Guide to the Guide to programs and ephemra relating to J.C. Williamson's Annie get your Gun

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Annie

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Title
Programs and ephemra relating to J.C. Williamson's Annie Get Your Gun Australasian seasons
Date Range
1947 - 1963
Collection Number
Annie
Extent
15 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Printed Collections

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The National Library acquired a major collection of programs, manuscripts and music from the J.C.Williamson organisation in the 1970s. The documentation of J.C.Williamson is of prime importance in Australia's theatre history. 'The Firm', as it was known, dominated Australian theatre going habits and tastes of the public for nearly 100 years. A comprehensive program collection is a major component of that historical record. For example, it enables the unravelling of the complexity of a long running touring show such as Annie Get Your Gun. Additions are constantly being made to the collection of J.C.Williamson programs to ensure that the Library has a comprehensive record of all attractions and tours produced by The Firm in all Australian cities. There are still gaps remaining to be filled in the collection as evidenced by the list which follows.

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.

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]

Arrangement

Programs in the National Library' PROMPT collection are arranged chronologically: 1947-1950 Tour; 1952-1953 Tour and 1963 Season.

Biographical / Historical

Annie get your gunMusic and Lyrics by Irving BerlinBook by Herbert and Dorothy Field

The J.C.Williamson production of Annie Get Your Gun heralded the arrival of the new post-World War 2 Broadway musical on to the Australian theatre scene. The show had opened on Broadway in May 1946 and was an instant hit starring Ethel Merman. Just over twelve months later the Australian production opened in Melbourne, the traditional location for J.C.Williamson to premiere their latest musical offering.

As was common practice for J.C.Williamson they had endeavoured to find a leading lady overseas to play the role of Annie Oakley. Instead they found the right person in Australia, local vaudeville personality Evie Hayes. Born in America, Evie Hayes had been in Australia since 1938 with her husband Will Mahoney performing in vaudeville on the Tivoli Circuit. Together they had established the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane as a famous variety venue. Her success in Annie Get Your Gun was instant and she went on to play the role for 6 years and over 3500 performances, a world record for an actress in a lead role in a musical.

Other leading roles in Annie Get Your Gun were cast with imported actors most of whom returned home to America. One major exception was Hayes Gordon who was imported for the 1952-3 tour of Annie Get Your Gun in the role of Frank Butler. Hayes Gordon remained in Australia and founded an influential school of acting and the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney, which is still a major player on the theatre scene.

With Annie Get Your Gun a success, J.C.Williamson soon ensured that more Broadway musicals were produced for eager Australian audiences. Oklahoma, Brigadoon, South Pacific, Kiss me, Kate, and Call me Madam followed in quick succession over the next six years. Towards the end of the 1953 tour of Annie get your Gun, the Firm staged Kiss me, Kate starring Evie Hayes which meant she was playing the two musicals almost in repertory. When both Kate and Annie finished, Evie Hayes took on the lead role in Call me Madam, again to great popular acclaim.

Item Descriptions

Series. 1947-1950 Tour, J.C. Williamson production, 1947 - 1950

9 items

Director - Carl RandallMusical Director - Leo.Packer unless otherwise notedScenery – Geo. Upward, J. Alan Kenyon and assistantsWardrobe - by 'Henry' (JCW Modes)

His Majesty's Theatre. Melbourne, 19 July 1947 - 12 May 1948 (File)

2 copies of 4p. Includes advertising brochure, 1 copy of program and issue of standard JC Williamson's Magazine program.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Webb Tilton
Charlie Davenport l
Carl Randall
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Elizabeth Gaye
Tommy Keeler
Billy Kershaw
Buffalo Bill
Claude Flemming
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Sydney Wheeler

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, 15 May 1948 - 10 July 1948 (File)

2 copies of program held.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Webb Tilton
Charlie Davenport l
Peter French
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Elizabeth Gaye
Tommy Keeler
Billy Kershaw
Buffalo Bill
Claude Flemming
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Sydney Wheeler

Her Majesty's Theatre. Brisbane, 13 July 1948 - 21 August 1948 (File)

No program held.

[Theatre Royal. Sydney], 27 August 1948 - 31 August 1949 (File)

4 copies of variant programs held. Cover features American Indian headdress, black on blue background.Program 1. [August 1948?]

