THE POLLARDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 7

THE POLLARDS.

STORY OF A CLEVER FAMILY,

FROM 1860 ONWARD,

(By F.W.D.)

In the year 1800 thoro arrived in Hohart, Tasmania,* an organ builder and pianoforte tuner, named James Josoph Pollard. He had served his timo in England with the firm of Collurd and Collard, and, like many other youiiß men, ho omigrated to tho oolonies to mako a start in life for himself. Ho eventually reached Launccston, whoro ho settled down, got mnrriod, and became a worthy citwen of that prosperous city. Thcro was hardly ever an empty cradlo in tho Pollard household, as ovory year for seventeen years another arrow was added to tho Pollard quiver. When I first joined them, Mr. and Mrs. Pollard and seventeen children used to sit down to meals. Tho Old Home In Launccston. As tho children grow up they were taught musio thoroughly, both vocal and instrumental, tho latter including reed, string, and brass—each of them proficient on soveral instruments. So strict was tho father with them that two hours' practice was compulsory before breakfast. Tho outcome of this training was a family of clever musicians, which, during the middle seventies, bocamo known as "Pollard's Orchestral Union." Balls, parties, and theatrical orchestras were supplied, while tho production of amateur opera was also n featuro of their programme In 1880 Mrs. G. B. Lewis originated a juvenile opera company, and produced "Pinafore" at tho Bijou Theatre, Melbourne. Mr. Pollard, on hearing of her success, decided on following suit, and, with his own family, and tho assistance of a host of local talont, ho also staged the Gilbert and Sullivan work. .To make assurance doubly stiro, ho imported from Mclbourno several of Mr:(. Lewis's principals, including Amy Brookes, Julia Simmons, Lena and Herbert Salinger, and tho Osmonds (Oornio and Dick).. The success of the production was so groat that a visit to Hobart was decided upon, which was also a success. First Ventures in New Zealand. At that timo I was doing udvanco work for tlio firm of Dunning and Reynolds, who at that period were running tho Now Zealand circuit. sfr. Dunning aftenrarde becamo lessee of tho Opera House, Melbourne, and it was he who originally brought to tlto coloi'iios "Boccaccio," "Kip Van \Vinkle," "Tho Black Cloaks," "Manola," and "Tho King's Dragoons." Mr. Walter Reynolds was a woll-known English actor and author, and ie still running companies in tho English provinces. As we wcro miming short of attractions, it was decided that Mr. Reynolds should visit Australia. He did so, and seeing "Pinafore" in Melbourne,-ho tried to got Mrs. Lowis to tour Now Zealand, but failed. Hearing of "Tho Pollards'" success in Tasmania, he went over thcro, saw tho show and secured the company for a six months' tour of this colony. It was thus that the first "Polhrd Lilliputian Opera Company" was launched on its professional career. I mot the company at the Bluff in February, 1881, and wo opened at Sloaues's Theatre, Invercarqill on March 2. Tho original oast was: Sir Joßeph, Maud Pollard j Josephine, May Pollard ; Buttercup, Olive Pollard; Cousin Hebe, Lena Salinger; Rackstraw, Connie Osmond; Captain Corcoran, Herbort Salinger; Dick Deadoye, Dick Osmond ; Boatswain, Joo Sbcehan; Bobstay, Arthur Godwin; Midshinmite, Arthur Pollard ; and the Black Cook, Willie Pollard. J. J. Pollard, Jim., was conductor, Charlio Pollard leader, Fred Pollard flute, Harry Pollard double bass, Alice Pollard piano, and Nellie Pollard organ, while Tom Pollard was stago manage' , . Tho tour was one triumphant success, and the six months' contract terminated in Auckland. The Poliarcis and tho Duke of Connac&ht. Mr. Pollard then decided on touring on hie own account, and I throw in my lot with him. It became necessary to get new pieces, so, hearing that tho late Dick Stewart, father of "Our Nollio," had returned from England, and had brought with him a score and scrip of "Les jCloches do Cornville," negotiations were entered into, and tho rights of this charming work wcro secured. Being short of dancers, a woll-kijowii ballet-master, Fred Barbvshiro, was engaged, and "Les Cloches" was iirst produced in tho Lorno Stroet Hall, Auckland, now a coach factory. A roturn tour was made, and then seasons were played in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide Queensland was also visited. By this time we had added "Madame Angot," "Tho Princess of Trebirondc," "Fatinitza," and "The Littlo Duke" to the repertoire. New faces had