Arthur Garner

Arthur Garner (8 February 1851 – ) was a theatrical entrepreneur, active in Australia.^[1]

Background

The Princess's Theatre, Melbourne. Built in 1886 by Garner, Williamson & Musgrove

Garner was born in Bath, Somerset, England, where his father, Dr. Jonathan Garner (M.D. of Edinburgh) practised his profession, his mother being a Miss Cobden. Arthur Garner was articled to Charles J. Phipps, the architect, whose connection was largely theatrical, he having erected no less than forty English theatres; from which circumstance may perhaps be traced the young pupil's gravitation to the stage, where he became a protégé of Mr. George Gordon, the scenic artist. From the paint-room Mr. Garner soon found his way to the footlights, and for some time appeared in various provincial companies.^[1]

Early Years

In 1873 Garner arrived in Melbourne, returning to London in 1876. In 1879 Mr. Garner began his career as an Australian entrepreneur by taking out "The London Comedy Company" (1879), of which Fred Marshall was the bright particular comic star and Mr. George Gordon the hardly less indispensable scenic artist.^[1] Garner opened Garner's Theatre in Adelaide in 1880.^[2] In 1881 Garner joined J. C. Williamson, the eminent Australian-American actor, and George Musgrove in establishing the leading firm of Australasian managers, generally known as the "Trio," which has controlled a greater number of theatres and entered into engagements, dramatic and operatic, on a larger scale than has ever been attempted south of the Line.^[1] Their operations practically commenced at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, on July 1st, 1882, with the production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. Many eminent London artistes were introduced to the colonies under their régime; but the most substantial undertaking of Messrs. Williamson, Garner & Musgrove was the building of the new Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, in 1886, by universal consensus one of the finest dramatic temples in the world.

Married Life

Mr. Garner has been twice married: first, to the excellent English actress, Miss Blanche Stammers, who died in Melbourne in 1883; and, secondly, to Miss Letitia Hill Martin, sister of Mr. Patchett Martin, herself an accomplished littérateur, and formerly a contributor to the Australian press.^[1]

External links

• Photograph of Garner at State Library, N.S.W.

References