PERSONALITIES of the week

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 19, 23 November 1934, Page 8

PERSONALITIES of the week

ONE OF THE DIGGERS E of the cleverest female impersonators who ever trod, a New Zealand stage was Stan Lawson, who, for’ some: years now has been teaching dancing in Dunedin with occasional excursions into the amateur operatic field. Mr. Lawson was a member of the original Diggers’ concert party that provided entertainment for men on the Western Front in the muddy days of the war. The company toureil

New Zealand and Australia after the Arniistice, and was later reformed ‘under the title of "Pat Hanna’s Diggers." It was in New Zealand about four years ago-just before the talkies conspired to drive vaudeville out of this country. MONKEYING ABOUT STANLEY LUPINO’S first appearance’ on the stage gave him ample opportunity to monkey about, for it was in the skin of that animal thet. he made bis bow to the British public. That was at the Britannia Theatre, at Hoxton in "King Klondyke" in 1900. His next big part was in the skin of something more feline-the Cat in "Dick Whittington" pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre, London,.-in 1910. Since then he has played in all sorts of plays---light ones, of course-and he contributed maferially' ‘to the suc- , cessful seasons of such shows ay "Phi Phi," "Oh! Juliet," "Who's My Father?" and "Love Lies," He made his debut inthe talking picture World in.1931 and has-.appeared.on New Zenland sereens in "Tove. Lies’? and "Sleepless Nights."’. ARRANGING CONCERT TiLLAL CASTLE, ‘Wellington’s _tlever violinist, winner of. a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, London, has testimonials anil accounts of her work from some of London’s finest professors of music to her credit, Arthur Bent and Haydn . Inwards number among some of those with whom she studied. She had many interesting experiences under the conductorship of London’s: most sfamous | conductors and composers ‘and tame in contact’ with many first performances of the younger school of composers whose names will figure in the near future in. line with Blgar, Holst and Delius, A memorial concert to these three composers is being organised, by Miss Castle and Madame de Mauny for next month. as a‘ tribute to the memory of HEngland’s trio of great artists. uo , PROUD OF HIS BAND NE of ,the prondest men in’ New Zealand jush now, is Mr. R, J, Est-

all, the conductor of the Woolston Band the band which so worthily upheld New Zealand's musical, reputation at the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. Mr. Estall’s first taste of music was in Wellington, where he joined a boys’ band. in his schooldays, When he moyed to’ Christchurch ‘he ‘joined the Woolston band as a player of the euphonium, and played ynder such eminent -bandmasters as the late Mr. 1, 0, Derry and Lieutenans W. V. Siddall, In 1914 Mr. Estall was appointed conductor of the Woolston Band, ang he hag held that position ever since, Since he came into office the Woolston Band has won more than, £2000 in prize money, and has competed in 15 contests, securing seven championships. . LAWYER TO SINGER Ole Man River, dat Old Man River, He don’t say:nothin’ .... Everyone has heard Paul Robeson’s voice in that now famous song from "Show Boat." And it was that song

that first bronght Robeson fame as a singer, Born in Americu 36 years ago, Robeson studied law and: took his ¢e"gree at Columbia University. But he had an excellent yoice and he was given his first chance to display it when he was given, a part in "Simon the Cyrenian’ in New York in 1921, His first appearance in England was in the following year, when he played in "The Voodoo," which starred Mrs, Patrick Campbell. Two years later he caused a: sensation in London when he appeared in the Jeading parts in Dugene O’Neill’s plays, "All God’s Chillun Got Wings," and "Wmperor Jones." The latter has since been made into a talkie with Robeson in the leading part, It hag been . Shown in one or two New Zealand towns this year.His singing of "Ole Man River" in the ‘London production of "Show Boat’ in 1928 established bim as a vocalist, however, and he has since made hundreds of records. His favourite recreations are tennis, bridge and jazz music, COMING-OF-AGE WO months ago Mr. H. Temple White completed 21 years of musical service to the city of Wellington.. "Way back in 1913 Mr. White, who is as well known in the Capital City as the Prime Minister himself,

took up the position: of organist and choirmaster at Wesley Church in ‘Taranaki Street. Inthe following year the Wellington Harmonic Society was formed, and Mr. White: was appointed its first conductor. At the close of the war he was ap: ointed to . the: position of conductor. of the. Wel-« lington Commercial’ 3 Choir of inale voices, and he’ refnainéd in this | position for 12 years, One of Mr. _White’s most important positions was that of musical director of the Royal Choral Union, a position he held for nearly nine years.

