Abbreviation | VAC |
---|---|
Formation | 1966 |
Type | Not-for-profit society |
Website | http://www.vac.org.nz |
The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand entertainment industry and foster a spirit of loyalty, friendship and cooperation between members. [1] Each year the VAC presents a number of New Zealand entertainment awards including the prestigious Benny Award. [2] [3] [4]
The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Incorporated (VAC) was formed in 1966 with the name of The Variety Artists Convention. Founder members include Les Andrews QSM, Edgar and Doris Benyon, Lou Clauson QSM, Dave Cowel, Peter Evans, Eddie and Elaine Hegan, Chic Littlewood, Pat McMinn OBE, Simon Mehana, Sally Metzger, Peter Newberry, Mary Throll, George Tumahai and Jon Zealando. The name was changed to The Variety Artists Club in 1968. In 1972 the club became an incorporated society. The same year the VAC Benevolent Fund was established to serve as an aid to variety performers who were experiencing financial hardship. [1]
Membership in the VAC is open to those with a link to the entertainment industry. Members include actors, comedians, composers, magicians, musicians, screenwriters, singers, speakers and other variety performers. Theatrical agents and technicians also make up the membership. [1]
Patrons of the VAC are NZ Journalist and Media Personality David Hartnell MNZM and Gray Bartlett MBE.
Founding President Lou Clauson QSM was a patron of the club until his death in 2013. Dame Thea Muldoon, the wife of former New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon was Patron until her death in 2015.
Each year the VAC presents prestigious awards to those involved with the entertainment industry. [5]
The Benny Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed to a New Zealand variety entertainer. [3] [4] [6] It is presented annually to a variety artist who has achieved a lifetime of excellence in their field of the performing arts. [7] [8] It was first presented to legendary New Zealand variety performer Edgar Benyon (1902–1978) in 1969. [9] Recipients of the Benny Award include many New Zealand household names and figureheads of entertainment including Ray Columbus, [10] Sir Howard Morrison, Ricky May, Billy T. James, Dame Malvina Major, Rob Guest OBE and John Rowles OBE.
Carl William Doy is a British-born New Zealand pianist, composer and arranger. One of New Zealand's most successful musicians, Doy is probably best known for his multi-platinum selling Piano By Candlelight albums.
Sir Howard Leslie Morrison was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.
David Alexander McPhail was a New Zealand comedic actor and writer whose television career spanned four decades. McPhail first won fame on sketch comedy show A Week of It, partly thanks to his impressions of New Zealand prime minister Robert Muldoon. He went on to appear in multiple series of sketch show McPhail and Gadsby, and hit comedy Letter to Blanchy. All three shows featured his longtime friend Jon Gadsby.
The following lists events that happened during 1969 in New Zealand.
The following lists events that happened during 1972 in New Zealand.
Edward Robert Low is a musician from New Zealand.
Sir John Edward Rowles is a New Zealand singer. He was most popular in the late 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, and he is best known in New Zealand for his song from 1970, "Cheryl Moana Marie", which he wrote about his younger sister.
Dame Thea Dale Muldoon was the wife of Robert Muldoon, who was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. She was also known for her community service.
Alan Scott Watson is a professional magician living and performing in Auckland, New Zealand. He has been performing professionally for more than 30 years and has been presented with some of magic's highest awards and accolades.
Raymond John Patrick Columbus was a New Zealand Benny Award-winning singer and songwriter, television host, music manager and entertainer, with a career spanning six decades. As the lead singer of Ray Columbus & the Invaders, his best-known hit was "She's A Mod".
Robert John Guest was a New Zealand-Australian actor, television personality and host and singer, who started his career in pop music in New Zealand, before becoming best known for his work in Australian musical theatre, particularly in various productions of The Phantom of the Opera. He played the lead for a record-breaking 2,289 performances over seven years, more than any other performer.
Suzanne Joy Lynch is a New Zealand singer who has worked professionally under the names Suzanne Donaldson, Suzanne Lynch and Suzanne.
Wilfred Jeffs, better known by the stage name Bill Sevesi, was a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
David Harold Ward Hartnell is a New Zealand journalist and media personality best known for his Hollywood gossip column and best-dressed lists. He was the first full-time celebrity gossip columnist in New Zealand and his work appeared in print, radio and television. His syndicated columns have run in magazines and newspapers around the world. Hartnell is the author of ten books, the Patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and the Ambassador of St James Saviours. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and in September 2016 the Patron of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc.
Edgar Wilson Benyon was a New Zealand magician, juggler and entertainer. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 29 March 1901.
The Grand Master of Magic Award is a lifetime achievement award presented by the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Incorporated on behalf of the magicians of New Zealand. It was first awarded in 1969 and to date it has been awarded on nineteen occasions.
The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who has achieved "A lifetime of excellence in their field of the performing arts".
Mick Peck is a professional award-winning magician based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Graham Neil Bartlett, generally known as Gray Bartlett, is a New Zealand born guitarist, country music performer, producer, talent mentor, tour promoter and entrepreneur.
The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc (BAM) is a New Zealand-based non-for-profit organisation and magic club. It was founded in 1946.