The Story of the Kelly Gang - premiere season 1906-7

Contents

Introduction
Chronology
References

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1. Introduction

The story of the story of the Kelly Gang is an interesting story in and of itself. From a very early stage during the 1870s when their activities were first reported in newspapers across Australia, these so-called outlaws were seen by many as folk heroes. Why? The reasons are many, but the fact that such a perception developed, and persists to the present day, is worthy of consideration. On the surface it can be seen that a large section of the public believed they were, in part, victims of police brutality and corruption, thereby mitigating the impact of their deadly encounters with the local constabulary. The injustices of the legal system, discriminatory practices favoring certain classes of society, the struggle to survive for those less well off, corrupt practices by wealthy landowners and business owners, and a failure by politicians and others to recognise an entrenched antipathy towards authority arising out of the penal origins of the colony, all of these factors were brought to bear in the development of the legend of the Kelly gang. Of course the figure of Ned Kelly himself, clad in armour like a noble knight of the court of King Arthur, as he made his final stand, caused many to pause and question the motivation of him and his colleagues, including his sister Kate, and the path they had taken. Apart from the family connection, it was revealed from the earliest point that local community were supportive of them, that whilst they committed murder and robbery, there was a Robin Hood and his merry men element to it all. As such, there were enough elements in the story of the Kelly gang for newspaper editors, playwrights, film producers and writers to develop their own narratives and present them in print, on stage and on the screen from the late 1870s, when the gang was finally decimated, culminating in the hanging of Ned Kelly at the Melbourne gaol in November 1880. A listing of some of the dramatic presentations concerning the Kelly gang from 1879 is listed in the author's blog Film, theatre, radio & TV 1879+ , alongside a separate discussion on the creation and impact of the landmark cinematic The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906). This was the world's first full-length feature film - running for one hour and forty minutes upon initial release - and drawing in large crowds which, in a relatively brief period covering approximately 12 months saw the producers profit some £20,000 - an incredible sum for the time - and kicking off the development of the local film industry alongside construction of film-specific cinemas, to the detriment of local theatres and attendances therein. By 1927 the per capita attendance at the pictures by Australians was the highest in the world.

There exists some confusion in regards to the precise details of the Australian premiere season of The Story of the Kelly Gang, made by St. Kilda-based Millard Johnson and William A. Gibson film and released through the theatrical distribution firm of J. & N. Tait, who were also part producers. Premiere events are known for Boxing Day, 26 December 1906, at the following venues:

Melbourne: Matinee session at the Athenaeum Theatre, followed by an evening screening at the Town Hall.
Hobart: Night screening at the Town Hall. Part of the Dan Barry World-Wide Wonder Show. Attended by the Governor and party.
Adelaide: Evening screening at the Town Hall.

There is confusion over the date of the Sydney premiere. Reminiscences by W. A. Gibson in 1927 state: After the picture had been made, no Sydney theater was available for the presentation. Mr. Gibson eventually secured a vacant area in the Haymarket, fenced it in, built bleaches seats that would hold 3,000, and showed the film in the open air. Crowds! Dazzling prospects of a long season. On opening night 3,000 paid more than £100 for their seats. But next morning it commenced to rain. By Monday the stall-benches were adrift. By Friday lead line soundings were taken, and for eight more weeks the deluge washes patrons, prospects and profit away (4 September 1927, The Sun, Sydney). No record has been found to substantiate this story.

The film premiered in Brisbane, Queensland, at the Centennial Hall on Saturday 9 February 1907.

The film premiered in Perth, Western Australia, at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday, 15 May 1907 for an 8 day run then transfer to Fremantle. Father Gibney, who featured in the film as part of the Glenrowan Inn rescue, was Bishop of Perth at the time of the film's release.

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2. Chronology

The following is a chronological listing of information available relating to those events and the subsequent premiere season throughout Australia and England, through to 1907. Unless otherwise noted, references are to The Story of the Kelly Gang film by Johnson & Gibson.

