directed by Daniel Keene starring Linzee Smith Rhonda Wilson and John Butler. Staged with the assistance of the Australia Council St Martin's Theatre Company The Fitzroy Stars Gym and MavisFlyer & Newspaper cuttingthe fighter, daniel keene, the tide, melbourne athenaeum two, program, programme, australia council, fitzroy stars gym, st martin's theatre company

newspaper cut out melbourne athenaeum two, our man in havanna

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

Silver engraved - filigree - 5 leafy arms (one arm missing). Two trunks hold up the actual cup. Cup engraved with 4 palm trees at back. Front shows a cricket match scene with fence, tents and pavilion. Small leaves at base. Base covered with small flowers and rocksW Edwards, Melbourne. Leading supplier of silverware c1889.Collins St East, Melbourne

Wooden .Certificate : No 82, Est 15th Nov 1869. Red/black writing. White background. Signatures: McIvor, Pollard, Ricketts - Manchester Emblem. Buchan, Munro, Bell - Melbourne Emblem. Emblem: Two women (one with wines) on side of shield (beehive, lamb, wheat, eye, flowers, snake, sun, moon, stars). Coloured. Covered with glass. All housed within hinged doors of wood with locking mechanism.Emblem : We will drink neither wine or strong drink.

Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern, Victoria in 1898. His family moved to the region during the gold rush and continued to resided in the area, purchasing land adjacent the Murray River. Busse completed his secondary education at Wesley College in Melbourne then studied law at the University of Melbourne. Busse went on to become a barrister, often in the chambers of Sir Leo Finn Bernard Cussen (1859-1933) a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Busse was also an avid fictional writer and in 1930 he published two novels "The Blue Beyond; A Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia” and "The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties." "The Golden Plague” won the T. E. Role gold medal for the best historical novel which went on to become a best seller. Busse often drew inspiration for his novels from his younger years living Chiltern. His passion for the region lead him to write “The History of Chiltern” which was published in a serial form in the Chiltern Federal Standard from 1922-1923. Wilfred Clarence Busse was a member of Chiltern Athenaeum upon his death in 1960. This book is of considerable importance to Chiltern Athenaeum as it was written by Wilfred Clarence Busse, a barrister and author born in Chiltern. Busse drew inspiration to write novels from his life growing up in Chiltern which is apparent in "The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties." Small book in a solid orange hardback with text written in gold on top front and spine. There are 287 pagesFront cover: Wilfred C. Busse / The Golden Plague / Title page: The Golden Plague / A Romance of the roaring fifties / By Wilfred C. Busse / Hutchinson & Co (Publishers), LTD. / Paternoster Row, London, EC4 / wilfred clarence busse, busse, chiltern, chiltern athenaeum, federal standard, t. e. role, "the blue beyond, a romance of the early days in south eastern australia”, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties.", "the golden plague”, wesley college, university of melbourne, sir leo finn bernard cussen, supreme court of victoria, gold rush, murray river, “the history of chiltern”

This badge was given to William Clarence Busse when he became a lifetime member of the Chiltern Football Club. Football became popualr in Chiltern during the 1860s, with the local team becoming a key part of the creation of a formal competition for the Ovens and Murray region, which came about in 1893. The Chiltern team also participated in the founding of the Chiltern and District Football Association in 1912, where they won their first premiership in 1914. In 1954, the team played in a Grand Final against Greta that had a 43 minute long final quarter. Chiltern was ahead when the fourth quarter should have ended, but the timer did not go off and the game went into overtime, allowing Greta to snatch the win and set in place a decades-long rivalry. Today, the team continues to compete under the nickname the 'Swans' in the Tallangatta and District Football League. Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern in 1898. He completed his education at Wesley College in Melbourne then studied law at the University of Melbourne, before becoming a barrister. During his career, he often worked in the chambers of Judge Bernard Cussen (1859-1933) of the Supreme Court. Cussen was popular as a judge and lawyer, known for being just and precise and for completing through statutory consolidation in his spare time. Beyond his career as a lawyer, Busse wrote historical fiction inspired by his life in Chiltern, these included "The Blue Beyond; A Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia" and "The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties," which won the T.E.Role gold medal for the best historical novel in 1930 and went on to become a best seller. He was a member of the Chiltern Athenaeum until his death in 1960. This object is significant for its link to W.C. Busse, a barrister and author born in Chiltern, and as memorabilia of the Chiltern Football Club. A small gold metallic badge depicting two men playing Australian Rules Football, surrounded by a border of leaves. Obverse: "CHILTERN/ FOOTBALL CLUB/ LIFE MEMBER" Reverse: "W.C. Busse/ K. G. 9KT/ M ??" busse, w.c. busse, wilfred clarence busse, chiltern, chiltern athenaeum, chiltern football club, football, sport, t. e. role, "the blue beyond, a romance of the early days in south eastern australia”, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties.", "the golden plague”, wesley college, university of melbourne, sir leo finn bernard cussen, supreme court of victoria, football league, lifetime member, chiltern football club lifetime member

Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern, Victoria in 1898. His family first arrived in this region during the gold rush era, purchasing a piece of land adjacent to the Murray River. The spectacular scenery and rich history of the area is said to have inspired Busse in his writing. He attended Wesley College in his school days, before going on to study law at the University of Melbourne. After graduating from university, Busse would go on to become a barrister, but he is best known as a writer of fiction, publishing two novels: 'The Blue Beyond: A Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia' and 'The Golden Plague: A Romance in the Early Fifties'. Busse died in 1960. This particular object is dated 1895, three years before Busse was born. It can thus be assumed that it was awarded to a relative of his, possibly his father in relation to their land by the Murray River. This object is significant as it is associated with Wilfred Clarence Busse, a celebrated author and barrister who grew up in the locality of Chiltern. It is also a medal awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, a society that has held social and industrial significance since it was founded in the nineteenth century. Small, circular medal - made of either bronze or brass metal - depicting an agricultural background behind a female figure in a toga holding a wreath. Back side: The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria / Busse & Son / 1895wilfred clarence busse, w.c. busse, busse, gold rush, gold rush chiltern, busse author, the royal agricultural society of victoria, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties., "the blue beyond, rasv, medal, agricultural medal

Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern, Victoria in 1898. His family first arrived in this region during the gold rush era, purchasing a piece of land adjacent to the Murray River. The spectacular scenery and rich history of the area is said to have inspired Busse in his writing. He attended Wesley College in his school days, before going on to study law at the University of Melbourne. After graduating from university, Busse would go on to become a barrister, but he is best known as a writer of fiction, publishing two novels: 'The Blue Beyond: A Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia' and 'The Golden Plague: A Romance in the Early Fifties'. Busse died in 1960. This particular object was owned by Busse. It is a tie pin and, as inscribed on its box, it was manufactured by Stewart Dawson and Co, a successful jewellery company - founded in Sydney in the late nineteenth century - that is still active today. This object is significant as it was owned by Wilfred Clarence Busse, an accomplished barrister and writer from Chiltern, Victoria. It was also manufactured by Stewart Dawson and Co, a successful jewellery company, founded in the nineteenth century, that is still active today. A thin, curved, gold-coloured tie pin placed inside an open velvet-lined jewellery box. Inscribed beneath the lid are the words 'Stewart Dawson and Co. / Watch Manufacturers / and Jewellers / Sydney & London.Box open: Stewart Dawson and Co. / Watch Manufacturers / and Jewellers / Sydney & London w.c. busse, wilfred clarence busse, gold rush, gold rush chiltern, busse barrister, busse author, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties., "the golden plague”, "the blue beyond: a romance of the early days in south eastern australia", "the blue beyond", tie pin, jewellery, jewellery manufacturers, sydney jewellers nineteenth century, stewart dawson and co

Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern, Victoria in 1898. His family moved to the region during the gold rush and continued to resided in the area, purchasing land adjacent the Murray River. Busse completed his secondary education at Wesley College in Melbourne then studied law at the University of Melbourne. Busse went on to become a barrister, often in the chambers of Sir Leo Finn Bernard Cussen (1859-1933) a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Busse was also an avid fictional writer and in 1930 he published two novels "The Blue Beyond; A Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia” and "The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties." "The Golden Plague” won the T. E. Role gold medal for the best historical novel which went on to become a best seller. Busse often drew inspiration for his novels from his younger years living Chiltern. His passion for the region lead him to write “The History of Chiltern” which was published in a serial form in the Chiltern Federal Standard from 1922-1923. Wilfred Clarence Busse was a member of Chiltern Athenaeum upon his death in 1960This photograph is of considerable importance to Chiltern Athenaeum as it was written by Wilfred Clarence Busse, a barrister and author born in Chiltern. Busse drew inspiration to write novels from his life growing up in Chiltern which is apparent in "The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties."Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on board placed within a silver frame.photograph, indigo shire, chiltern athenaeum museum, framed photograph, wilfred clarence busse, busse, chiltern athenaeum, "the blue beyond, a romance of the early days in south eastern australia”, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties.", “the history of chiltern”

