Ethel Lang
Encyclopedia
Ethel Isabel Lang was an Australian actress prominent in radio in the '40s and '50s. She married elocution teacher James Brunton Gibb
in 1923. They frequently appeared on stage together.
While raising a family during The Depression and World War II
and beyond, she had an independent career:
Like her husband, she was generous in her support of charitable events, notably Legacy
. On occasion, she adjudicated at eisteddfods and produced performances by the Brunton Gibb Players, when she used her married name.
Peter and Wendy Brunton Gibb both excelled in elocution.
Wendy appeared in the 1949 Charles Chauvel film Sons of Matthew, left for London and joined Dan O'Connor
's British Commonwealth Players and in 1953 became Mrs Michael Benge.
Peter served with the RAAF during WWII and married in 1946.
Barbara was educated at Fort Street High School
and worked as a radio and stage actress associated with Doris Fitton
's Independent Theatre
and Mercury Theatre
under the name Barbara Brunton, marrying journalist Stuart Revill in 1952.
David became Professor of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at UNSW in 2001. He is commemorated at Sydney High School by the David Brunton Gibb Prize for Soccer.
James Brunton Gibb
James Brunton Gibb L.T.C.L. was a prominent Australian performer and teacher of elocution....
in 1923. They frequently appeared on stage together.
While raising a family during The Depression and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and beyond, she had an independent career:
- Leading parts in ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
radio feature plays 1930–40. - in One Man's Family for commercial radio 2SM.
- as "Aunt Jenny" in Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories for commercial radio 2UE 1943–51.
- as Mrs Lawson in the long-running ABC serial "The Lawsons", then as Mary "Meg" MacArthur in its even longer-running sequel "Blue HillsBlue Hills (radio serial).Blue Hills, written by Gwen Meredith, was an Australian radio serial about the lives of families in a typical Australian country town called Tanimbla. "Blue Hills" itself was the residence of the town’s doctor....
". - minor parts in other commercial radio serials, including When a Girl MarriesWhen a Girl MarriesWhen a Girl Marries was a daytime radio drama which was broadcast on three major radio networks from 1939 to 1957. Created by Elaine Sterne Carrington , it was the highest rated soap opera during the mid-1940s.The series premiered May 29, 1939 on CBS, moving to NBC on September 29, 1941 and then to...
and Mary Livingstone MD.
Like her husband, she was generous in her support of charitable events, notably Legacy
Legacy Australia
Legacy is an Australian organisation, established in 1923 by ex-servicemen. The organisation has the aim of caring for the dependents of deceased Australian service men and women. The dependants of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Malayan emergency and Vietnam War deceased are cared for...
. On occasion, she adjudicated at eisteddfods and produced performances by the Brunton Gibb Players, when she used her married name.
Recognition
She received the AM in 1992 for services to the arts and community.Personal life
They had a son Peter in 1924, a daughter (Judith) Wendy in 1925 a daughter Barbara Joan around 1928 and a son David in 1939. The whole family used "Brunton" as though it were part of their surname.Peter and Wendy Brunton Gibb both excelled in elocution.
Wendy appeared in the 1949 Charles Chauvel film Sons of Matthew, left for London and joined Dan O'Connor
Dan O'Connor
Daniel O'Connor is an Australian television actor and singer.He was one of the top 12 finalists in the 2004 series of Network Ten's reality talent contest programme Australian Idol, aired on Network Ten nationwide in Australia, finishing eleventh...
's British Commonwealth Players and in 1953 became Mrs Michael Benge.
Peter served with the RAAF during WWII and married in 1946.
Barbara was educated at Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and worked as a radio and stage actress associated with Doris Fitton
Doris Fitton
Doris Alice Fitton Mason, DBE was an Australian actress and theatrical director who founded and for 35 years headed Sydney's Independent Theatre, staging a diverse range of local and international dramas, many for the first time in Australia, including Sumner Locke-Elliott's wartime comedy, Rusty...
's Independent Theatre
Independent Theatre
The Independent Theatre was a dramatic society founded in 1930 by Doris Fitton , and was also the name given to the building it occupied from 1938. It was named for London's Independent Theatre Society founded by J. T...
and Mercury Theatre
Mercury Theatre
The Mercury Theatre was a theatre company founded in New York City in 1937 by Orson Welles and John Houseman. After a string of live theatrical productions, in 1938 the Mercury Theatre progressed into their best-known period as The Mercury Theatre on the Air, a radio series that included one of the...
under the name Barbara Brunton, marrying journalist Stuart Revill in 1952.
David became Professor of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at UNSW in 2001. He is commemorated at Sydney High School by the David Brunton Gibb Prize for Soccer.