1906

* circa late June 1906 - Production on The Story of the Kelly Gang commences. According to Millard Johnson (1923), due to the financial success of Living London, J. & N. Tait asked Gibson and Johnson to "make another." William A. Gibson decided to make a long film on the subject of the Kelly Gang. He stated that he was driven to this when he noticed that people were more interested in attending theatre productions of the story of the Kelly Gang, than watching the then novelty and patriotic film Living London. J. & N. Tait would go on to act as distributors, provide additional funding and locations for use during the filming.

* July 1906 - W. A. Gibson uses £400 from his savings for the Kelly gang project, and the firm of Messrs. Gibson & Johnson employ the following individuals and groups for the project (Mcguire 1944 & 1945, Percival 1949):

Actors - R. I. Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company, on £1 per day. The actors may only have seen 6/- per day, plus grub, of this, after Cole took his cut.
Cameraman - William A. Gibson
Production Manager - Mr. F. Marden
Property Manager - Samuel Crews / Crew / Cruise
Film developer - Mr. C. Byer-Coates

* Friday, 14 December 1906. Dan Barry (actor) and Robert Hollyford (singer) of Melbourne register copyright for a letterpress sheet (a poster) being an "advertisement for the set of moving pictures entitled the Kelly Gang." No information is available on the production of this film. It was shown in Tasmania during December 1906 and early in 1907 as part of Barry's World-Wide Wonder Show.

* Saturday, 15 December 1906, The Age, Melbourne. Initial advertisement for the film's premiere:

Under the Direction of H. N. Tait. Town Hall, Boxing Night. The Story of the Kelly Gang, by The Biograph. The most thrilling episode in Australian history has occupied the entire attention of skilled Biograph Operators and others for the past six months.

* Wednesday, 19 December 1906, The Age, Melbourne. Announcement regarding the forthcoming premiere of The Story of the Kelly Gang at the Athenaeum Theatre on Boxing Day, 26 December 1906, with a separate screening that evening at the Melbourne Town Hall. A similar evening screening was also shown at the Adelaide Town Hall in South Australia and the Hobart Town Hall in Tasmania. A breakdown of the nine segments was contained in The Age advertisement.

The Story of the Kelly Gang

Thy greatest story of Australian outlaws ever told. Modern science has harnessed photography, so that with the new biograph we are enabled to tell this thrilling story in its entirety over again. Told in highly dramatic scenes.

Section 1.—Shows the Kelly Homestead, where Dan is wanted for cattle stealing. Kate Kelly comes on the scene to warn them of Trooper Fitzpatrick's approach. Pistols are drawn, murder is nearly committed, and so the gang are outlawed.

Section 2.—Takes us into the inaccessible Wombat Ranges, where the police, all innocent of impending danger, are surrounded and shot down, with the exception of MacIntyre, who makes his escape.

Section 3.—The Gang proceed to Younghusband's station, which they stick up and make numerous prisoners, and then go to rob the bank at Euroa.

Section 4.—In the fastnesses of the Strathbogie Ranges, Joe Byrne's mother comes across Aaron Sherrit, a former friend of the gang, in the Police Camp.

Section 5.—Two of the gang follow up Sherrit and shoot him in his hut.

Section 6.—The gang capture the line repairers, and at the revolvers' point force them to tear up the railway line. The timely warning of the train by Schoolmaster Curnow.

Section 7.—At the Glenrowan Inn. The surprise. The gang at bay. Surrounded at the Glenrowan Inn.

Section 8.—Death of Joe Byrne. Father Gibney rescues the wounded. The hotel on fire. Death of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart.

Section 9.—Ned Kelly at bay. Clothed in his heavy armor the bullets of the police make no effect; at last they hit him in the leg, when be falls, and is captured.

The whole set form the most dramatic series of pictures ever put before the public. In order to secure a correct representation of this stirring subject, the services of skilled operators, &c., have been constantly required for the past six months, and the management claim that this series is one of the biggest undertakings ever accomplished in the art of cinematography.

