The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) & John Jack Cranston

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906): A US release? | Bohemian vs. Budget 1897 | Dan Barry's Tasmanian version | Film, theatre, radio & TV | Johnson & Gibson 1906-12 | Lost footage | Ned Kelly & the Ogles | Ned Kelly Polski | Norman Campbell's account | Original film 1906 | Premiere season 1906-7 | The Tait family |

John "Jack" Cranston (1888-1966) played the part of Steve Hart in The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) and during 1907-08 was tour manager for the film. He later worked with West's Pictures (circa 1910-11). A copy of the original poster for the movie survives in the collection of the Melbourne Athenaeum Archives at the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia (NFSA), Canberra. It contains handwritten notes by Cranston. His son, Jack Cranston, has published a number of books on the film, and a manuscript biography of his father is in the NFSA collection. A 1990 interview by Jack Cranston in the NFSA collection is described as follows:

Reginald Archer talks [with Jack Cranston] about his father, Haley Archer, who was an associate and friend of John Jack Cranston, who played the part of Steve Hart in the 1906 versions of 'The Story of the Kelly Gang.' Interview undertaken to prove authenticity of John Jack Cranston as the person who played Steve Hart in the 1906 version of the Story of the Kelly Gang. Reginald's father Harley Archer was a business partner and friend of John Cranston's. Interview is the history of John Cranston and Harley Archer employment and recollections of the filming of the 1906 film. (00:17:50) The second interview is about Able Kay (Snr). His son Able Kay (Jnr) is interviewed by Jack Cranston and states that his father "played a minor role in that story of The Kelly Gang film produced in 1906 by the J. and N. Tait Theatrical company of Melbourne on behalf of Messers. Johnson and Gibson in the confines of Melbourne and the outerlying areas of Templestowe and Mitcham.

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Chronology

1906

* Photograph: Jack Cranston (sitting, centre) next to Frank Starky (between two engines), Joe Howard (leaning over an engine) on the set of The Story of the Kelly Gang. The front of the image has text as follows (some words are illegible): 'Rock Hampton, Queensland, Joe Howard, Bedoar (?), Jack Cranston, Frank Starky (?), Port Aoryar (?), America'. 1906. Source: NFSA.

* The Story of the Kelly Gang, Promotional booklet, December 1906. Source: NFSA. Heavily annotated by Jack Cranston.

* West's Pictures Pressbook, 1906-1912. Source: NFSA.

1907

* Postcard, Toowoomba, Queensland. Postcard sent to Jack Cranston. Source: NFSA.

* Postcard sent to 'Kelly Gang Coy.' while on tour with 'J & N Taits Touring Coy.'

1911

* Daylesford. Friday Night -- J. Cramton Late of West's Pictures, is presenting A Magnificent Film entitled "It is Never too Late to Mend." 1911. Source: NFSA.

* 'West's Pictures. Programme. Barber's Half Holiday (Comic)' -- 'Her Uncles Will (Drama)' -- 'Muggsey Becomes a Hero, Comedy' -- 'The Law of the West Drama'... 1911. Source: NFSA.

1912

* 30 January 1912, Mount Alexander Mail, Victoria.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The weather was perfect for open air entertainment, and in consequence a large audience patronised Wests Pictures at the open air theatre, and, passed a pleasant evening. Owing to the film company in Melbourne forwarding by mistake the Castlemaine film's "to Sydney and the Sydney films to Castlemaine, the star "picture, "The Cup Winner," was not available, and this fact was explained to the audience by Mr Cranston. A good substitute was "Mates of the Murrumbidgee," a splendid Australian subject, which was applauded. The other pictures were well up to the high standard of this company, and were much enjoyed. Next Monday evening the feature film will be the always popular "Fatal Wedding," including the famous tin-can band.

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References

Cranston, Jack, Kelly Truths, 1979, 4p. Collection: NFSA.

----, The 1906 production of the Kelly Gang film, mss., 20 October 1982. Collection: NFSA.

-----, ;When flicks were flicks: The Kelly Gang film of 1906, Melbourne, circa 1985, 159p.

-----, The Flicks Circuit Man: Biography of John Jack Cranston 1882-1966, mss., 1987. Collection: NFSA.

-----, Interview with Reginald Archer [audio], 1990. Collection: NFSA.

-----, The Story of the Kelly Gang Film, Glen Rowan Cobb & Co., Glenrowan, 2016, 188p.

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The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906): A US release? | Bohemian vs. Budget 1897 | Dan Barry's Tasmanian version | Film, theatre, radio & TV | Johnson & Gibson 1906-12 | Lost footage | Ned Kelly & the Ogles | Ned Kelly Polski | Norman Campbell's account | Original film 1906 | Premiere season 1906-7 | The Tait family |

Film: | Australia - Listing 1906-1970 | Australia - Printers & Dealers | Captain Thunderbolt 1951 + Copyright & access issues + References | Film Posters | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Ned Kelly & the Ogles | ; Ned Kelly Polski | Mary Ann Bugg | Metropolis 1927 | Strike 1912 | Personal Collection - Poland | Personal Collection - Australia | Polish Posters | Zuzanna Lipinska Polish Posters |

Last Updated: 27 August 2024

Michael Organ, Australia

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