Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Company

Date: 1932

Reference: Eph-A-OPERA-1932

Description: Includes: Folder 1: Hawera Amateur Operatic Society presents the musical play "Gipsy love". Produced by Harison Cook; musical director Mr H C A Fox. Opera House Hawera, 26-30 September 1932. Programme Invercargill Amateur Operatic Society presents "A country girl". Produced by Major F H Lampen; musical director Mr D W McKay. Civic Theatre Invercargill, 19-23 July 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd presents "Blue roses", by Desmond Carter and Caswell Garth, with Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard. Produced by Frederick Blackman. Grand Opera House Wellington, 27 July 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd presents "Follow through"; book by Laurance Schwab and B G de Sylva. Play produced by Frederick Blackman. Grand Opera House Wellington, 6 August 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd presents "Follow through"; book by Laurance Schwab and B G de Sylva. Play produced by Frederick Blackman. His Majesty's Theatre Auckland, commencing 27 August 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd present their new Gilbert & Sullivan Comic Opera Co. including Ivan Menzies, Gregory Stroud, Evelyn Gardiner ... Marie Bremner, Leo Darnton, John Ralston, Maisie Ramsay, Mary Hotham, Bernard Manning ... Civic Theatre Invercargill, commencing Friday April 8th [1932. Postcard showing group photograph, with autographs of some members] J C Williamson Ltd presents their specially arranged Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co. in "Dorothy". Words by B C Stephenson; music by Alfred Cellier. Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 16 April 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The gondoliers". Country tour. Programme J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The gondoliers". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 22 January 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The gondoliers". Theatre Royal Christchurch, commencing 5 March 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "HMS Pinafore". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 12 February 1932. Programme (2 copies) Folder 2: J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "Iolanthe". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 1 February 1932. Programme (2 copies, 1 damaged) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "Iolanthe". Theatre Royal Christchurch, commencing 11 March 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The mikado". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 27 January 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "Patience". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 15 February 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The pirates of Penzance". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 4 February 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The pirates of Penzance". Theatre Royal Christchurch, commencing 14 March 1932. Programme J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "Ruddigore". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 13 April 1932. Programme (2 copies) J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co in "The yeomen of the guard". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 8 February 1932. Programme (2 copies) Folder 3: Levin Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society presents "High jinks", by Ogden Hartley; music by Roderick Freeman. A Cardston-Baxter production. Regent Theatre Levin, 4-8 August 1932. Souvenir programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "La boheme". Grand Opera House Wellington, 4 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Carmen". Grand Opera House Wellington, 9 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Carmen". Theatre Royal Christchurch, 22 November 1932. Programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Cavalleria rusticana". His Majesty's Theatre Auckland, 22 October 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Cavalleria rusticana". Grand Opera House Wellington, 12 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Cavalleria rusticana". His Majesty's Theatre Dunedin, 6 December 1932. Programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Faust". Grand Opera House Wellington, 9 November 1932. Programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Faust". Grand Opera House Wellington, 12 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Folder 4: Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Lucia di Lammermoor". His Majesty's Theatre Auckland, 6 October 1932. Programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Madam Butterfly". His Majesty's Theatre Auckland, 5 October 1932. Programme Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Madam Butterfly". Grand Opera House Wellington, 29 October 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Madam Butterfly". Grand Opera House Wellington, 11 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Madam Butterfly". [Country tour?] 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Rigoletto". Grand Opera House Wellington, 31 October 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Tales of Hoffmann". Grand Opera House Wellington, 7 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season. "Tosca". Grand Opera House Wellington, 17 November 1932. Programme (2 copies) Quantity: 1 box(es) containing 4 folders. Physical Description: Programmes, sizes ranging under 250 mm. Provenance: One item donated by Alan Sadd, Wellington, in 2016; one by Joe Barnao in 2015.