* Wednesday, 19 December 1906, The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide.

"The Kelly Gang."

Messrs. J. and N. Tait will present at the Adelaide Town Hall during Christmas week, one of the most interesting moving picture entertainments ever shown in Adelaide. For Christmas night a carefully-selected programme been chosen, which will include a number of entirely new films just received from London. On Boxing Night a special programme will be submitted, the chief feature of which will be the introduction to Adelaide residents of the notorious Kelly gang by Biograph. For the past six months skilled operators and others have been engaged on this work, and the result has proved wonderfully successful.

* 19 December 1906, The Register, Adelaide. The Kelly Gang and other films were presented in Tasmania by Robert Hollyford and Dan Barry. It is assumed that they operated under an arrangement with J. & N. Tait and Johnson & Gibson of Melbourne and St. Kilda.

The Kelly Gang by Moving Pictures.

Messrs. J. & N. Tait, of Melbourne, are well known for introducing the latest and most up-to-date moving pictures to Adelaide residents, and it is said the entertainment to be presented at the Town Hall during Christmas week will be up to their best standard. The season will start on Christmas Night, and a specially selected programme of a semi-religious character will be shown for that night only. On Boxing Night a fresh programme will be submitted, including a long moving picture showing the history of the Kelly gang of bushrangers, from the first exploits of the gang to the final scene at the Glenrowan Hotel. For six months skilled operators and others have been engaged on the Kelly gang picture working at the details and carefully studying the habits of the bushrangers. The result has proved decidedly successful, and the management claim that it will be the greatest moving picture yet secured by any biograph firm. Careful thought has been devoted to the whole subject, and the audience will be enabled to witness the whole of the stirring incidents of this exciting period when the Kellys reigned supreme in the north-eastern district of Victoria. The picture begins at Greta, the home of the Kellys, and quickly changes to the police camp in the wombat. Ranges, where the first incident of importance occurred. This view shows the bushrangers surprising the police and capturing the camp, and their subsequent departure through the mountains. Then follows the stacking up of Younghusband's Station, and Sandy Gloster, the hawker, whose wagon was used for the robbery of the bank at Euroa. The audience re next shown the gang robbing the bank, black trackers at work in the Strathbogie Ranges. While the party of line repairers are at work the Kellys appear, and compel them to pull up the railway line with the object of wrecking the special train, but the plucky action of Schoolmaster Curnow, who is seen running along the track, saves the train. The final scene is at Glenrowan Hotel, which is attacked by a strong force of police, who finally capture the ring leader, Ned Kelly. The Messrs. Tait have had great difficulty in preparing this work, the co-operation of the Victorian railways being necessary, also the engagement of a special train, in order to reproduce the destruction of the train.

* Wednesday, 19 December 1906, The Mercury, Hobart. Article; Advertisement; c.f. 20 December 1906.

Dan Barry's World-Wide Wonder Show.

On Boxing night, Wednesday, December 26, and three following nights, Dan Barry will present in the Town-hall, Hobart, a colossal, unique, and up-to-date entertainment, with the comprehensive title of World-wide Wonder Show" The name at once suggests that the presentation will be replete with novelties gathered from all the corners of the globe, and will, amongst other multifarious attractions, comprise the latest and greatest moving, living pictures, seemed for Dan Barry by his agents in Great Britain, America, and the Continent All are promised to be of infinite variety and magnetic charm, some intensely thrilling, some redolent of historical reminiscences, some full of touching pathos, some most sensational, some vital with stirring adventures, some replete with picturesque romance some uproariously and irresistibly humorous and all calculated to awaken keenest human interest Besides the great array of moving pictures to be shown, a number of most charming picture songs will he rendered by popular vocalists, illustrated by slides said to be of surpassing loveliness, so that there will be a feast of beauty to delight the ear. During the performance there will also be given songs, sketches, and specialty acts by several clever vaudeville artists, who are amongst the company travelling with the show A special film, epic during Christmas pantomime and harlequinade is one of the striking for times This film shows beautiful coloured scones from the old fairy tales, and should prove interesting to old and young alike Scenes from the lives of the notorious bushrangers, the famous Kelly gang, will also be shown, and a life-like picture of the Melbourne Cup, 1906, will be reproduced.

