Women comedians

Date: [ca. 1975-2005]

By: Diva Productions Ltd

Reference: PA-Group-00906

Description: Photographs of, and relating to, the Topp Twins, likely taken between 1975 and 2005, by a range of unidentified photographers. The collection includes publicity portraits of the Topp Twins, photographs and negatives of the caravan used by the Twins for their 1989 Great New Zealand Gypsy Caravan tour, and a small photo album of Polaroid instant photographs from the 1980s, mainly of unidentified friends of Jools and Lynda Topp. Additionally, the collection contains publicity images of Rhona Cameron and Paul Capsis used as promotional materials by Diva Productions for the 1997 International New Zealand Comedy Festival in Auckland. The collection also includes film negatives showing mainly the interior and exterior of the caravan used in the Topp Twins 1989 Great Gypsy Caravan Tour. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 33 colour original photographic print(s) colour original photographic print(s). 15 colour original negative(s) strips with 56 images. 5 colour original transparency/ies. 4 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 1 colour Polaroid instant camera print. 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Photograph prints, film negatives, and slide transparencies Provenance: Donated by Diva Productions, Auckland, 2013 Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - Diva Productions Ltd - Records of the Topp Twins, reference number MS-Group-2258.

Date: 2004

Reference: Eph-C-VARIETY-2004-01

Description: Shows a montage of photographic portraits of the performers in this variety show, dressed as characters from Tolkien's "Return of the King". The design is based on posters by New Line Cinema for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Performers shown are: (In the centre) Glenda Gale; others are Andrea Harness, Cathie Sheat, Jac Lynch, Jack Byrne, Margaret Tolland, Toni Regan, Val Little, Sam McBeth, Anny Freitas. Two copies held. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Digital print on poster, 420 x 297 mm. Provenance: Donated by Glenda Gale, Wellington, in 2004. Processing information: Subject headings updated as part of reparative descriptive work, March 2024.

Date: [1946-1948]

From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency

Reference: PA1-q-306-0773

Description: Group photograph of the New Zealand Concert Party in Hagi, Japan, where they entertained a detachment of the 27th Battalion. They are from the left: Henry Rudolph (accompanist and instrumentalist). Sylvia Devenie (Contralto and commedian). Joyce Izett (Soprano). Margaret Richmond (Soubretta). Zita Outtrim (Violinist). Will Yates (Manager and commedian). Probably photographed by William Charles Hopper between 1946 and 1948. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 11.5 x 9.2 cm

Date: 2003

Reference: Eph-D-VARIETY-2003-04

Description: Shows a head and shoulders portrait photograph in an oval inset, of entertainer Hot Pink poking out her tongue. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s) on poster.. Physical Description: Photolithograph, 595 x 420 mm. Provenance: Donated by Sticky Fingers in 2003.

Date: 1992

By: Hatherly, Leone Rosemary Lucille, 1938-2012

Reference: Eph-D-VARIETY-1992-01

Description: A swirling semi-abstract design in red, green and black, showing masks, hens, trees, fern fronds. Extended Title - Thanks to Australia New Zealand Foundation promoting friendship across the Tasman, and Ministry External Relations and Trade, Manatu Ahuatanga Tawah[i] Tauhoko Quantity: 1 colour art print(s) on poster.. Physical Description: Relief print on poster, 700 x 490 mm. Provenance: Donated by Ms Lee Hatherly in 2002.

Date: 1983

Reference: Eph-E-MUSIC-Popular-1983-02

Description: Shows a stylised illustration of the city skyline above buildings. Musical notes and geometric shapes fill the sky. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph, 820 x 582 mm. Provenance: Acquired in 1983.

