HARRY PRIMROSE'S LONDON PIERROTS
AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE: RESEARCH NOTES See last page for citation, copyright and last updated details.
aka Manly Pierrots / The London Pierrots / Harry Primrose's Pierrots
(Australasia: 1904-1909)
Banjoist/comedian Harry Primrose and pianist Bert Roultson travelled from England to Australia in late-1904 and within a few weeks of arriving in Sydney debuted the London Pierrots at Manly's Ocean Beach. The first line-up, a quartet, also included local singers Fred Henry and Horace Jardine. After the engagement concluded in April 1905 Primrose took an expanded troupe through regional New South Wales and Queensland (twice each). Brisbane was also played twice. During this period the line-up changed several times but generally comprised five or six performers (both male and female). Guest performers also featured on a regular basis. The London Pierrots toured New Zealand between December 1907 and April 1909, with the first season being held at Sumner Beach (near Christchurch). The Dominion tour also included a brief engagement in Wellington with John Fuller.
► See also: Wyn Leslie's Pierrots • Hamilton Band Stand (Brisbane) • Harry Primrose [below] •
Australian Pierrot Entertainments
The London Pierrots at Manly, 1905. L-R: Harry Primrose, Bert Roulston, Fred Henry, Horace Jardine Source: John Morcombe Collection, Manly Library.
• The first known reference to the London Pierrots is an advertisement published in the 29 December edition of the Sydney Morning Herald. The troupe likely made its debut at Ocean Beach before this. An advertisement in the Sunday Times edition of 8 January 1905 indicates that Primrose and Roulston had arrived six weeks earlier (1).
• There is evidence to suggest that the London Pierrots pioneered the alfresco pierrot concept in Australia and New Zealand. Although not the first professional troupe to perform as pierrot entertainers in the Australasian region, nor the first of any amateur or professional troupes to play outdoors, the London Pierrots nevertheless appear to have been the first to maintain a constant presence within both industries over a sustained period of time. Primrose's troupe also toured extensively, thereby taking the concept to many different areas of both countries, whereas most other pre-1905 pierrot troupes appear to have confined their activity to one or a small number of performances and locations.
See the AVTA's Genres section for further details on the early history of Australian Pierrot Entertainments.
• Many of the London Pierrot's performances were undertaken as buskers. The performances would be played on beaches, and outside local landmarks and business such as hotels and post offices. The troupe therefore called for contributions from each audience. When the weather became inclement the troupe would be forced to either cancel that evening's performance or utilse a nearby hall (if available).
• JMacR, writing in the Manly Library's Local Studies Blog, writes: "[Primrose and Roulston] spent the summer of [1904 and] 1905 lodging at the Steyne Hotel at Manly. They performed alfresco on the Ocean Beach, two shows daily. The afternoon show was at 3pm, and an evening show, lit by acetylene light, at 8pm. If the weather was bad, the show went on in the Victoria Hall, in the Corso. A shilling got you a deckchair at the front, and standing at the back was threepence"1
• The London Pierrots' second Brisbane engagement involved a four months season in the riverside suburb of Hamilton between December 1906 and April 1907. The troupe was absent from Brisbane for just under a week in February 1907, however, in order to play the Warwick Show and Toowoomba.
• The John Fuller season at Wellington's Theatre Royal was for one week only - 4-9 May.
• At one stage the New Zealand line-up was reduced to three performers. Bert Roulston left the troupe prior to the Dunedin season in November 1908. He was replaced by Mr H. Wallace.
Queensland Figaro (Brisbane) 11 Apr. 1907, 5.
Known Performers
1904: Harry Primrose (banjoist/comedian), Bert Roulston (pianist/comedian), Fred Henry (tenor), Horace Jardine (basso).
1905: Harry Primrose, Bert Roulston, Mr Persehouse (cornetist), Fred Henry, Horace Jardine, Leslie Holmes (society entertainer).
- Guest artists: Fowler's Clever performing Dogs.
1906: Harry Primrose, Bert Roulston, Wyn Leslie (actor/singer), Doris Tindall (serio/coon singer), Harry Barton (ventriloquist), W.P. Turner (monologist/comedian ), Charles Morgan (singer), Vesta Lenton (comedienne), Jack Richardson (patter comedian), Victor the Great (ventriloquist), George Hartley (ventriloquist).
