George Marlow
Encyclopedia
George Marlow (born Joseph Marks) was an Australia
n theatrical entrepreneur born in London of Jewish extraction, noted for bringing melodrama
and pantomime
to Sydney audiences in the early 1900s.
He came to Australia as a child, and started acting and playing piano for stage plays. He was playing with the William Anderson
organisation in Sydney and Brisbane in 1899 as was his future wife Ethel Buckley (born ca. 1885).
Ethel had made a mark as Puck in a George Rignold
production of Midsummer Night's Dream at the age of twelve, a role she reprised several times, then melodramas such as The Luck of Roaring Camp in 1907. She worked six months in London
After her marriage (ca. 1910) to Marlow, she starred in his shows. Her most famous role was as "Cigarette" in an adaptation of the Ouida
novel Under Two Flags
in 1915.
He became involved in the managerial side of the theatre, first with William Anderson, then from around 1904 with the Fuller family chain. By 1907 he had his own company, first leasing a theatre in Newcastle
. By Christmas 1910 he was lessee of, then a year later purchased The Princess's Theatre, Melbourne. In 1911 he built The Adelphi, in Castlereagh Street, Haymarket
, Sydney, the largest theatre in Australia.
The Bad Girl of the Family was his first production in the new theatre, followed by the George Fowler musical The Fatal Wedding and the melodrama The Rosary. He took The Bad Girl of the Family to London around the same time. They were still in UK in 1912
After purchasing the Princess's Theatre, he hired as manager of The Adelphi George Willoughby (full name George Willoughby Dowse), who made a great success of it. Willoughby, with Arthur Bernard Davies and George T Eaton bought him out in 1913, reportedly for £50,000, but had problems with Marlow's continuing involvement.
In 1915 Marlow in partnership with Ben Fuller bought out Willoughby. and 1916 renamed it the Grand Opera House. Some years later it became the Tivoli.
Marlow also directed some feature films, Driving a Girl to Destruction (1911) and Angel of his Dreams
(1912).
(then as Louise Carbasse) was one of his "stars".
Other noted actors in his troupes included Arthur Shirley
, Nellie Bramley and Vera Spaull.
Although he claimed not to be interested in producing "classics", he managed the Grand Shakespearean Company from 1916-1920 at the Princess, with such hits as The Merchant of Venice starring Allan Wilkie
.
In 1916, Carrie Moore made an appearance as "principal boy" in his pantomime Dick Whittington at the Adelphi. Presumably her famous legs were a major attraction of the show.
, he produced The Sneak in 1922
By 1925 The Grand Opera House had become rather unfashionable. In 1929 he partnered with the infamous Ernest C Rolls to produce revue Clowns in Clover and Whoopee at The Empire. Both failed and Marlow-Rolls Theatres collapsed owing £50,000.
He produced a Christmas pantomime Beauty and the Beast around 1930 at the Grand Opera House with songs by the great cricketer Don Bradman and Jack Lumsdaine., Billy Moll, Harry Richman and Murray Mencher
George and Ethel were still together in 1937, even appearing in a pantomime.
He was a longtime racing enthusiast, owning horses including Trinobantes, Somnolent, Halifax and Georgio, and was for a time on the Tattersall's Club committee.
He died in a Sydney nursing home, survived by his wife and a daughter Marie. His estate was valued at £30,110.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n theatrical entrepreneur born in London of Jewish extraction, noted for bringing melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
and pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
to Sydney audiences in the early 1900s.
He came to Australia as a child, and started acting and playing piano for stage plays. He was playing with the William Anderson
William Anderson (theatre)
- External links :* at Australian Dictionary of Biography*...
organisation in Sydney and Brisbane in 1899 as was his future wife Ethel Buckley (born ca. 1885).