Date: 1958

Reference: Eph-A-MUSIC-1958

Description: Includes: Auckland Chamber Music Society. Second concert (With the Amadeus Quartet). Haddon Hall, 1 May 1958. Programme Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Charles Nalden, leader Robert Issell. Auckland Town Hall. 18 October 1958. Programme Auckland Lyric Harmonists Choir. Conductor Claude Laurie. Music Library, 21st year 1958. Catalogue. Christchurch Town Hall Promotion Music Festival, [and] New Zealand Broadcasting Service. King Edward Barracks Christchurch, 14-19 April 1958. Programme. Civic Concert Council presents Handel's oratorio "Messiah". Municipal Theatre Napier, 3 December; Municipal Theatre Hastings, 4 December 1958. Programme. Mattiwilda Dobbs (piano). Solo concerts. Wellington Town Hall, 13 June, Christchurch Civic Centre 20 June; Dunedin Town Hall 18 June, Wellington Town Hall 27 June 1958. Programme (2 copies) Gary Graffman (piano). New Zealand tour 1958. Programmes 1-4 in one booklet. (2 copies) Ida Haendel (violin), pianist Maurice Till. Solo concert. Wellington Town Hall, 22 April 1958. Programme (2 copies), and flyer Miss Lola Johnson. Pianoforte recital. College Hall [Marton?], 24 September 1958. Admission 5/- in aid of Rangitikei College Funds. Ticket only. Eileen Joyce. New Zealand tour 1958. Programmes 1-2 in one booklet. (2 copies) Lower Hutt Festival 1958. April 9th - May 10th. Town Hall and Little Theatre. Programme Masterton Choral Society presents Handel's "Messiah". Conductor B S Robertson; pianist Agnes Aburn. Town Hall Masterton, 22 November 1958. Programme Niven Miller (Scottish singer). First New Zealand tour 1958. Programme. Patrick O'Hagan (Irish singer). Pianist Hal Stead - replaced at last moment by Oswald Cheesman. Palmerston North Opera House, 22 Feb 1958; Napier Municipal Theatre 24 February; Wellington Town Hall 1 March; Blenheim His Majesty's Theatre 3 March; Christchurch Civic Theatre 8 March; Timaru Theatre Royal 11 March 1958. Programme (2 copies, and flier re Oswald Cheesman) Patrick O'Hagan (Irish singer). Concert. Pukekohe 14 October, Hamilton 15 October, New Plymouth 16 October, Wellington 22 October, Gisborne 28 October, Palmerston North 1 November [1958?]. Programme. David Oistrakh. 1958 New Zealand tour. Wellington Town Hall, 24 June 1958. Programme (2 copies) and flier (2 copies) Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, Presbytery of Wellington. Combined Church Choirs Festival of Music. Conductor Malcolm Rickard, organist Peter Averi, narrator Reverend G E Dallard, singers Margaret Hunt, Mollie McKenzie, Peter Baillie, Rowland Rapp. Town Hall Wellington, 16 September 1958. Programme (2 copies) Anna Russell (singer-comedienne). Souvenir programme (Pale pink cover, 2 copies, 1 with dark pink cover) Anna Russell (singer-comedienne). Concert. Hamilton 30 June, Christchurch 1 July, Wellington 8 July, Dunedin 10 July, Invercargill 12 July, Wellington 15 July, Palmerston North 16 July, Napier 17 July, Auckland 19 July 1958. Programme (2 copies) Royal concert, Wellington Town Hall. Pre-concert organ recital by Stanley Jackson. Wellington Town Hall, 7 February 1958. Flier/programme The School recorder book. Part 1. By E Priestley & F Fowler. Inia Te Wiata. New Zealand tour 1958. Maurice Till at the piano. Programmes 1-3 in one booklet (2 copies) Inia Te Wiata. In association with the Auckland Festival Society. Three magnificent concerts. Town Hall Auckland, 22, 24 and 27 May [1958?]. Promotional pamphlet Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce presents Carols by Candlelight on the lawns of the Central Library, Mercer Street Wellington. 19 December 1958. Programme. Quantity: 22 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Printed programmes and flyers, up to octavo size, some illustrated.

Date: 1974 - 1975

From: [The Marjorie Saunders collection of theatre ephemera, collected by Arthur Saunders. 1940-2006].

Reference: Eph-A-SAUNDERS-Variety-1970s

Description: Includes: The Great Cire, the international magician, master mind magician, escapologist! (Syd Burton - see verso). [Flyer]. 25/8/[19]75. "Carry on Barbara" (Barbara Windsor). New Zealand tour March 2nd to March 31st 1975. Programme (3 copies) International ice varieties. New Zealand tour 1974. Programme. (3 copies) Quantity: 3 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklets, approximately 230 mm in height.

Date: 1985

From: Hodgson, Trace, 1958- :[Original cartoons drawn in 1985, mainly for the New Zealand Listener].

