A year later there were three Bill Holyoak’s Swing Shows to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In 1950 the Tivoli was put up for sale but passed in at £49.000. Even so, the shows went on regardless. Four years later it was announced that £60.000 would be spent on upgrades, including air conditioning. Nothing came of it but by the middle of February 1954 the theatre was on the market again. This time it was sold, but remained closed until Bill Haley’s tour of 1957.
From then on regular performances were staged until the final show of the Sentimental Bloke in 1962, inspired by South Australian born C.J. Dennis. For three weeks the Tivoli was packed to the rafters. A few hours after the Bloke had ‘dipped his lid’ for the last time the jackhammers took centre stage. This time the theatre was in for some major renovations and upgrades.
When it reopened on 8 November 1962 for business it had also acquired a new name. This time it became Her Majesty’s Theatre. For the next 14 years it staged ballets, opera and theatre but now it faced strong competition from Television and once again it fell on hard times.
It was saved by the Dunstan government when on 9 November 1976 it announced that it would buy Her Maj for $440.000. With its new owner, The State Opera, the theatre was also named The Opera Theatre. After a million dollar upgrade it was reopened on 10 March 1979.
Among some of the best attractions of the 1980s were The Rocky Horror Show, An Evening’s Intercourse with Barry Humphries, The Flying Dutchman and Sweeny Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. On 31 August 1988 The Opera Theatre was renamed once more to Her Majesty’s Theatre. For the next few years Her Maj remained busy with one-night-stands and short seasons.
Among some of the best acts were Jeanne Lewis with her Piaf showcase, John Williamson, Whoopi Goldberg and Dave Allen. The highlight for 1996 was Jesus Christ Superstar. During 2002 Australian films brought audiences back in droves. They enjoyed The Tracker, Beneath Clouds, Kabbarli, Walking on Water and Australian Rules.
Now after one hundred years Her Majesty’s is still the only commercially viable theatre within the city. It is a place of precious memories and a place that promises good things to come. No other theatre in Australia has fostered so much emerging talent, Barry Humphries, Keith Mitchell, Robert Helpman, to name but a few.
Enriched by a treasure-trove of rare photographs, posters, costumes and set designs, Her Majesty’s Pleasure will be a delight for anyone who loves show business and Adelaide. Van Straten was awarded the Medal of Australia (OAM) in 1999 in recognition of his services to the performing arts.
Review by Nic Klaassen
Her Majesty's Pleasure, by Frank Van Straten,
with references, index, bibliography and numerous full colour illustrations,
is available at $39.95 from Wakefield Press
Telephone 08 8352 4455
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