* Saturday, 22 December 1906, The Advertiser, Adelaide. Extract:

The Story of the Kelly Gang.

On Boxing night a fresh programme will be submitted, including a long moving picture showing the history of the Kelly gang of bushrangers, from the first exploits of the gang to the final scene at the Glenrowan Hotel. For six months skilled operators and others have been engaged on the Kelly gang picture, working at the details, and carefully studying the habits of the outlaws. The result has proved decidedly successful, and the management claim that it will be the greatest moving picture yet secured, by any biograph firm. Matinees will be given on Proclamation Day and New Years Day. Day sale tickets are at Duhst & Biven's, and the box-plan is at Marshall's.

* Monday, 24 December 1906, The Herald, Melbourne. The Taits secure rights to present the film.

..... Messrs J. and N. Tait, who have secured the exclusive right of a new set of pictures, entitled "The Kelly Gang," will afford the public the opportunity of seeing them at the Athenaeum Hall on Wednesday (Boxing Day) afternoon, and in the evening at the Town Hall. [Bertrand & Routt]

* Tuesday, 25 December 1906, The Register, Adelaide.

The Story of the Kelly Gang.

Messrs. J. & N. Tait will begin their moving picture season at the Town Hall tonight, when a specially-selected programme of sacred pictures and a number of appropriate songs will be submitted. The exciting moving picture depicting the entire life of the Kelly Gang will be exhibited for the first time in Australia to-morrow (Boxing) night, when the audience will be able to see for themselves the many thrilling incidents experienced by this notorious band of bushrangers. The first holiday matinee will be given on Proclamation Day. Tickets for all parts of the hall may be obtained at Duhst & Biven's.

* Wednesday, 25 December 1906, The Mercury, Hobart. Notice of intended attendance of Governor Strickland and party at opening night on Boxing Day.

* Wednesday, 26 December 1906 - premiere of The Story of the Kelly Gang at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne; Town Hall, Sydney; and Town Hall, Hobart.

The Story of the Kelly Gang [restored], 1906, YouTube, duration: 31.52 minutes. Copy of National Film and Sound Archive of Australia restoration 2006.

* 26 December 1906 - The Story of the Kelly Gang - film, made by Johnson & Gibson, in association with J. & N. Tait.

* 26 December 1906 - Program Booklet text:

The whole series of Pictures [i.e. the film] were taken by Messrs. Johnson and Gibson, for Messrs J. and N. Tait and are copyright throughout the world. [Bertrand & Routt]

* Saturday, 29 December 1906, Tasmanian News, Hobart. Following this final Hobart presentation, the film toured Tasmania's major cities.

Town Hall - Dan Barry's Worldwide Wonder Show.

.... To-night will be the last night on which this mammoth entertainment will be given. A special programme abounding with good things is promised. These will be new films of sensational or humorous order. The main film will depict scenes from the career of the most notorious bushrangers known in the annals of crime in Australasia - the Kelly Gang......

* Monday, 31 December 1906, Examiner, Launceston. List of showings of the Dan Barry Worldwide Wonder Show through Tasmania after Hobart, including screenings of The Kelly Gang.

At Beaconsfield, January 3rd; Deloraine, January 4th; Sheffield, January 5th; Latrobe, January 7th; Devonport, Ulverstone, and Burnie to follow.

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1907

* Tuesday, 1 January 1907, Daily Telegraph, Launceston. Advertisement for last night of the Dan Barry presentation.