This certificate, drawn in a very elegant hand, contains the biographical information of Wilfred Busse. It is assumed to be a funeral or memorial card. Born in Chiltern in 1898, Wilfred Clarence Busse was educted at Wesley College and then the University of Melbourne. He became a barrister and through his time at the University of Melbourne studied with future Chief Justice and Governor of Victoria Sir Henry Arthur Winneke (1908–1985), as well as spending time in the chanbers of Sir Leo Finn Bernard Cussen (1859-1933), who was a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Busse also wrote two novels, 'The Blue Beyond' and 'The Golden Plague'. In 1931, 'The Golden Plague' was awarded the T. E. Rofe gold medal by the Henry Lawson Literary Society for its ''its vivid scenes of the Ovens River [gold] rushes, in the early [eighteen] fifties".Ivory rectangular certificate with rounded corners made of thick paper with inked writing and two small photographs mountedObverse: Wilfred Clarence Busse/ 1898 – 1960 / Barrister and Author / Born in Chiltern. Educated at Melbourne / University. Studied Law with former Governor / of Victoria Sir Henry Winneke. In 1928 / published his first novel, “The Blue Beyond”. / In 1930 published “The Golden Plague” for / Which he was awarded the Henry Lawson / Literary Society’s Gold Medal. / Wilfred Busse was a member of the Chiltern / Athenaeum. He valued the historical works / In the library. / wilfred busse, wilfred clarence busse, wilfred c. busse, busse, w.c. busse, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties.", "the blue beyond, henry lawson society, chiltern, chiltern athenaeum, chiltern athenaeum museum, sir henry arthur winneke, sir leo finn bernard cussen, funeral card, memorial card

The two films screened were produced by the British company Gaumont-British Dominions. Frank Talbot, who leased the Athenaeum Theatre, made an agreement in 1932 with the British company to show British movies exclusively at the Athenaeum Theatre, the first agreement of this kind to be made in the world. The film "The Mikado" is presented with the D'Oyley Carte Opera Company chorus.The souvenir program has a generic cover, featuring an advertisement for "Cholerton's School of Motoring" instead of the name of the film, as found on previous programs. This may have been the result of wartime economies. The evening of entertainment, typical for the time, commenced with an overture from Cecil Parkes Strad Trio followed by Fox Movietone News and the first film, "Sword of Honour". After interval the Cecil Parkes Trio again played, a Gaumont-British newsreel was screened and then the main feature "The Mikado" was screened. In 1939, when the Athenaeum Library was open until 10 pm, Library members could change their library books during the interval, between films, Monday to Saturday.Paper program for a film screened at the Athenaeum Theatre September 1939; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the film, the actors and advertisementsathenaeum theatre, program, programme, gaumont-british dominion films, cecil parkes strad trio, the mikado, sword of honour, frank talbot, d'oyley carte

