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).
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STEELE, Mrs W.F.G. (1875-1930+)
Australian operatic vocalist. Née Emily Frances Stevens. Daughter of Horace Stevens and Fanny Gittins. Married William Frederick George Steele (organist), 1904.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
STARR, Muriel (1888-1950)
Canadian actress. Born 20 February 1888, Montreal, Canada. Married William Hartwell Johnston (American business man and Australian managing director of Wrigley Spearmint Chewing Gum Company), September 1918, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Died 19 April 1950, New York City, New York, USA.
On stage in Australia 1913-1930, notably in Within the Law, East of Suez, Bird of Paradise and Madame X.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SOLDENE, Emily (1838-1912)
English actress, director & operatic vocalist. Née Emily Lambert?. Born 30 September 1838, London, England. Daughter of Priscilla Swain Fuller. Sister of Clara Vesey (actress). Married John Powell (clerk), 1859. Died 8 April 1912, London, England.
On stage in England, USA and Australia from 1860s. Visited Australia in 1877-1878 and 1892-1897 performing in opera bouffe. Worked as a journalist in Sydney and London and wrote her memoirs My Theatrical and Musical Recollections (1896).
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SNAZELLE, G.H. (1850-1912)
English operatic vocalist (baritone) & humourist. Né George Snazel. Born 1850, London, England. Died 17 May 1912, London, England.
Visited Australia several times during 1890s performing monologue entertainments. Author of Snazelleparilla (1898).
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SMITHSON, Florence (1884-1936)
English actress & vocalist. Née Florence Annette Smithson. Born 13 March 1884, Leicester, England. Daughter of Will Smithson (provincial manager) and wife Laura --. Married (1) George Robinson, (2) Dan Rolyat (actor). Died 11 February 1936, Cardiff, Wales.
On stage in England and Australia. Popular star of musical comedy.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SHIRLEY, W.R. (fl. 1900s)
English vocalist (tenor).
Brought to Australia in 1902 by George Musgrove to play leading role in The Runaway Girl.
Riley/Hailes Scrapbook, page 255.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SHILLING, Ivy (1892-1972)
Australian actress, dancer & vocalist. Née Ivy May Schilling. Born 1891, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
On stage in Australia and England.
Riley/Hailes Scrapbook, page 172.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SHERWIN, Walter (c.1828-1881)
English operatic vocalist (tenor). Né John Shickle. Married Fannie Carandini (vocalist). Died 21 September 1881, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
On stage in Australia from 1856 performing leading roles in opera and touring the British colonies with the Carandini troupe.
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
SHERIDAN, John F. (1848-1908)
American actor. Born 7 October 1843, Rhode Island, USA. Married (1) Alecia Jourdain (male impersonator), (2) May Livingstone (actress), (3) Gracie Whiteford (actress). Died 25 December 1908, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
On stage in England, India, USA, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Popular comedian best remembered for playing the Widow O’Brien in Fun on the Bristol.
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