- Guest artists incl. W.J. Barker (hand bell performer), W.P. Cotterell (baritone), Doris Laveno (singer/step
dancer), A. Pontin (Indian club swinger).
1907 Australia: Harry Primrose, Bert Roulston, Wyn Leslie, Doris Tindall, George Hartley, W.P. Turner, Vivienne Verdi (pianist "the Lady Paderewski"), Horace Partridge (sketch artist), Fred H. Carter (singer), Zif (lightning cartoonist), Theodore (juggler).
1907-1909 (New Zealand): Harry Primrose, Bert Roulston, Les Vane (baritone), Alicia Woodham (soprano), Flo Weston (serio/dancer), H. Wallace (pianist), Jock Mackay (Scotch comedian), W. Rayne (ventriloquist).
* Bert Roulston's surname is sometimes spelled Ralston in advertising and reviews. * Wyn Leslie's given name has been spelled variously as Winn, Wynn, and William. One early advertisement even identifies him as Leslie Win.2
1 JMacR, n. pag. 2 See Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW) 14 Mar. 1906, 8. HARRY PRIMROSE
(-1910) Musician (banjo), comedian, troupe proprietor
Harry Primrose arrived in Sydney in late-November 1904 accompanied by pianist Bert Roulston. Little is currently known about his earlier life and pre-Australasian career, apart from his birth name Henry Lawrence. Primrose's Australasian publicity often claims that he pioneered alfresco concerts in "the old country" and was "the originator of the pierrot costume as an entertaining dress." However, neither claim is consistent with the current history of English pierrot entertainments. He also claims to have won first prize for banjo playing in the Chicago Exposition of 1893, which if true would indicate a year of birth sometime before the early 1870s. There is strong evidence to indicate, however, that he pioneered alfresco pierrot concerts in Australasia. Primrose died unexpectedly in Napier, New Zealand on 27 May 1910, leaving behind a widow and child.
• Primrose's birth name is given in several obituaries, but not his birthplace or year of birth. Publicity for the 1904/1905 season in Manly claims that he came with a London reputation and that he had also achieved wonderful success in Dublin, Manchester and Liverpool.
• The earliest known pierrot concert to be presented in England was in 1891 when banjo manufacturer Clifford Essex presented his own quartet at the Henley regatta during the summer. By the turn of the century Pierrot concerts had supplanted blackface minstrel shows as the favoured entertainment for English seasides and inland fairs.
• The above reference to his age presumes that he would have been at least twenty years of age, and more than likely a little older in 1893.
• A number of Primrose's contemporaries claim that he pioneered alfresco pierrot concerts in Australia. In this respect there is evidence to suggest that he did play a significant role in this area of popular entertainment. While not the first performer to appear on the Australasian stage in a pierrot costume, nor the first to present a troupe of pierrot entertainers in the region, Primrose's London Pierrots nevertheless appears to have established itself as the first troupe to operate as a permanent entertainment package here.
• Primrose was reportedly living in Napier at the time of his death and had been supporting himself and his family by presenting concerts in the town.
Further Reference
JMacR. "Primrose's Pierrots. Manly Library's Local Studies Blog: Stories of Manly's Past. 3 Oct. 2014 [sighted 18/10/2019]
00000000
Sydney Morning Herald 29 Dec. 1904, 2.
1905
Sydney
Sunday Times (Sydney) 8 Jan. 1905, 1.
"The Theatres." Sunday Times (Sydney) 8 Jan. 1905, 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125857173
Freeman's Journal (Sydney) 28 Jan. 1905, 26. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108021357
Sydney Morning Herald 11 Jan. 1905, 2. Freeman's Journal (Sydney) 4 Feb. 1905, 26. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108020126
Sunday Times (Sydney) 5 Feb. 1905, 2.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125875243
Freeman's Journal (Sydney) 28 Jan. 1905, 21.
Sydney Morning Herald 16 Feb. 1905, 2.
Sunday Times (Sydney) 23 Apr. 1905, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125869822
Freeman's Journal (Sydney) 4 Mar. 1905, 21. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12250907
Ocean Beach, Manly, n. yr. Source: Postcards to My Grandmother.
Sydney suburban tour
Mosman, Neutral and Middle Harbour Resident (NSW) 22 Apr. 1905, 7.
Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW) 6 May 1905, 9.
Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW) 14 June 1905, 3.
Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW) 31 May 1905, 3.
