The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Black and white photograph of cast members in Sidney Jones' The Geisha by the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. The performance in the Kew Recreation Hall was produced by Beatrice Oakley with musical direction by John Trotter. The Kew Philharmonic provided the music during this series of performances. The scenery was constructed by the Company, while the costumes were sourced from the Princess Theatre.performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Black and white photograph of female cast members in Sidney Jones' The Geisha by The "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. The performance in the Kew Recreation Hall was produced by Beatrice Oakley with musical direction by John Trotter. The Kew Philharmonic provided the music during this series of performances. The scenery was constructed by the Company, while the costumes were sourced from the Princess Theatre. An annotation in the scrapbook identifies the following cast members from left: Rita Mandelbaum - Komurasaki San (Little Violet), Sally Wolters - O Kiku San (Chrysanthemum) , Val Breen - leading lady - O Mimosa San (Chief Geisha), Pat Stewart (O Kinkoto San (Golden Harp), Marion Smith - O Hana San (Blossom). Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following names underneath the photograph: "Rita Mandelbaum, Sally Wolters, Val Breen - leading lady, Pat Stewart, Marion Smith"performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The Box Hill Operatic Society was founded in 1945 and was sponsored by the Box Hill City Council. Past productions listed on the back page of the programme include The Quaker Girl, High Jinks, A Night Out, The Lilac Domino, Wildflower, Gipsy Love, Katinka, and Maid of the Mountains. Arthur Henry Dear was an employee of the City of Kew, acting as Hall Keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, and later the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road. The Arthur Dear Collection contains memorabilia - tickets, programmes, invitations - as well as his identification badge. Items in the collection dates from the 1940s to the 1960s. The Kew Recreation Hall (Wellington Street) and later the Kew City Hall (Cotham Road) were major locations in suburban Melbourne in the postwar period for civic and private events including theatre productions and exhibitions. The Arthur Dear Collection (in conjunction with the scrapbooks compiled by Marion Tilley) provide a comprehensive snapshot of performing arts in Kew during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The collection includes valuable data about performances, performers, directors etc., during this period. Theatre programme issued by the Box Hill Operatic Society. The 8-page programme contains a title page, a cast list, details of the management, and a brief history of the Company. The performance was held in the Box Hill Town Hall in 1958. arthur dear collection, theatre memorabilia, performing arts - box hill, box hill town hall

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'The Cingalee'. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 June 1953. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.kew light opera company, theatre, performing arts

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'San Toy: or The Emperor's Own'. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 1, 3, 4, 5 December 1953. The cast list is signed by members of the company. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), performing arts, kew light opera company, san toy

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'While the Sun Shines', a comedy in three acts by Terence Rattigan.The programme is undated. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.kew light opera company, while the sun shines (terence rattigan), performing arts, theatre (kew)

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'A Country Girl'. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 5, 6, 7, 8 May 1954. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.kew light opera company, theatre (kew), performing arts, a country girl (musical)

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'Our Miss Gibbs'. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 27, 28, 29 30 October 1954. Inscribed on the cast list is a later note identifying that Clarrrie Armstrong died on 13.8.1985. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), performing arts, our miss gibbs, kew recreation hall, kew light opera company

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'The Toreador'. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 4, 5, 6, 7 May 1955. Inscribed on the cast list is a later note identifying that the Musical Director, Clarrrie Armstrong died on 13.8.1985. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), performing arts, the toreador (musical), kew recreation hall, kew light opera company

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'The Arcadians: a Musical Fantasy in 3 Acts' by Lionel Monckton and Howard Talbot. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 26, 27, 28, 29 October 1955. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), performing arts, kew light opera company, the arcadians (musical), kew recreation hall

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of 'Whiteoaks: a 3-Act Comedy-Drama' by Mazo de la Roche. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 21 and 22 March 1956. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, performing arts

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of the Australian premiere of 'Goodnight Vienna!' by Marvell and Posford. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall in 1956. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), performing arts, goodnight vienna! (musical), kew light opera company, kew recreation hall