* Tuesday, 1 January 1907, The Advertiser, Adelaide. The presentation of the film at the Adelaide Town Hall ended on this day with a matinee.

* 1 January 1907, Sydney Sportsman.

Theatrical Tit Bits

The professional actors and actresses who were recently engaged for a fake film of The Kelly Gang, which was taken in the bush, with horses and cattle, etc., received 6s a day and their grub. The affair was quite a novelty to them.

* 15 January 1907, Barrier Miner, Broken Hill. Screened throughout January and early February, with "the excitement, noise and smoke" connected with the presentation noted.

The Kelly Gang.

Messrs. J. and N. Tait present at the Town Hall on Saturday night next their latest series of moving pictures, the star film of which is "The Story of the Kelly Gang," depicting the rise and fall of these daring outlaws. The box office is at Vivian's.

* 21 January 1907, Advertiser, Bendigo. Story regarding the employment of Mr. C. Byers-Coates to develop 20,000 feet of film for Gibson & Johnson, including for The Kelly Gang film. [Bertrand & Routt]

* Friday, 25 January 1907, The Inverell Times, New South Wales. Screening of the Kelly Gang at Cook's Pictures and Panorama, Tingha, Saturday and Monday.

* 27 January 1907, The Sunday Sun, Sydney.

Messrs. J. and N. Tait will shortly exhibit in the Palace Theatre a "Kelly Gang" series of living, moving pictures. The whole of the career of the bushranging gang is shown, from the start of Constable Fitzpatrick's visit to their home until the capture of "Ned" encased in armour. To get this series of pictures, which is some 3 1/2 or 4 miles long, Messrs. Tait engaged some forty actors, actresses, and children to dress and enact their parts for the purpose of making a correct film, and when these people were fully rehearsed, they were taken to the exact localities where the different events occurred, and thus a replica of the different events was secured. Mr. George Buller will be Messrs. Taits' manager and representative.

* 28 January 1907, The Northwestern Advocate and Emu Bay Times.

Burnie

It having come to the ear of Mr Robt. Hollyford, the manager, that certain persons have been casting aspersions on his show, he wishes it to be known publicly that Messrs Barry end Hollyford hold the copyright of the sole Australian and British rights to the moving picture of "The Kelly Gang." Anyone can see the copyright by applying to Mr Hollyford at the Town Hall to-night.

* Saturday, 2 February 1907, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney.

"The Kelly Gang."

On Saturday next, at the Palace Theatre, Messrs. J. and N. Tait will give the first exhibition of their 4000 ft. of biograph films representing a detailed history of the Kelly gang. Local color has been imparted into the pictures, and the proprietors went so far as to arrange with the Victorian Government to place a full train, a pilot engine, and a gang of plate-layers at their service for the purpose of properly reproducing that episode which occurred just before the downfall of the Kellys.

* 2 February 1907, Sydney Morning Herald.

"Kelly Gang" At The Palace

For some weeks past a moving picture show entitled "The Kelly Gang" has been drawing large audiences at the Melbourne Athenaeum Hall under the direction of Messrs J and H Tait. A body of people were properly dressed and trained for the main characters, the actual scenes were visited, and at great cost films were thus secured of the murder of four constables in the Wombat Ranges, the baffled efforts to wreck the police train by tearing up the railway track, the burning of the Glenrowan Inn, and the capture of Ned Kelly. These new tableaux will be shown in the Palace Theatre from next Saturday. Mr George Buller is business manager.

* 4 February 1907, Story of the Kelly Gang, The Australian Star, Sydney.

* 10 February 1907, Music and Drama / Kelly Gang Pictures / New Artists at the Tivoli, The Sunday Sun, Sydney.

* 17 February 1907, Truth, Brisbane.

The expression "good enough" is not an invention of late years. According to Messrs. J. and N. Tait's story of the Kelly Gang, Ned Kelly had a great partiality for "good enough." Over all the confusion and noise may be heard Ned's voice crying in the wilderness, "good enough / come on boys." No doubt he declared he had a "bonser time."