Date: 1930 - 1935

Reference: Eph-B-OPERA-1930/1935

Description: Includes programmes for the following performances: 1930s: "Joy unlimited"; a revue, in aid of unemployment funds. Produced by Pat Ward; stage manager Frank Petre, assistant stage manager Charles Levin, lighting Bill Turnbull, wardrobe Helen Whyte and Nan Pritchard. Sketches coached by Mr Clement May; dances taught by Mr David Devitt; orchestra under direction of Mr Pat Bell. [Printed by] Keeling & Mundy, Palmerston North [1930s?]. Programme. Wellington Technical College presents "The pirates of Penzance", by W S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Tuesday-Friday, 19-22 August [1930s?]. Produced by Messrs Bryne, Burton and Priestley. Programme 1930: "Whoopee". J C Williamson Ltd. (With Don Nicol, Lilian Crisp, John Ralston, Patricia Kendall, Terry Kendall). Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 1 February [1930]. Promotional pamphlet 1931: J C Williamson Ltd. Gilbert & Sullivan opera season. Souvenir [offset lithograph sketches by Keith Bryant, stapled together, of performers: Ivan Menzies, Leo Darnton, Marie Bremner, Evelyn Gardiner, Maisie Ramsay, Mary Hotham, Gregory Stroud, John Ralston, Bernard Manning, Andrew Maccunn, and Clifford Cowley]. Souvenir produced by Art in Australia Ltd. Printed by the Green Press, Sydney. Blocks engraved by Hartland and Hyde. 1932: Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera season, beginning with a gala performance of "Madame Butterfly". Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing Saturday, October 29th, 1932. [Promotional pamphlet with photographs of members of the company]. Williamson Imperial Grand Opera season. "Cavalleria Rusticana" [and] "Pagliacci". His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 6 December 1932. Programme 1934: J C Williamson Ltd present their supreme comic opera attractions: "The Dubarry" and "Waltzes from Vienna", with Sylvia Welling in her famous London roles and a magnificent supporting company of one hundred principals, chorus and ballet. Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing with a grand gala performance on Wednesday Sept 19th, 1934. [Promotional pamphlet with photographs of members of the company: Sylvia Welling, Ivy Kirby, Jean Gibson, Jean Duncan, John Dudley, Cecil Kellaway, Leslie Holland, Richard Parry] 1935: Sir Benjamin Fuller and the New Zealand Grand Opera Company present Pietro Mascagni's Sicilian love tragedy, Cavalleria rusticana. St James Theatre Wellington, 6-12 December [1935]. Souvenir programme (2 copies) Quantity: 7 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Programmes, sizes ranging under 350 mm. Provenance: One programme donated by Mrs Alice Megget, Auckland, in 2008. Transfers: Collection as a whole taken into Manuscripts. Transfers made from there..

Date: 1930 - 1939

From: Cabot, Charles Henry, 1890-1978: [Collection of ephemera, posters and programmes. 1900-1976]

