Albert Arlen - papers, 1935-1978, together with the records of the Shopwindow Theatre, 1968-1970

MLMSS 7113

fonds

1935 - 1978

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs, Notated Music

152186

2 boxes - 0.36 Meters
Textual Records
Textual Records - (typescript)
Clippings
Textual Records - (printed)
Photographs
Music - (printed scores)

Albert Arlen, composer, playwright and director was born Albert Aarons in Sydney on 10 January 1905. He studied piano with Frank Hutchens in Sydney, and later at the Ecole Normale, Paris. While living in London from 1925 to 1940, he played in cinema theatre orchestras and dance bands, wrote plays and musicals for the London stage (and, from 1935 for the British Broadcasting Corporation), and performed a number of roles in West End theatre productions. He served as a pilot with the RAF during World War II, and produced shows for the RAF Entertainment Service in Australia and the Far East. Arlen married Nancy Brown in 1929. He was awarded an Order of Australia in 1991, in recognition of his services to music and the performing arts, and died in 1993. His works include a number of stage plays, the operetta Old Chelsea (staged starring Richard Tauber), El Alamein Concerto for piano, The Kings Cross Rhapsody, songs, other piano works and incidental music for orchestra. His musicals include The Sentimental Bloke (based on the poem by C J Dennis), which was first performed in Canberra in 1960, and taken up by J C Williamson's the following year.

Arlen's wife Nancy Brown, singer, actress, playwright and producer was born in Brisbane in 1909. She went to England with her family in 1928, where she trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music. While living in London she appeared in stage plays, films, as a solo singer and in musicals, co-starring with Richard Tauber in the operetta Old Chelsea. She later toured Canada and America with the Noel Coward production of Bitter Sweet. In collaboration with Albert Arlen, she continued her association with the theatre when they returned to Australia.

The Shopwindow Theatre was formed by Nancy Brown in 1968 to promote the work of Australian playwrights and actors.

CORRESPONDENCE

1969-1972 and undated; Correspondence. Correspondents include Ric Throssell. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)

PHOTOGRAPHS

For details of pictorial material see attached record.

PRINTED MATERIAL

1935-1948; Printed Music.
I. Souvenir vocal gems. Glamorous night/devised, written and composed by Ivor Novello; lyrics by Christopher Hassall. Contents: 1. Shine through my dreams; 2. Glamorous night; 3. When the gypsy played; 4. Far away in shanty town; 5. Fold your wings. London: Chappell & Co. Ltd., 1935. Inscription reads: 'Anthony Hunt from Ivor Novello'. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)
II. Tinouca (Tamborito de Costa-Rica)/Paroles de Andre de Badet; version Espagnole et musique de Lola-Castegnaro. Paris: Editions Musicales Sam Fox, 1936. Inscription in Spanish by Lola Castegnaro, London 1954. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)
III. Chinese boat song/lyric by Carlene Mair; music by Leo Conriche. London: Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew Ltd., 1948. Inscription reads: 'To Albert Arlen from Leo Conriche Sept 1948'. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)

1950-1976 and undated; Newscuttings. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)
1960-1972; Journals and magazines. Includes issues of Music Maker, APRA journal, Show Biz, Theatregoer and Lantern Light. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/1)
1961-1978; Programs. Includes programs for various productions of The Sentimental Bloke, and for other productions with which Arlen was associated, most in collaboration with Nancy Brown and Lloyd Thomson. (Call No.: MLMSS 7113/2)

RECORDS OF THE SHOPWINDOW THEATRE, 1968-1970

For details of the records of The Shopwindow Theatre see attached record.

English, French, Spanish

Further papers of Albert Arlen and Nancy Brown are held by the National Library of Australia at manuscript reference number NLA MS 6311.