Mosman Town Hall, ca. 1900 Parramatta Town Hall, ca. 1900 Source: Local Studies Service, Mosman Library. Source: Parramatta Heritage Centre New South Wales
Leader (Orange, NSW) 30 Nov. 1905, 3.
Lithgow Mercury (NSW) 13 Oct. 1905, 5.
Wellington Times (NSW) 4 Dec. 1905, 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/137915266
National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW) 6 Nov. 1905, 3.
Wellington Times (NSW) 18 Dec. 1905, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137922861
National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW) 10 Nov. 1905, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157318410
Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent (NSW)
20 Dec. 1905, 3. 1906
Sydney Morning Herald 20 Jan. 1906, 2.
Leader (Orange, NSW) 2 Jan. 1906, 3.
Leader (Orange, NSW) 8 Feb. 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article252221543
cont...
Leader (Orange, NSW) 23 Jan. 1906, 3.
Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) 29 May 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122697780
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW) 14 Mar. 1906, 8.
Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) 4 Apr. 1906, 4. (NSW) 8 June 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122699681
Brisbane
Brisbane Courier 3 July 1906, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19457531
Brisbane Courier 13 July 1906, 2.
Brisbane Courier 26 July 1906, 8.
Telegraph (Brisbane) 13 Aug. 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186226013
Telegraph (Brisbane) 3 Aug. 1906, 7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175090984
Telegraph (Brisbane) 15 Aug. 1906, 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-
article186217073
Queensland
Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld) 9 Aug. 1906, 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187809987
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 30 Oct. 1906, 2.
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld) 21 Aug. 1906, 3.
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld) 23 Aug. 1906, 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148455582
Telegraph (Brisbane) 20 Sept. 1906, 8.
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 1 Nov. 1906, 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53081256
Brisbane
Brisbane Courier 24 Nov. 1906, 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19487895
Age (Melbourne) 1 Dec. 1906, 18.
Telegraph (Brisbane) 13 Dec. 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175259192
Brisbane Courier 10 Dec. 1906, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19498976
Brisbane Courier 15 Dec. 1906, 2.
Brisbane Courier 14 Dec. 1906, 6. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19482532
Location of the Hamilton Band Stand (later known as the Tivoli Gardens
Gordon and Gotch (Queensland) Ltd. "Map of Brisbane and suburbs, 1920." Source: National Library of Queensland
Telegraph (Brisbane) 17 Dec. 1906, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175260850
Brisbane Courier 17 Dec. 1906, 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19485911
Truth (Brisbane) 23 Dec. 1906, 8.
1907
Brisbane cont... (with Warwick, Qld)
Telegraph (Brisbane) 5 Jan. 1907, 7.
Brisbane Courier 5 Jan. 1907, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19472496
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld) 9 Feb. 1907, 8.
Truth (Brisbane) 20 Jan. 1907, 8. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198982751
Truth (Brisbane) 10 Feb. 1907, 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198990323
Brisbane Courier 30 Jan. 1907, 7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19494411
Truth (Brisbane) 24 Feb. 1907, 8.
Brisbane Courier 19 Mar. 1907, 2.
Brisbane Courier 26 Mar. 1907, 2.
Brisbane Courier 19 Mar. 1907, 5. Truth (Brisbane) 31 Mar. 1907, 8. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19498217 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198985920
Final Hamilton Show
"Facts, Fads, Feats and Fancies." Queensland Figaro (Brisbane) 11 Apr. 1907, 5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84137223 Brisbane Courier 20 Apr. 1907, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19487197
New South Wales
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) 27 Apr. 1907, 12.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) 29 Apr. 1907, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71859943
Queensland
Brisbane Courier 4 May 1907, 2.
Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld) 14 May 1907, 2.
Truth (Brisbane) 9 June, 9. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198983561
Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld) "Today." Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 13 July 1907, 4. 15 July 1907, 1.
"Today." Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 20 Aug. 1907, 4.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld) 12 Nov. 1907, 1.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld) 12 Nov. 1907, 4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124246013
Morning Post (Cairns, Qld) 26 Aug. 1907, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44438678
Sydney Morning Herald 19 Sept. 1907, 7.
Truth (Brisbane) 12 Jan. 1908, 5.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld) 19 Nov. 1907, 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124238141 [last known Australian performance] Brisbane Courier 7 Nov. 1907, 2.
