Actor, writer/librettist, comedian, director, producer.
Frank Neil got his first big break with E.I. Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company around the late 1900s/early 1910s, working as both an actor and property man. By 1913 he was with George Willoughby's Dramatic Co, maintaining this association until at least 1915. He wrote and directed his first pantomime,
Bluebeard, for the
Fullers in 1918. Featuring
Jim Gerald in the dame role, it was revived under his direction in 1920 and 1921. Neil's next two pantomimes, also produced in collaboration with Gerald, were
Red Riding Hood (1919) and
Puss in Boots (1922).
After forming the Frank Neil Company of Comedians in 1925 Neil was engaged by
Ben Fuller and
Hugh J. Ward (
Fuller-Ward) to write and direct the firm's Christmas pantomime (
Cinderella) that year. In 1926 he collaborated once again with Jim Gerald to stage a revised version of
Puss in Boots (1926), and followed this in 1927 and 1928 with his own versions of
Mother Goose and
Little Red Riding Hood.
In 1929 Neil bought two productions from
Ernest C. Rolls which had struggled to make money, but similarly found the economic conditions tough. After running into financial difficulties himself he was forced to look for opportunities in South Africa in 1930. The following year he returned to Australia to stage revues and pantomimes with his Vaudeville and Revue Entertainers. Among his productions for 1931 were
Hullo Paris (revue) and
Cinderella (pantomime).
Neil merged his interests with
Mike Connors and
Queenie Paul (
Con-Paul Theatres) in 1934 to run the Tivoli circuit. The following year, however, he bought them out and established a new Tivoli organisation - Tivoli Circuit Australia. He brought producer Wallace Parnell to Australia to oversee the production side of the circuit, thereby allowing himself time to take on the responsibilities of Managing Director. He was also at the time Managing Director of Musgrove Theatres.
Neil's time at the helm of the Tivoli was cut short on New Year's Day 1940 after being struck down by a car in Melbourne. The company ran for another four years under the leadership of Parnell before being taken over by David N. Martin (
Tivoli Theatres Australia).
[Source:
Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
