Chu Chin Chow is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based (with minor embellishments) on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Tickets to see Chu Chin Chow were particularly eagerly sought by troops on leave from the Western Front. One of the attractions for the on-leave soldiers was the chorus of pretty slave girls who, for the period, were very scantily dressed. The cast was large and included a camel, a donkey, poultry and snakes. A total of 2,800,000 people saw the show. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_Chin_Chow) It is thought that Harry Holmes attended 'Chu Chin Chow' while on leave in London during World War One. Around this time he had been serving in the Australian Imperial Forces in Egypt. Henry 'Harry' Holmes was the son of Violet Holmes. He enlisted under the name Harry Smerdon Holmes and was put into the 18th A.A.S.C., then later transferred into the 5th Division Train A.S.C. According to his Soldier's Pay Books (Cat. No. 20112) Holmes Registration number was 7983. He was Catholic and enlisted in the Third Military District on 17 September 1915, and embarked on 8 November 1915. Holmes was in the 18th AASC Unit with the rank of Driver at that time. On 15 November 1918 Holmes was promoted to Lance Corporal. He received leave on: * 3 August 1917 - London (10 days) * 19 February 1918 - Paris (10 days) * 27 August 1918 - London (14 days) Research: Henry Holmes' grandaughter, Jane Dyer (nee Chatham) White paper theatre programme with red and black writing. It is a publicity brochure from the play 'Chu Chin Chow' by Oscar Asche set to music by Frederic Norton. In black ink in front 'So far this is an easy first of the shows I've seen, The scenes are great and being Egyptian we understand them all the better'. chatham family collection, holmes, theatre, world war 1, world war, world war i, herbert tree, entertainment, music, musical, oscar asche, fred norton

Chu Chin Chow, Bendigo Operatic Society, opening 10th November, 1961 for six nights. Bendigo Operatic Society. President: Mr J McK. Cannon, Vice-President: Mr C Bubb, Secretary: Mr G Dart, Subscription Secretary: Mrs J Cannon, Treasurer: Mr RB Ralph, Committee: Mrs W Brown, Mrs J Smyth, Mrs W E Wright, Messes O Hamilton & M Welch, Messrs A Annison, B Thomas & L Spencely. President's Message Since its formation in 1952, the Bendigo Operatic Society has presented 23 well-known Musical Comedies, Pantomimes, and a Revue. . . Notes and photographs on Robert Watson, Sawn Beckwith, Valerie McCracken, Leonard Carr, Max O'Loghen, Carol McKenzie, Fred Trewarne, Max Beckwith, Olive Hamilton, John Stephens, Charles Phillips, Ferd Lorenz, Victor White, Peter Houston, Reg Boromeo, Joan Heard, Patricia Lyon, Miss M Welch, Mrs P House. Musical Numbers. . . Synopsis of Scenes. . . Bendigo Concert Orchestra Violins - Miss A McNair (Leader), Mesdames A Bolton, A Faulds, C Messer, F Robbins, J Weldon, Dr, J Borema, Messrs R Charlett, Dr Gault, Messrs C Gill, J Jordan, I Lacey, O Turner. Violas - Mr E Jarrett, Mr S McNeill, Mrs J Pinder. Cello - Mrs C Bubb, Miss L Slade, Mrs J Borema, Mr A Rutland. Bass - Mr C Hargreaves, Mr T French. Flutes - Mr C Bubb, Master D Bubb. Oboe - Mrs S Willis. Clarinets - Mr J McKay, Mr R Holyoake. Bassoon - Mr S Anderson. Trumpet - Mr B Armstrong, N Pearce. Trombone - Mr A Martin, Mr E Washington. Horn - Mr R Perry. Tympani - Mr J Allen. Bendigo Operatic Society presents by permission of Samuel French (Aust.) Ltd. Chu Chin Chow a Norman Lee Production. Told by Oscar Asche. Set to music by Fredric Norton. Dramatic Personnel - Robert Watson, Max Beckwith, Fred Trewarne, Leonard Carr, John Stephens, Charles Phillips, Ferd Lorenz, Peter Houston, Reg Boromeo, Victor