Wellington Competitions Helped Many On Road To Fame

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 9, 8 September 1933, Unnumbered Page

Wellington Competitions Helped Many On Road To Fame

Marie Ney, Thurza Rogers, Négaire Phipson and Harold Whittle Started in N.Z.

When one looks back to the early days of the Wellington Competitions Society, and reviews ‘the names of some of those who. made ‘their first appearances. behind: the footlights under the aegis. of the society, it is ‘surprising to learn-how many have risen to success in song, music, drama, or the ballet, says "The "Dominion."

There are doubtless many Welling- . tonians-who will remember Marie Fix, now: known as. Marie Ney, a wellknown.London actress. She was a pupil of Mr. J. M. Clark, now in Auckland, and had many successes at the Wellington Competitions, Miss Helen Gard’ner, vocalist and elocutionist, has delighted New Zealand audiences with her and’ is now teaching . dramatic, .art. Thurza Rogers, who. was a popular dancer at the festivals, now holds a prominent position in London, and provides the ballets for many"of the leading London theatres. She was premiere danseuse to Pavlova and Adele Genee. Doris Symes, Wanganui, who has figured prominently in the festivyals,.is now a successful actress in musieal comedy in London and the © provinces; She made.a great hit in "Lilae Time," and once took the contralto part ‘in "Rigoletto" at a day’s notice. Mr, Culford Bell, a prominent teacher -in Auckland, Betty Purdom. (now

_ Mrs. Culford Bell), Cecile Haines, the great child reciter of 1912, who went on the stage and is following a successful career in London to-day, Baxter Buckley, the brilliant pianist and pupil of -Rubenstein, who won the 80-guinea piano at the first festival in 1911, Mr. . Casey, now assistant general manager of New Zealand Railways, winner of impromptu and prepared speeches in 1911, were associated with. the days when the society established ~ itself. Miss Millie Knight is now a prominent lieder singer in England, and paid a visit to New Zealand five or six years ago, Miss Jean McLachlan (now Mrs. Braid) is one of the leading teachers of Scottish dancing in. New Zealand, and adjudicates at festivals. Lionel Inch went on™ the stage in America, Ailsa Nicol and . Nellie Amies are both now in London. Thelma McKenzie, and Ngaire Phipson are both on the American stage. Mary Cooley (now Mrs. Craig McKenzie) is well known in literature and drama.

Madge Shearer is now Mrs. ©. G. Kirk, of Nelson. Her husband adjudicated last year. All these names recall memories of outstanding performances at festivals of years ago. Others who have made advances in their professions of businesses include Miss Kiore King, of the Christchurch Repertory Club, Mr. Byron Brown, who won the dramatie and elocution championships in 1918, is now adjudicator at festivals, Mr. Bernard Beebe, ‘of Christchurch, for some years with Mr, Allan Wilkie’s Shakespearean company, and also a member of the Trish Players, Mr. Frank Charlton, now on the operatic stage in Sydney, Miss Gwen Shepherd, formerly known on the air as "Aunt Gwen," Mrs. Ivo Symes, of Wanganui, Dr. D. N. Isaacs, president of the Savage Club, Mr. Vryn Evans, now president of the Competitions Society, Miss Phyllis Gribben, Auckland, Mr. Barton Ginger, an old favourite in Dickens impersonations, and Anita: Winkel. Among other past competitors are Mr, H. H..Cornish, barrister and professor at Victoria- College, Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb, Mr. ©. A. L. Treadwell, Miss Myra Clegg, Mr. J. Knowsley, now studying dancing in America and London, Mr. -H..F. Wood and Mr. Norman Aitken, joint owners of the noted race- horse Autopay, and both well known in entertainment circles in Wellington. Such references would not be complete without the name of Mr. Harold Whittle, who for ten years was the official accompanist. to the’ society. He has: accompanied such stars at Dame Melba, Madame Albani, Cisneros, Paul Dufault' ‘and Gieli. He left Wellington for Australia four or five years ago, and is now in London.