The King of the Road

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The King of the Road
Written by Edward Irham Cole
Directed by Edward Irham Cole
Date premiered1900
Original languageEnglish
Seriesbushrangers
Subjectmelodrama

The King of the Road is a 1900 Australian play performed by Edward Irham Cole performed by Cole's Bohemian Drama Company about the bushranger Ben Hall.

The play appears to have debuted in 1900. [1] According to one description the play was "founded on episodes in the careers of the old time bushrangers Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner and the gangs that, in the days before telegraphs and railway extension, kept parts of this colony and Victoria in a state of terrorism." [2] The play featured the death of Hall. [3]

The play was part of Cole's repertoire of plays for the next decade. There were seasons in Sydney in 1904, [4] 1906, [5] 1907, [6] and 1908.

The play was also performed in Melbourne. [7] There were performances of the play as late as 1916. [8]

Lead roles were usually played by Cole and his wife Vene Linden. [9] Sometimes the lead was played by Cole's son-in-law Bill Ayr. [10]

Reception

Reviewing a 1908 production the Bulletin said the play "makes the blood-guilty Benjamin a sympathetic character–in a word, a Hero. The Hippodrome Ben is no common malefactor. He smokes not, neither does he swear or spit... Ben’s strong points are Manliness (on Manliness Benjamin is a veritable whale) and a certain maudlin and a illogical sentimentality which keeps him in a simmering fever-heat of trouble." [11]

Looking at the same production the Sydney Morning Herald said "The piece is full of sensational incidents and was well interpreted by the company." [12]

Cole and his company performed another play about Hall, Ransom which they later filmed as Bushranger's Ransom, or A Ride for Life . [13]

John Gavin later made a 1911 film about Hall's associate Frank Gardiner, Frank Gardiner, the King of the Road . [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Hall (bushranger)</span> Australian bushranger

Ben Hall was an Australian bushranger and leading member of the Gardiner–Hall gang. He and his associates carried out many raids across New South Wales, from Bathurst to Forbes, south to Gundagai and east to Goulburn. Unlike many bushrangers of the era, Hall was not directly responsible for any deaths, although several of his associates were. He was shot dead by police in May 1865 at Goobang Creek. The police claimed that they were acting under the protection of the Felons Apprehension Act 1865, which allowed any bushranger who had been specifically named under the terms of the Act to be shot, and killed by any person at any time without warning. At the time of Hall's death, the Act had not yet come into force, resulting in controversy over the legality of his killing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Gardiner</span> Australian bushranger (1830–1882)

Frank Gardiner was an Australian bushranger who gained infamy for his lead role in the a robbery of a gold escort at Eugowra, New South Wales in June 1862. It is considered the largest gold heist in Australian history. Gardiner and his gang, which included bushrangers Ben Hall, John O'Meally, Johnny Gilbert, Henry Manns, Alexander Fordyce, John Bow and Dan Charters, made off with a pile of cash and 77 kilograms of gold, worth about $10 million today. After several years in prison for the robbery, Gardiner was exiled and moved to the United States, where he died in or about 1882.

Ben Hall and his Gang is a 1911 Australian film about the bushranger Ben Hall, played by John Gavin, who also directed. It is considered a lost film.

The Life and Adventures of John Vane, the Notorious Australian Bushranger is a 1910 Australian silent film about the bushranger John Vane, who was a member of Ben Hall's gang. It is considered a lost film.

<i>Bushrangers Ransom, or A Ride for Life</i> 1911 film

Bushranger's Ransom, or A Ride for Life was an Australian silent film produced by Pathé Frères' in 1911, their first motion picture production in Australia after establishing a branch office in Sydney in April 1910. It was adapted from a stage play first performed in 1907 by E. I. Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company.

The Five of Hearts is a 1911 Australian film from Edward Irham Cole based on a stage play about Buffalo Bill which Cole had performed extensively. It is also known as A Maiden's Distress or Buffalo Bill. It was reportedly the longest of Cole's films.

Sentenced for Life is an Australian film directed by E. I. Cole. It was an adaptation of a play performed by Cole and his Bohemian Dramatic Company as early as 1904.

