J.C. Williamson photographs, ca. 1900-1973

PXA 971

fonds

ca. 1900-1973

421440

27 photographs, 10 prints, 3 col. slides, 2 col. transparencies and 1 drawing

James Cassius Williamson (1845-1913) married soubrette Maggie Moore in 1873, and came to Australia in 1874-5 and to stay in 1879. In 1899 he divorced and married Mary Weir, one of his dancers.
From the 1880's, Williamson, an American character and comic actor, and partners built the largest theatrical chain in the world which dominated Australian musical and theatrical life until the rise of national companies in the era 1950-1970. The company built or bought the major theatres in the biggest cities in Australia and New Zealand, and imported international stars and companies.
From 1913 onwards, J.C. Williamson Ltd. was run chiefly by the Tait family until the death of Sir Frank Tait in 1965 just a month after the opening of the Sutherland-Williamson Grand Opera Company season. -- Reference: Entertaining Australia : an illustrated history / Katharine Bribane (ed.). Sydney : Currency Press, 1991

This collection comprises 4 record series. You may navigate to a more detailed description of each series from this collection record.

Related manuscript collections at ML MSS 2185 ; ML MSS 4458
Reference: Entertaining Australia : an illustrated history / Katharine Bribane (ed.). Sydney : Currency Press, 1991