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Image courtesy of Frank van Straten
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Passion sax and clarinet but the latter became unfashionable, West’s moved to
When military bands for the movies
instrument was his forté.
more complete orchestras. There must
Grandfather was a skilled musician
for whose ambitions were thwarted by the have been a surfeit of brass players
because grandfather was told there was
technology of the ‘talkies’. He had
Music wanted to have his own ensemble to no job for him as such, but a string bass
player was needed, and if he could
accompany silent films, and he trained
his family for this, but it never learn this instrument quickly he would
happened. be re-employed. Grandma went out
by Gordon Evans He entered the picture business and bought him a bull fiddle, and in
when he, my grandmother and some of two weeks he could play it well enough
In Frank Van Straten’s book The the early offspring were in Western to get his job back.
Regent Theatre: Melbourne’s Palace of Australia. He played in a brass band, The Rule family had six children
Dreams, there is a photo of the Regent either a fire brigade band or a mine and all but the youngest had to endure
Theatre Orchestra taken during a film band in Kalgoorlie. The photo of the musical training. The eldest, Irene,
shoot by F. W. Thring’s company band (opposite page) includes a good played piano, Carl the cornet, Alan the
Efftee; the result is on a VHS cassette looking tuba player, a far cry from the clarinet and sax, Ellice the piano (she
released by the National Film and formidable and distant person I knew. also sang), and Doreen (my mother)
Sound Archive titled Efftee West’s Pictures hired Grandfather the violin.
Entertainers. as a member of a brass band for the The family lived at a number of
The photo (above) and film are silents in W.A., and West’s got him to addresses in Melbourne, but the last
valuable to me because the orchestra move to Melbourne when they needed a one was in Otter St, Collingwood,
has two relatives of mine as members _ so-called ‘military’ band for a theatre opposite St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
the player on the extreme left of the top here, probably the Olympia. Although the family was Catholic,
row with a sousaphone wrapped around Grandfather was able to play most if grandfather must have had a subversive
him is my maternal grandfather Albert not all brass instruments, and was also streak in him because the family
Rule, and his son, my uncle Alan, is an accomplished flautist who gave ensemble rehearsed on Sunday
third from the right in the second row. lessons to Jimmy Watson before JW mornings. I was told that, for a time,
In the movie, Uncle Alan doubles on entered the wine trade! Sunday Mass across the road had a

30 2005 CINEMARECORD