Harris
National Library of Australia
View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Title
-
Programs and related material regarding Rolf Harris
- Date Range
-
1964 - 2013
- Collection Number
-
Harris
- Extent
-
40 items
- Language of Materials
-
English
- Repository
-
Printed Collections
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Rolf Harris (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality. This finding aid lists programs and ephemera which document all aspects of Rolf Harris's performing career in Australia and overseas. Material on his film and television screen career is not generally collected by the Library.
Printed materials in the PROMPT collection include programs and printed ephemera such as brochures, leaflets, tickets, etc. Theatre programs are taken as the prime documentary evidence of a performance by Harris. In a few cases however, the only evidence of a performance is a piece of printed ephemera. In these cases the type of piece is identified, eg, brochure.
The list is based on imperfect holdings and is updated as gaps in the Library's holdings for this artist are filled. Unless otherwise stated, all entries are based on published programs in the PROMPT collection.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.
Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.
Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). & Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert & Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]
The National Library's collection includes a Oral history interview following his 1976 Carnegie Hall performance [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn305474] while books, biographical cuttings, pictures and other ephemera can be accessed via the catalogue [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/]. Other material including Australian newspapers can be accessed via Trove [https://trove.nla.gov.au/].
Arrangement
The Harris material in the PROMPT Collection is in the chronological order of his Australian and overseas performances and this list reflects this arrangement.
Entries identify the city and the venue. All the information is taken from programs, flyers and ephemera. Entries for each program are arranged as follows: Venue/Theatre (Location); company; name of production/creator; year, day/s and month; harris's role or other involvement.
Biographical / Historical
Rolf Harris was educated at Bassendean State School, Perth Modern School and then attended the University of Western Australia and Claremont Teachers College where he studied teaching. In 1952, Harris moved to London to study visual art at the City and Guild Arts School in Kensington and in 1956 he exhibited his artworks at the Royal Academy of Art in London. It was during this period that he met with renowned artist Bill Hayward Veal who inspired him and assisted him develop his artistic craft. In 1959 Harris began his career in children's television after moving back to Australia for a brief period. He returned to England in 1960 with his wife Alwen (nee Hughes) whom he married in 1958. In the same year he wrote Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, the song that would bring him international fame. Harris hosted a number of successful programs in the UK including Hey Presto, It's Rolf and The Rolf Harris Show. In 1973 he was one of the first performers to appear at the Sydney Opera House. Maintaining a distinctively Australian character in his television and live stage performances, Harris played numerous instruments including the accordion, wobble board and stylophone, an electronic keyboard played with an electronic pencil. Harris also painted for his audiences and became famous for his cartoon illustrations. He wrote numerous successful hits, many of them comic, including the songs Jake the Peg, Two Little Boys, and Six White Boomers. Throughout the 1970s and 80s Harris remained a popular television personality hosting variety and children's shows on the BBC. Harris continued to record throughout the 1980s and 90s and his version of the Led Zeppelin song Stairway to Heaven became an international success. He continued to exhibit his artwork and remained a well-known television personality. In 1994 Harris launched Animal Hospital on BBC television, which aired for ten years. Harris has released numerous books and videos on art and animals and has also published a range of children's books and an autobiography. He is renowned for his charitable works and has assisted numerous causes. Harris has received many honours throughout his career and is recognised as one of Australia's most successful entertainers.
Item Descriptions
Series. Australian Stage Career, 1973 - 1988
10 items
General
See also Digitised Australian newspaper coverage of Rolf Harris (including news of international performance dates, review and celebrity gossip) via Trove [https://trove.nla.gov.au/].
1973 (File)
Sydney Opera House (Sydney New South Wales); The Big Star Show of 1964, 1973 (Item)
Presented by Ross Taylor.
Sydney Opera House (Sydney New South Wales); Sunday Night at the Sydney Opera House, 1973 (Item)
Playbill program.