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by The Kew Light Opera Company for a revival of 'A Country Girl' by Lionel Monckton. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall in 5, 6, 7, 8 June 1957. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.theatre (kew), theatre groups (kew), performing arts, kew recreation hall, a country girl (musical)

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A known list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme isued by the Kew Light Opera Company for a performance of Leslie Stuart's light musical comedy - Florodora. Performances were held in the Kew Recreation Hall on 27, 28, 29 September and 1 October 1952. This was the first production by the company. No. 816kew light opera company, performing arts, florodora (musical), theatre groups (kew), kew recreation hall

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A known list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country GirlThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme issued for a celebratory variety performance. The programme forms part of a scrapbook that includes programmes, photographs and theatre reviews for the Kew Light Opera Company and later "Q" Theatre Guild.kew light opera company, performing arts, theatre groups (kew)

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. A list of its productions by year includes: 1952 Florodora 1953 The Cingalee 1953 San Toy OR The Emperor’s Own 1953 Celebratory variety performance 195? While the Sun Shines 1954 A Country Girl 1954 Our Miss Gibbs 1955 The Toreador 1955 The Arcadians 1956 The Maid of the Mountains 1956 Whiteoaks 1956 Good night Vienna! 1957 A Country Girl The "Q" Theatre Guild, which subsumed the earlier Kew Light Opera Company, performed in the Kew Recreation Hall from 1957 and later in the Kew Town Hall from 1960. Its productions include: 1957 The Geisha 1958 Maritana 1959 They All Do It (Cosi Fan Tutti) c.1959 Blossom Time 1959 Love’s a Luxury 1960 There And Back & The Bohemian Girl [1960 Die Fledermaus]??? 1961 Gay Rosalinda 1961 The Land of Smiles 1961 Kisses For A Kid & Hansel and Gretel 1962 Die Fledermaus 1964 Monsieur Beaucaire 1964 Macbeath [The Beggars’ Opera] 1964 The Beggars’ Opera ? And So To BedThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Scrapbook of newspaper reviews cast photographs and programmes of the Kew Light Opera Company (later amalgamated into the "Q" Theatre Guild). Compiled by Marion Tilley, a cast member and wardrobe mistress for both companies, it was donated to the Society by her daughter. The scrapbook covers performances during the years 1952 to c. 1965. See image carouselkew light opera company, "q" theatre, performing arts