<i>Dan Morgan</i> (film) 1911 film

Dan Morgan is a 1911 Australian film from Charles Cozens Spencer about the bushranger Daniel Morgan. It was said to be starring "Alfred Rolfe and company". Rolfe directed three movies for Spencer, all starring himself and his wife Lily Dampier so there is a chance he may have directed this one and that it starred his wife. A prospectus for the Australian Photo Play Company said he directed it. It is considered a lost film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Irham Cole</span> Australian theatrical entrepreneur and film director

Edward Irham Cole was an Australian theatrical entrepreneur and film director whose productions represented a synthesis of Wild West show and stage melodrama. He managed a theatre company, called the Bohemian Dramatic Company, that performed in semi-permanent and temporary tent theatres. During 1910 and 1911 Cole directed a number of silent films, adapted from his stage plays and using actors from his theatre company.

Hands Up, or Ned Kelly and His Gang is a 1900 Australian play by Edward Irham Cole about Ned Kelly.

Whirlwind, the Bushranger, or the Roaring Forties is a 1907 Australian play by Edward Irham Cole about the ficitious bushranger.

The Missing Partner, or the Swagman is a 1904 Australian play by Edward Irham Cole. The play was set in the world of mining.

With the Colours is a 1905 Australian stage drama by Edward Irham Cole set during the Second Boer War. It became one of the key plays in Cole's repertoire.

A Convict's Sweetheart is a 1906 Australian play performed by Edward Irham Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company. It may have been written by Cole.

Coo-ee; Or, Wild Days in the Bush is a 1906 Australian play by Edward William O'Sullivan. It was originally performed by Edward Irham Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company.

Captain Moonlite, the Wantabadgery Bushranger is a 1906 Australian play about the bushranger Captain Moonlite that was first produced by Edward Irham Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company.

For King and Empire is a 1906 Australian play by Edward Irham Cole although several scenes and incidents were suggested by Edward William O'Sullivan.

Outlawed by Fate, or the Bushranger's Bride is a 1908 Australian stage play that was presented by Edward Irham Cole's Bohemian Dramatic Company.

Hunted to Death, or Tales of Old Bendigo is a 1907 Australian stage play that was presented by Edward Irham Cole's Bohemian Drama Company. The play made its world debut in Melbourne. The play then toured in Sydney.

Canowindra; or, The Darky Highwayman and the Settlers’ Homes on the Abercrombie, a tale of New South Wales in 1863 is a 1863 Australian stage play by Charles Edwards about bushrangers. The play was one of the earliest colonial stage plays about bushrangers. It debuted at the Victoria Theatre in Sydney.

References

  1. ↑ "Advertising". The Mountaineer . Vol. VI, no. 314. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1900. p. 5. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "KING OF THE ROAD". Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent . Vol. XXXV, no. 87. New South Wales, Australia. 3 November 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "No Title". Forbes Times . Vol. XXIV, no. 1436. New South Wales, Australia. 3 November 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 20, 541. New South Wales, Australia. 8 January 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 21, 365. New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "THE STRUTTER'S PAGE". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People . Vol. 10, no. 25. New South Wales, Australia. 9 March 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Advertising". The Age . No. 16, 367. Victoria, Australia. 27 August 1907. p. 10. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "AMUSEMENTS". Barrier Miner . Vol. XXVIII, no. 8550. New South Wales, Australia. 14 January 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "HAYMARKET HIPPODROME". Referee. No. 1033. New South Wales, Australia. 22 August 1906. p. 12. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "STAGE, SONG, AND SHOW". The Australian Star . No. 6329. New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "SUNDRY SHOWS.", The Bulletin., Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 27 Feb 1908, nla.obj-695159152, retrieved 3 April 2024– via Trove
  12. ↑ "THE HAYMARKET HIPPODROME". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 21, 873. New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Advertising". The Queensland Times . Vol. LII, no. 8088. Queensland, Australia. 1 April 1911. p. 1. Retrieved 4 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "Advertising". The Referee . No. 1266. New South Wales, Australia. 8 February 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 4 April 2024– via National Library of Australia.
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