By: Wright & Jaques Ltd; Tolan Print

Reference: Eph-B-CABOT-Opera-1930s

Description: Includes: 1930: J C Williamson Films presents Humphrey Bishop and his Musical Comedy Company in conjunction with Nancy Carroll, Gwen Weston, Maurice Barling, Mlle Desire, Walter Kingsley, Denis Sheard, Thelma Trott, Richard Arlen, Warner Oland. Grand Opera House, 21 November [1930]. Promotional pamphlet with photographs Humphrey Bishop, well known London entrepreneur, and his Musical Comedy Company in conjunction with Nancy Carroll, with Richard Arlen in "Dangerous paradise". Grand Opera House, Friday 1 November [1930]. Promotional pamphlet with photographs 1932: Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera Company. (With Lina Paliughi, Cesarina Valobra, Bruna Castagna, Molly de Gunst, Pedro Mirassou, Apollo Granforte, Primo Montanari, Albino Marone, Maestro Emilio Rossi, Maestro Wando Aldrovandi, Joseph Post, Carlo Alfieri, Michele Fiore, Franco Izal, Ilio Del Chiaro, Frank Rigo). Grand Opera House Wellington season of 17 nights 29 October - 17 November 1932. Promotional pamphlet with photographs 1934: J C Williamson Ltd present their supreme comic opera attractions: "The Dubarry" and "Waltzes from Vienna", with Sylvia Welling (With Ivy Kirby, Jean Gibson, Jean Duncan, John Dudley, Cecil Kellaway, Leslie Holland, Richard Parry, Douglas Herald, Lou Vernon). Grand Opera House Wellington, grand gala performance, 19 September 1934. Promotional pamphlet with photographs 1935: J C Williamson Ltd present Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard in ... "Roberta". Second production "Our Miss Gibbs"; third production "High jinks" (With Diana Du Cane, Marie Le Varre, Frank Leighton, Ethel Morrison, Leo Franklyn, Leslie Crane). Grand Opera House Wellington, commencing 26 October 1935. Promotional pamphlet with photographs "White horse inn", a gorgeous panorama of colour, melody and movement ... based on Erik Charell's original Berlin production and staged by J C Williamson Ltd, by arrangement with Sir Oswald Stoll. Promotional pamphlet and flyer (2 copies) 1936: J C Williamson Ltd present their specially organised and incomparable Gilbert & Sullivan Comic Opera Company. "The gondoliers". "The pirates of Penzance", "The yeomen of the guard", "Iolanthe", "The mikado", "Patience", HMS Pinafore". (With Ivan Menzies, Gregory Stroud, Godfrey Stirling, Eileen Kelly, Bernard Manning, Helen Langton, Winifred Lawson, Evelyn Gardiner, Richard Watson). Grand Opera House Wellington commencing 11 April [1936]. Promotional pamphlet with photographs 1938: J C Williamson Theatres Ltd presents their New Royal Comic Opera Company in the unparalleled stage triumph "Balalaika"; a play with music (with Violet Carlson, George Hancock, Diana Ducane, Don Nicol). Attracting all Wellington to the New Opera House [September 1938]. Promotional pamphlet with photographs of main performers J C Williamson Ltd presents "Victoria Regina" by Laurence Housman; play produced by Peter Dearing. (With Fay Compton, Bruno Barnabe, Peter Dearing, Stafford Hilliard, Michael Wilding, Jack McNaughton, Ann Codrington, Hayley Bell, Mary Charles, Yvette Anning). Grand Opera House Wellington, 5 March [1938]. Promotional pamphlet with photographs J C Williamson Ltd present their New Musical Comedy Company featuring George Gee, Valerie Hay, Donald Burr, Billie Worth, Percy Le Fre [in] "Over she goes", "Nice goings on", "Swing along" (Also with William O'Neal, John Dobbie, Lois Green, Tommy Jay, Enid Hollins). Opera House Wellington, 15 January 1938. Promotional pamphlet All pamphlets except the first (printed by Tolan Print) were printed by Wright & Jaques. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Photolithographs and offset prints, up to 330 mm.

Date: [19--]

From: New Theatre : Records

Reference: 77-244-2/07

Description: Dated entries, notes and related loose papers. Includes souvenir programme for Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Season, New Zealand 1932 Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1932

By: Elliot, Archibald John, 1901-1974

Reference: Eph-E-OPERA-1932-01

Description: Shows an arrangement of text. The repertoire of operas was performed from 29 October to 17? November. Productions were: Madam Butterfly (29 October); Rigoletto (31 October); Carmen (1 November); Madam Butterfly (Matinee, 2 November); Lucia di Lammermoor (Evening, 2 November); Il Trovatore (3 November); La Boheme (4 November); Rigoletto (Matinee, 5 November); Cavalleria & Pagliacci (Evening, 5 November); La Boheme (7 November); The Barber of Seville (8 November); Carmen (Matinee, 9 November); Faust (Evening, 9 November); Tosca (1 November); Opera to be selected (11 November); Cavalleria & Pagliacci (Matinee, 12 November); La Boheme (Evening, 21 November); Tales of Hoffmann (14 November); Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci (15 November); Faust (Matinee, 16 November); La Traviata (Evening, 16 November); Tosca (17? November). Quantity: 1 colour art print(s) on poster.. Physical Description: Block print, red and blue, on poster 1012 x 382 mm.