I wish—during the time I worked for Harry M. Miller—I had been more aware of the opportunity I was gifted. I was 21 when I joined the organisation, and it changed the colour of my life.
Regrettably, I was so busy charging through life and basking in every moment of what was happening to, and around, me, I failed to save the documentary evidence. I had unique access to so many pictures and programs it never crossed my mind to think about starting a collection. I was a disciplined letter writer in those days. It was a time when post offices concentrated on delivering mail and not selling soft toys! I saved too few and now the writers have been gathered up—gone to the big white theatre in the sky.
I rather imagined the status quo—or my good fortune—would last forever. Certainly, I never thought about working for, or joining another, organisation until Mr. Miller sacked me! In his defence, he arranged for me to join John Sumner at the Melbourne Theatre Company. That is a whole other—and equally absorbing—theatrical saga.
We have, in Australia, been tardy in the saving and conservation of our creative arts history. My own carelessness was—in its small way—a mirror of that ignorance. When J.C. Williamson theatres hit the bad times which led to its ultimate demise, part of the firm’s vast archive of every show from the beginning was sent to the tip.
Those who have a collection should think seriously about gifting it to an organisation equipped to guarantee its survival for future generations. Too few pictures exist of the HMM production of ‘Don’t Just Lie There, Say Something!’ starring the late Terry Thomas.
I hope this cavalcade of pictures stirs distant and fond memories of a very special time in Australian theatre. Enjoy!
An Evening with Maggie & Frank
Program for An Evening with Maggie and Frank, Melbourne, 1968
Maggie and Frank
Frank and Maggie
The Boys in the Band
Melbourne cast
Sydney cast
Revival cast
Allan Lander
John Tasker
John Tasker
The Boys in the Band summons
Kenn Brodziak, John Krummel, HMM and Garry Van Egmond leaving court
Promotional photo
You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running
Program for You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, Sydney, 1969
Diana Perryman
Gordon Chater
Peter Reynolds
Hair
38 St George's Road, Toorak
Berys Marsh and Creenagh St Clair
Berys Marsh - Lux Beauty Contest
Marriage of Charlene Collins and Dick Diamond
Chuck Mckinney
Colin Setches
David Pepperell and Keith Glass
Denni
Graham “Fluffy” Matters as Woof
Opening night of Hair
Helen Livermore, Inez Amaya and Marcia Hines
Metro Bourke Street auditorium
Jim Sharman
Kenn Brodziak with Marlene Diedrich
Sandra McKenzie
Metro Theatre Sydney
Metro Theatre Sydney
Michael Carlos
Hair Poster
Frederick J Gibson
Ian Cookesley
Ken Gregory
Program for Hair
Reg Livermore and Wayne Matthews
Reg Livermore
Reg Livermore
Rosie Van Egmond
Sharon Redd, Charlene Collins and Denni
Sharon Redd
Stefan Haag, Jack Manuel, Sandra McKenzie and Patrick Flynn
Patrick Flynn
Teddy Williams
The Tribe
Wayne Aaron Cull
Assault with a Deady Weapon
Bill Dowd
Jenny McNae
John Ewing and Keith Michell in La Cage aux Folles
Lionel Harris
Lionel Harris's house at 18 Belsize Park
Pamela Stephenson
Ron Challinor
Tom Lingwood
The Secretary Bird
Program for The Secretary Bird, Sydney, 1969
William Douglas Home watching a rehearsal
Patrick, Mary and Philip Dudley on the way to a rehearsal
Mary Miller & Patrick Macnee
Mary Miller
Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee as Steed
Hutchinson Scott's set
Sleuth
Ptogram for Sleuth, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, 1971
Roland and John Frost
Gary Waldhorn
Gary Waldhorn
Gary Waldhorn
John Fraser by Angus McBean
Maurice McCarty
Patrick Wymark
Raymond Westwell
Richard Todd
Roland with Maurice McCarty in New Zealand
Stratford Johns
Butterflies Are Free
Program for Butterflies Are Free, Melbourne, February 1971
Miriam Karlin
Sean Scully
Stewart Faichney
Wendy Hughes
Conduct Unbecoming
Program for Conduct Unbecoming, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, September 1971
A Load of Olde Stuffe
Flyer for A Load of Olde Stuffe
Program for A Load of Olde Stuffe, Melbourne, August 1971
Roland with Dame Edna
Jesus Christ Superstar
Program for Jesus Christ Superstar, Australian tour, 1972
Richard Wherrett
HMM with Stephen Flint Wood and Garry Van Egmond
Butley
Program for Butley, Melbourne, 1972
No Sex Please, We're British
Program for No Sex Please, We're British, Melbourne, 1973
Jonathan Daly and Malcolm Steed
Bob Grant
Ken Delo and Jonathan Daly
Anthony Marriott
Bob Grant and Kim Benwell
Don't Just Lie There, Say Something
Program for Don't Just Lie There
Poster
Alfred Marks, Deborah Grant, Joanna Lumley and Brian-Rix in bed in the window of Maples Store, London
Terry-Thomas
Wallace Douglas
Brian Rix
HMM ... and Friends
Delicatessen Broadway Sydney
HMM with Phil Warren
HMM
Hepburn Springs
HMM on horseback
HMM with Marcia Hines
HMM with Judy Garland and Patti Amphlett
HMM
HMM with Johnny Ray
HMM with Johnny Ray
HMM
HMM
HMM
HMM with Shirley Bassey
HMM
HMM with Louis Armstrong
HMM with Louis Armstrong
Anne Haddy
Brian de Courcy
Carmen Duncan
Frank Thring - King of Moomba
Frank Thring and Roland
Frank Thring by Henry Talbot
Freddie Gibson
Frederick Parslow
Frederic Abbott
Garry Van Egmond
Garry Van Egmond
Gloria Dawn by Harry Jay
Jennifer West
Joachim Tenschert
John Sumner
John Tasker
Judy Garland - second Sydney concert
Kenn Brodziak with Jeff Kennett
Kenn Brodziak and The Beatles
Freddie Carpenter and Carol Raye
Freddie Carpenter
Googie Withers with Alec Guinness in Exit the King on Broadway
Gordon Jackson and Rona Anderson on their wedding day
Kenneth Williams
Margaret Enchelmaier and Grahame Allan
Nancye Hayes in Promises Promises
Patti Mostyn
Peter Mackennal
Reg Livermore
Roland, 1976 by Maurice Rinaldi
Ron Way
Roland and John Frost
Roland with Simon Dickie
Warren Mitchell
Sheila Scotter
Sheila Scotter
Shirley Bassey
Stefan Haag
Stuart Wagstaff
Stuart Wagstaff
Sue Becker
Tony Barber
