Jack Haskell (producer)

Jack Haskell (13 April 1886 – April 1963) was an American theatrical producer who specialised in revue, later a dance director in Hollywood. Much of his early work was for J. C. Williamson's (JCW) in Australia.

History

London

In London Haskell produced

  • La Petite Cabaret, reckoned to have been the first revue, staged at the Palace Theatre, London, in April 1912. He also staged a cabaret at London's exclusive nightclub, Ciro's.[1]

Australia

Jack Haskell in 1920

Haskell came to Australia from England,[2] From 1914 he was associated with Hugh D. McIntosh in producing revues for JCW.[3]

In January 1919 he left for London via America after 15 months' residence in Australia.[5] He was busy while in London, producing the revue Round the World in Eighty Days, the musical comedy Nobody's Boy, Midnight Frolic, and Oh, Joy (known in Australia as Oh, Boy). He assisted Oscar Asche in producing Eastward Ho! at the Alhambra, and rehearsed a touring company of Gay Bohemia, and Joyland at the London Hippodrome.[6]

He was back in Australia in December 1919, and began work on Kissing Time with Gladys Moncrieff for JCW, which opened on 31 January 1920. Minnie Everett was dance arranger.[7]

  • Bing Boys on Broadway followed, then
  • The Passing Show of 1920 on 6 March.[8]

He left for America and the Continent June—October[9] On his return he produced

London again

In April 1921 he left Australia for America and Great Britain, and again was involved in stage productions in London — Sally for George Grossmith and his sometime partner Captain "Pat" Malone.

Hollywood

In 1930 he was in Hollywood at Warner Bros., where he was employed as a dance producer under Darryl F. Zanuck and five years later was dance director for Poor Little Rich Girl.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Bing Boys Are Here". Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1663. New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1917. p. 17. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "In the Limelight". The Mirror (Sydney). No. 29. New South Wales, Australia. 12 January 1918. p. 14. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Jack Cannot in Vaudeville". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 131. South Australia. 14 November 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Tivoli Follies Successful". Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1506. New South Wales, Australia. 29 November 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Jack Haskell, Revue Producer". The World's News. No. 893. New South Wales, Australia. 25 January 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Music and Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 560. New South Wales, Australia. 6 December 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Music and Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 613. New South Wales, Australia. 7 February 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Revue in Excelsis". The World's News. No. 950. New South Wales, Australia. 28 February 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 9 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Plays and Dresses". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 16, 638. New South Wales, Australia. 12 October 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 9 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "The Theatres". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LXXII, no. 3750. New South Wales, Australia. 3 February 1921. p. 22. Retrieved 9 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Sidelights of Picture Making". Shepparton Advertiser. Vol. I, no. 626. Victoria, Australia. 19 May 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.