(New Zealand) Sumner
Press (Christchurch, NZ) 7 Dec. 1907, 1.
Star (Christchurch, NZ) 28 Dec. 1907, 6.
Press (Christchurch, NZ) 9 Dec. 1907, 7.
Sumner Beach season3 7 Dec. 1907 - 29 Feb. 1908
Sumner Beach ca. 1905. Source: Kuaka. The New Zealand Journal (2008).
Sumner Beach, showing the pier and Cave Rock, ca 1900. Sumner Beach Source: Christchurch City Libraries
3 Sumner is a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch. 1908
Sumner cont...
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 20 Feb. 1908, 9.
Press (Christchurch, NZ) 20 Jan. 1908, 1.
Press (Christchurch, NZ) 29 Feb. 1908, 1.
Holiday Excursion by Steam Tram to Sumner, 1908. Shag Rock (Rapanui) far right Source: Kuaka. The New Zealand Journal (2008).
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 10 Feb. 1908, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19080210.2.64
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 2 Mar. 1908, 8.
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 17 Feb. 1908, 1. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19080302.2.75
Timaru (Caroline Bay)
Timaru Herald (NZ) 6 Mar.1908, 6. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19080306.2.51
Season: 5-20 March
Timaru Herald (NZ) 5 Mar.1908, 1.
Caroline Bay, ca. 1912-1915. Postcards. Photograph by Muir & Moodie Studio Source: Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa
Timaru Herald (NZ) 19 Mar.1908, 1.
Temuka
Temuka Leader (NZ) 17 Mar. 1908, 2. Season: 21 March - 3 April ______
Sumner
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 6 Apr. 1908, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19080406.2.65
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 23 Apr. 1908, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19080423.2.73
______
Wellington
Dominion (Wellington, NZ) 4 May 1908, 1. cont... Last night of Fullers' engagement: 9 May Dominion (Wellington, NZ) 5 May 1908, 9. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19080505 .2.82 South Island tour
Marlborough Express (Blenhein, NZ) 14 May 1908, 7.
West Coast Times (Hokitika, NZ) 22 June 1908, 3.
Marlborough Express (Blenhein, NZ) 16 May 1908, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19080516.2.43
Nelson Evening Mail (NZ) 25 May 1908, 3.
Lyttelton Times (Christchurch, NZ) 24 Sept. 1908, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19080924.2.71 Grey River Argus (Greymouth, NZ) 5 June 1908, 3.
Dunedin / Invercargill
"City Council." Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, NZ) 5 Nov. 1908, 4. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19081105.2. 18
Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, NZ) 10 Nov. 1908, 9. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19081110.2. 87 The "Miss H. Wallace" reference is an error. The new pianist was Mr H. Wallace
Otago Witness (Dunedin, NZ) 18 Nov. 1908, 70. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19081118.2.192.7
Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, NZ) 14 Nov. 1908, 10. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19081114.2.91
Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, NZ) 4 Dec. 1908, 6. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19081204.2.71
Evening Star (Dunedin, NZ) 18 Nov. 1908, 6. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19081118.2.46
Southland Times (Invercargill, NZ) 16 Dec. 1908, 3. 1909
Wanganui Herald (NZ) 2 Apr. 1909, 1. Mataura Ensign (Gore, NZ) 2 Jan. 1909, 3.
Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, NZ) 8 Jan. 1909, 6.
Wanganui Herald (NZ) 6 Apr. 1909, 1.
Oamaru Mail (NZ) 19 Jan. 1909, 3. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19090108.2.80
Taranaki Herald (NZ) 21 Apr. 1909, 2. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH19090421.2.17 NB: The last known advertisement for the London Pierrots.
Manawatu Times (NZ) 22 Mar. 1909, 1.
Harry Primrose
Wairarapa Age (Masterton, NZ) 5 July 1909, 5. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19090705.2.9
Wairarapa Age (Masterton, NZ) 5 July 1909, 1.
1910
"Peter Pan." "Wellington Wing Whisper." Otago Witness (Dunedin, NZ) 8 June 1910, 87. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19100608.2.311.4
Press (Christchurch, NZ) 31 May 1910, 8. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19100531.2.50 Referee (Sydney) 15 June 1910, 15. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120137726
Star (Christchurch, NZ) 2 June 1910, 2. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19100602.2.15
Australian Variety Theatre Archive: Research Notes
First published by Clay Djubal: 23/10/2019
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