Sydney John Kay
Encyclopedia
Kurt Kaiser better known as Sydney John Kay, was a German-born composer, musician and theatre entrepreneur.
, Germany of Peruvian-Jewish descent, he originally pursued an engineering career in Berlin, but in 1927 he joined the German-Jewish showband The Weintraub Syncopators as a musician. He appeared with them supporting Marlene Dietrich
in The Blue Angel (1930). After the Nazi's came to power in 1933, the Syncopators went on a world tour, and were in Sydney when war was declared.
. He became musical director for the Colgate-Palmolive radio unit, and was involved in theatre, running Sydney's Theatre for Children (1944-45) and co-founding the Mercury Theatre
with Peter Finch
. He produced the famous production of Moliere
's The Imaginary Invalid that was seen by Laurence Olivier
and Vivien Leigh
which led to them inviting Peter Finch to England.
Kay also composed for various Australian films, documentaries, orchestras and ballets.
Germany
Born in LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany of Peruvian-Jewish descent, he originally pursued an engineering career in Berlin, but in 1927 he joined the German-Jewish showband The Weintraub Syncopators as a musician. He appeared with them supporting Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
in The Blue Angel (1930). After the Nazi's came to power in 1933, the Syncopators went on a world tour, and were in Sydney when war was declared.
Australian Career
Kaiser was interned during the early days of the war, but was eventually released, changing his name in honour of his new home, SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He became musical director for the Colgate-Palmolive radio unit, and was involved in theatre, running Sydney's Theatre for Children (1944-45) and co-founding the Mercury Theatre
Mercury Theatre (Australia)
The Mercury Theatre was an Australian theatre company that was co-founded by Peter Finch and existed from 1946-1954. It was named after the famous Orson Welles theatre company of the same name....
with Peter Finch
Peter Finch
Peter Finch was a British-born Australian actor. He is best remembered for his role as "crazed" television anchorman Howard Beale in the film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a...
. He produced the famous production of Moliere
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's The Imaginary Invalid that was seen by Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
and Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh, Lady Olivier was an English actress. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire , a role she also played on stage in London's West End, as well as for her portrayal of the southern belle Scarlett O'Hara, alongside Clark...
which led to them inviting Peter Finch to England.
Kay also composed for various Australian films, documentaries, orchestras and ballets.
Move to England
He then moved to England where he worked steadily in British film and television. He also composed for the stage.Selected Credits
- The Blue Angel (1930) - musician
- Harvest GoldHarvest GoldHarvest Gold is a 1945 Australian film.- Cast :* Joe Valli as McDougal* Harry Abdy as Johnson* Tal Ordell as Mat* Leal Douglas as Mrs. McDougal* Ethel Lang as Mrs. Johnson...
(1945) - composer - A Son Is BornA Son Is BornA Son Is Born is a 1946 Australian melodrama about a woman who marries an irresponsible drifter . They have a son , but later divorce and she remarries a rich businessman...
(1946) - composer - Bush ChristmasBush Christmas (1947 film)Bush Christmas is a 1947 Australian-British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart. The plot concerns a group of bush children set off to recover a missing mare that has been stolen by some horse thieves....
(1947) - composer - Captain Thunderbolt (1953) - composer
- The Back of BeyondThe Back of BeyondThe Back of Beyond is a feature-length award-winning Australian documentary film produced and directed by John Heyer for the Shell Film Unit. In terms of breadth of distribution, awards garnered, and critical response, it is Heyer's most successful film...
(1954) - composer - The Adventures of Long John Silver (1955) (TV series) - composer
External Links
- Sydney John Kay at IMDB
- Sydney John Kay Australian theatre credits at AusstageAusstageAusStage is an online database which records information about live performances in Australia. It provides records of productions from the beginnings of theatre in Australia up to today...
- Sydney John Kay at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...