Category: Uncategorized
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Bert Bio note # 12
In addition to costume design for the stage, Bert also became manager of the Alba Photography studio in Sydney’s Strand Arcade and quickly established a reputation for his experimentation in the new visual medium of photography. This glowing 1898 Bulletin article was perhaps an inside job by journo mate but Bert knew what he doing…
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Bert goes to Hollywood 1927
A very recent discovery is Bert’s cameo role in the 1927 comedy-drama silent movie, ‘Chicago’. Melbourne based Phil Lipshut, Bert’s great great nephew tipped me off to this clue last year, but my searches for either the movie or reference to Bert in the cast proved futile until yesterday. Something seen on TV, tipped me…
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Bert bio note #11
Bert’s five years (1894-1895) in Sydney were eventful . He and Harriet were living in the eastern suburb of Waverly. A year after their marriage, they sadly lost a baby (a girl) who survived just 4 days. In the death notices ….. Two years later there is happier news with the birth and survival of…
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Joan Crawford
You may recall an earlier post of a 1927 photo of Bert sketching actress Joan Crawford for her latest film, Taxi Dancer. Bert had just signed with MGM studios and had moved to Los Angeles. Here it is again, A little more digging has unearthed the tables being turned on Bert. Taken from the magazine,…
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A letter to the editor
When you comb through digital archives like Trove you occasionally come across a little gem that has nothing to do with what you are looking for….. This letter to the Editor at the Melbourne Herald is one of those… Note date is January 5th, 1880… I have no idea whether this is referring to a…
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Albert Whelan, Bert’s brother-in-law
I’ll just finish up some posts on the Waxman clan, you’ll recall Albert Whelan was Harriet’s, younger brother. Like Bert, Albert was born in Ballarat. Here is an account of Albert’s debut in London, in Billboard Magazine December 1908. Below is a sketch of Albert held at the V & A Museum in London. This…
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John F. Sheridan -one of Bert’s early interviews….
You might have noticed in the last post, Bert & Albert being admitted to London’s Eccentric’s Club…. that below that entry in the Herald is a reference to the death of American comedian, female impersonator J. F Sheridan. Sheridan came to Australia to perform on stage and just so happens, Bert caught up with Johnny…
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Bert’s London Club
Recalling that Bert was a founding member of New York’s Friar’s club, (the club Groucho Marx would not join because they would have him as a member!) we see in 1909 he and his brother-in-law Albert Waxman (stage name Whelan) have been elected into this old London Club…. Just like the Friar’s Club, the Eccentrics…
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Bio note # 9 Bert gets married
Bert moved to Sydney in 1894 to take his ‘chances’ professionally. Privately, much was going on as reported in the Hebrew press of the time. He returns to Melbourne to marry.
Bert Levy 