Bert Bailey’s Stage Half-Century

Northern Advocate, 30 December 1938, Page 3

Bert Bailey’s Stage Half-Century

Speaking to an Auckland interviewer yesterday, Bert Bailey, star of “Dad and Dave Come to Town,” reviewed over 50 years spent on the Australian stage. Mr. Bailey was born at Mount Eden and left at an early age with his parents for Australia, His entry to the stage was not spectacular, and his apprenticeship was served in the hard school of the bush towns. The companies travelled thousands of miles to tiny townships, where they played on makeshift stages in the light of kerosene flares. “But they were wonderful days for all that, and many artists who later achieved distinction were trained in the bush,” said Mr. Bailey “One of the most famous was Walter Baker, who was Bland Holt’s leading man—was, in fact, the finest leading man who ever appeared on the Australian or New Zealand stage.” Mr. Bailey returned to New Zealand 40 years ago as leading man in the St. John Dramatic Company, and oldtimers will recall the success of such plays as “Harbour Lights,” “My Partner” and “The Profligate.” Since then he has been associated with many New Zealanders who have achieved distinction in their profession. Among these were Harry Plimmer. who is still playing leading parts on the American stage, Harry Jewell, Harry Diver. Harry Marshall, Harry Roberts —Harry was apparently a favourite name among New Zealand actors. Some of these men, said Mr. Bailey, had had their preliminary training with the amateurs in the Dominion, who 40 years ago were of a particularly high standard. Plimmer came to New Zealand with Plimmer and Dennistoun’s company which played “Nobody’s Daughter.” One of the company was Winter Hall, of Christchurch, now playing in films. In 1912 Mr. Bailey came to New Zealand with “On Our Selection,’ then in the first year of its success, and for 19 years he played the part of Bad. The first film, based on the screen play, was made in 1931 and this proved an enormous success in Australia and New Zealand. His next picture, also under the direction of Cinesound’s ace, Ken G. Hall, was “Granddad Rudd.” This was followed with “Dad and Dave Come to Town.” Hall has made 16 pictures in Australia since 1931. said Mr. Bailey, and of these five were produced in 1938. The present year had marked a remarkable forward step in the motion picture industry in Australia, principally duo to the improvement in equip-1 men! and in technical knowledge. One of the finest pictures was “Broken Melody,” which had not yet been released in New Zealand, the music for which was written by the New Zealander Allred Hill. Another New Zealand arist to whom a vista of success had been opened by Australian films was Elaine Hamill, of Taihape. She had a juvenile part in “Granddad Rudd” and was starred in “Lovers and Luggers,” later touring New Zealand with two stage plays. She was now attracting attention on the London stage.