The Efftee Entertainers short film compilations of musical, comedy and vaudeville acts were made between 1931 and 1933. Comprising around fifty films (most are now lost), they were filmed in His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, where Frank Thring had set up his talking picture studios, Efftee Studios. In most of the items a static camera films the performer on a simple stage. Aside from the Melbourne Chinese Orchestra (a performance which stands apart from the variety items), the series features musical performances by Jack O’Hagan (composer of 'The Road to Gundagai’), George Wallace (who acted for Thring in Harmony Row, 1933, and His Royal Highness, 1932), Ada Reeve, Minnie Love, and the Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera Company.
[Sources: Poppy de Souza. Australian Screen; National Film and Sound Archive]
Athol Tier as Napoleon
Melbourne
:
Efftee Film Productions
,
1931
8363917
1931
single work
film/TV
An extract from the original Efftee Productions mini-film of Althol Tier presenting his 'Napoleon' routine. It ends with a song and his exit from stage on a wooden horse.
Jack O'Hagan : Vocalist/Composer
Melbourne
:
Efftee Film Productions
,
1931
8365141
1931
single work
film/TV
'Multi-talented artist Jack O’Hagan performs five songs for Frank Thring’s series of variety shorts, Efftee Entertainers, including "The Road to Gundagai'" (Australian Screen).
Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr : Specialty Dancers
George Moon Jnr
,
Stan Ray
,
Melbourne
:
Efftee Film Productions
,
1931
8365321
1931
single work
film/TV
'Entertainers Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr perform a tap dancing routine on one of the stages inside His Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne' (Australian Screen).
