When He Smiled —I Knew It Was Harry Thurston

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 15 March 1935, Page 17

When He Smiled —I Knew It Was Harry Thurston

TRIED his hotel-"No, sir," said the desk clerk, _ "Mr. Thurston’s gone out." . I tried two. of-the city clubs and ‘was told.that "Mr. Thurston has been here but: he’s just gone." I tried the broadcasting studios. The station director showed me into a room in the middle of which was a large table littered with papers, song-sheets and so on: Seated at the table, with a typewriter in front of him, was a man of great avoirdupois, with his coat off, sleeves. rolled up and a cigarette between. his. lips.. "Surely this is not Harry Thurston, the English comedian ?" thought I. To mie the burly man looked more like one of George Walker’s wrestling opponents. But: when this man with the sleek, black hair looked at me and smiled, then I knew at once that he was a comedian, for ' Harry Thurston has got a funny face, oo ae "Glad to meet you," he said in a low pitched but never-. ‘théless cheery English voice. His: smile faded when ‘he: learnt that I was a newspaper man and desired to: interview him. "Who in the hell‘do you think I ai?" he asked." JI knew.-that Harry. Thurston: didn’t mean ‘that. Had‘. 1 not:heard the bursts of laughter he had created’ in. the® non-teetotal bar of the Auckland Clib and’ in the stewards" enclosure at the’Epsom trotting’ course a few ‘days -pre- * viously.. I knew that-"Old Bill" was most. popular and: ay cheery soul. But he proved a difficult subject for, an: in-' terview. He wanted to talk about anything and everything: except his profession, which was quite unusual for such fa. famous stage and screen personality, However,’ I eventually, nailed him down and after. telling ‘the droll comedian that.I did not want to waste_his time or my own, we soon‘ becan to chat about broadcasting ‘and -other matters, After: a few ‘reminiscences-on Mr. Thurston's part, I discovered — that this is his third" visit to the Dominion, although ‘his. vst as a-radio artist. We has many valued friendships"in all parts of New Zealand and he is cagerly- looking forward to his tour of the national stations as the Broadcasting

Board's first overseas comedian 'to: be staried:- His Jast visit here was just over 12 'years ag0_ under the High Ward managenent A peisonal friend of the; late Sjz Joseph Ward, Sir Joseph; met lim 0h his arrival in AAuckLand; and the statesman and "coinedian spent much time together during the:Jattei s 'stayz in Newv Zealand; Harry {hiiston} Mho was Dov-in 'Londou within sound "'of Bow #Bens; #iSt went on te boaras as a' ~boy: Soprano with the Biirgess" and Moore Minstiels in st: James Hall. His association With;, muisic hajf ; artists: soon developed in

him an aptiturle for: inimicry:* {Phis: was en-

couraged-" by Mr: Eugene Stratton: and; at the

age of '15 'Harry ~Thurston iwas playing; leads zin

various' prominent svarietytheatres 44 Later, he becawie

a Worthy and; a serious rival 'to: Alberti Clievalier: Gharles

Godfrey Arthur; Roherts and; gthers; and finally; he; beeaie

a ‘character’ comedian, Gf "note’ whe sueceéded in: keeping the mice from’ ‘nesting | ‘in thé ‘box" "office." a Following a, ‘tour ‘of the. world he’ was starred at the London Hippodrome, where, in 1916, he was chosen by. Captain Bruce Bairnsfather’ to portray the role of: "Old Bill" . in. "The ‘Better’ ’Ole." The ‘King and Queen and other inembers: ‘of the Royal ‘Family were present at the premiere and after the show personally congratulated : Mr. Thurston on his performance. ' Mr. Thurston’ was the first: London. comedian to. ‘broadeast: ‘for the B.B.C: ‘« He has since been heard over: the. air in many parts of ‘the world, including Fr ance and. the East. He was also the first: English comedian to be sponsored for the National and Columbia broadeasting systems in America, He has also ' broadcast from the principal Austtalian ‘stations. ee a Harry Thurston was: remarkably about the new. 1YA studio building and he says, that it is one of.the est. equipped, designed and most ‘up. to date- of any. he has ever: ‘seen-and he has seen ‘many all over the world. He contends that .radio is yet, in its infancy. " "IT suppose out heré *. ‘you have people who criticise the. broadcasting authgrities ?" be ‘asked,. I nodded, That was the. same. all ‘over the world, he said, Althoug h he had not" been more tha’ ‘a few weeks’ in. New Zealand, ‘Mr. Tliurston said he had? ‘taken -much interest in broadéasting matters and had come to the conclusion ° ‘that’ btoadcasting was ‘in the right hands here and that the. programmes given: offered excellent entertainment. : "Since I have been. here Ihave heard’. the demand for flesh and blood artists," he said: ‘That demand will surely ‘be satisfied.’ Take my. own case, The Broadcasting Board Was eager to secure my services for the benefit’ ¢ of listeners. -L was delighted that I was able to, negotiate eee with. the board: and spare the: necessary ‘time to: tour "the New Zealand ‘stations: before Igo bad, ‘to Hollywood. | feal that I want to present to my New. Zealand radio listeners ‘something entirely new and original, ‘not: ‘only. beéause. of ‘Iny. Dominion broadcasts, but’ because numerous people in America and Australia will be listening j in, me" ,