Reference: C-133-102

Description: Appears to be a design for an invitation to a combined birthday party for Therese O'Connell and Pinky Agnew, who are shown in caricature wearing short underwear and stockings or boots. Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s). Physical Description: Ink drawing 212 x 312 mm, on sheet 447 x 335 mm. Provenance: Purchased in 2003.

Date: 3 Aug 1982-1 Mar 1983 - 03 Aug 1982 - 01 Mar 1983

From: The Matriarchs Oral History Project

By: McKnight, Beeban Annadale, 1897-1996

Reference: OHInt-0048/04

Description: Beeban McKnight was born in Dunedin in 1897. Discusses her father, wool merchant Arthur McDonald and her upbringing with her mother, grandmother and four siblings. Talks about the financial strain after her father's death and the opening up of their home to paying guests. Discusses being at the Catholic St. Dominic's Priory although her family were Anglican. Recalls a close-knit family headed by her mother and grandmother. Describes her piano lessons as the beginning of her theatrical career. Recalls the Pollards Opera Company about 1908 and getting her first part in a ballet. Talks about leaving school before the age of twelve, her first job at Stone Son and Company, moving to Gisborne, working in a music store and becoming the first woman employee at the Bank of New Zealand. Discusses being in the Gisborne Operatic Society, moving to Sydney at the age of eighteen, studying ballet under Minnie Hooper and becoming one of the J.C. Williamson chorus girls. Talks about moving back to New Zealand after World War I and travelling with Mr Lints' (Lintz) Reveille Company. Discusses her love of performing on stage and`low comedy' including females impersonating men. Recites some Cockney comedy. Recalls a show she put on in Ohingaiti with local performers `The Mountbanks'. Describes her marriage to John McKnight in 1923, her lack of domestic knowlege and difficulty with the role of farmer's wife. Recalls membership of the Miniature Rifle Club and Ladies Rifle Club in Ohingaiti. Talks about her career running a movie theatre which began during the Depression when she opened the `St. James' in the Hunterville Town Hall. Describes the Mangaweka theatre, travelling and showing films, being given an extra petrol ration during the War to enable this and getting hold of big film contracts. Recalls Noel Coward's `Cavalcade', romance and the movie theatre, censorship in old films and the burning down of the Mangaweka theatre in 1963. Venue - Wellington : 1982 Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Ohingaiti and Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004146-OHC-004149; LC-1810-LC-1813; LC-3223-LC-3225 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Transcript(s) available OHA-1636 and OHDL-000575.

Date: 22 Dec 1988

From: Stout Research Centre Oral Literary Archive

Reference: OHInt-0013-021

Description: Recording of the closing night performance of 'Hens' Teeth'. Performers are Lee Hatherly, Brenda Kendall, Bub Bridger, Kate Harcourt, Rema Te Wiata, Lorae Parry, Anne Jones, Kate Jason-Smith, Marg Layton, Kate Watson and others. Recorded at Circa Theatre on 22 December 1988. Venue - Wellington Recorded by - Ian Wedde Venue - Circa Theatre, Harris Street, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003197 - OHC-003198 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 event(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: 1 Dec 1988 - 01 Dec 1988

From: Stout Research Centre Oral Literary Archive

Reference: OHInt-0013-020

Description: Recording of a season of women comedians at Circa Theatre. Performers are Lee Hatherly, Brenda Kendall, Bub Bridger, Kate Harcourt, Rima Te Wiata, Lorae Parry, Anne Jones, Kate Jason-Smith, Marg Layton, Kate Watson and others. The performance of 1 December 1988 was recorded. Venue - Wellington Recorded by - Ian Wedde Venue - Circa Theatre, Harris Street, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003195 - OHC-003196 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 event(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: 6 Jul 1988 - 28 Jul 1988 - 06 Jul 1988 - 28 Jul 1988

