I had been looking, as you’d expect, for something completely different: but when I found out that “A Takapuna Scandal” starring Hector St Clair was available online, I thought I had to share the link with all you lovely people. Filmed around Auckland in 1927, it’s a mixture of meta-infused modernity, bad puns, and panto pratfalls. But no white ties, definitely no white ties!
This sounds like a choice film hey bro! As Hector might say “aweful!” He’d certainly need that umbrella in Aukland right now!
Happy Valentines Day Cipherians! I’m off to Hanging Rock for a wee picnic, hey!
Delightful little film, Nick, thanks for sharing, and err, spoiler alert, who doesn’t love a happy ending …. h’mm, Hector St Clair brought out by JC Williamson in 1921.
Just being a sticky beak, have you been to New Zealand? It is wonderful, totally love the place. Cheers
A. Takamura was a prison camp commander at Samarang who was charged and convicted of war crimes in 1946. Puts one in mind of Roy Webb who died on the Thai Burma Railway in ’43 as a Japanese POW, and the possibility that his brother
may himself have attended the tribunals in Japan. Certainly would account for his being out of contact during ’47 through ’48 and might also answer the mystery of how a tube of Lion brand Japanese toothpaste found its way into the T. Keane (?) suitcase. As an aside, apparently Takapuna Beach in Auckland New Zlnd has now matamorphosised into a little Tokyo and is full of Sushi bars. Promised me mum I’d never touch the stuff.
Poppins: I’ve never been to NZ, alas, it does indeed look like a lovely place. The nearest I got was playing New Zealand Story on the Amiga 500.
Nick Pelling: NZ ain’t such a lovely place just at present, nor has it been over the past several weeks, particularly Auckland. And if that ain’t the worst of their woes, the Kiwis just got themselves a prime minister who is a dead ringer for that kid in the under sixteen football team who everyone and his dog picked for Carl Webb, even looks the same age.
Nick Pelling: but of course, we’ve seen Hector St. Clair before. In the “Can You Name This Man” thread of 13/9/2020 you posted a pic of a mystery chap with a violin case and wearing a white tie. It didn’t take too long for Jennifer Fewster to identify him in company with Roy Rene, on the steps of Sydney’s Central Station in 1930, not long before his death. …Guess this be your promised follow-up post!
That New Zealand Story game looks adorable, just had a look on youtube, 1989, cute as a button.
When Hector St. Clair arrived in Melbourne aboard the Orontes in 1920 he was accompanied by his wife (Mrs. St. Clair) and gave his address as Her Majesty’s Theatre. He died at about fifty in the coal mining town of Cessnock NSW on 7th Dec.1932 and was interred there in an unmarked grave apparently. Interesting to find out what became of his good lady and if he ever bumped into his white tied fellow J.C. Williamson employee Gerald Keane.
Hector Alfred Tomkins, bn. Southampton 21 May 1898 (doubtful) and there is some suggestion he died at Heatherton Sanatorium Melbourne 14/12/32 of lung disease (TB?). A long way from Cessnock and an obit. was published 15/12/32 in Sydney Morning Herald.
Elsie St Clair, Hector’s good lady, died Geelong 1967 aged 74. Nothing more to offer, it seems, on this most enthralling ‘Somerton Man’s White Tie’ sideshow!
Nick Pelling: must say your “A Takapuna Scandal” with Hector St Clair was hardly a big hit with our not so familiar post 2020 punters. If only you had ‘remembered’ to include Hector’s “Do you Know This Man” thread pic. standing small alongside the great Mo McCackie @ Roy Renee. And resplendent to be seen with signature white Keane tie and Machine Gun Kelly violin case. Our Melbourne gals Jo, Poppins & co. would be in their element still talking it up besides making inroads on even more Jerry Keane Adelaide Tivoli Theatre leads. Maybe it’s not too late MATE!
@ JS – well, Roy played the violin… Poppins is the star lead breaker on all things theatrical – her names sake is having a run right now at Her Majesty’s!
Nick Pelling.
see what I mean? they still haven’t a clue what it was all about, you got of scot free.