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In 1952 Cliff Edwards as Ukulele His memory of the Plaza was of
Ike headlined twice at the Plaza. ‘…three very small dressing rooms
Through the Keyhole was followed by which we all squeezed into, and a small
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Hollywood Revue with Ron Blaskett. orchestra pit for just five players.’
Edwards was the biggest star to tread Horrie Dargie and his Musical Moderns
the Plaza stage, even if his star was were the inaugural musicians in that
dimmed. small pit. They would soon be better
On Broadway in 1924 in George known as The Horrie Dargie Quintet.
Gershwin’s Lady be Good he Buster Fiddess appeared in many
introduced the hit song Fascinating shows in 1953. In May 1954 the
Rhythm. In his film debut The ubiquitous Al Mack was joined by the
Hollywood Revue of 1926, he scored popular radio team Nicky and Graham
another hit - Singin’ in the Rain. In (Kennedy) in Nylons and Nonsense.
1940 he was the voice of Jiminy The duo had star billing in the follow-
Cricket in Pinocchio and his rendition up show Stars and Garters.
of When You Wish Upon a Star also hit In July 1954 George Wallace moved
(9)
the jackpot. in with The George Wallace Show,
Edward’s life was unravelling. ‘starring Australia’s greatest
Bankrupted several times by alimony funnyman.’ Wallace was on a roll. His
payments, taxes, gambling, alcoholism follow-up shows reprised his 1930s
Hypnotism was big as entertainment
and drug addiction, he would have been film titles - Let George Do It and His
in the early 1950s. The famous
buried a pauper in 1971, except that the Royal Highness in which he was
practitioner was Franquin, who
Disney Corporation paid for his supported by (amongst others) Rosie
(9) appeared again and again at the
funeral. Sturgess and Joff Ellen. He bowed out
(9) Princess Spring Street. The Plaza
Bob Horsfall, now a Golden Days with Harem Scarum. didn’t snare him, but Virgil, who also
Radio presenter, featured in the revue Unintentionally, the theatre was appeared at the Princess, did have
Naughty Nineties in August 1952. He proving to be an ideal training ground encore seasons at the Plaza. His last
was working at 3AW at the time and for many who would make their mark appearance was for a week in March
recalls driving from the studio to the in television, now less than two years 1953. Then it was the turn of Analdo,
theatre, going on stage, then returning away. who came for four weeks in July.
to 3AW!

A fragrmant of the original interior plan shows a well
proportioned auditorium. Note the broken lines indicating
the Vomitory entrance hallways left and right.

16 2010 CINEMARECORD