1977 (File)
University of Queensland[?] (Brisbane, Queensland); An evening with Rolf Harris, September 1977 (Item)
1983 (File)
Australia and New Zealand Tour (Australia and NZ); Rolf Harris in Concert Australian and New Zealand Tour 1983, 1983 (Item)
Presented in Australia by A.T.A. AllStar Artist Pty Ltd. Presented in New Zealand by M.E.I Michael Edgley International Pty Ltd & Kevin Jacobsen Concerts. Playbill program.
1984 (File)
Australian Tour (Australia); Rolf Harris in Concert, 1984 (Item)
Presented in Australia by A.T.A. AllStar Artist Pty Ltd. Playbill program.
(Sydney NSW); Rolf Harris Schools Variety Spectacular Concert, 1984 (Item)
Playbill program. 2 copies held, 1 signed on cover by Harris.
1985 (File)
(Sydney NSW); Rolf Harris Schools Variety Spectacular Concert, 1985 (Item)
Playbill program, 2 copies held.
1986 (File)
(Sydney NSW); Rolf Harris presents Variety Spectacular, 1986 (Item)
A production for International Year of Peace arranged and presented by the Community Relations Unit of the N.S.W. Department of Education in conjunction with Rolf Harris Productions Pty Ltd. Playbill program.
1987 (File)
(Sydney NSW); Variety Spectacular '87, 1987 (Item)
Presented by the N.S.W Department of Education in association with Rolf Harris Productions Pty Ltd. Playbill program.
1988 (File)
Sydney Entertainment Centre (Sydney NSW); Spectacular 88, 1988 (Item)
Presented by the N.S.W Department of Education in association with Rolf Harris Productions Pty Ltd. Playbill program.
Series. Overseas Stage Career, 1964 - 2013
30 items
Undated (File)
The Talk of the Town Theatre Restaurant (London, England); At nine-thirty Dangerous Curves (Item)
Robert Nesbitt's Revue presented by Bernard Delfont. At eleven o'clock Rolf Harris stars in his first West End Cabaret appearance.
The Talk of the Town Theatre Restaurant (London, England); At nine-thirty Fine Feathers (Item)
Robert Nesbitt's Extravaganza presented by Bernard Delfont.
4 September; Congress Theatre (Eastbourne, England); Rolf Harris International entertainer (Item)
Presented by Kimbrell-Stepham Associates with several other acts.
1964 (File)
Royal Aquarium Theatre (Great Yarmouth Green, England); The Big Star Show of 1964, 1964 (Item)
Presented by Ross Taylor. Rolf Harris in Act 9 All-in-fun The Eight Starlets and Rolf Harris.
1967 (File)
Victoria Palace (London, England); Royal Performance in the presence of H.R.H. Princess Alexandra, 23 April 1967 (Item)
In aid of the Army Benevolent Fund. Fall in, the Stars - Rolf Harris in Act 10, Two-way Family Favourites.
The London Palladium (London, England); Royal Performance in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh in aid of the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund, 13 November 1967 (Item)
Rolf Harris in Act 4 Rolf Harris with the Boys and Girls.
1968 (File)
(Leicester, England); Rolf Harris, 1968 (Item)
Presented by John Westcombe. Promotional booklet [12 p.].
Coventry Theatre (Coventry, England); The 1968 International Birthday Show, 10 October 1968 (Item)
Presented by Albert J. Knight.
1969 (File)
Royal Albert Hall (London, England) and Provincial Tour; Rolf Harris with the Tony Evans Orchestra, 1 November 1969 - 16 November 1969 (Item)
Presented by Joe Benjamin, The Patterson plus special guest appearance of the Young Generation.
1973 (File)
Winter Gardens (Bournemouth, England); Rolf Harris in The Rolf Harris Show by Peter Sontar, 1 November 1969 (Item)
Starring with Cannon & Ball, Johnny Hutch's Halfwits, The Dallas Boys.
