Arthur Shirley
Encyclopedia
Arthur Shirley was an Australian actor and film producer.
Born Henry Raymond Shirley in Hobart to civil servant Henry Shirley and Sarah Ann, née Morton, he was baptised Arthur and attended Catholic schools. He then worked for Tattersall's Lottery
and as a junior solicitor's clerk before moving to Melbourne
to pursue a stage career. His first role was a three-line part in Sweet Nell of Old Drury, starring Nellie Stewart
. He toured in theatrical productions with William Anderson, George Marlow, Beaumont Smith and George Willoughby through the early 1910s.
On 22 December 1913 he married New Zealand
singer Ellen Newcomb Hall at St Mary's Cathedral
in Sydney; they would separate in 1920 and divorce in 1940.
Declared bankrupt in December 1913, Shirley struggled with financial difficulties before winning the leads in two films, The Silence of Dean Maitland
and The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
, both opening in 1914; the first was a success.
In June he and his wife moved to the United States
, where Shirley was signed by Kalem Company
and Universal Studios
. He won roles in One Man's Evil (1915), Bawb O' Blue Ridge (1916), The Fall of a Nation
(1916) and Branding Broadway
(1918) alongside William S. Hart
.
Shirley returned to Sydney
in April 1920 to found his own company, setting up at Rose Bay
with the slogan "Moving Pictures Made in Australia for the World". Although one movie, The Throwback, did begin production, Shirley was declared bankrupt again in 1925 after a court action by his cinematographer, Ernest Higgins
. He had played Steve Gunn in a stage adaptation of The Sentimental Bloke
in 1923. He was, however, given backing by Pyramid Pictures to produce a film based on The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
(1925), which remains his greatest achievement. He also wrote, produced, directed and starred in The Sealed Room
in 1926.
After an unsuccessful relocation to London
in 1927, Shirley attempted a new endeavour in Rhodesia
before spending four years in Hollywood from 1930. He married Frances Clayton in 1934, apparently believing his wife to be dead, but returned alone to Sydney later that year.
In 1938 he announced he was going to produce a film in Tasmania
called Wings of Love but this did not eventuate.
He adopted a son in 1940, and contested the 1943 federal election
as an independent
candidate for East Sydney
. He devoted his retirement to archaeology and ancient Egypt
. Shirley died at Rose Bay in 1967 and was buried at Waverley.
Born Henry Raymond Shirley in Hobart to civil servant Henry Shirley and Sarah Ann, née Morton, he was baptised Arthur and attended Catholic schools. He then worked for Tattersall's Lottery
Tattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
and as a junior solicitor's clerk before moving to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to pursue a stage career. His first role was a three-line part in Sweet Nell of Old Drury, starring Nellie Stewart
Nellie Stewart
Nellie Stewart was an Australian actress and singer, known as "Our Nell" and "Sweet Nell".Born into a theatrical family, Stewart began acting as a child. As a young woman, she built a career playing in operetta and Gilbert and Sullivan operas. In the mid-1880s, she began a long relationship with...
. He toured in theatrical productions with William Anderson, George Marlow, Beaumont Smith and George Willoughby through the early 1910s.
On 22 December 1913 he married New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer Ellen Newcomb Hall at St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
in Sydney; they would separate in 1920 and divorce in 1940.
Declared bankrupt in December 1913, Shirley struggled with financial difficulties before winning the leads in two films, The Silence of Dean Maitland
The Silence of Dean Maitland (1914 film)
The Silence of Dean Maitland is a 1914 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford. It is an adaptation of the novel by Maxwell Gray which was later filmed by Ken G. Hall in 1934....
and The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
The Shepherd of the Southern Cross
The Shepherd of the Southern Cross is a 1914 Australian silent film about an Englishwoman torn between two men.. -External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
, both opening in 1914; the first was a success.
In June he and his wife moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where Shirley was signed by Kalem Company
Kalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
and Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
. He won roles in One Man's Evil (1915), Bawb O' Blue Ridge (1916), The Fall of a Nation
The Fall of a Nation
The Fall of a Nation was a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Thomas Dixon, Jr. It is a sequel to the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation, directed by D. W. Griffith, which Dixon, Jr. co-wrote, in attempt in cash in on the success of the controversial first film. The Fall of a Nation is...
(1916) and Branding Broadway
Branding Broadway
Branding Broadway is a 1918 western film starring William S. Hart, written by C. Gardner Sullivan, and produced by Thomas H. Ince and Hart.-Plot:...
(1918) alongside William S. Hart
William S. Hart
William Surrey Hart was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered for having "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity."-Biography:...
.
Shirley returned to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in April 1920 to found his own company, setting up at Rose Bay
Rose Bay, New South Wales
Rose Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rose Bay is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Municipal Council and Woollahra Council .Rose Bay has views of both the Sydney...
with the slogan "Moving Pictures Made in Australia for the World". Although one movie, The Throwback, did begin production, Shirley was declared bankrupt again in 1925 after a court action by his cinematographer, Ernest Higgins
Ernest Higgins
Ernest Higgins was an Australian cinematographer during the days of silent film. He was the brother of Arthur and Tasman Higgins.-Select Filmography:*The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger...
. He had played Steve Gunn in a stage adaptation of The Sentimental Bloke
The Sentimental Bloke
The Sentimental Bloke is an Australian silent film based on the 1915 poem The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke by C.J. Dennis.The film, from the Southern Cross Feature Film Company of Adelaide, was made by Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, at that time the best known partnership in Australian cinema...
in 1923. He was, however, given backing by Pyramid Pictures to produce a film based on The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1925 film)
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by and starring Arthur Shirley based on the popular novel which had already been filmed in 1911....
(1925), which remains his greatest achievement. He also wrote, produced, directed and starred in The Sealed Room
The Sealed Room
The Sealed Room is an eleven minute film released in 1909. Directed by D.W. Griffith, the film's cast included Arthur V. Johnson, Marion Leonard, Henry B. Walthall, Mary Pickford, and Mack Sennett. The film was also known as The Sealed Door....
in 1926.
After an unsuccessful relocation to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1927, Shirley attempted a new endeavour in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
before spending four years in Hollywood from 1930. He married Frances Clayton in 1934, apparently believing his wife to be dead, but returned alone to Sydney later that year.
In 1938 he announced he was going to produce a film in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
called Wings of Love but this did not eventuate.
He adopted a son in 1940, and contested the 1943 federal election
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate for East Sydney
Electoral district of East Sydney
East Sydney was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales created in 1859 from part of the electoral district of Sydney, covering the eastern part of the current Sydney central business district, Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and...
. He devoted his retirement to archaeology and ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
. Shirley died at Rose Bay in 1967 and was buried at Waverley.
External Links
- Arthur Shirley at the Shirley Association website