Music director, conductor, composer, singer.
Described by Peter Downes as 'the man with three identities,' H. T Harrison started out his career in the 1870s as Henry Towle, church organist and variety tenor, becoming W. H. Harrison in 1882 and H. T. Harrison in 1894. He specialised in musical comedies, pantomimes and comic operas, securing engagements with J. C. Williamson (1882-88), Tom Pollard (1894-99), Montague-Turner Opera Co, Henry Bracey Opera Co (1890), Macmahon Brothers (1891), George Musgrove (1890-91), and Williamson and Musgrove (1891-92) among other firms. He also wrote several original works, including Bulbo (1892) and dabbled in variety entertainment, notably with Lydia Howarde's Burlesque Co, the Great Chicago Minstrels and F. E. Hiscocks. While in Dunedin with Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company Harrison became sick and died shortly afterwards.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
