The Sunshine League And The Carnival Of Flowers... (1909).
In 1909, over 300 children from the Sunshine League (including Vera Cantor, Harold Cantor and Rona Murray from the previous posts) took part in a concert at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth to raise money for Children's Hospital in Subiaco. The local newspapers reported on the success of the event. The event raised over 109 pounds.
The Dease photography studio in Barrack Street took photographs of all the sets and children. A photograph of the winner of a competition judged to be the best set 'May Day in the Cornfields' was published in the Mirror newspaper on June 9, 1909. The photograph is copied below.
The photographs and articles are from Trove, the database of National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 8 May 1909.
THE CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS.
A GREAT SUCCESS.
HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
FILLED TO OVERFLOWING.
HUNDREDS TURNED AWAY.
(Report by 'The Daily News' reporter, with an Introduction by 'Needle)
When His Majesty's Theatre was first opened there were some who shook their heads, and saw - "It is much too large" - "It will never be filled". But on Saturday night the house was not too large, or even large enough to accommodate all the children, and 'children of a larger growth' who were anxious to see the 'Carnival of Flowers' as presented by the members of the Sunshine League.
Before 6 o'clock a crowd had assembled outside the doors, and when the overture was played shortly after 7.30 there was standing room only, and not much of that. All the juvenile population of Perth and the suburbs seemed to have congregated in Her Majesty's Theatre. The entertainment which they witnessed was unlike any other which had even been given in Perth, and if the 300 children who took part, and the numerous adult workers had been paid for their services at 'union rates,' It would have been necessary to charge 'grand opera' prices in order to defray the expenses.
The opening set, 'Pansy and Wattle Blossom,' was arranged by Miss Rosetta Toll, showed the audience what they might expect to see and hear in the course of the evening. Miss Toll appeared as Prlscilla, a garden girl, who made pretence to water a bed of living pansies; and Miss Sylvester as, Nurse Mabel (with song). Then came 'Bluebell In Fairyland,' as Miss Gertie Cummlngs as Queen of the Fairies - another feast of colour, with blue as the prevailing tint.
And then the 'Floral Songster', marched on and performed various evolutions, including a dance round a living Maypole. Up to this point many of audience had apparently been too overcome with astonishment and admiration to applaud very lustily, but they regained the use of their tongues, and their heads, in the 'May Day', set, there being nothing to extract from the merits of stage pictures with the living poppies, and the real wheat, and the Maypole dance.
Two of the performers, whose height might be reckoned by inches and their age by months; took part in the proceedings, with the utmost solemnity, and their efforts were very heartily appreciated. In the 'Daffodil' set the chief feature was the singing of 'Good Night, my Daffodil' (encored) by the little 'brown bee,' 'Master' Leslie O'Meara. The speeches by Sir Edward Stone, and 'Uncle Tom,' which are reported elsewhere, were brief and to the point, and then came the 'Garland of Roses' (pink, red, and yellow) the 'Daisies' with four girls in yellow to represent the 'centres,' and 'all the others in white', the 'Pink Rose' set, which was very much admired, and the 'Heather, Bell' set, in which the 'Daffodil' song was repeated with the substitution of 'heather bell' for 'daffodil'.
The beautiful 'Floral March' brought the entertainment to a close. It would be impossible to overpraise the skill and taste which were displayed in designing the floral costumes, and in arranging the action of the different sets, and there were singers, dancers, and musicians, who also contributed largely to the success of the Carnival. To describe it at full length would require a page or more of 'The Daily News,' and even then the description would convey no adequate idea to those who were not present. But the children who appeared on the stage, and those who filled the auditorium, will never forget the Carnival.
When the third anniversary of the Sunshine League is celebrated, it will be hard indeed to 'go one better' than the entertainment of last Saturday night. The Sunshine Orchestra which played 'Lucretia Borgia,' and a selection from 'II Trovatoro' rendered an excellent account of itself. The marked ability of the juvenile Instrumentalists causing general comment. With the introduction of other orchestral instruments such as the cello, the Sunshine Orchestra should occupy a prominent place in the local musical world.
At the conclusion of the entertainment; Mr, J. S. Battye, B.A., L.L.B., announced that he and Mrs. Fred. North, as judges of the best set, had had a very difficult task to perform In as much as all the sets were deserving of commendation. Credit was due to Baby Doris Cohen in the 'Pansy' set, Master Leslie O'Meara on the 'Daffodil' set, Miss Mavis Waterhouse, who arranged the 'Garland of Roses' set; the Masters Linton in the 'Daisies,' the two little tots in the 'May Day in the Cornfields' set, Master Jack Clara and Master Cook, and many others, in giving their awards they had judged on, the following points - 1, Originality of conception, 2. Arrangements, 3. Stage effect, colour scheme, concerted action, harmony, etc, They had come to the conclusion that the 'May Day in the Cornfields' had surpassed the others in all those items (loud applause), and had allotted the second place tip, the 'Daffodil' set. Renewed cheering. Cheers were given for the performers, the Lieut Governor, and 'Uncle Tom' and the greatest juvenile entertainment ever seen in Perth was an event of the past.
The winner of best set at The Carnival Of Flowers 'May Day in the Cornfields' photographed by the Dease Studio.
Mirror, 4 June 1909.
The Carnival Of Flowers And The Dease Studio... (1909)
Daily News, 22 May 1909.
SPLENDID PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN.
BY THE DEASE STUDIO.
In order that there might be a permanent record of the beautiful sets in the "Carnival of Flowers," I arranged with the Dease Studio, Barrack-street Perth, to photograph the prize, "May Day in the Cornfield" set, and to present each performer in the set with, a copy. I have also arranged with the Dease Studio, in addition, to photograph every set, and I will present the organisers in each instance with a copy.
I gave the organisers of the 'Daffodil' set (the Misses Marjorle O'Neill and Madge Everard) their photos at a ball at the Misses Marjorie O'Neill and Madge Everard) their photos at a ball at the North Fremantle Town Hall on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday evening at the concert at St. Alban's Hall, I presented photos to Miss Doris Melille ('May Day in the Cornfield' set), Miss Dorothy Kean ('Pink Roses' set), Misses Inez Telford and Minnie Fletcher ('Floral March'), and Miss Rosetta Toll ('Wattle and Pansy' set). The 'Daisies' (East Fremantle), 'Blue Bells' (Highgate), the Sunshine Orchestra, and the Highgate and Claremont portions of the Guard of Honour have yet to be taken. The collection will be a valuable one, and in order that those who wish to secure copies may not be put to much expense, I have arranged with the Dease Studio to supply copies at a reduced price. The pictures are very, line, and they are now on view in the porch at the Dease Studio.'
In another part of this page there appears an advertisement referring to Miss Rosetta Toll's children's classes' at St. George's Lesser Hall on Saturday morning and at the Masonic Hall, Subiaco, on Saturday afternoon, I wish Miss Toll success. As proof of Miss Toll's success as a teacher I need only mention that those three little dots who have pleased so many audiences (Baby Butler, Doris Cohen, and Baby Rona Murray) were taught by her.
