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spectacular, sympathetic, soul-stirring screen The theatre was remodelled as Hoyts Esquire At St Peter's Anglican Church, Eastern Hill,
stories”. in 1948. Charles remained. Melbourne, on 30 August 1910, he had
married Letitia Ferris Hutchins (d.1954), a
Hoyts Deluxe Theatre replaced the single- The octogenarian singer, showman and sharp- dressmaker. In later years he “lived a butterfly
storied St George's Hall in 1914. “The Man shooter, having treated Melbourne to 48 years life”, travelling home and back between
Outside Hoyts” watched as former patrons of spreken from one Bourke Street pitch, sessions to keep her company. Two months
marched past on their way to the Great War. retired in September 1956. With his pencil after her death, he married Agnes Jane West on
Australian born and of part-Danish descent, he moustache, his smart blue uniform adorned by 12 May 1954 at St Luke's Anglican Church,
anglicised “Carl” to “Charles” and also lavish gold trimmings, his gloves, cane and an North Fitzroy.
changed the spelling of his surname to endless flow of patter, the strutting figure had
Fredricksen as anti-German feeling mounted. filled many roles in popular sayings, but the He was persuaded to make several comebacks.
He concealed his age, “always my best actual man remained an enigma. The In 1959, he returned to work, this time as stage
publicity stunt”, and postponed retirement in proprietors of novelty shops in the city knew door keeper at the Tivoli. Finally, he moved
1939 as another generation marched past to him as a maker of papier-mâché theatre masks;
out front again to spruik for the Tivoli’s
World War II. This time he saw faces he had a handful knew him as a maker of 1965/66 pantomime.
first known as babes in arms at matinees. ventriloquists' dolls.
Predeceased by his wife, he died on 7 August
1966 at his North Fitzroy home and was buried
in Melbourne General Cemetery. He had no
children. �

Credits:
Article by Keith R. Groom

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of
Biography, Volume 14, (MUP), 1996. Reproduced
with permission
Images:

CATHS Archive.
Melbourne Performing Arts Museum.
The Argus Saturday, 20 November 1954.

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