Born: Established: ca. 1862 Sydney, New South Wales, ; Died: Ceased: 4 Sep 1914 Brisbane, Queensland,
1. TED HOLLAND'S ENTREPRENEURIAL STYLE:
1.1. THEATRE ROYAL (1904-1910): The following quotations provide insight into Holland's operations at the Theatre Royal, located at 80 Elizabeth Street.
'Mr Ted Holland's Vaudeville Entertainers had a very substantial and highly appreciative audience on Saturday night... if the management erred at all - and probably the audience was ready to acquit them of any fault in that regard - it was in the generosity of the bill of fare. An audience kept interested and amused for rather more than two and a half hours at popular prices may fairly consider itself liberally dealt with' (Brisbane Courier 13 February 1905, p.3).
'Mr Ted Holland's Vaudeville Company played to an audience as large and appreciative as ever. Encores were the rule for every item, and sometimes the recalls were double and treble. As usual the programme was a varied one, comprising bright dancing, songs humorous and pathetic, and original 'knockabout' business. Some of the artists have had quite a long spell with the company, but there was nothing in the reception accorded them to indicate that their popularity was on the wane' (Brisbane Courier 18 September 1905, p.2).
Novelty is the dominant feature of the programme... The tendency appears to be to depart from the stereotyped form of "turn" and to substitute something unique. Even the endmen [Mr Tambo and Mr Bones] are showing a partiality for a change, and many of their "burnt-cork" songs are replace by witty monologues' (Brisbane Courier 2 October 1905, p.7).
'A souvenir card containing portraits of Mr and Mrs Holland and Master Claude Holland were distributed as mementoes of the close of a year which has been one of the most successful that the theatrical history of Queensland can show' (Brisbane Courier 26 December 1905, p.3).
'Mr Holland's tenancy of the Theatre Royal is now well in its third year and during that time the business has steadily improved until today the 'Royal' is one of the most popular pleasure resorts in Brisbane./ The secret of the steady improvement is undoubtedly Mr Holland's system of providing frequent changes. He has brought to Brisbane many first-class artists, and the object which he had before him was to provide a refined entertainment suitable to all classes' (Brisbane Courier 21 February 1907, p.6).
'Several things marked the opening of the 172nd week of [Ted Holland's] Revellers. [one was] a gorgeous new 10 page program, profusely brightened with blocks and capitally got up by Cameron, Laing and Co under Jim Carberry's direction' (Truth 5 April 1908, p.8).
'Holland's drop scene at the at the Theatre Royal (Brisbane) is a marvellous example as to what extent a curtain can be disfigured with advertisements. In this respect, it must certainly be discredited with the world's record. The mores the pity, seeing that on the whole Ted puts on a good show, and that such a horror as the curtain could be remedied without any great cash loss to Edward' (Theatre: An Illustrated Monthly May 1910, p.7).
'Ted Holland does not believe in a dainty, tinkling little bell to ring on his items. He has something that sounds like a cross between chimes of a town clock and the clank, clank of a bullock bell. One of the minor defects of this composite article is that the person who hears it for the first time is apt to bolt in terror from the theatre in the belief that a fire has broken out. Bu they get used to some queer things up Queensland way. They even appear to have got used to "Teddy's" bell' (Theatre: An Illustrated Monthly May 1910, p.9).
'The public continues to respond generously to the efforts of Mr Ted Holland to keep up the reputation of the Theatre Royal for a first-class entertainment.... One of the features of business at this theatre is the manner in which the matinee performances have grown in popularity, and it is becoming evident that the upper parts of the house will soon have to be made available for patrons on such occasions, instead of confining them to the ground floor only' (Brisbane Courier 14 November 1910, p.6).
'Ted Holland, with Percy St John runs the Empire Music Hall (Brisbane). Some time ago the Empire made a working agreement with the Fuller-Brennan directorate, from whom they now get all their star acts: "At present we are placing more than 200 acts a year from the south. We never play an act more than two weeks... We let off one act a week to the Carroll and Birch northern circuit, which means a four weeks engagement in Queensland for most visiting artists. The Carroll and Birch northern circuit is becoming a fine proposition. The towns it takes in are Ipswich, Gympie, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Townsville and Charters Towers. Towns like Ayr and Bowen are also wanting to come in.... The Empire is a well-built theatre, with a seating capacity of 1650, and we can play to 3s, 2s and 1s, with a 4s reservation./// The Theatre Royal, of which we hold the lease is being run as a melodrama house by S. E. King. he is making a 'do' of it.'" (Theatre Magazine February 1914, p.17).
2. HISTORICAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS:
2.1. Ted Holland is buried in the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, alongside his former stage partner, business partner, and lifelong friend Tom Delohery. The inscription on his headstone reads, 'Ted (Edward James) Holland. Died 4 September 1914. Married to Eva Marie Holland. His end was peace: "His life was gentle / And the elements so mixed in him / That nature might stand up to all the world and say / This was a man".'
2.2. Holland was referred to throughout his career as Ted. Although the inscription on his grave and burial records record his Christian name as 'Edward,' the Brisbane Courier's report on the 1914 legal dispute with Charles Whaite refers to his name as Edwin (see 26 May 1914, p.4).
2.3. Both the Truth (Brisbane) and Brisbane Times refer to Holland's company in reviews published ca. 1908 as the 'Royal Revellers.' No reviews published in the Brisbane Courier bear this name, however. All advertisements identified in these three newspapers show that the company was known as Ted Holland's Vaudeville Entertainers. No explanation for the different names is yet forthcoming.
2.4. An article published in the Brisbane Courier a few days prior to the Empire Theatre opening contains a quite detailed description of the theatre (see 'New Empire Theatre' 7 January 1911, p.13).
2.5. Although Holland's reign as Brisbane's leading entrepreneur between 1904 and 1914 cannot be disputed, there were a number of other entertainment companies operating in Brisbane during this period. These included (in addition to Edward Branscombe/John N. McCallum at the Cremorne Garden and James Brennan) Edward Carroll's Summer Continentals (Woolloongabba Sports Ground, Ipswich and Dutton Park) and irregular entertainments staged at the Gaiety Theatre, Exhibition Hall, Centennial Hall and the Theatre Royal.
2.6. Evidence of Holland's position as Brisbane's leading variety entrepreneur can be seen in relation to two other major organisations being either unable to compete (the Hugh D. McIntosh's Tivoli organisation) or unwilling to compete (Harry Clay). McIntosh's attempts to establish a foothold in Brisbane were constantly thwarted, and rarely did any of his companies remain long. Although his seasons were presented in theatres near the Empire, his class of entertainment was not as attractive to the popular culture audience that attended Holland's entertainments. In this respect, McIntosh's direct competition was more likely Edward Branscombe (and later John N. McCallum). No record of Clay's Vaudeville Company ever playing a season in Brisbane during his eighteen annual tours of Queensland (1901-1918) has been found. The only companies he is believed to have sent to the city were dramatic troupes (1908 and 1909). (See Clay Djubal, 'Harry Clay and Clay's Vaudeville Company 1965-1930').
2.7. Fred Gray, of the act Gray and Graham, reportedly wrote an article for a New York newspaper in 1911 in which he claimed that the only people who count in Australian vaudeville management were Harry Rickards, the Fullers, and Ted Holland. While not disagreeing with the claims regarding these three entrepreneurs, The Theatre: An Illustrated Monthly did take exception to Gray's 'slanderous allegation' that James Brennan's Amphitheatre Ltd was a fill-in organisation to be avoided. The magazine pointed instead to Gray's history of indiscretions while touring Australia, noting, for example, that Gray even had to 'humble himself to Mr Holland to the extent of apologising for his misbehaviour, in black type, through the columns of the Ipswich (Q) press, a knuckledown that is possibly without parallel in the history of the vaudeville profession of Australia' (May 1911, p.12).
The Theatre's marked support of James Brennan and its often condescending critiques of Holland's operations suggests a degree of bias towards the Brisbane-based entrepreneur. In a paragraph published early in 1911, the magazine records, for example:
'Ted Holland appeals to the Brisbane public to "support their own show." Of course this is intended as a hit at James Brennan and his Managing Director, James Bain. Mr Bain can claim that he is a native of Ipswich (Q), that he is the best comedian ever turned out of that state, and that he has risen to the management of a bigger theatrical business than any other Queenslander. On the other hand, what distinctively Queensland claim can Mr Holland make, beyond the fact that he was on a lovely wicket in Brisbane for years and years, and only succeeded in making such use of it that he has now, with the advent of a little legitimate competition, to start squeaking in the way above indicated' (February 1911, p.34).
