Edward Howell - papers, 1909-1986

MLMSS 7081/Boxes 1-2
MLMSS 7081/Box 3X

fonds

1909 - 1986

Textual Records, Graphic Materials

152312

0.48 metres of textual material (2 boxes, 1 outsize box)

Edward Welsford Rowsell Howell (1902-1986) actor, director and author, was born on 15 July 1902, son of Edwin Gilburt Howell, a London actor and author and Madeline Anne (nee Rowsell). With his father, Howell first visited Australia as a child actor in 1912 to appear in the J C Williamson production of Maurice Maeterlinck's play The blue bird. Educated at Bromley College, Kent and, after his return to Australia in 1915 at Sydney Grammar School, he joined his father in Fiji in 1919, and together they formed the Suva Drama Guild, presenting plays, reviews and concerts. In 1924 Howell returned to Sydney and joined Duncan MacDougall's Playbox Society (later Playbox Theatre Circle) where he studied drama for several years. He formed the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1927 and ran the school until 1932, but after contracting tuberculosis moved to Brisbane where he worked as a radio announcer. From 1932 to 1963 he wrote, directed, and co-starred with his wife Therese Desmond in the long running radio serial Fred and Maggie Everybody. Resuming his theatrical career in Sydney in 1935, he acted for J C Williamson's, the Independent Theatre North Sydney and Whitehall Theatrical Productions at the Minerva Theatre at Kings Cross. Howell was Chief Drama Producer for Amalgamated Wireless Australia Ltd. (AWA) from 1936-1947, when with his wife, daughter Madeleine and three other radio actors he formed the Radio Players, presenting plays at Bryant's Playhouse in Phillip Street, Sydney. Howell's last stage appearance was in 1971, but he continued to work in television until 1985. He died in Sydney on 20 August 1986.

CORRESPONDENCE

1949-1983; Correspondence. Includes letters from listeners in appreciation of the Fred and Maggie Everybody radio serial. Other correspondents include Hector Crawford, Ron Haddrick and John McCallum. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)

DIARIES

1974-1986; Pocket Diaries. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)

LITERARY MANUSCRIPTS AND PLAYSCRIPTS

Date unknown; Literary manuscript: 'The Brats of Pimple Street', by Edward Howell. Typescript. 4 pages. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)
Date unknown; Playscript: 'The Settler's Story'. Typescript with ms. annotations. Author unknown. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Dates unknown; Biographical notes, various, concerning Edward Howell. Authors unknown. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)

PRINTED MATERIAL

1909-1912; 1937; 1953-1986; Newscuttings. Includes newscuttings concerning Edward Howell, Therese Desmond and Madeleine Howell. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)
1909; ?1962-1985; Programs. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/1)

SCRAPBOOKS

1933-1948; Scrapbook. Includes correspondence, newscuttings and programs. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/2)
1940-1958; Scrapbook. Includes correspondence, photographs, newscuttings and programs. Correspondents include Doris Fitton. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/2)
1950; Scrapbook; Includes photographs and newscuttings. (Call No.: MLMSS 7081/2)

PHOTOGRAPHS

1916; 1936-1981; For details of pictorial material see attached record.