A "WICKED UNCLE" | Most of the days of the youth of the : "late David de Groot, the Dutch violinist, were spent in Amsterdam, His father was'a poor musician, it . double bass player. Their home wits on the top floor of a house in the poorer quarters of the city. On the first floor’ lived his father’s sister with her husband and two sons, The uncle taught

him the violin, but saw no talent in young David. The boy’s one ambition was to be a violinist, and his misery was not diminished when he overheard a discussion between his uncle and his father anent his future. Said the uncle: "Let him be a baker; he’ll never be a musician," ° Events turned out very differently, as the whole world now knows; character and industry made David de Groot an international musical celebrity. WRITTEN IN A FOG A: KESTER, or, to give him his. ‘%eal name, Max Kester Dodgeson, hails from the County of Broad Acres, Yorkshire, and besides being a clever comedian is a prolific lyrie writer, The words of ‘Brave Hearts" were written under rather unusual conditions, being, in fact, penned on Paddington station piatform in a dense fog whilst he was. whiting for a train. So enthusiastic did he become, he alarmed a dear old lagy as be sang each phrase in order te perfect his rhythm. On another occasion he and Ray Noble wrote~the words and music of ‘Love is a Song" in balf an hour, during a recording interval. Once a popular "uncle" at the B.B.C, Leeds station, he joined H.M.V,’s artist department in 1928, but he is now with tke B,B.C, for keeps, Max Isester is one of "Those Four Chaps." WELSH TENOR T was considered natural that Walter Glynue should have a fine yoice in his native Gowep Peninsuja, South Wales, where he came from farming stock, His wag just one among thousands in a district where everyone antomatically joins a choir, So Walter became 2 bank clerk, the while indulging in singing during his spare time. Eventually he won a scholarship to fhe Royal College of Music, winning many prizes, War broke out, and we next find him in the Artists’ Rifles, the Welsh Guards, and the Army of Occupation ia Cologne, where he,spent.much Of his time singing and visiting operas, A spel] in the Civil] Service---and'then, at, last, singing as a whole-time job, He became principal tenor with «the YOyly Carte Opera Company, and. broadcasted first in 1923, He is married with three children and is an allround athlete. — "yom sees

FIFTEEN CURTAIN CALLS YOUNG girl-no more than eighiteen years old-makes her first ippearance at the Metropolitan Oper: House in New York, If is her first appearance in opera. She is t coloratura soprano and, hardly needful to say, shy appears as Gilda in "Rigoletto." The .theatre is crowded in every part. For the first time in the memory of man--one account reads-the free list. is "entirely suspended." The crowd auxious to gain admission is so great that police reserves have to be ealie | vif. Mounted police have to clear th» "side-waiks" and in the crush severni people are slightiy: mjured: An arrest luis to be made for disorderly: conduci, | many fail to gain admission. During the performance scenes of enthusiasix prevail such as are rarely witnessed

At the end, the singer has to respun:?! to "at least fifteen curtain calls." After the performance, the singer holds u reception on the stage which is attended by a delegation of about two hundred citizens of Kansas City, headei by the Mayor. The singer coies trom Kansas City. Within four years the newly-made opera "star," deserts the stage, abandons. her career, an?’ sets out to look for a "chicken farm" on which to live the simple life. To tie profound astonishment of "agents" who think only in terms of contracts uud thousands of dollars, this girl of twenty-two turns her back upon engagements with fees running into over £2000 a concert and definitely retires Before the farm claimed her she mae some records, and her name is Marion Talley.