Frank Samuel Tait
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Frank Samuel Tait (12 November 1883 – 23 August 1965) was an Australian theatre entrepreneur, managing director of
J. C. Williamson's J. C. Williamson's, formerly Williamson, Garner, & Musgrove and Williamson and Musgrove, was an Australian theatrical management company and theatre owner. With its beginnings in the theatrical productions of J. C. Williamson and his p ...
. He was the youngest of five Tait brothers, well known in Australia as show-business entrepreneurs and managers.


History

Tait was born on 12 November 1883 in Richmond, Victoria, the youngest son of John Turnbull Tait (1830–1902), who in 1862 emigrated from Scotland to Victoria, Australia, where he married Sarah Victoria Leeming (c. 1837 – 9 August 1923). They had children in Castlemaine, and one, Frank Samuel, in Melbourne. Tait attended Richmond State School and
Melbourne Church of England Grammar School Melbourne Grammar School is an Australian Independent school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Day school, day and boarding school. It comprises a co-educational preparatory school from Prep to Year 6 and a middle school and seni ...
. He became general manager of J. C. Williamson Theatres in 1914. In February 1921 J. C. Williamson's Ltd created an additional 75,000 shares in the company, issued to the brothers John Henry Tait, Edward Joseph Tait, James Nevin Tait, and Frank Samuel Tait, trading as "J & N Tait", for £1 each. Tait was appointed a director of JCW around the same time. He was co-founder in 1935 and co-proprietor of Village Theatre Ltd. with Hirsch Krantz, John Henry Tait, Karl Millbrook and Jascha Spivakosky, co-directors. Connection or otherwise with Village Roadshow or Village Cinemas has not been found. In June 1938 Australian and New Zealand Theatres Ltd. was founded to control the assets of J. C. Williamsons. Initially G. B. Dean, S. S. Crick, and Frank Tait served as joint managing directors, then around 1940 he became the managing director of Australian and New Zealand Theatres, Ltd.


Later life and legacy

Tait was knighted in 1956 and died in Portsea, Victoria on 23 August 1965, aged 81. The
Tait Memorial Trust The Tait Memorial Trust MTis a charitable foundation, first established in the United Kingdom, with the chief purpose of providing financial support to outstanding young performing artists from Australia and New Zealand who wish to pursue post-gr ...
, instituted in 1992, was named in his honour.


Family

Tait married twice, on 29 November 1913 to Iris Olga Field Barnard (c. 1893 – 19 August 1938) and (secondly) to the soprano Viola Wilson Hogg aka
Viola Wilson Viola Wilson (1 November 1911 – 6 February 2002) was a Scottish singer, the leading soprano for J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan company in Australia during World War II. She married the widowed theatre businessman Frank S. Tait, later Sir ...
(1 November 1911 – 6 February 2002) on 16 August 1941. They had a residence Hopetoun Road, Toorak, Victoria. His children include: *Joan Iris Tait (1914 – before 2002) married John Masters on 5 April 1938. They had a daughter Diana Masters on 27 July 1939. She married (later Air-Commodore)
Gordon Steege Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege, DSO, DFC (31 October 1917 – 1 September 2013) was a senior officer and pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight ae ...
on 5 January 1946. Their son Peter Steege was born 1953. *Peggy Elfrida Tait (1916– ) married Alan Lionel Benjamin on 4 December 1941. Benjamin was a lawyer and debating champion. Both were involved in amateur theatre. She married again, to a Mr Cabot. *Peter Frank Tait (c. 1920 – 1928) *Ruth Tait (died before 2002) *Isla Frances Tait (born 30 May 1943) married Julian Baring (9 December 1935 – 5 September 2000) on 23 May 1970. They had two children. He was financier in London. *(Viola) Anne Tait (born 20 December 1944) married Oliver Streeton on 28 July 1968, adopted surname "Seddon". *Sally Tait (born 16 July 1949) married a Mr Bell


See also

Brothers of Frank S. Tait include: * Charles Tait (1868–1933) *
John Henry Tait John Henry Tait (21 August 1871 – 23 September 1955) was an Australian film and theatre entrepreneur who often worked with his brothers Charles, Nevin, Edward and Frank. John Tait was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, the son of John Turnbull Tai ...
(1871–1955) *
James Nevin Tait James Nevin Tait (27 June 1876 – 1961) was an Australian concert promoter and film producer born in Castlemaine, Victoria who often collaborated with his brothers Charles and John. Nevin Tait was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, the son of John ...
(1876–1961) *
Edward Joseph Tait Edward Joseph Tait (13 July 1878 – 12 July 1947), generally known as "E.J.", was an Australian theatrical entrepreneur closely associated with the firm of J. C. Williamson Ltd, and was involved with concerts and theatrical productions for mo ...
(1878–1947) Stage people gave nicknames to the young Tait brothers: "Agitate" (J. H. Tait), "Irritate" (J. N. Tait), "Hesitate" (E. J. Tait), and "Cogitate" (F. S. Tait).


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tait, Frank S. 1883 births 1965 deaths Australian theatre owners Show business families of Australia