Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-5 of 5
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Diminutive Australian-born silent comic, the son of an engine driver. Clyde Cook earned his sobriquet, 'The Kangaroo Boy', because of his rubber-limbed elasticity. He had been on stage from the age of six, trained as an acrobatic dancer and performed on the Tivoli circuit in his native country, and, later, with the Folies Bergere in Paris. He was back in Australia with J.C. Williamson in 1916, appearing in musical comedy and revues. Three years later, he made his American debut in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and then became the star comic at the New York Hippodrome. Noted for his abilities as a contortionist, he was billed as the Australian "Inja Rubber Idiot". Within a year, he was spotted by Fox talent scouts and signed to appear in the 'Sunshine Comedy' series.
After moving to California, Clyde developed his own unique screen image, which included a huge paintbrush moustache (a prototype of which he had sported since 1917) and a completely deadpan expression. Not as distinctive in his comic style as Charles Chaplin or Buster Keaton, he never quite made the first rank as a star, though he was immensely popular as a key supporting player in two-reel comedies. In 1925, he joined Hal Roach, where he did some of his best work, which included the Stan Laurel-directed Wandering Papas (1926). In this, he played the cook for a railroad construction crew, with Oliver Hardy as a tough foreman. In the late 20's, Cook appeared in Roach's 'Taxi Boys' series and, with Warner Brothers, as comic relief in several features, often opposite Louise Fazenda.
His Australian accent proved popular enough to facilitate a smooth transition to talking pictures. This allowed Clyde to continue his career, albeit mainly in dramatic feature films, such as The Docks of New York (1928), The Taming of the Shrew (1929) and The Dawn Patrol (1930). He even got to play an Australian in The Man from Down Under (1943), but, by then, his parts had become little more than walk-ons and bits. He retired after his one-day effort in the John Wayne starrer Donovan's Reef (1963), and died twenty-one years later, in 1984, of arteriosclerosis.- Nick Cummins was born on 5 October 1987 in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
- James Magnussen was born on 11 April 1991 in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
- Scott Cain was born on 2 April 1981 in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
- Keith began his career as a child tap dancer. He made his first stage appearance in pantomime whilst still a boy. He later joined an acrobatic act touring Australia and New Zealand, incorporating comedy into his routines. He spent his formative years honing his abilities as a comedian/compere in night clubs, in both Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1952, Petersen joined the cast of "Ice Parade", where he worked alongside 'The Kermond Brothers' (Tibby and Normie), as well as Enzo Toppano and Peggy Mortimer. Petersen appeared in the Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne seasons of the show, for which he learnt to ice skate. During this period, he also played 'Buttons' for matinee performances, presented by the same company, in "Cinderella on Ice".
He was cast in the 1953/4 celebrated Tivoli circuit production - "Thanks for the Memory". Devised by renowned producer/director Harry Wren, Petersen worked alongside legendary names such as George Wallace (Snr), Jim Gerald, and Queenie Paul.
Petersen was part of the original Australian cast of the musical "The Pajama Game", produced by J. C. Williamson, for the Australian tour of 1957/58. He co-starred alongside Toni Lamond, Jill Perryman, and Ron Shand. He also appeared in the Melbourne and Sydney seasons of "Once Upon a Mattress" with Gloria Dawn and Sheila Bradley respectively. In the following 4 years, Petersen returned to variety and toured in productions shows including "Many Happy Returns" and "Yellzapoppin". Both shows were performed in Tivoli Theatres nationally with a stellar line-up including Gladys Moncrieff, Jenny Howard, and George Wallace (Jnr).
In 1963 Petersen appeared in the Australian production of the Cy Coleman musical "Wildcat", alongside Toni Lamond and Gordon Boyd. Three years later he starred in the Neil Simon comedy, "The Odd Couple", for both Melbourne and Sydney seasons.
Throughout the 60's, he was the resident comedian at the Sundowner Hotel, where he worked with Gloria Dawn and Frank Cleary. He also performed extensively on the NSW club circuit.
In 1966 he appeared in the film "They're a Weird Mob".
In 1967, Petersen announced he was 'Bringing Variety Back' with the opening of the "West Side Theatre Restaurant" in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Marrickville. Sadly, the venture failed.
In a newspaper interview he said, "I'm the manager and the leading actor". The interviewer wasn't convinced about the location - Marrickville? Implying: working class, migrant, Marrickville?
Petersen, however, was adamant that the people of Marrickville wanted variety entertainment as much as the people of Neutral Bay or Woollahra. Advertisements describe it as "the largest and most lavish theatre restaurant in the country", and also "the only restaurant with full dancing facilities".
The article also included details that Petersen, as a hobby, kept a pig farm near Campbelltown. However, he'd been so busy setting up the 'West Side', he'd spent much less time with his pigs. "And that's a pity," he said, "because my pigs are my relaxation."
In 1970 Petersen mounted a production of the pantomime "Dick Whittington" which starred his wife Lynette Keavney and a young performer named Johnny Farnham, who starred as Dick!
In 1971, Keith sadly passed away, in Campbelltown.