From: The Matriarchs Oral History Project

By: Whitehouse, Eileen Eliza, 1912-2002

Reference: OHInt-0048/05

Description: Eileen Eliza Smith, later known as Davina Whitehouse, was born 6 December 1912 in London. Describes her Scottish ancestry on her paternal grandmother's side. Talks about her father, David, who died in 1914, and his position as managing director of United River Plate Telephone Co. Discusses her mother Florence's lifestyle in Surrey as `sub-bohemian'. Describes her childhood and the effect on the family of the aunt living with them. Recalls a year spent in California with her mother and sister Mavis, including meeting Charlie Chaplin on the ship `Olympic' in 1921 and being in a Pathietone News Film. Talks about the Pells National Educational Union School (PNEU), a society boarding school, and her audition for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) after leaving school. Discusses her mother's second marriage to James Leonard Thompson and her own desire to have a career. Compares current and past attitudes to sex, contraception and reputation, particularly within the theatre world. Discusses her agents, being in a production with John Gielgud, revues with Elsa Lanchester and Charles Laughton and her film contracts with Twickenham Films. Recalls meeting Joan Crawford, Noel Coward and Laurence Olivier and working with Nigel Playfair. Talks about playing character roles, the importance of laughter and women in comedy. Discusses how she maintained her private life, her marriage to widowed neighbour John Whitehouse in 1940 and the difficulty of living both a married and theatrical life. Talks about various factory jobs, their house on the Thames and the birth of sons Quentin and Steven. Recalls their reasons for leaving England and first impressions on arriving in New Zealand in 1952. Describes a caravan trip round the North Island. Discusses her husband's job with Phillips TV and her work at the NZBC, Downstage and in repertory theatre. Mentions the New Zealand Players Professional Theatre Company, Edith and Richard Campion and writers Peter Harcourt and David Tinken. Talks about her first contact with Maori and Maori culture in Bruce Mason's play `Awatea' in 1969 and attitudes to her being first female Drama Producer for Radio New Zealand. Discusses the difficulty her husband had with assimilating into New Zealand life, her sons growing up and living in her Pukerua Bay bach. Discusses the deaths of her sister and husband, her retirement in 1978 and her spirituality. Venue - Pukerua Bay, Wellington : 1988 Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004152-OHC-004154; LC-2586-LC2588; LC-3096-LC-3098 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-1638 and OHDL-000577.

Date: 1989

By: Marie, Gillian, active 1980-1990s

Reference: Eph-D-VARIETY-1989-01

Description: "The greatest original talent emerging in New Zealand" - NZ Herald. "No war in my heart" - Cassette out now on Festival. Shows portrait of Jules and Lynda Topp seated in a field with a guitar and their three dogs, outside their caravan. There is a herd of bulls in the left background around a tractor. Autographed by Lynda Topp. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s) on poster.. Physical Description: Photolithograph, on poster 420 x 595 mm. Provenance: Donated by Ms Gillian Marie in 1999.

Date: [ca March 1996]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

By: Bass, Emma, active 1996-2006

Reference: PAColl-8784-42

Description: Photograph of comedians Emma Lange, Jaq Tweedie and Michele A'Court, who performed the show Ultra Super Vixen Women With Really Enormous Tits, taken ca March 1996 by Emma Bass. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Resin-coated paper print 12.8 x 17.9 cm

Date: [ca July 1996]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

Reference: PAColl-8784-49

Description: Photographs of comedian Sue Ingleton, taken ca July 1996 by an unidentified photographer. Ingleton performed her show 'A Slice of Her Life' at Downstage Theatre. Quantity: 3 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Resin-coated paper prints

Date: [ca 1996]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

Reference: PAColl-8784-47

Description: Photographs of Pinky Agnew dressed as the character Elvis-Anne, taken ca 1996 by an unidentified photographer. Pinky Agnew performed the show An Evening with Elvis-Anne at the Wellington Comedy Festival in 1996 Quantity: 2 colour original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Dye coupler prints 15.2 x 10.2 cm

Date: [ca April 1998]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

By: Bass, Emma, active 1996-2006

Reference: PAColl-8784-94

Description: Photographs of comedian Cal Wilson, taken ca April 1998 by Emma Bass. Cal Wilson performed her show 'Telebimbo' at Downstage in May 1998 as part of the ASB Bank Wellington International Laugh! Festival Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 colour original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Photographic prints

Date: [ca 1998]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

Reference: PAColl-8784-85

Description: Photographs of comedian Moira Keefe, taken ca 1998 by Larry Wong. Moira Keefe performed the show 'Life Before the Crisis...Something is Lurking' at Downstage Theatre as part of the 1998 Fringe Festival Quantity: 2 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 colour original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Photographic prints

Date: [ca 1997]

From: Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions

By: Burmiston, Ray, active 1997

Reference: PAColl-8784-69

Description: Photographs of comedian Rhona Cameron, taken ca 1997 by Ray Burmiston. Quantity: 3 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Resin-coated paper prints