925, page 11c,
Advertiser,
17 June 1929, page 6g.
A photograph is in the Observer,
15 September 1921, page 25.
22 April 1922, page 34c.
22 and 23 March 1928, pages 19e and 6e.
16 May 1928, page 10h,
25 and 31 May 1928, pages 15e and 11c,
29 June 1928, pages 15, 16, 17 and 18,
Advertiser,
25 May 1928, page 18g,
9 and 29 June 1928, pages 18a and 8 (opening);
information on its Wurlitzer organ is in the Register,
22 and 24 September 1928, pages 12c and 6d.
"Art Treasures" purchased by the Regent are discussed in The Mail,
14 July 1928, page 14g.
14 July 1928, page 19e.
31 August 1929, page 53b,
7 September 1929, pages 10e-40a.
9 January 1937, page 20.
2 October 1937, page 10c.
8 April 1871, page 7b.
22 September 1913, page 13c.
19 and 20 October 1896, pages 2f and 3d,
A cinematograph performance at the Theatre Royal is discussed in the Register,
2 January 1897, page 6g,
"The Censors of the Cinematograph" on
2 December 1914, page 9a.
"Australia and Cinematographe" is in the Register,
31 May 1909, page 9c,
Adelaide Cinematrogaphed" on
22 June 1909, page 4g.
"Education and the Cinematograph" is in the Advertiser,
17 June 1913, page 8e.
10 November 1897, page 6e.
24 and 26 February 1906, pages 8e and 7e,
5 March 1906, page 3i.
14 April 1906, page 4g.
17 August 1907, page 6e.
17 March 1909, page 8e.
27 April 1909, page 6g.
15 June 1909, page 9d.
19 August 1909, page 7e.
5 October 1909, page 6e:
Less than twenty years ago the first moving pictures exhibited in Adelaide
were shown in a shop in Rundle Street west which had been leased for the
occasion by the McMahon Brothers, who were well known in theatrical circles.
14 and 18 July 1910, pages 6c and 3e.
26 October 1910, page 8f.
17 December 1910, page 14f.
18 January 1911, page 4h,
23 August 1911, page 4e - these reports concern the activities of a cyclist,
Mr Birtles.
20 March 1911, page 6g,
12 April 1911, pages 6e-9a,
6, 7 and 8 June 1911, pages 8g, 3f and 9e.
Also see South Australia -
Religion - Breaking the Sabbath.
18 March 1911, page 1e; also see
11 and 19 April 1911, pages 1h and 1h.
Observer,
25 February 1911, page 41c,
11 and 18 March 1911, pages 17b and 47d.
10 June 1911, page 42b,
"Continuous Pictures" in The Mail,
22 June 1912, page 13g,
"Picture Shows and Orchestras" in the Advertiser,
29 July 1912, page 10i,
"Picture Shows and Reform" in the Register,
18 May 1914, page 8c.
2 September 1911, page 8d.
24 February 1911, page 6f.
27 July 1912, page 32.
16 January 1914, page 4g.
12 June 1915, page 44b.
3 and 12 February 1917, pages 11f and 9b.
19 December 1916, page 7d,
6 and 10 January 1917, pages 7c and 4d,
Advertiser,
4 September 1917, page 10e,
27 February 1922, page 12f,
Register,
6 November 1924, page 8c,
"Wowsers and Picture Shows" on
13, 20, 22 and 31 August 1917, pages 3b, 9d, 3f and 9e,
"Film Censorship" in the Advertiser,
27 April 1928, page 15d.
20 June 1917, page 13.
10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 25 August 1917, pages 6e, 10c, 3b, 6d, 9d, 3c,
10e and 10e.
24 August 1929, page 14d; also see
28 December 1929, page 11a.
22 February 1930, page 3a,
10 January 1931, page 15,
11 June 1932, page 2a,
28 April 1934, page 17,
"Cinema, Censor and Child" in the Advertiser,
17 April 1934, page 8d.
20 March 1918, page 9e.
12 March 1919, page 8g.
4 February 1921, page 6g.
18 July 1921, page 2h.
17 February 1922, page 10c.
28 and 29 November 1922, pages 12f and 16c.
11 August 1923, page 17c.
10 October 1923, page 10g.
15 December 1923, page 7f.
1 February 1924, page 6e,
"Clergyman Attacks Films" on
2 September 1924, page 1b.
8 July 1924, page 8h.
28 July 1924, page 8f,
"Motion Pictures and the Church" on
7 March 1929, page 19a,
"The Child and the Cinema" on
31 July 1924, page 8g.
9 August 1924, page 10f.
15 and 20 October 1924, pages 13e and 12f.
25 November 1924, page 12f.
9 March 1926, page 14d.
9 March 1926, page 15e.
21 August 1926, page 18e,
"The Cinema" on
11 March 1927, page 12h,
"The Films - Good and Bad in Them" on
25 August 1927, page 12c,
"The Movie Ball" on
2 September 1927, page 15d.
18 August 1927, page 10.
24 August 1927, page 10h.
6 January 1928, page 8e.
11 February 1928, page 25d.
12 July 1928, page 12e.
9 June 1928, page 15c.
9 March 1929, page 54d.
22 September 1928, page 71b.
9 January 1929, page 12a,
"Talking Pictures for Adelaide" in the Advertiser,
8 and 31 January 1929, pages 15g and 16c,
12 February 1929, page 15g,
"The Talkies Talk" in The News,
1 March 1929, page 13b.
2 and 4 March 1927, pages 5c and 13d.
16 February 1929, page 19; also see
2 March 1929, page 1f.
11 March 1929, pages 17a-18e.
29 June 1929, page 2d.
7 September 1929, page 2d.
5 October 1929, page 24d.
4 January 1930, page 3a.
7 March 1930, page 4c.
12 March 1930, page 15b,
"Films, Talking and Silent - Crime, Slang and Accent" on
16 April 1930, page 15d,
"Censorship of Films" on
18 June 1931, page 12c.
18 July 1931, page 4d.
3 October 1931, page 5g.
26 August 1933, page 4d.
27 June 1934, page 18e.
24 January 1935, page 10g.
6 January 1937, page 18d.
9 January 1937, page 20.
