Blackshaw family papers, 1905-1956

MLMSS 6342

fonds

1905-1956

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs

152017

0.17 metres of textual material, includes photographs (1 box)

Herbert St. George Blackshaw, radio actor, entertainer and comedian, was born in Melbourne in 1912 and educated at Wesley College where he had his first acting experiences in the College Dramatic Club. On leaving school he worked for a short time for a wool buying firm as an invoice clerk while continuing his acting career with the Old Wesley Collegians Dramatic Club. He then went to work in repertory theatre. George Blackshaw gained a small part in a radio serial and in 1935 commenced his radio career at 3XY as an announcer.
In 1940 George Blackshaw moved to Sydney where he worked as a radio actor and broadened his repertoire by becoming a talented comedian. He appeared on the Tivoli circuit with George Wallace and Jenny Howard in 'Beauty and the Beast' and in several radio plays for the A.B.C. as well as the commercial networks. He played Erb in 'The Sentimental Bloke' and Dave in 462 episodes of 'Blue Gum Farm. In the early 1940s he performed on radio variety shows devised by the legendary Jack Davey for the Colgate-Palmolive Radio Unit.
Blackshaw generously contributed his talents to charitable and professional causes. During wartime he entertained the troops, and sold war loans and bonds. An active member of Actors Equity of Australia, he had served on its Board of Management and various sub-committees. His suicide on 27 November 1943 near St. Leonards railway station occurred shortly before he was due to report for military duty. He never married, and was survived by his mother Minna and sister Nancy, with whom he lived at Neutral Bay in Sydney.

1943; Letters and telegrams of condolence received by Minna and Nancy Blackshaw from, among others, Actors' Equity of Australia, Jack Davey, Enid Lorimer and Gladys Moncrieff, concerning the death of George Blackshaw (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/1)

1943; Papers of and concerning George Blackshaw, including his Army call-up notice, 15 Nov. 1943, with his manuscript suicide note on verso; his last will, 25 Nov. 1943; and In Memoriam booklet for his funeral, 27 Nov. 1943 (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/2)

1944-1945; Letters received by Minna and Nancy Blackshaw from Australian government bodies concerning application for a war pension based on George's service and the repository of his ashes (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/3)

1936-1943; Correspondence of George Blackshaw, including letters received from Arthur C. Davis of Palmerston Amusements Ltd in New Zealand (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/4)

193--1944; Annotated and corrected play scripts, with a letter from Merle Jameson to Nancy Blackshaw, 24 Aug. 1944, enclosing a list of George Blackshaw's scripts (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/5)

1934-1942; Theatre programs from Old Wesley Collegians Dramatic Society and Red Cross Gala in aid of theatrical queen, Marie La Varre, and the journalists' queen, Andrea, with contract between George Blackshaw and Tivoli Circuits Australia Pty Ltd, 14 Mar. 1942, and an autograph copy of 2GB - Presenting the Macquarie Auditorium, 1941?, and brochure advertising the programs and stars of 3AW (Radio station : Melbourne, Vic.), ca. 1940 (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/6)

Date unknown; Photoprints chiefly of George Blackshaw and Nancy Blackshaw (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/7)

1937-1943; Printed material, being chiefly magazines and newspapers concerning articles about George Blackshaw, and newscuttings of his death (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/8)

1905-1956; Miscellaneous family papers, including programme of pianoforte recital by Miss Minna Williamson at Glen's Concert Hall, Melbourne, 31 Aug. 1905, and an issue of Limelight: The Australian Directory of Radio Stage Films & Television, No. 2 May 1956 (Call No.: MLMSS 6342/1/9)

Arranged and chiefly described by Maie Barrow, a student in the Diploma of Information Management (Archive Administration) course at the University of New South Wales, Oct. 1997