W. Horace Bent W. Horace Bent i(A104240 works by) (a.k.a. William Horace Bent)
Born: Established: 1844 Sydney, New South Wales, ; Died: Ceased: ca. Aug 1907 Melbourne, Victoria,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Comedian, burlesque and farce writer, songwriter, and comic orator.

Regarded by most leading variety practitioners and critics of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the greatest of all Australia's comedians, William Horace Bent's popularity with audiences and his influence on the local industry was such that historians long believed that he was American. While little is yet known of Bent's early career, it had more than likely begun by the early 1860s, as he appears to have first come to prominence in the mid-1860s. An advertised bill for the newly built music hall known as The Varieties in 1866 has Bent among the feature artists, noting, 'Mr W. H. Bent - The favourite comedian, first appearance in Melbourne in three years' (Argus 24 December 1866, p.8). By 1873, he was headlining a company run by R. G. Bachelder. A few years later, he travelled to the USA to perform at the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. It is not known how long Bent stayed in America. It is likely, however, that he played other engagements or toured (albeit briefly) on the US variety circuit before returning home. After arriving back in Australia around 1877 or 1878, he toured with a company known as Cheevers, Kennedy and Bent's Minstrels and, later, with two high-profile minstrel troupes operating around the country during the late 1870s and early 1880s: Hiscocks and Hayman's Minstrels and Kelly and Leon Minstrels. He also reunited with Bachelder to tour Bent and Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy Minstrels.

It was Bent's association with Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels during the 1880s, however, that cemented Bent's reputation both as the country's most prolific writer and director of minstrel farces and burlesques and as its most popular comedian. Although the Federal Minstrels boasted some of the most popular Australian-based performers of the era, notably Beaumont Read, Sam Keenan, J. S. Porter, Alf Moynham, Harry Carroll, and Johnny Cowan, Bent was undoubtedly the troupe's dominant presence during its first four years (1983-1886). Sometime during the first half of 1887, he left the troupe to join F. M. Clark, but returned early the following year. When Hiscocks disbanded the Minstrels in 1889, Bent went on to headline companies run by leading entrepreneurs such as J. Billin's US Minstrels (Melbourne), Dan Tracey, the Cogill Brothers, Harry Barrington, and Lawler and Morrison (Sydney Music Hall), as well as playing a top-of-the bill season with Hiscocks' London Pavilion Company. At one stage, he also returned to work for Frank Clark. Despite his popularity and success as a minstrel comedian, Bent's later life was one of poverty and ill health. After several years away from the stage, he briefly returned to performing in 1899. After being given a testimonial by Harry Rickards, he performed on a bill at Melbourne's People's Concerts (Temperance Hall) but appears to have retired shortly afterwards. He died some seven years later in Melbourne.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • 1. HISTORICAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS:

    1.1. William Horace Bent was born in St Mary's (Sydney) in 1844 to Andrew and Honorah Bent. He is known to have had at least one other sibling, an older brother named Andrew (born in Sydney in 1843).

    1.2. An advertisement in the 15 January 1867 edition of the Argus makes reference to Taylor and Bent as 'the Two Drolls' (p.8). It has not yet been confirmed if this was Horace Bent.

    1.3. An 1877 advertisement in the Age reads, 'Through Mr Bent, the latest American novelties,' which suggests that the comedian may have recently returned from the US (7 April 1877, p.8).

    1.4. It is unclear what relationship Bent's 'Over the Garden Wall' sketch has with a similarly titled farce first known to have been staged in Australia by Billy Emerson's Minstrels in 1885 (St George's Hall, Melbourne; 31 October). The farce version is known to have been revived in 1895 by Irving Sayles (Tivoli Theatre, Sydney; 2 March); in 1904 and 1905 by F. M. Clark (Gaiety Theatre, Melbourne; 27 August 1904 and 15 July 1905); and in 1905 by Ted Holland (Theatre Royal, Brisbane; 24 June).

  • 2. TROUPE PERSONNEL:

    The following personnel lists are for the troupes that were led or co-led by Horace Bent. As minstrel/vaudeville troupes were dependant on each person being able to undertake any given type of performance role when required, any performance description that follows a person's name refers to their known specialty act or duties.

    Abbreviations: C = comedian / E = endman / S&D = song and dance / I = interlocutor / S = singer (voice type is given if known)

    2.1. Cheevers, Kennedy and Bent's Minstrels (ca. 1878): Charles Austin (violin), W. Horace Bent (C / E), Mr T. Campbell (I / C / baritone) , Mr J. E. Cheevers (S&D / C), Mr J. A. Delaney (conductor/piano), James E. Down (tenor), Mr J. Drayton (C / basso), Mr F. Draeger (double bass), Mr T. Harrison (second cornet), Mr E. Kennedy (S&D / C), Henry Rawlinson (alto), Vernon Reid (C / tenor), Mr G. Lingard (banjo), Mr J. Oppenheim (clarinet), Mr C. Pearson (drums/tympani), Mr W. Thomson (cornet), Mr A. Stoneham (flute/trombone), Mr W. Thomson (band leader / violin).

    2.2. Bent and Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels (ca. 1882): William Ball (C/ S), W. Horace Bent (C / E / S), T. Farrell, Mr C. S. Fredericks, Mr G. Glider, J. F. Heywood, Charles Hugo (C / S), William Hugo (C / S), Sam Keenan (C / S / D), Herr Kophs, R. Langdown, W. Leake, R. McSherry, J. Parkes, Beaumont Read (C / alto), Amy Rowe (C / S&D), Edwin Rowley, F. Vassey, Mr H. A. Williamson.

    2.3. Additional Historical Notes:

    • Charles Austin was Frank Smith's music director at the Alhambra Music Hall (Sydney) during the 1880s.
    • Amy Rowe was renowned as a double voiced singer, specialising in both soprano and tenor voices.

  • FURTHER REFERENCE:

    The following list comprises articles, paragraphs, and reports relating to W. Horace Bent which are not given individual entries in this database.

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  • This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive

Last amended 26 Mar 2015 13:17:52
See Also
Bent and Bachelder’s Anglo-American Christy Minstrels
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