been added to tho company, including an Auckland girj, "Flo Do Lorrne-"-—tho possessor of a glorioub voice—poor littlo Violet Varlcy, and two clover comediennes in Ruth Wallace and Marion Norman. In 1883, ft tour of tho East was decided upon, and wo sailed from Townsville on Juno 0 in the ill-fated s.s. Quetta. After visiting Java, tho Straits Settlements, and Burmah. wo opened in Calcutta in October, and played right through the exhibition season of five mouths, showing a profit of twelve thousand pounds. Wo played several times under the patronage of tlieir Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Connaught. At ono big function his Royal Highness in his speech soid that the host colonial exhibit at tho Oaloutta Exhibition was "Pollard's Lilliputians." Mr. Pollard, Having developed dropsy, a return was mado to Australia, Rnd we arrived in Townsville in June, 1884. Here Mr. Pollard died. Tho company then worked south, and lasted for over a year, but dissension amongst tho f.imily caused disbandment. Of that company; "The Salingers" went to America, Violet Varloy and May Pollard joined the Royal Comics, Eva Stanfield wont to England, and sevoral others becamo popular iawa"rite>. The Croat 1891 Company. There was no Pollard Company in cxistenco from '85 till '91. In February of that year, Mr. W. Williamson sent for Tom Pollard, and a company was organised, known as Williamson's Juvenile Opora Company. Amonc tho original members were Willie Percy, Harry Quealy, Charlio Albort, Alf. and Lily Stophons, Lily Everett, Edie Zeiglor, Nollio Wilson, Gertie Campion, and many others. New Zealand was visited, and tho Beattys—Maud and May—were " discovered" in Christchurch, Marion Mitchell and Cissy Samuels in Wellington, and Charlie Carter in Napier. Acomprojiensivo Australian tour was carried out, aud then, as Mr. Williamson had bo many enterprises on hand, ho transferred tho company to Tom Pollard, and tho old name was roverted to. Most playgoers nro familiar with tbo series of uiioroken successes that followed. Year after year tho company grew bigger and better. Tho repertoire was extended until it was Mr. Pollard's boast that he could play thirty-two pieces in as many nights, without a prompt book or a rohcareal, and it did not matter who left or wns ill, thoro was a competent substitute, Tho company attained its zenith in 1900, when tho Perry Sisters and William Paull wero brought over for "Tito Geisha" and Albert Whelan for "The Bello of New York." About this timo Cupid togan to lot fly his neverfailing arrows, with the result that sovernl of tho leading girls got married, and mado excellent matches. Where aro they all now? It speaks volumes as to tho thoroughness of tho Pollard training, when wo find that, out of this company,' May Beatty is principal boy at tho Theatre Royal. Manchester, Ncllio Wilson, principal boy at the Theatre Royal, Ncwcastlo-on-Ty.no, Maud Beatty leading woman at the American Theatre, San Francisco, Wilmot-Karkcck leading woman with tho Bandmann Comedy Company, .India, Charley Carter singing principal tenor in "Lohengrin" with the Moody-Manners Onera Company et Covont Garden, London, Alice Pollard with ono of the Georgo Edw.irdes Companies, W. S. Percy, Davn O'Connor, and Eddie Nablo with "The Finn," and more than holding their own with tbo imported articlq. This is a record to he proud of, and is a standing advertisement for this Dominion, for it was hero that they learned their business.

Tho present company was organised m August, '97, and bids fair to bo us popular, and turn out as many first-class artists, as its predecessors. During tho last twentyeight years, thousands of young peoplo have graduated in tho "Pollard" ranks, and "made good" (to use an Americanism) in no mattei what position they havo been placed. OneAmerican manager ouoo said that thoro was no school in tho world for aspirants to footlight farao like "Tho Pollards." Tho name has bcon a considerable advertisement for tlio colonics, as for years past Charlio l'oUnrrf has been running a company of yoiine colonials in America, whilo his Bister Nclho lias nlso a company in tho East. Now Zealand is indebted to "Tho Pollards" for many ox. collent' performances in the past, and it is to bo hoped that thoro will bo moro records broken in tbo futuro. It is worthy of men; tion that, since tho first "Pollards" o, 1880, until tho present day. with all tho thousands of young peoplo that have trav; died with them, not ono breath of scanda has over been associated with tho name.