The Silent Showman

Flyleaf

George Tallis arrived in Melbourne in 1886 as a seventeen-year-old Irish immigrant.  He secured a job with the growing theatrical company run by James Cassius Williamson and remained involved with companies bearing that great actor-manager's name until the early 1940s.

During the intervening years Tallis rose to the very top of the Australian entertainment industry.  Upon JC Williamson's death in 1913, he became chairman of directors of JC Williamson Limited - the 'Firm' - and established a reputation as a peerless live theatre entrepreneur.  He expanded, consolidated and modernised the Firm, pioneering commercial radio and the screening of films as vital components of its portfolio.  By the mid-1920s Tallis, as one of the first 'media giants', was at the head of the largest entertainment organisation in the world.

Then, like London Bridge, or world stock markets, the Firm came tumbling down.

By any measure Geroge Tallis's achievements were large, yet his story lies buried.  In part, this can be attributed to his own personality; he was a quiet man, not given to self-promotion.  The Silent Showman gives this enigmatic man his place in the history of Australian entertainment.

Michael Tallis, DSc., researched mathematical problems in genetics, biology and medicine, and is now an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide.  His wife, Joan Tallis, has extensive experience in genealogical and historical research work and enjoys a challenge.  With respect to this book, the pair 'started with nothing and came from nowhere' as Melbourne Punch might have put it.  Gradually, as the story unfolded, they became fascinated  by the JC Williamson Firm, its origins and size, its touring of big theatre companies, its part in the beginnings of film and radio - later to become gigantic financial hedges for Williamson's - the main players, and their interrelations and squabbles, mergers and takeovers.  How did Goerge Tallis fit into the kaleidoscope?

Table of Contents

Chapter 1  With a Little Bit of Luck 1
Chapter 2  The Irish Connection 7
Chapter 3  The Firm 17
Chapter 4  Preparation of an Irish Immigrant 29
Chapter 5  Tour Manager 43
Chapter 6  Partnerships 59
Chapter 7  Very Firm 81
Chapter 8  Santoi George 95
Chapter 9  The Passing of Williamson 113
Chapter 10 Faith, Hope and Charity 129
Chapter 11 Amalgamation 151
Chapter 12 What’s This I Hear? 173
Chapter 13 Celluloid and Ether 191
Chapter 14 Old Lightnin’ 207
Chapter 15 London Calling 225
Chapter 16 Not So Firm 243
Chapter 17 Too Many Cooks 257
Chapter 18 Rangatira 271
Chapter 19 Rien ne va Plus 287
Running order of shows in Melbourne theatres under the Firm’s management 1886-1931 301
Notes 349
Bibliography 357
Photograph Acknowledgments 361
Index 363

Other sites about this book:

Independent News http://202.139.245.142/mail/03a.htm
The Business of Show Business, National Library of Australia http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2002/jul02/article3.html