Harry Furniss, who worked in Australia as Paul Furniss, actor, director, author, singer and dancer; and an unidentified woman - portraits, ca. 1919-1939 / photographers unknown

ON 289

fonds

ca. 1919-1939

Graphic Materials, Photographs

449191

56 negatives - glass, some copies - 16.4 x 12 cm., 12.6 x 10, 13.7 x 8.1 cm., 10.6 x 8.1 cm.

Harry W. Furniss was the son of Raymond Furniss, manager of the Bury Hippodrome Theatre, near Manchester. During his career his name was sometimes spelt "Furness" and he called himself Paul Furniss in Australia. He danced with the Imperial Russian Ballet (which starred Pavlova) in Britain as Paul d'Este or Paul d'Esti in the 1920's. His father was a cousin of Harry Furniss (1854-1925), the famous caricaturist who worked with Thomas Edison in film in the US, helping pioneer animated cartoon film.

In 1913-1914, Harry toured England in "The Great White Chief". In 1914 he played in "The Curate" and "The temptress of Paris", both for the Metropole stock company. Also in 1914 he produced his comedy "At the agent's". "His Mother's rosary" followed in 1915. He was next in "Her bridal hour" and then he played the Emperor in the pantomimes Aladdin and Dick Whittington (1917), in which he also danced. In 1920 he was in "Medorah", dancing with Dithy Tarling (he also designed some of the "gorgeous frocks") at the infamous Alhambra in London. In 1920 he was also in "My lady's dress" starring Gladys Cooper, then "The Romantic young lady". Also at this time he was working on an Academy picture. In 1921 he played Markovitch in "Bulldog Drummond". He played an MP in "His house in order" and by 1923 was in "The Dancers" with Tallulah Bankhead. In 1924 he wrote a "cockney sketch" called London sparrows for the new Brighton Repertory Company.

In 1925 Harry, as Paul d'Esti, danced an Eastern Snake Dance with a live python, including a performance at Grosvenor House 18 Sept 1925 in aid of Russian refugees.
Harry co-starred in the British film "The Little people" (1926), written and directed by George Pearson. He starred in English and French Film Productions.

Furniss met Althea Glasby in the UK where she had performed with the Old Vic. He came to Australia in 1926 under contract to J.C. Williamson to produce plays in Sydney. He lived with Althea, (probably platonically), in her Mosman home at 23 Musgrave Street (ca. 1927) with the aim of producing outdoor films, or, under contract to J.C. Williamson. Althea's parents had worked with the Mosman Musical Society and Althea had lived there prior to leaving for England. Harry and Althea began their Sydney careers starring in a self-directed play "The Whirlpool". Harry's first Australian play "The Reformation of Annie Carey", set in Darling Point and North Queensland, followed for The Arts Theatre, St James Hall in 1927-1928. They also played in Harry's "The Laughing ghost" for The Arts Theatre, Mosman Town Hall. Harry played Charles II in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury". Althea and Harry wrote produced and acted in several plays for The Four Arts Theatre Club.

In 1929 Harry returned to the UK to appear in comedies with Sybil Thorndike, and he and Althea in the talkies "The American prisoner" and "Dark red roses", selling the talkie rights to some of his plays also. Harry returned to Australia on the liner Hobsons Bay in 1930 to produce plays at the Savoy Theatre, Sydney.

In the Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Septemeber 1931 p.2, Harry and Althea are listed as classical and interpretive dance, and elocution teachers at 335 George Street. They aroused "interest" among ferry passengers because of Harry's collection of snakeskin shoes and Harry introduced the tango, jazz waltz and one-step as they were an accomplished ballroom pair. The pair knew Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard. Harry, billed as Paul Furniss, had a part in Harry Southwell's film "The Burgomeister" (1935) and in Ken Hall's "Lovers and luggers" (1937). Althea Glasby and Paul Furniss are listed as living at 114 Curlewis Street Bondi North in the NSW Commonwealth Electoral Roll (Commonwealth - Wentworth, NSW - Bondi, subdiv. of Bondi North), 1939.

Source: Althea Glasby - performing arts New South Wales collection (State Library of New South Wales

1-4. Unidentified woman [probably Althea Glasby - actor, director, writer and designer]
5-13. Furniss in Chinese costume, in Siamese costume, in 18th century court dress, in kimonos, as Charles II in Sweet Nell of Old Drury ? (no.8) and in loincloth holding a plate
14-47. Furniss in contemporary clothing
48-50. Furniss in 18th-19th century greatcoat
51. Furniss as cowboy or gaucho
52. Furniss in Indian turban and loincloth
53. Furniss in kimono with statue of Buddha
54-56. Copy negatives of portraits signed "Harry / 1921"

The negatives were found in the pantry of the home of Althea Glasby, 114 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach in 1980-1981. She had lived there since 1938 and moved to a hostel before her death. The purchaser of the house found the negatives in the pantry and presented them to the State Library of NSW, via David Barclay, in 2005.
Title, Contents and Biographical Notes devised by cataloguer (on the advice of David Barclay)
The original photographs in the large copy negatives were photographed in Great Britain ca. 1921, but the photographer's name cannot be read (possibly Camera Ltd.). Furniss is posed in costumes similar to those worn by Rudolph Valentino or similar silent film stars. The four portraits of the woman are probably Althea Glasby. There are portraits of her in the Althea Glasby - performing arts NSW collection, but they were taken in the 1920's when she was working for the Old Vic in England. The woman in these portraits has permed hair and if it is Althea Glasby, has lost weight. -- Cataloguer's note






"--d with Harry Southwell" is printed on no.48 & Paul (Harry) Furniss played in Southwell's 1935 film The Burgomeister

National Film & Sound Archive of Australia (SceenSound Australia) holds material relating to the film Burgomeister (1935). -- See National Film and Sound Archive website (online)

The Powerhouse Museum (Sydney) holds a kimono by Paul Furniss and Althea Glasby dated ca. 1920-1929