Photographs of watch presented to Bert Howard, 1932, and men at Poverty Point, 1963, with notes by Will Andrade and Charles Gilbert, ca.1978-1987

PXA 1693

fonds

1932-1987

Graphic Materials, Textual Records, Prints, Photographs

902248

3 photographs - 16.5 x 22.5 cm. and 20.5 x 25.5 cm. - silver gelatin
4 pages of textual material - photocopy and carbon typescript

"One of the larger-than-life characters who used the pavement as his office was Bert Howard [1836-1937]: he managed a successful vaudeville circuit and was involved in the early distribution and showing of films, sometimes in a combined picture show/vaudeville performance. Howard, who had once been factotum for the great Harry Rickards, allegedly chalked out a virtual office on the pavement, and when he had business elsewhere, he would use the same medium to write that he had gone out. They called him the Mayor of Poverty Point." -- Source: Fitzgerald, S. "Poverty Point", 2008, in Dictionary of Sydney (http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/poverty_point , accessed 4/3/2013)

"Although renowned for conducting his business from a doorway at Sydney's Poverty Point, often leaving messages in chalk on the footpath, it appears that Howard's official place of business was not the doorway but an upstairs office, as indicated by a par published in Australian Variety in 1917. "The King of Drolls appeared to be very disconsolate one day last week. On Wong Toy Sun asking the reason, the big fellow said: - "Here I am with a fine office, everything I want, and to think that I cannot 'bridge' it to Dr Richard Rowe right away. When he comes back the newness will be worn off" (16 May 1917, n. pag.)." -- Source: "Bert Howard", Australian Variety Theatre Archive, (http://ozvta.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/howard-bert.pdf , accessed 4/3/2013)

The watch was in the possession of Will Andrade when Charles Gilbert compiled his notes; Charles Gilbert writes that Will Andrade (Harry Job) "kindly brought it in [i.e. to Gilbert, not to ML] and allowed a friend to photograph it". The photographs of Poverty Point were lent by Will Andrade to Charles Gilbert for copying by the Mitchell Library in November 1987 -- information on ML file

2 b&w photoprints of men at Poverty Point, 18/2/1963, accompanied by photocopies of identifications by Will Andrade [from photograph verso?]:

Persons identified include Michael Casey, 'novelty instrumental', 'musical bloke'; El Dorado; Levante (L. G. Cole, died 1978); Viv. Weekes; Adrian St Leon; Tex Morton; Ossie Delroy, 'circus celebrity', 'died 78 Nov'; Pepo the Musical Clown; Tassie Tole; Hal Gordon, scenic artist [on crutches], 'died Nov 78'; Vic. Kay, [lir?] mechanist; Jandy musical clown; Alf, Broadway. Ink stamp of Will Andrade, GPO Box 3111 Sydney visible in photocopy.

Photocopies of two pages of a program featuring "To-nights Artists and Artistes", including "Members of Bert Howard's Vaudeville", and biography and caricature of Bert Howard, 'Lord Mayor of Poverty Point'

b&w photoprint of pocket watch with engraving visible inside metal cover: "To Bert Howard Esq. Lord Mayor of Poverty point Prince of Battlers from the Little Battlers, 1.11.32"

1 page carbon typescript notes entitled "Poverty Point" by Charles Gilbert, undated, ca.1987?

Original watch and photographs were held by Will Andrade