Betty Stewart interviewed by Bill Stephens [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3208884
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Stewart, Betty, 1915-2014, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2004 Aug. 16
- 4 sound files (ca. 223 min.)
- Summary:
-
Betty Stewart born in Windsor, Victoria, speaks about her family, her life and education; her work in the publicity department of J.C. Williamson's; learning the rudiments of her career as a publicist; the Tait Brothers and Viola Tait; her marriages; her recollections of the night that war was declared; her activities as a member of the Red Cross; an offer from Claude Kingston to take charge of the promotions department for J. & N. Tait, where she found herself in charge of publicity; her role hosting the artist's receptions; Gracie Fields; how various artists participated in the war effort; her involvement in the Business Girls War Service Bureau; the breakdown of her marriage; speculates on the reasons for so many marriage break-ups after the war; the resurgence of theatre after the war; receiving a notice of dismissal from J.C. Williamson's in 1949 and her decision to go overseas; her trip to London and Europe; returning to Australia and taking on a job with Mingays Publishing Company, selling advertising; returning to London for the Coronation with her mother and Florence Hyams; taking a position with Ambassador Magazine and touring Europe; her decision to return to Australia and her job at Mingays.
Stewart talks about an offer of employment from Ken Brodziak of Aztec Services; receiving an offer from David Martin to work for the Tivoli and the repercussions; Percy Crawford; a typical Tivoli show and her duties at the Tivoli; Shirley Bassey; Winifred Atwell; the Norma Miller Dancers; Dave Brubeck, the Kathryn Dunham Dancers; the attitude of various artists' to publicity; Frank Sinatra; her success in working with performing artists; Julia and Nicholas Darvas; Sabrina; George Shearing; P.J.Proby and his confrontation with Rev. Roger Bush; speculates on what defines "star quality"; Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev; the Tivoli show, "The Folies Bergere"; David N. Martin; Horrie Dargie; Hal Moschetti; Tibor Rudas and Bubba; Ken Brodziak; explains the reasons why she left the Tivoli; how she expanded her business into Sydney and Brisbane.
Stewart discusses the arrival of The Beatles in Sydney; her role in the tour; her association with the individual Beatles and Brian Epstein; her involvement with the Trapp Family Singers and their concert tours of Australia; the activities of her artists agency in the 1960's; her decision to close her business and return to London; her visit to Gloria Swanson; her involvement in the film "It takes all kinds", "The BP shows", the World Cricket Season and the "Weight Watchers" franchise; an appearance on world television with Bob Hope; meeting Ray Hollis, whom she married in 1978; writing the book "A survivor in a star spangled world" which she self-published in 2000; the difficulties of being a career woman in the early days; her experience with Harry Hopmann; Eduard Borovansky; working with the Edgley Organisation; the Vienna Boys Choir; her life in retirement, particularly since the death of her husband Ray in 2003.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Aug. 16, 2004 at Canberra, A.C.T.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (13 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 97 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Stephens, Bill, 1936-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2074 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2004
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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