Alexander Wright was born on 25 August, 1898 in Smeaton He was the brother of musician Frank Wright. Alex Wright was killed whilst performing at the Birmingham Empire as the result of a German air Attack in October 1940. The theatre had a direct hit. According to Frank Wright Alex was a great impersonator with a unique range Bass - tenor with many accents (not unlike Peter Dawson) "AUSTRALIAN CARUSO Smeaton Boy's Fame Andre Navarre, who left Australia about three years ago to study opera in Europe, bids fair to take a place among the world's great tenors. A few months ago Navarre sang for Melba for the first time, and she immediately acclaimed him to be a finished artist, describing his voice as the nearest approach to the immortal Caruso she had ever heard, writes the Ballarat "Courier." Andre Navarre is, however, only a stage name adopted by Alexander Wright, a son of Mr. and Mrs. William. Wright, of Armstrong street North, Ballarat, and brother of Mr. Frank Wright and Mrs. William Ritchie, of that city. Born at smeaton 31 years ago, in what may be termed a musical atmosphere; Alex. Wright showed a definite desire to sing at a very early age, and in his boyhood figured as soloist at school concerts, etc. His youth was spent around Smeaton, working at home and at various farms in the district until he was about 19 years of age, when he secured a position at the Dunlop rubber works, Melbourne. Up to this period Wright had no vocal training whatever, but being the possessor of a good resonant baritone voice, was persuaded by some of his friends to "have a go at the stage.'' Securing a position in the chorus of "Maid of the Mountains," which was at that time showing at the Theatre Royal, he soon made his voice heard to advantage, and also commenced to take lessons from Signor Robottaro. It was about this time that Wright was invited by a fellow musician to a musical evening at which a member of Rigo's grand opera company, then performing at " The Playhouse," was also present. Hearing Wright sing, the musician immediately said : ' You're a fool to waste your time in a chorus with that voice. Rigo is looking for a singer like you for the role of 'Figaro' in 'Barber of Seville'." Alex, however, did not take the remark seriously, and it was only after the numerous persuasions of friends who obviously knew the real value of his voice that the modest young man was eventually induced to meet Rigo. The Italian maestro was so delighted with the voice that without hesitation he was given the principle role of "The Barber" to study. Many singers having previously been tried and rejected for the part, Wright was astonished at his success in being chosen, and awakened suddenly to the fact by the maestro that a world voice, if properly trained, would surely develop in the young artist, Alex at once settled down to study, and all day long in his boarding house at St. Kilda could be heard rehearsing his new role. In less than a month he had completely mastered the part, and on the opening night, in the exacting role of "The Barber," he was an outstanding success. Later, he toured Australia with many leading artists, including Elsa Stralia and Harry Lauder, and spent his last two years in Sydney, where he was engaged as soloist in the biggest picture house. Realising that a training in Italy and on the Continent was essential for a successful operatic singer, the young artist decided to go overseas to continue his studies. He did not leave Australia, however, before he gratuitously gave a concert in his little home town to the obvious delight of all his old friends, who flocked from all parts of the district to hear him. The hall was packed to overflowing , and so pleased was Alex with the tumultuous reception he received that he sang fewer than 20 songs. Once in Italy, he lost no time in placing himself under the tuition of Cottone, and it was at the studio of this maestro that he met Toti dal Monte, a former protege of the same master. Two years were spent in Italy, when "Navarre" learned to speak the Italian language fluently, and acquired a wide knowledge of the operas. He sang in Milan about a year ago, and was paid some glowing tributes by the Italian Press critics, who likened his voice to that of Caruso. From Italy he went to Paris, where he met John Brownlee and many other famous singers. The critics on the Continent are unanimous that Andre Navarre-the unassuming Smeaton boy, whom his schoolmates still affectionately call "Hock"--is destined to become one of the luminaries in music history. It is interesting to recall some facts concerning the remarkable family from which this artist springs. Four other members have won championship honors in the musical world. Mr. Frank Wright has the Australasian cornet championship to his credit ; Mr. Norman Wright, of Sydney, has won a tenor championship of New Zealand, and has recorded for the Columbia Gramophone Company ; Mrs. Wm. Ritchie ( formerly Miss Laura Wright) won the A.N.A. contralto championship in Melbourne; whilst the oldest member, Lydia (Mrs. C. Cane, now in N.Z.) won the violin championship at South Street when 17 years of age. Last year Mrs. and Mr. Wright celebrated their golden wedding. Both of the old folk are intensely musical, and it has been said that the voice of the mother, although entirely untrained, showed in her earlier days glimpses of the beautiful quality which made Melba famous. Andre Navarre does not propose leaving the Continent for some time. Recently he was offered a 12 months' contract to sing in London for £2500 but on the advice of Melba and his coach, it was refused on the grounds that yet another 12 months' French study was necessary to ensure absolute perfection. That "Alex " has lost none of his school-boy wit is evinced by his own jocular remark that he has "a top C sharp that will crack every window in the Sydney Town Hall!" (Horsham Times, 20 February 1931) "AUSTRALIAN KILLED An Australian, Alexander Wright, radio variety star, who toured Europe and Australia under the pseudonym of Navarre, was killed during a recent air raid in a Midland . town. His broth-er, Frank Wright, is musical director for the London County council."(Border Morning Mail, 22 Oct 1940) Black and white image of Smeaton born Alexander Wright whose professional name was Navarre "Prince of Mimics". alexander wright, alec wright, navarre

Returning from Manila in 1856 with a cargo of rice, sugar and rope. Mountain Maid was wrecked after colliding with the Victorian steamer, SS Queen. No lives were lost but the ship sank quickly and the crew was forced to swim for their lives. The pilot onboard Mountain Maid was dismissed from the Pilot service, as he'd already run two other ships aground before changing direction and causing the collision with SS Queen (Lomdahl 1992:Mountain Maid). Pintle and Gudgeon Type Ruddermountain maid, shipwrecks, rudder