Difference between revisions of "George R. Montford"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | (b. Bournemouth, Hampshire (today Dorset), **/**/1877 – d. Natal **/**/1940). | + | (b. Bournemouth, Hampshire (today Dorset), **/**/1877 – d. Natal **/**/1940). British-born actor, producer. Born Robert George Hogarth Mugford, he changed his name to George Robert Montford and, in the 1901 British Census, was described as a “touring actor”. In 1905 he appeared in ''Between Two Women'' at the Grand Theatre in Southampton and in December of the following year he joined a touring company on its way to Australia and New Zealand, acting in plays such as ''Home, sweet home'' and ''Human Hearts''. By 1909 he was back in Great Britain and in 1912-13 he toured the country with a repertory company, appearing in ''Kismet: an Arabian Night'' and ''Brought to Book''. In 1914 he came to South Africa for the first time as a member of the [[J.C. Williamson]] company that included [[Madge Fabian]] and [[Stephen Ewart]], but in 1915 he was back in Great Britain to act in ''Love and the Law''. |
| − | It’s not known how long he stayed, but in | + | It’s not known exactly how long he stayed in England, but in April 1917 he produced ''[[Kick In]]'' at [[His Majesty's]] in Johannesburg, the first play presented there by the newly arrived [[American Dramatic Company]]. This was followed in 1918 by ''[[Nothing But The Truth]]'', with a cast that included [[Edward Donnelly]], [[Florence Roberts]], [[Richard Scott]], [[Hilda Attenboro]] and [[Cecil Kellaway]], all of whom also appeared in films for [[African Film Productions]]. Montford himself had a small role in ''[[With Edged Tools]]'' (1919), directed by [[Joseph Albrecht]]. Shortly after its release in August 1919 he returned to England. He came to South Africa once again in March 1924 and acted in ''[[Trilby]]'', staged by [[Maurice Moscovitch]] at the [[Opera House]] in Cape Town. Soon afterwards the company sailed for Australia, but it is not certain that Montford actually accompanied them. In any case, at some stage he returned to and settled in South Africa and became a radio announcer and producer for the [[SABC]] in Durban. |
| + | |||
| + | He was married twice, in 1898 to Dorothy Caroline Bartlett (they were divorced in South Africa in 1918) and thereafter to Winifred Naomi Georgina Widdes. He died in 1940. (FO) | ||
Revision as of 22:11, 12 May 2015
(b. Bournemouth, Hampshire (today Dorset), **/**/1877 – d. Natal **/**/1940). British-born actor, producer. Born Robert George Hogarth Mugford, he changed his name to George Robert Montford and, in the 1901 British Census, was described as a “touring actor”. In 1905 he appeared in Between Two Women at the Grand Theatre in Southampton and in December of the following year he joined a touring company on its way to Australia and New Zealand, acting in plays such as Home, sweet home and Human Hearts. By 1909 he was back in Great Britain and in 1912-13 he toured the country with a repertory company, appearing in Kismet: an Arabian Night and Brought to Book. In 1914 he came to South Africa for the first time as a member of the J.C. Williamson company that included Madge Fabian and Stephen Ewart, but in 1915 he was back in Great Britain to act in Love and the Law.
It’s not known exactly how long he stayed in England, but in April 1917 he produced Kick In at His Majesty's in Johannesburg, the first play presented there by the newly arrived American Dramatic Company. This was followed in 1918 by Nothing But The Truth, with a cast that included Edward Donnelly, Florence Roberts, Richard Scott, Hilda Attenboro and Cecil Kellaway, all of whom also appeared in films for African Film Productions. Montford himself had a small role in With Edged Tools (1919), directed by Joseph Albrecht. Shortly after its release in August 1919 he returned to England. He came to South Africa once again in March 1924 and acted in Trilby, staged by Maurice Moscovitch at the Opera House in Cape Town. Soon afterwards the company sailed for Australia, but it is not certain that Montford actually accompanied them. In any case, at some stage he returned to and settled in South Africa and became a radio announcer and producer for the SABC in Durban.
He was married twice, in 1898 to Dorothy Caroline Bartlett (they were divorced in South Africa in 1918) and thereafter to Winifred Naomi Georgina Widdes. He died in 1940. (FO)
Sources
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities M
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
