Mr H. T. Harrison, the musical conductor of Pollard's Opera Company, is suing for a divorce from his wife, known on the boards as Miss Aggie Kelton. The suit will be heard in Wellington. -Hastings Standard, 22/4/1899.
Footlight Flashes
by "Call Boy"
In the Divorce Court at Wellington last week, Mr H. F. Towle, otherwise known as H. T. Harrison, conductor of Pollard's Opera Company, petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage with Agnes Kelton Towle, known professionally as Aggie Kelton, on the grounds of adultery with Mr George Hall, also a well-known musical conductor. Conclusive evidence of the adultery was proved, and the decree was granted with costs. Miss Kelton last visited Dunedin professionally as a member of the London Gaiety Company. It is not generally known that Mr Harrison was the original Nanki Poo in 'TheMikado,' in Australia, and that he was the conductor of the Chicago Minstrels formed in this City, and which subsequently toured Australia and the United States. -Evening Star, 29/4/1899.
Amusements
PRINCESS THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager Mr Tom Pollard
Treasurer Mr W. O'Sullivan
Representative for Williamson and Musgrove Mr Bert Royle.
TO-NIGHT (FRIDAY), MAY 19.
The People's Favourites, POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY,
Will produce for positively the last time in Dunedin the Merry Musical Comedy
THE GAY PARISIENNE,
Produced by arrangement with Messrs WILLIAMSON & MUSGROVE
With all the Original Scenery, Wardrobe and Effects.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, at 2 o'clock "PAUL JONES."
Special Prices: Adults — Circle 2s, Stalls 1s, Children — Circle 1s, Stalls Sixpence.
SATURDAY NIGHT "PAUL JONES."
MONDAY, MAY 22nd,
In deference to the wishes of hundreds of Shopkeepers,
"PAUL JONES."
TUESDAY, 23rd. — "THE FRENCH MAID"
WEDNESDAY, 24th. — "SAUCY SUSIE"
THURSDAY, 25th.— "LA MASCOTTE"
FRIDAY, 26th. — "IN TOWN"
The productions under the sole direction of Mr TOM POLLARD.
Musical Director Mr H. T. Harrison
PRICES: Dress Circle, 3s; Stalls, 2s; Pit, 1s: Orchestral Stalls, 5s.
Box Plan at the Dresden.
Day Sale Tickets at Jacobs's.
FRED. W. DUVAL, Business Manager. -Otago Daily Times, 19/5/1899.
POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.
‘The Gay Parisienne,’ one of the most popular pieces in the repertoire, was produced last night and attracted a large audience, who liberally rewarded the performers with applause. It is a very lively piece, abounding in comical situations. Ebenezer Honeycomb, the captured husband of the impassive Mrs Honeycomb, sets out for a church picnic, and by inadvertence takes the wrong boat, thereby landing at Calais. Being, as it were, forced by circumstances to “do” Paris, he befriends a girl who lucklessly falls at his feet in a fainting fit and gallantly sees her home, and before he can leave the house he is challenged as to his motives by an incensed and suspicious friend of the suffering girl. To escape from an awkward predicament Ebenezer pretends that he has offered Julie marriage. Julie follows this up with a suit for breach of promise, and Ebenezer, to avoid disgrace, gives his name as that of Dingle, a neighbor. Julie proceeds to England and prosecutes her suit and recovers £10,000 damages. The piece supplies the company with excellent acting parts. Miss Maud Beatty, adopting for the occasion a feminine character — a line in which she appears to much greater advantage than in masculine parts —made a decided hit as the imperative spouse of Ebenezer, and was ably backed up by Mr Alf Stephens as the erring husband (“Eberneser” most of the company call him), while Mr Harry Quealey as a militia officer, Miss Lily Stevens as the daughter of the Honeycombs, and Miss May Beatty as a maid of all work found plenty of amusing business, and the minor characters all help towards the general success which was undoubtedly achieved. The mounting was first-rate, being in the Pollards’ best style, and the music received full justice, thanks largely to the splendid work of the very capable orchestra over which Mr Harrison presides. Their accompaniments to Mr Ernest Fitts’s song in the first part may be mentioned as a leading illustration of the statement just made. It was quite a work of art. A performance of ‘Paul Jones’ was given this afternoon to the delight of a very large audience; and this piece will be repeated to-night with all the completeness of detail for which the company are famed. -Evening star, 20/5/1899.