White, Dawn Beckwith, Carol McKenzie, Valerie McCracken, Olive Hamilton, Joan Heard, Patricia Lyon. Ladies of the Ensemble - Kath Alexander, Bernice Boromeo, Joan Crane, Edna Faderson, Edith Glen, Wendy Griffiths, Joan Head, Emily Houston, Shirley Levers, Pat Lyon, Pat McCracken, Margery Reed, Ellen Stephens, Norma Trewarne. Gentlemen of the Ensemble - Alfred Annison, Ian Beckwith, Denis Cremin, Roy Cronin, Gerald Gleeson, Peter Houston, Ferd Lorenz, Keith Millar, Kenneth Nicholls, Robert Nicholls, Eric Pollock, Daryl Walker, Victor White. Ballet - Joan Harding, Shirley Harding, Jean McClellan, Kaye Miller, Carol O'Sullivan, Rosalie Panozza, Bronwen Townsend, Marion Weigard, Shirley Williams, Annette Wilson, Bill Arthur, Peter Houston. Musical Director: Mr Max O'Loghlen, Society Pianist: Mrs P House, Stage Manager: Mr Murray McGrath, Ballet Mistress and Asst. Stage Manager: Miss M Welch, Wardrobe Committee: Miss M Welch, Mrs P Lyons, Mrs N Lindrea, Mrs M Jarvis, Mrs A Annison, Mrs S Richardson. Publicity: Mrs J Smyth and Mr B Thomas. Scenery & Art Work: Messrs. N Cronin & A Watkins. Make-up: Mesdames E Wright & Miss S Cannon. House Manager: Mr B Searle. In Retrospect In mid 1952, a distinguished man arrived in Bendigo and interested several citizens, including Dr. P Goodman, the President of the Musical Advancement Society, in the formation of a Company for the production of Musical Comedy. The meeting was called at the home of Mr Fred Bush, and a group of enthusiasts made the acquaintance of Mr Norman Lee, our producer and sequently the M.A.S. and several leading citizens, sponsored the first production, by subscribing funds for initial expenses. From such humble beginning, our present Society originated. Mr Cyril Cyril Warne was appointed Musical Director, Mrs Phyllis House, Pianist, and Miss Madge Welch, Ballet Mistress. During the Season of ''Chu Chin Chow,'' the Society will stage its 100th performance - indeed an outstanding feat in such a brief history. Looking back it is interesting to recall the 23 shows which are included, and the productions are- (listing of productions included in program). Next Productions. . . Acknowledgements: 3BO, Bendigo Advertiser, Mr N Cronin, Mesdames C Neilson & T Lambert for Art Work, Messrs L Spencely, D Cremin & J Cannon for Scenery & Carpentry. Miss M Welch for use of Studio, Make-up Staff, Back Stage Staff, Front of House Management Usherettes and Programme Sellers. Advertisements: Martin Washington, Photographers, Bendigo. Hanro. Markings on front cover in black pen, Capital Theatre.Cambridge Press, Bendigoprogram, theatre, music advancement society of bendig, chu chin chow, bendigo operatic society, 10th november, 1961. president: mr j mck. cannon, vice-president: mr c bubb, secretary: mr g dart, subscription secretary: mrs j cannon, treasurer: mr rb ralph, committee: mrs w brown, mrs j smyth, mrs w e wright, messes o hamilton & m welch, messrs a annison, b thomas & l spencely. president's message formation1952, bendigo operatic society has presented 23 musical comedies, pantomimes, and a revue. . . notes and photographs robert watson, sawn beckwith, valerie mccracken, leonard carr, max o'loghen, carol mckenzie, fred trewarne, max beckwith, olive hamilton, john stephens, charles phillips, ferd lorenz, victor white, peter houston, reg boromeo, joan heard, patricia lyon, miss m welch, mrs p house. musical numbers. . . synopsis of scenes. . . bendigo concert orchestra violins - miss a mcnair (leader), mesdames a bolton, a faulds, c messer, f robbins, j weldon, dr, j borema, messrs r charlett, dr gault, messrs c gill, j jordan, i lacey, o turner. violas - mr e jarrett, mr s mcneill, mrs j pinder. cello - mrs c bubb, miss l slade, mrs