Ethel had made a mark as Puck in a George Rignold
George Rignold
George Richard Rignold, born George Richard Rignall, was an English-born actor, active in Australia.-Early life:...
production of Midsummer Night's Dream at the age of twelve, a role she reprised several times, then melodramas such as The Luck of Roaring Camp in 1907. She worked six months in London
After her marriage (ca. 1910) to Marlow, she starred in his shows. Her most famous role was as "Cigarette" in an adaptation of the Ouida
Ouida
Ouida was the pseudonym of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé .-Biography:...
novel Under Two Flags
Under Two Flags (novel)
Under Two Flags was a best-selling novel of the late 1860s by Ouida. Perhaps "her best" novel.-Plot:The novel is about The Hon. Bertie Cecil ....
in 1915.
He became involved in the managerial side of the theatre, first with William Anderson, then from around 1904 with the Fuller family chain. By 1907 he had his own company, first leasing a theatre in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. By Christmas 1910 he was lessee of, then a year later purchased The Princess's Theatre, Melbourne. In 1911 he built The Adelphi, in Castlereagh Street, Haymarket
Haymarket, New South Wales
Haymarket is a locality of Sydney's city centre, New South Wales, Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
, Sydney, the largest theatre in Australia.
The Bad Girl of the Family was his first production in the new theatre, followed by the George Fowler musical The Fatal Wedding and the melodrama The Rosary. He took The Bad Girl of the Family to London around the same time. They were still in UK in 1912
After purchasing the Princess's Theatre, he hired as manager of The Adelphi George Willoughby (full name George Willoughby Dowse), who made a great success of it. Willoughby, with Arthur Bernard Davies and George T Eaton bought him out in 1913, reportedly for £50,000, but had problems with Marlow's continuing involvement.
In 1915 Marlow in partnership with Ben Fuller bought out Willoughby. and 1916 renamed it the Grand Opera House. Some years later it became the Tivoli.
Marlow also directed some feature films, Driving a Girl to Destruction (1911) and Angel of his Dreams
Angel of his Dreams
Angel of his Dreams is an Australian film directed by George Marlow about a woman who seduces a clergyman....
(1912).
His Leading Actors
Around 1910, the 15year old Louise LovelyLouise Lovely
Louise Lovely was the first Australian motion picture actress to find success in America...
(then as Louise Carbasse) was one of his "stars".
Other noted actors in his troupes included Arthur Shirley
Arthur Shirley
Arthur Shirley was an Australian actor and film producer.Born Henry Raymond Shirley in Hobart to civil servant Henry Shirley and Sarah Ann, née Morton, he was baptised Arthur and attended Catholic schools. He then worked for Tattersall's Lottery and as a junior solicitor's clerk before moving to...
, Nellie Bramley and Vera Spaull.
Although he claimed not to be interested in producing "classics", he managed the Grand Shakespearean Company from 1916-1920 at the Princess, with such hits as The Merchant of Venice starring Allan Wilkie
Allan Wilkie
Allan Wilkie was an English Shakespearean actor of Scottish descent noted for his career in Australia.Born in Toxteth Park, Lancashire, he was educated at Liverpool High School and went to work in a merchant's office but became infatuated with the theatre after experiencing a performance by Osmond...
.
In 1916, Carrie Moore made an appearance as "principal boy" in his pantomime Dick Whittington at the Adelphi. Presumably her famous legs were a major attraction of the show.
Later years
In partnership with Nacio Herb BrownNacio Herb Brown
Nacio Herb Brown was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.-Biography:...
, he produced The Sneak in 1922
By 1925 The Grand Opera House had become rather unfashionable. In 1929 he partnered with the infamous Ernest C Rolls to produce revue Clowns in Clover and Whoopee at The Empire. Both failed and Marlow-Rolls Theatres collapsed owing £50,000.
He produced a Christmas pantomime Beauty and the Beast around 1930 at the Grand Opera House with songs by the great cricketer Don Bradman and Jack Lumsdaine., Billy Moll, Harry Richman and Murray Mencher
George and Ethel were still together in 1937, even appearing in a pantomime.
He was a longtime racing enthusiast, owning horses including Trinobantes, Somnolent, Halifax and Georgio, and was for a time on the Tattersall's Club committee.
He died in a Sydney nursing home, survived by his wife and a daughter Marie. His estate was valued at £30,110.