When the Pollard Opera Company recently left Christchurch by the express, a telegraphic order was forwarded to the Timaru refreshment rooms, ordering tea and sandwiches for 51 people. The word "sandwiches" was unfortunately read as ''sausages," with the result that sausages for 51 were duly purchased and cooked. On the arrival of the company at Timaru, no little amusement was caused by the mistake. -Fielding Star, 22/5/1899.
Local and General.
The Pollard Opera Company are through passengers from Dunedin to Auckland by the Te Anau, which arrived from the South early yesterday afternoon. Many will regret to hear that the popular conductor, Mr H. T. Harrison, is now lying seriously ill in the Dunedin Hospital. His duties have been assumed by Mr Bunz, formerly leader of the orchestra. -NZ Times, 29/5/1899.
Current Topics
The many friends of Mr H. F. Towle, better known as H.T. Harrison, who quite recently conducted the orchestra at the performances of the Pollard Opera Company, will be grieved to learn that he died last night after a brief illness. Mr. Towle will be remembered by old theatre-goers as having been a tenor singer of considerable merit, and appeared with the Lydia Howard Burlesque Company in the old Queen's Theatre many years ago. He was the original Nanki Poo in the initial production of the "Mikado" at Melbourne, and has of late years been principally engaged in arranging the orchestral parts for the operas produced by Mr Poliard. -Otago Daily Times, 3/6/1899.
We regret to learn that Mr Towle (Harrison), conductor of the Pollard Opera Company, who had to remain behind on account of ill-health, died in the Dunedin Hospital last night. Mr Towle has been connected with the Company for some considerable time, and has made many friends both in the profession and out of it. We believe that the cause of death was a general breaking-up of his system. Mr Harrison was well-known and highly esteemed in Hastings. It is probable that Mr Ward, of Auckland, will succeed the late Mr Harrison as conductor for the Pollards. -Hastings Standard, 3/6/1899.
NEWS & NOTES.
The Pollard Opera Company has suffered a loss in the death of Mr H. T. Harrison, the conductor, which occurred at Dunedin on last Friday night. Mr Harrison, whose private name was Towle, has wielded the baton for the Pollards for many years, and is well known all over the Colonies. He was a composer, among his pieces being "Prince Bulbo," which was played by the Company in Wellington some time ago; and he also supplied the music for the Pollard's latest burlesque "Saucy Susie." Mr Harrison was taken ill at Dunedin last month, and Mr Bunz, leader of the orchestra, has taken his place before the footlights. -Marlborough Express, 5/6/1899.
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.
By Pasquin.
TUESDAY, June 11.
Mr Tom Pollard, writing from Townsville, says that his Opera Company has been doing excellent business all through Queensland. He expects to open with " Floradara" in Dunedin about August 1, and thinks the New Zealand public will be pleased with the arrangements he has made for their entertainment.
"Gone, but not forgotten." Walking through the Southern Cemetery on Sunday I came across a grave in a shady corner enclosed with an iron railing. The grave was profuse with beautiful forget-me-nots, and at the head was a cream rose tree in full bloom, the petals of the roses falling amongst the blue-eyed forget-me-nots. A neat white tombstone was erected on the grave, and the inscription thereon read:
Erected By The POLLARD OPERA COMPANY, In Memory of Their Late Musical Director, H. F. HARRISON (H. F. Towle). Died June 2nd, 1899, Aged 51 years. -Otago Witness, 12/6/1901.
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