* 30 March 1907, The Mirror, Perth.

The Messrs. Tait are sending "The Kelly Gang" biograph pictures to Maoriland.

* 7 May 1907, The Western Australian, Perth. the film runs from 15 to 23 May and then opens in at the King's Theatre, Fremantle on Friday 24 May, for three nights.

"The Kelly Gang."

At the Theatre Royal, commencing on the 15th inst., Messrs. J. and N. Tait will present by biograph an array of animated pictures describing the thrilling events associated with the career of "the Kelly Gang," the band of bushrangers who roamed parts of Victoria, defying the forces of law and order, 27 years ago. Describing the production, the management say: "In order to carry out this special biograph undertaking, it was necessary to keep employed as many as 30 people at a time, and it even necessitated the cooperation of the Victorian Railway Department and the engagement of special trains to reproduce the destruction of the train by the Kelly gang. The authentic records of the Kelly incidents were carefully studied, in order that a faithful reproduction of the story might be shown. The complete picture occupies over an hour in representation. and is stated to be full of interest from start to finish. Another attraction will also be submitted. It is a talking machine, claimed to be the finest ever produced. The entertainment will include other interesting novelties.

* 17 July 1907, Referee, Sydney.

Messrs. J. and N. Tait are sending the biograph film of "The Kelly Gang" to England, and it will be shown in London early in September. A biograph representation of Diver Hughes' rescue of the entombed miner, Varischetti, is also being exhibited.

* 30 July 1907, Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Goulburn, New South Wales.

Electric Moving Pictures.

On Monday and Tuesday next at the Oddfellows Hall the Globe series of electric moving pictures will be shown under the direction of Messrs. Johnson and Gibson, represented here by a member of the firm, Mr. Finlay. This firm are said to be the biggest importers and manufacturers of moving pictures and biograph machines in the Commonwealth, and were the producers of most of the big biograph entertainments starting out from Melbourne, such as "Living London," "The Kelly Gang," and many others. Hitherto they have simply leased their films, engines, and machines to others. Now they intend touring the Commonwealth on their own account, and this present trip is the initial one. Messrs. Johnson and Gibson hold direct contracts with the English and continental picture-producing firms for the delivery in Melbourne of the very latest and most sensational films, and all those are projected by a powerful eight-horse power engine and dynamo, with an output of 10,000 candle power.

* September 1907 - British tour of the film to commence in London.

* 18 September 1907, [Finlay's] Globe Moving Pictures, The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press.

* 29 November 1907, Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser. Notes that the film runs for 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes), which is suggestive of a 5 reel length at 16 fps.

The Story of the Kelly Gang.