Transcript: Athenaeum building celebrates 170 years Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 11/11/2009 Reporter: Lisa Whitehead Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth. Transcript KERRY O’BRIEN, PRESENTER: Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne's Athenaeum building has, in one form or another, provided education and entertainment. For the Victorian colonies it became a city and along the way documented its growth. The building's original library and theatre still draw devotees and as Lisa Whitehead reports, a loyal band of volunteers. KEVIN QUIGLEY, ATHENAEUM PRESIDENT: There's nothing like us that has been here from day one, four years after the boat pushed ashore, here we are. It's a thread that runs through the life of Melbourne. LISA WHITEHEAD, REPORTER: In the heart of Melbourne's CBD, the Athenaeum is a celebrity in disguise, the oldest cultural icon in the city, but barely noticed. MARJORIE DALVEAN, VOLUNTEER HISTORIAN: People of Melbourne walk past this area and they have no idea what it is. RAY LAWLER, PLAYWRIGHT: It seemed to me to be a place that absolutely, or breathes Melbourne, I suppose, culture. LISA WHITEHEAD: Just four years after Melbourne was founded, the colony built a Mechanic's Institution, one of the first in the world, a place where the working class could meet and learn. KEVIN QUIGLEY: People think of it as Wild West sort of place where these hearty types drank and rushed about, but Melbourne was freely settled. It was a city of people who wanted to better themselves - entrepreneurs. And the Mechanic's Institution was that innovative idea that had grown up in Edinburgh and London about providing an opportunity for education for the working people. LISA WHITEHEAD: Mark Twain lectured there. Later, other buildings were added and a theatre to host classic plays. And it adopted its more bourgeois friendly title of the Athenaeum. Crucially from the start there was the library, the first to offer affordable lending to the working man. And it still attracts devotees. Former University lecturer Margaret Bowman, 89, comes in every Wednesday, along with her dog to join an enthusiastic band of volunteers sorting through the archives. MARGARET BOWMAN, FORMER UNIVERSITY LECTURER: Doing research is something that I find actually I enjoy more than anything. Every old lady needs to have a project and now I've got a project. MARJORIE DALVEAN: Margaret, Christine has just found out that Alfred Deakin was a member here from 1874 to 1877. This place is not flashy, we've never been flashy. But book lovers walk in here and they know this is the place for them. ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Old times and old names. The Athenaeum theatre in Melbourne for more than 40 years has been one of the city's best known cinemas. LISA WHITEHEAD: In the 20th century, the theatre surrendered to the new craze of talking pictures, and one particular fan was famous Australian playwright Ray Lawler. At 13, he dropped out of school to work in a Footscray factory and two years later his first trip to the glamorous Athenaeum cinema hinted at the education he was missing. RAY LAWLER: It just had a style about it which I responded to, I think. I was looking for something and this seemed to be part of it. Ray Lawler went on to write "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" and found literary fame overseas. About a century after it had started as an educational place for the working man, Ray Lawler had, in effect, become an Athenaeum graduate. RAL LAWLER: If they had been looking for the sort of person that they were hoping to encourage along the way, I suppose I would have been somebody that might have fitted the mould, you know. LISA WHITEHEAD: In time, the cinema was returned to its theatrical roots. FRANK THRING, 1977: It has a great resemblance to the Theatre Royal in Hobart which Larry Olivier has called the best theatre he's ever worked in. And it's almost identical. It is the true Victorian playhouse. The horseshoe shaped thing: stalls, dress circle and gallery. And you're close to the audience and they're close to you. Marvellous feeling. LISA WHITEHEAD: Today, it's still a theatre. But time has brought compromises. The once vaunted art gallery has now covered its windows and become a comedy club and performance space. TV and suburban life have eaten away at the library membership. It offers an online service now, and a recent federal government grant will pay for the upkeep of its gracious interior, including the 1930s elevator Ray Lawler used to ride. For him, it's money well spent on history quietly made and discreetly observed. RAY LAWLER: It's the lack of awareness, I think, that people don't know what they've got here. They've really got the whole history of Melbourne almost. KEVIN QUIGLEY: It was a similar organisation in Sydney but we are the only one that's got a continual lineage on the same spot. We started here and we're still here and we'll be here for another 100 years. KERRY O'BRIEN: Lisa Whitehead on a great Melbourne landmark. © 2010 ABC | Privacy Policy Beginning as the Melbourne Mechanics' Institution in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum has a long history that reflects the cultural and social development of Melbourne. It continues to be managed as a not-for-profit organisation by a volunteer board, with a subscription library (maintained since 1839) and a leased theatre.Video broadcast ABC 7:30 Report for 11/11/2009. "Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth."athenaeum, australian broadcasting corporation, kerry o’brien, kevin quigley, lisa whitehead, marjorie dalvean, ray lawler, margaret bowman, frank thring.

The program includes list of items to be recited and short biography of writers: Roderic Quinn, John Buchan, J M Barrie, Hillaire Belloc, A A Milne, John Masefield, John Drinkwater, Rudyard Kipling.Fifth and final tour of Alexander Watson considered to be the leading British Elocutionist with 25 years' experience. The program was directed by E J Gravestock presented in Melbourne by Frank Talbot. Two Matinee recitals were held at the Athenaeum Theatre on 24th and 27th May at 2.30pm.Program: Regarding the details of the recital to be given by Alexander Watson commencing Saturday 21 May 1927. Program is on beige paper with dark brown print; 8 pagesPrice 3d (three pence)athenaeum theatre, alexander watson, elecution, recital, theatre program

