performing

While the city awaits the outcome of the redevelopment of the remains of this priceless treasure, a reflection on its past follows. Built in 1929 to the design of Richard Gailey Jnr and Charles Hollinshed (designer of the Melbourne Regent) it was one of four opulent Regent theatres constructed in Australia in the grand Hollywood style of the time. Its site had been acquired by one of the doomed Mayne children, William, in 1892 and after his death, passed onto his brother James and sister Mary. During Bjelke Petersen’s reign in the 1970s, the auditorium was sacrificed to a Hoyts multiplex cinema and the city lost what was amongst the grandest theatre venues in Australia. It had boasted a 25000 pound Wurlitzer organ from New York (now in GOMA’s Cinematheque), an oval dome above the auditorium with a one-ton bronze chandelier, and extraordinary decorative plasterwork in the foyer. After protests, only the foyer was retained. What lies ahead is anyone’s guess but it appears that unfortunately the lessons of the demolition era have not been learned and yet again Brisbane may be about to lose again one of its dwindling irreplaceable works of art. Source: www.mustdobrisbane.com/visitor-info-arts-culture-history/...

Gloria Dawn Evans was born in Port Melbourne on 26 February 1929. In 1939 she toured with other talented youngsters in the Tivoli Gang. In 1941, when she was 12, her mother launched her at the Tivoli as an adult soubrette. In 1949 Dawn made her musical comedy debut in Little Nellie Kelly and Sunny for Will Mahoney at the Cremorne. In 1959 Garnet H. Carroll gave Gloria Dawn the coveted Carol Burnett role in his production of the musical Once Upon a Mattress at the Princess in Melbourne. The ‘unactressy’ actress ‘Gloria Dawn was brought up in variety as part of the razzamatazz of the Tivoli era,’ wrote Katharine Brisbane, ‘and in her later years, she brought that same vitality, roughness, and single-minded professionalism to the legitimate theatre – sometimes to its consternation. She was in the business because she was born to it and knew nothing else.’ For more very interesting info about this beautiful women check the website: liveperformance.com.au/hof-profile/gloria-dawn-1929-1978/

The music on the back of the cornet play on the right's lyre is Goodnight Sweetheart (the title can be read on the photo at the persistant URL). This was a hit for Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians in December 1931, so from the date mentioned in the data on the Powerhouse Museum's site of 1932, the band was playing the current hits of the time. Jack Greaves who now lives around Cowra may be able to identify the band or some of the people.

nice!love old photos!!they got these own great expression in some way...