In the Federal Hall on Tuesday evening next, Messrs J. and N. Tait under whose direction the Besses O' The Barn Band, and Madame Clara Butt have toured Australia, will present for the first time here their enormously successful moving picture of "The Story of the Kelly Gang," which has been shown throughout the leading centres of Australasia to enormous and wildly enthusiastic audiences. The story as shown by the Biograph embraces every incident of note that took place while this notorious gang were at large. The picture necessitated the employment of 50 actors, and acted for nearly six months and cost the management £1000. So that a true and realistic reproduction could be obtained, capable artists were engaged, who were conveyed to the localities infected by the outlaws, rehearsing daily in one or the other actual spots, and then who skilled in their various roles, skilled operators cinematographed the effect, and completed the biggest undertaking ever attempted in the history of moving picture art. The story of the Kelly Gang is divided into 9 scenes, and takes an hour and forty minutes to show. The first scene shows the Kelly homestead, where Fitzpatrick comes to arrest Dan for cattle stealing. He insults Kate and is promptly shot in the wrist by Ned who appears on the scene. The gang are then outlawed and then retire to fastness of the Wombat ranges, where they surprise the police camp, and shoot them all except Trooper McIntyre, who escapes by jumping on a horse that was galloping past. Such scenes as the sticking up of the Euroa bank and Younghusband's station, the murder of Aaron Sherritt a former friend of the gang shot as a traitor by his old schoolmate Joe Byrne for giving information to the police. Local interest will no doubt be considerably aroused by the introduction of the scene at Jerilderie, where the gang are seen locking up constables Devine and Richards, the gang at the Royal Mail Hotel, being introduced as new police, robbing the N.S.W. Bank, the manager found in the bath etc., then follows the sensational and closing scenes at the Glenrowan Inn, the rescue of the train by brave schoolmaster Curnow, the gang surprised at the Inn, the great fight, rescue of the wounded by Father Gibney from the burning inn and the extermination of the gang and subsequent capture of Ned Kelly, clad in his armour surrounded by police but fighting to the last. The pictures are most vividly displayed, a special feature of the production being the excellent mechanical effects from behind the curtain, even speaking voices are introduced which greatly adds to the realism of the performance.In addition to the Kelly pictures will be seen the Melbourne Cup of 1907, and a startling picture of Morrissey and his Snakes. A series of scenic views and some screamingly funny comic films will also be shown. The pictures are displayed by a powerful electric light. The prices are 2/- and 1/-, reserved seats 1/- extra, the box plan is now open at Alf Smiths.

* Friday, 29 November 1907, The Riverine Grazier, Hay.

The Story of the Kelly Gang.

In the Federal Hall on Thursday and Friday evenings next, 5th and 6th of December, Messrs. J. and N. Tait, the well known Melbourne entrepreneurs, under whose direction Madame Clara Butt and the Besses o' the Barn Band toured Australia, will present for the first time here their enormously successful moving pictures of the story of the Kelly Gang, which have been shown throughout the leading centres of Australia to crowded and most enthusiastic audiences. So that a true and faithful portraiture of this great Australian tragedy could be secured, capable artists were engaged to enact the various roles, were conveyed to the actual spots where the desperadoes committed their atrocious misdeeds, also the services of the Victorian Railways were requisitioned for a special train, pilot engine, plate layers; and then when every artist was perfect in their various parts, skilled operators cinematographed the effects, and completed the biggest undertaking ever accomplished in the biograph world. The reproduction took nearly six months to complete, necessitating the employment of 50 actors and actresses, and cost the management £1000. The story of the Kelly Gang, as told by the biograph, embraces every incident of note that happened while this notorious band of bushrangers were at large, from the firing of the first shot at the Kelly homestead, where Fitzpatrick was shot while attempting to arrest Dan for cattle stealing, to the sensational and closing fight at the burning Glenrowan Inn, where the gang was exterminated and Ned Kelly captured. Such well-known incidents as the sticking up of Younghusband's station, the Euroa and Jerilderie banks; the death of Aaron Sheritt, shot as a traitor for giving information to the police; the murder of police in the Wombat Ranges, surprised by the gang while encamped; the derailing of the train loaded with police, and the heroic rescue by school master Curnow, who escaped from the Glenrowan Inn, where the gang had the townspeople locked up to prevent them from giving the alarm ; the great fight between the police and the gang, Father Gibney's rescue of the wounded plate-layer, death of Joe Byrne and Steve Hart, the inn set on fire by the police, and the capture of iron-clad Ned Kelly, surrounded by police, but fighting to the last, are most vividly and realistically displayed. A great feature of the performance will be the excellent mechanical effects worked from behind the screen, speaking voices ever being introduced to add to the realism of the production. On Friday evening a large number of pictures of recent events will be shown, of which particulars will be given next issue. The prices are 2s and 1s, reserved 1s extra. The box plan is at Mr A. O. Best's. Positively only two performances will be given.

* 30 November 1907, Rutherglen Miner and Howlong and Wahgunyah Times, Victoria.

Biograph Entertainment

Owing to the regulation issued by the Chief Secretary, the promoters were prohibited at the last moment from showing the Kelly Gang pictures.....

