The online magazine of Theatre Heritage Australia
Elisabeth Kumm
Elisabeth is a founding member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. Her series Pets of the Public was a regular feature of On Stage from 1999 to 2005, looking at “forgotten” nineteenth century performers. She continues to contribute articles for the THA website, and from 2018 has been editor of the THA Newsletter. As a theatrical historian and biographer she assisted Viola Tait with her book on pantomime – Dames, Principal Boys…and All That (published by Macmillan in 2001) and also worked with her on her memoirs I Have a Song to Sing (published by THA in 2018). Elisabeth has also undertaken research for the Riley/Hailes Scrapbook and JCW Scene Books projects. Most recently she has been working on the Falk Studios album project including acting as editor of The Falk Studios book (published by THA in 2021).
Monday, 01 May 2017
KAVANAGH, Albert (1866-1922)
English operatic vocalist (tenor). Né Mark Albert Kavanagh. Born 1866, London, England. Married May Billing (vocalist), 1898. Died 1922, London, England, aged 55.
On stage in England, USA, South Africa and Australia.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
JOHNSON, G.A. (1844-1909)
English operatic vocalist (tenor). Né George Augustus Johnson. Born 1844, Bolton, Lancashire, England. Married Emily Elizabeth Huggins. Died 4 March 1909, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Grandfather of Gertrude Johnson (vocalist).
On stage in Australia from 1859, performing with Lyster, Montague Turner, Simonsen and Musgrove opera companies.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
JENYNS, Essie (1864-1920)
Australian actress. Née Elizabeth Esther Helen Jennings. Born 5 October 1864, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Daughter of Charles Jennings (chemist) and Kate Arden (actress). Married John Robert Wood, 5 December 1888. Died 6 August 1920, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
On stage in Australia from 1879, most notably playing leads in her step-father WJ Holloway's Shakespearean company. Retired at the height of her career to marry the son of a wealthy Newcastle brewer.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
JEFFERSON, Joseph (1829-1905)
American actor & playwright. Born 20 February 1829, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Married (1) Margaret Clements Lockyer, 1850, (2) Sarah Warren, 1867. Died 23 April 1905, Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
Noted American leading comic actor. On stage in USA and Australia. In Australia in 1862 performing in Sydney and at Princess’s and Haymarket Theatres in Melbourne, playing Rip Van Winkle, Dr Pangloss and Salem Scudder. Wrote autobiography.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
IRWIN, Boyd (1880-1948)
English actor. Born 12 March 1880, Brighton, Sussex, England. Died 22 January 1957, Los Angeles, California, USA. On stage in Australia and USA.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
IRVING, H.B. (1870-1919)
English actor & manager. Né Harry Brodribb Irving. Born 5 August 1870, London, England. Son of Henry Irving (actor) and Florence O'Callaghan. Married Dorothea Baird (actress), 1896. Died 17 October 1919, London, England.
On stage in England, Australia and South Africa from 1891, having initially studied law at New College Oxford. In Australia with actress-wife Dorothea Baird in 1911 for J.C. Williamson Ltd. He retired from the stage in c.1917 to resume his legal career, writing several notable publications.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
IRELAND, G.R. (1834-1913)
English actor. Né George Richard Ireland. Born 1834, London, England. Son of George Ireland (businessman & alderman of the City of London). Married. Died 24 June 1913, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Father of Harrie Ireland (actress).
On stage in Australia and England.
Riley/Hailes Scrapbook, page 170.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
HUNTLEY, G.P. (1868-1927)
Irish actor & vocalist. Né George Patrick Huntley. Son of Frank Huntley (actor) and Mrs Frank Huntley (actress). Brother of Barbara Huntley (actress). Married Eva Kelly (actress). Died 21 September 1927. Father of G.P. Huntley Jr (actor).
On stage in Australia, 1904.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
HUDSON, Thomas P. (c.1850-1909)
American actor & manager. Né Thomas Pedder Hudson. Born c.1851, Brooklyn, NY, USA. Son of Samuel Hudson and Sarah Ann Morris. Married (1) Jane Pickering, 1874, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, (2) Ada Maven (actress) (de facto), (3) May Habgood (pianist), 20 May 1888, Adelaide, SA, Australia, (4) Violet Gertrude Taylor (daughter of John Taylor of Sydney). Died 28 June 1909, Bournemouth, England, aged 60.
On stage in England from an early age. Toured throughout Australia, India, China and Japan with Hudson's Surprise Party. Was lessee of the Theatre Royal and Corinthian Theatres in Calcutta, and was manager for George Musgrove for a season of grand opera in 1901 and for Melba's tour in 1902.
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Monday, 01 May 2017
HOWE, J.B. (1829-1908)
English actor & vocalist. Né Thomas Burdett Howe, aka James Burdett Howe. Son of Thomas Burdett Howe and Mary Ann Parkin. Married (1) Eliza Adelaide Bassett, 1862, London, England, (2) Julia Summers (actress) (de facto?). Died 13 March 1908, London, England.
On stage in London, New Zealand and Australia. Noted Shakespearean actor. Also performed in India with Lewis's Dramatic and Burlesque Company during 1871 and at the Bijou Theatre in Melbourne in 1882. Wrote autobiography, A Cosmopolitan Actor.
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