j borema, mr a rutland. bass - mr c hargreaves, mr t french. flutes - mr c bubb, master d bubb. oboe - mrs s willis. clarinets - mr j mckay, mr r holyoake. bassoon - mr s anderson. trumpet - mr b armstrong, n pearce. trombone - mr a martin, mr e washington. horn - mr r perry. tympani - mr j allen. samuel french (aust.) ltd. chu chin chow a norman lee production. told by oscar asche. set to music by fredric norton. dramatic personnel - robert watson, max beckwith, fred trewarne, leonard carr, john stephens, charles phillips, ferd lorenz, peter houston, reg boromeo, victor white, dawn beckwith, carol mckenzie, valerie mccracken, olive hamilton, joan heard, patricia lyon. ladies of the ensemble - kath alexander, bernice boromeo, joan crane, edna faderson, edith glen, wendy griffiths, joan head, emily houston, shirley levers, pat lyon, pat mccracken, margery reed, ellen stephens, norma trewarne. gentlemen of the ensemble - alfred annison, ian beckwith, denis cremin, roy cronin, gerald gleeson, peter houston, ferd lorenz, keith millar, kenneth nicholls, robert nicholls, eric pollock, daryl walker, victor white. ballet - joan harding, shirley harding, jean mcclellan, kaye miller, carol o'sullivan, rosalie panozza, bronwen townsend, marion weigard, shirley williams, annette wilson, bill arthur, peter houston. musical director: mr max o'loghlen, society pianist: mrs p house, stage manager: mr murray mcgrath, ballet mistress and asst. stage manager: miss m welch, wardrobe committee: miss m welch, mrs p lyons, mrs n lindrea, mrs m jarvis, mrs a annison, mrs s richardson. publicity: mrs j smyth and mr b thomas. scenery & art work: messrs. n cronin & a watkins. make-up: mesdames e wright & miss s cannon. house manager: mr b searle. in mid 1952, arrived in bendigo dr. p goodman, the president of musical advancement society, formation of a company musical comedy. mr fred bush, mr norman lee, m.a.s.. society originated. mr cyril cyril warne musical director, mrs phyllis house, pianist, miss madge welch, ballet mistress. during the season of ''chu chin chow, '' the society will stage its 100th performance. recall the 23 shows. acknowledgements: 3bo, bendigo advertiser, mr n cronin, mesdames c neilson & t lambert messrs l spencely, d cremin & j cannon for scenery & carpentry. miss m welch.. advertisements: martin washington. hanro. capital theatre. chu chin chow, bendigo operatic society, 10th november, 1961. president: mr j mck. cannon, vice-president: mr c bubb, secretary: mr g dart, subscription secretary: mrs j cannon, treasurer: mr rb ralph, committee: mrs w brown, mrs j smyth, mrs w e wright, messes o hamilton & m welch, messrs a annison, b thomas & l spencely. president's message formation1952, bendigo operatic society has presented 23 musical comedies, pantomimes, and a revue. . . notes and photographs robert watson, sawn beckwith, valerie mccracken, leonard carr, max o'loghen, carol mckenzie, fred trewarne, max beckwith, olive hamilton, john stephens, charles phillips, ferd lorenz, victor white, peter houston, reg boromeo, joan heard, patricia lyon, miss m welch, mrs p house. musical numbers. . . synopsis of scenes. . . bendigo concert orchestra violins - miss a mcnair (leader), mesdames a bolton, a faulds, c messer, f robbins, j weldon, dr, j borema, messrs r charlett, dr gault, messrs c gill, j jordan, i lacey, o turner. violas - mr e jarrett, mr s mcneill, mrs j pinder. cello - mrs c bubb, miss l slade, mrs j borema, mr a rutland. bass - mr c hargreaves, mr t french. flutes - mr c bubb, master d bubb. oboe - mrs s willis. clarinets - mr j mckay, mr r holyoake. bassoon - mr s anderson. trumpet - mr b armstrong, n pearce. trombone - mr a martin, mr e washington. horn - mr r perry. tympani - mr j allen. samuel french (aust.) ltd. chu chin chow a norman lee production. told by oscar asche. set to music by fredric norton. dramatic personnel - robert watson, max beckwith, fred trewarne, leonard carr, john stephens, charles phillips, ferd lorenz, peter houston, reg boromeo, victor white, dawn beckwith, carol mckenzie, valerie mccracken, olive hamilton, joan heard, patricia lyon. ladies of the ensemble - kath alexander, bernice boromeo, joan crane, edna faderson, edith glen, wendy griffiths, joan head, emily houston, shirley levers, pat lyon, pat mccracken, margery reed, ellen stephens, norma trewarne. gentlemen of the ensemble - alfred annison, ian beckwith, denis cremin, roy cronin, gerald gleeson, peter houston, ferd lorenz, keith millar, kenneth nicholls, robert nicholls, eric pollock, daryl walker, victor white. ballet - joan harding, shirley harding, jean mcclellan, kaye miller, carol o'sullivan, rosalie panozza, bronwen townsend, marion weigard, shirley williams, annette wilson, bill arthur, peter houston. musical director: mr max o'loghlen, society pianist: mrs p house, stage manager: mr murray mcgrath, ballet mistress and asst. stage manager: miss m welch, wardrobe committee: miss m welch, mrs p lyons, mrs n lindrea, mrs m jarvis, mrs a annison, mrs s richardson. publicity: mrs j smyth and mr b thomas. scenery & art work: messrs. n cronin & a watkins. make-up: mesdames e wright & miss s cannon. house manager: mr b searle. in mid 1952, arrived in bendigo dr. p goodman, the president of musical advancement society, formation of a company musical comedy. mr fred bush, mr norman lee, m.a.s.. society originated. mr cyril cyril warne musical director, mrs phyllis house, pianist, miss madge welch, ballet mistress. during the season of ''chu chin chow, '' the society will stage its 100th performance. recall the 23 shows. acknowledgements: 3bo, bendigo advertiser, mr n cronin, mesdames c neilson & t lambert messrs l spencely, d cremin & j cannon for scenery & carpentry. miss m welch.. advertisements: martin washington. hanro. capital theatre.

Programme Bendigo Operatic Society ''Chu Chin Chow'' Opening 10th November 1961 for six Nights. The Bendigo Operatic Society Presents by Permission of Samuel French (Aust) Ltd. Chu Chin Chow A Norman Lee Production, told by Oscar Asche, Set to Music by Frederic Norton. Dramatic Personnel: Robert Watson as Abu Hasan (A Shayk of the Robbers) - Max Beckwith as Kasim Baba ( A Wealthy Merchant) - Fred Trewarne as Ali Baba (Kasim's Poor Brother) - Leonard Carr as Nur Al-Huda (Ali Baba'Son) - John Stephens as Abdullah (Kasim's Steward) - Charles Phillips as Baba Mustafa (A Cobbler) - Ferd Lorenz as Mukbill (An Auctioneer) - Peter Houston as Musab (Member of Hasan's Robber Band) - Reg Boromeo as Khuzaymah (Member of Hasan's Robber Band) - Victor White as Otbar (A Stall Keeper) - Dawn Beckwith as Zahrat Al-Kulub (Bloom of the Desert) - Carol McKenzie as Alcolom (Kasim's Head Wife) - Valerie McCracken as Marjanah (A Singing Slave) - Olive Hamilton as Mahbubah (Ali's Wife) - Joan Heard as Zanim (A Slave Dealer) - Patricia Lyon as Bostan (Mahbubah's Servant). Musical Director: Max O'Loghlen. Asst Stage manager and Ballet Mistress: Miss M. Welch. Society Pianist: Mrs. House. Synopsis of Story: The story concerns the love of Marjanah, a slave, for Nur Al-Huda, the son of Ali Baba, the poor brother of Kasim Baba, a wealthy merchant. Abu Hasan is disguised as Chu Chin Chow and plans to plunder the wealth of Kasim Baba. Zahrat Al-Kulub, a beautiful desert woman, is forced to spy for Abu Hasan because her lover is a prisoner of the thieves. Eventually she causes the death of Abu Hasan and his followersprogram, theatre, bendigo operatic society