Principal cast:Annie Oakley Evie HayesFrank Butler Webb TiltonCharlie Davenport Carl RandallDolly Tate Marie La VerreWinnie Tate Ann DonaldTommy Keeler Billy KershawBuffalo Bill Claude FlemingPawnee Bill Charles CrawfordChief Sitting Bull Sydney Wheeler

Program 2. Duplicate copyProgram 3. [later 1948 ?] Cast as aboveProgram 4. [1949?] Cast as above except for minor cast changes:Donald Kirk replaced Billy Kershaw as Tommy KeelerRobert Smith replaced Dal Riddle as Little JakeSouvenir program. Third edition. Sydney [1949?].Cover features full length photo of Evie Hayes as Annie Oakley on purple background. 2 copies held.

His Majesty's Theatre. Brisbane, 3 March 1950 - 1 April 1950 (File)

No program held.

Empire Theatre. Perth, 10 April 1950 - 20 May 1950 (File)

No programs held.

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, 25 May 1950 - 8 June 1950 (File)

Program held. Cover is Indian headdress silhouette on brown background. Musical Director: Carlo Briglia.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Earl Covert
Charlie Davenport l
Carl Randall
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Ann Donald
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Claude Flemming
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Sydney Wheeler

His Majesty's Theatre. Melbourne, 10 June 1950 - 11 July 1950 (File)

2 copies of program held. Cover is American Indian head dress, black on brown. Musical Director: Carlo Briglia.

Principal cast:Annie Oakley Evie HayesFrank Butler Earl CovertCharlie Davenport l Carl RandallDolly Tate Marie La VerreWinnie Tate Ann DonaldTommy Keeler Donald KirkBuffalo Bill Claude FlemmingPawnee Bill Charles CrawfordChief Sitting Bull Sydney Wheeler

Empire Theatre. Sydney, 13 July 1950 - 23 August 1950 (File)

1 copy "Souvenir program" held. Cover is cartoon of vaudeville stage on pink background.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Earl Covert
Charlie Davenport l
Carl Randall
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Ann Donald
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Claude Flemming
Pawnee Bill
Frank Martin
Chief Sitting Bull
Charles Crawford

Series. 1952-1953 Tour, 1952 - 1953

4 items

J.C. Williamson productionDirector - John CassonMusical Director – Leo. Packer unless otherwise noted

His Majesty's Theatre. Melbourne. 3rd Melbourne season, 5 July 1952 - 31 July 1952 (File)

1 copy program held. Cover is American Indian headdress, tan on yellow.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Hayes Gordon
Charlie Davenport l
Robert Healy
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Ann Donald
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Graeme Bent
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Alec Kellaway

Theatre Royal. Sydney, 5 December 1952 - 28 January 1953 (File)

2 copies program held with minor differences in advertisements. Cover is American Indian headdress, purple on pink background.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Hayes Gordon
Charlie Davenport l
Robert Healy
Dolly Tate
Marie La Verre
Winnie Tate
Ann Donald
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Graeme Bent
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Alec Kellaway

Victoria Theatre. Newcastle, 19 March 1953 (File)

1 copy program held. Cover is American Indian headdress, purple on pink background.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Hayes Gordon
Charlie Davenport
Robert Healey
Dolly Tate
Shirley May Donald
Winnie Tate
Maggie Fitzgibbon
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Graeme Bent
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Alec Kellaway

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, 28 April 1953 - 5 May 1953 (File)

3rd Return Season. 1 copy program held. Cover is American Indian headdress, black on orange.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Evie Hayes
Frank Butler
Hayes Gordon
Charlie Davenport l
Robert Healey
Dolly Tate
Shirley May Donald
Winnie Tate
Maggie Fitzgibbon
Tommy Keeler
Donald Kirk
Buffalo Bill
Graeme Bent
Pawnee Bill
Charles Crawford
Chief Sitting Bull
Alec Kellaway

Series. 1963 Season, 1963

2 items

J.C. Williamson productionDirector - Betty PounderMusical Director – Ralph Mace

New Zealand; 8 month tour: Wellington Opera House, Timaru, Oamaru, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Masterton, New Plymouth, Napier, Gisborne, Hamilton, Auckland, 1963 (File)

1963 S/C Wednesday May 29 1963. Grand Opera House. WellingtonAnne Hart as Annie Oakley and Mav Chadban as Frank Butler.

Her Majesty's Theatre. Sydney, 5 October 1963 - 9 November 1963 (File)

3 copies program held. Cover is montage of banners with details of show, pink and white. 1 brochure held, with booking arrangements.

Principal cast
Annie Oakley
Anne Hart
Frank Butler
Mav Chadban
Charlie Davenport l
Alton Harvey
Dolly Tate
Mora Dean
Winnie Tate
Gillian Hough
Tommy Keeler
Jon Dennis
Buffalo Bill
Ken Fraser
Pawnee Bill
Larry McKeever
Chief Sitting Bull
Dennis Glenny

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