1976 (File)
Carnegie Hall (New York, NY); An evening with Rolf Harris First New York Concert, 5 October 1976 (Item)
Presented by The Australian Exhibit Organization, in association with Gordon Crowe Musical. Director Barry Booth. An Australian-U.S. Bicentennial event. Program is an Intermezzo magazine.
1977 (File)
Fairfield Hall (Croydon, England);, 24 December 1977 - 14 January 1978 (Item)
Executive producer Graham Stephenson.
1978 (File)
The Adelphi Theatre (London, England); Super Star Sunday, 12 March 1978 (Item)
Directed by Freddie Carpenter. A benefit performance for Erin Pizzey's Chiswick Women's Aid.
1979 (File)
The Talk of the Town, Hippodrome Corner (London, England); Rolf Harris, 1979 (Item)
Presented by Bernard Delfont at eleven o'clock in the star spot. Musical director: Barry Booth, Drummer: Dave Rogers.
1981 (File)
Theatre (London, England); Rolf Harris, 1981 (Item)
Booklet to go with the Show about Rolf Harris's life with biographical notes and photos.
Royal Albert Hall (London, England); Traditional Family Carol Concerts, 19 December 1981 (Item)
Presented by Royal Choral Society, conductor Meredith Davies.
1985 (File)
Theatre Royal Drury Lane (London England); Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 25 November 1985 (Item)
In aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. 2 copies.
1988 (File)
Eton Art Gallery (Berkshire England); Rolf Harris, 30 November 1988 (Item)
"Bouwe and Barbara Jans wish you a very happy Festive Season and invite you to a private view of work by Rolf Harris. The exhibition will continue to Monday 5th December 1988 at The Eton Art Gallery 58 High St Eton, Berkshire."
1993/94 (File)
Plymouth Theatre Royal (Plymouth England); Jack and the Beanstalk (pantomime season), 17 December 1993 - 5 February 1994 (Item)
Featuring Rolf Harris as "Simple Simon". 1 copy.
1994/95 (File)
Wimbledon Theatre (Wimbledon, England); Cinderella (pantomime season), 16 December 1994 - 29 January 1995 (Item)
Featuring Rolf Harris as "Baron".
1994/6[?] (File)
Mean Fiddler (Harlesden, England); Rolf Harris, 1 November 1994/1996 (Item)
Line-up brochure edited by Claire Read, produced by the Mean Fiddler Organization.
1996/7 (File)
New Victoria Theatre (Woking, England); Cinderella (Pantomime season), 19 December 1996 - 2 February 1997 (Item)
Flyer.
1998 (File)
The Swan (England); Rolf Harris The Original Antipodean Superstar with his band, 3 April 1998 (Item)
GIG Guide Easter Festival 98 April. Brochure and small poster.
Union Chapel (Compton Terrace, England); White Cockatoo Aboriginal Corroboree, 29 October 1998 (Item)
Aboriginal masters of traditional dreamtime. Special guest Rolf Harris and compere Shining Bear.
2003 (File)
Royal Albert Hall (London, England); Rolf Harris: 50 Years in Showbusiness, 29 September 2003 (Item)
An evening of celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of The Prince's Trust.
Symphony Hall (Birmingham, England); The Marion Montgomery Tribute: Gas Street to Symphony Hall - a short journey that spanned 35 years, 6 October 2003 (Item)
2005 (File)
(Edinburgh, Scotland); The 17th Avalon Comedy Festival: Rolf Harris Live, 3 August 2005 - 28 August 2005 (Item)
2009 (File)
Royal Albert Hall (London, England); Wild & Live ! a concert in aid of wildlife, 14 November 2009 (Item)
Born Free Foundation 25th Anniversary. Featuring Rolf Harris as one of the night's performers. Souvenir Programme.
Fairfield Halls (Croydon, England); Rolf Harris & friends' Christmas Cracker, 20 December 2009 (Item)
Flyer.
2013 (File)
Royal Festival Hall (London, England); An evening with Rolf Harris: live in London for one night only!, 8 February 2013 (Item)
Flyer.