* Saturday, 30 November 1907, Wagga Wagga Express. This is a decided pro-Kelly Gang review.

Moving Pictures.

Messrs. J. and N. Tait have earned a name throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand with their moving picture shows that is now an assurance to the play loving public of witnessing the latest and best things in animated art. Such was the promise fulfilled at the Oddfellows Hall on Thursday and Friday nights, when a film depicting the deeds and exploits of the notorious Kelly Gang was shown to full houses. The recital of the fortunes of Ned Kelly and his merry men, from the time of the assault by the constable on Kate Kelly to the tragic capture of the leader, and the burning of the hut at Glenrowan, will probably always have an interest for both old and young Australians, and when accompanied by apparently lifelike pictures with mechanical effects to make the recital even more realistic, it is doubly interesting. The proprietors also showed an excellent film of the 1907 Melbourne Cup, and of the now famous Jim Morrissey and his snakes. The instrument which Messrs. J.and N. Tait have for propelling the pictures on to the screen is of the latest pattern, and is as nearly fiickerless as human skill and ingenuity can design. In addition to the films named, there was also shown on each nights a series of comic pictures that were remarkably life-like in effect, and that added the right kind of variety to the entertainment, judging from the vociferous applause with which they were greeted. The entertainment is perhaps one of the best and most varied that the enterprising Messrs. Tait have yet shown in Wagga and elsewhere.

* 28 December 1907, Sydney Morning Herald. Screening at Oxford Theatre, George Street.

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3. References

Bertrand, Ina and William D. Routt, 'The picture that will live forever': The Story of the Kelly Gang, Series: The Moving Image, number 8, Australian Teachers of Media, St. Kilda, 2007, 197p.

Chomley, Charles Henry, The True Story of the Kelly Gang, Pater and Co., Melbourne, 1900.

Dexter, Gayne, When Australian Made "The Kelly Gang," Evening News, 8 October 1929.

Fotheringham, Richard, Light on a lost hoard, Time, 18 August 1986, 24-29.

Gibson Death Removes Australian Pioneer, The Film Daily, New York, 17 July 1929, 5.

Gibson, William A., Theatre Magazine, 1 June 1920. [Bertrand and Routt 2007]

Gillard, Gary, Australian Cinema - Producers, 2020.

Jackson, Sally, The Living London Boom, Senses of Cinema, Issue 49, March 2009.

McGuire, Dan Australia' First Film, The ABC Weekly, 10 June 1944.

-----, Further Footnotes on the Kelly Gang film, The ABC Weekly, 7(10), 10 March 1945.

O'Neil, Josephine, It all began with a feature movie on the Kelly Gang, News, Adelaide, 18 November 1946.

O'Neil, Pat, The Kelly Gang on Location in the Bad Old Film Days, The Sun News Pictorial, Melbourne, 11 November 1939.

Percival, Jack, "Kelly Gang" film Began Era of "Feature" Pictures, The Sunday Herald, Sydney, 9 October 1949. [A comprehensive history of W.A. Gibson's involvement in the film industry.]

Pike, Andrew F., William Alfred Gibson (1869-1929), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University Press, volume 8, 1981.

Shirley, Graham and Sally Jackson, The Story of the Kelly Gang - Restoring the World's First Feature, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Canberra, 2023.

Stratton, David, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), Australian Cinema, ABC Television / YouTube, 16 November 2020, duration: 3,24 minutes.

Tait, Viola, A Family of Brothers. The Taits and J.C.Williamson; a Theatre History, Heinemann Australia 1971.

The Story of the Kelly Gang, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Canberra, DVD + Booklet, 2007.

UNESCO, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), ....

Wikipedia, Bushranger Ban [webpage], accessed 20 May 2024.

-----, Millard Johnson, ibid.

-----, Reel of film, ibid.

-----, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), ibid.

-----, William A. Gibson, ibid.

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Last updated: 20 June 2024

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