The reference to James Brennan is in regard to the season then being staged by Brennan's Vaudeville Entertainers at the Theatre Royal.
3. CLAUDE HOLLAND:
Educated at Christian Brothers' School, Gregory Terrace, Ted Holland's only child Claude began appearing on the stage almost from infancy. Describing his son as as his mascot, Holland indicates in a June 1913 interview with the Theatre Magazine that during the first year of his Brisbane venture (1904), little Claudie would come on stage and join in the chorus of some of Jim Rhodes's songs, thus ensuring enthusiastic recalls at every performance (p.29). His natural aptitude for the stage and entertainment in general led to Holland eventually pursuing a career first in the theatre and later in radio, as a program director and station manager.
4. REGIONAL TOURS CHRONOLOGY:
1903: Theatre Royal, Brisbane [five-month season].
1904: ca. April-May ; regional Queensland tour.
Queensland tour itinerary incl. Theatre Royal, Gympie ; 19 April - *
1905: ca. March-April ; regional Queensland tour / Town Hall, Toowoomba ; 31 July -*.
Queensland tour itinerary incl. Theatre Royal, Charters Towers ; 4 March - * / Theatre Royal, Gympie ; 14 April -* [return season].
The No 2 company returned to Brisbane by 17 April, with several members of the troupe joining the Theatre Royal company for that night's performance.
1906: ca. March-May ; regional Queensland tour
Queensland tour itinerary incl. Mount Morgan ; 20 April -*
1907: 2 March -* ; Newcastle and Hunter Valley tour / ca. 18 July - October* ; Queensland regional tour.
No details of the three-month Queensland tour have yet been identified (ctd. Brisbane Courier 20 July 1907, p.12).
5. PHOTOGRAPHS:
The following list comprises bibliographic details of published and unpublished photographs, caricatures and drawings of Ted Holland.
Australian Variety: 9 September 1914, n. pag.
Everyone's: 10 December 1924, p.67 ['Ted Holland's Entertainers, Theatre Royal, 1905' - Tom Leonard, Jim Rhodes, Ted Sutton, Dorothy Leigh, Arthur Morley, Tim Howard, Phoebe Lewis, Herb Moylan, Bill Butland, Bert Ives, Tom Edwards, Stella Ranger, Ted Holland, Eva Wilson, Arthur Alberts, Jessie Lee, Macauley Sisters, Claudie Holland].
Theatre Magazine: June 1913, p.29.
Other related photographs include:
Everyone's: 12 December 1928, p.130 [undated photograph of Ted Holland's Vaudeville Entertainers by Bert Ives : Bill Butland, Clarrie McKisson, Miss Langely, Tom Leonard, Mrs Ranger, George (Sam) Keenard, Arthur Morley, Florrie Ranger, Tom Edwards, Stella Ranger]
Green Room: October 1923, p.31 [Claude Holland with Hugh Huxham's Serenaders]
Let's Look at Radio: p.73 [Claude Holland]
6. FURTHER REFERENCE:
6.1. TED HOLLAND: Reviews of Holland's programmes were published in various Brisbane newspapers on a weekly basis between 1904-1914. There are consequently too many to be noted here. The larger reviews tended to be published in the Brisbane Courier each Monday, and the Truth each Sunday, following the Saturday change of programme. Some additional insights also appeared irregularly in the Saturday edition of the Brisbane Courier: see 'Music and Drama' column.
Brisbane Courier: 22 May 1914, p.4 ; 26 May 1914, p.4 ; and 27 May 1914, p.6 [Whaite v Holland and St John civil suit].
6.2. EMPIRE THEATRE:
Simon and Delyse Ryan (Australian Catholic University), Brisbane Theatre History website: see 'Empire Theatre.'
Queensland Performing Arts Museum. Treading the Boards: A Survey of Theatre Buildings in Brisbane 1847-1988 (1999), p.541.