The plot of the play is concerned with the performance of a play "The snare" at the imaginary Woodford Theatre; a separate, small paper program for this play within a play is included with the program. The play was based on the novel "House of fear" by Wadsworth Camp and was presented at the Athenaeum Theatre by E.J. Carroll Staged by Eric Edgley (Theatrical family); advertisements show cost of living of the period - two course meal for 2 shillings and 3 pence; holiday suggestions by Government Tourist Bureau are to Mt Buffalo and Gippsland Lakes. Paper program for a play performed at the Athenaeum Theatre Saturday September 24 1927; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the film, the actors and advertisementsathenaeum theatre, program, programme, the last warning, e j carroll, richard white, eric edgley, frank talbot pty ltd, thomas f fallon

The two films screened were produced by the British company Gaumont-British Dominions. Frank Talbot, who leased the Athenaeum Theatre, made an agreement in 1932 with the British company to show British movies exclusively at the Athenaeum Theatre, the first agreement of this kind to be made in the world. Paper program for two films shown at the Athenaeum Theatre commencing Friday 3rd December 1937athenaeum theatre, program, programme, the interrupted honeymoon, doctor syn, frank talbot pty ltd, british dominions films ltd, cecil parkes' strad trio, australian movietone news reel, gaumont british news reel, athenaeum theatre, program, programme, the interrupted honeymoon, doctor syn, frank talbot pty ltd, british dominions films ltd, cecil parkes' strad trio, australian movietone news reel, gaumont british news reel

Paper program for a film screened at the Athenaeum Theatre 1948; coloured illustration; 4 p. includes articles about the film and the actors. The first Australian screening of Hamlet was screened on 11 June 1948 with the Oliviers in attendance.athenaeum theatre, program, programme, laurence olivier, hamlet, william shakespeare, j arthur rank enterprise, a two cities film, the great soliloquy

The play was directed by Ray Lawler.Two copies of a paper program; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the play and the actors.melbourne theatre company, juno and the paycock, sean o'casey, university of melbourne, athenaeum theatre, ray lawler

Two contemporary German plays performed at Athenaeum 2: :Bremen Coffee" by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and "Shakespeare the Sadist" by Wolfgang Bauer. The advertisement is included in the Season 27 brochure for 1980.Advertisement in a paper program for two plays performed at the Athenaeum Theatre 2 commencing 5 May 1980; advertisement from Season 27 brochure.athenaeum theatre, program, bremen coffee, rainer werner fassbinder, rainer werner fassbinder, melbourne theatre company, wolfgang bauer

paper programmourning becomes electra: part two, athenaeum theatre, melbourne theatre company, eugene o'neill

Details regarding Christian Brothers schools in the 1950s supplied by Edmund Campion.Short play 70 minutes about the struggle for Catholics to educate the children in their new country. Photo copy of theatre programthe christian brothers, athenaeum theatre two, program, programme, melbourne theatre company, ron blair

Article states show may be last by Melbourne Theatre Company at Athenaeum Theatre. Play began as Melbourne Theatre Company Sunday Reading Cast included Beverley Dunn Marie Redshaw directed by Monica MaughamPhotocopied A4 sheets giving details of play athenaeum theatre, program, programme, the celebrated, athenaeum theatre two, melbourne theatre company, stephen gard

Flyer and Newspaper articlechoice of enemies, athenaeum theatre two, program, programme, mary dagmar davies

Oz Ark Theatre Company Two part show based on a selection of Shakespeare sonnetsFlyer and newspaper articlelove's rite, athenaeum theatre two, oz ark theatre company, william shakespeare, program, programme

Australian premierStars Evelyn Krape as Sarah Bernhardt. After injuring her knee Bernhardt finally had part of the leg amputated but continued to perform. She was offered a circus tour in America in 1914-15 this play is based on those eventsafter the lions, athenaeum theatre two, program, programme, ronald harwood, sarah bernhardt, circus tour, america

performers Russell Dumas, Lucy Guerin, Christine Keith, Sue McLennan, Josephine McKendry, Tim Preston and Nicholas Sabel black and whitedancing sara's phrases, dance exchange, athenaeum theatre two, program, programme, post modern cabaret

Two shows where performers and authors read selections of their favourite authorsperformers include Barry Dickens,Kathy Lette, Roger McGough, Pam Ayres, Peter Cook, Jon Clarke Printed flyerhumorists read humorists, program, programme, athenaeum theatre, wendy harmer, barry dickens, john cain, kathy lette, roger mcgough, pam ayres, peter cook, barry humphries, john clarke, simon palomares