George Stephenson "Onkus" Wallace (4 June 1895 – 19 October 1960), was an Australian comedian, actor,

vaudevillian Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

and radio personality. During the early to mid-20th century, he was one of the most famous and successful Australian comedians on both stage and screen, with screen, song and revue sketch writing amongst his repertoire. Wallace was a small tubby man with goggle eyes, a mobile face and croaky voice who appeared in trademark baggy trousers, checkered shirt and felt hat. His career as one of Australia's most popular comedians spanned four decades from the 1920s to 1960 and encompassed stage, radio and film entertainment. Ken G. Hall, who directed him in two films, wrote in his autobiography that George Wallace was the finest Australian comedian he had known.

Early and personal life

George Stephenson Wallace was born in

Aberdeen, New South Wales Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, in Upper Hunter Shire. It is 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. History In 1828 Thomas Potter McQueen was granted 10,000 acres, and ...

to George Stevenson "Broncho" Wallace, a painter, and Catherine Mary Ann, née Scott. His father toured in minstrel shows, and George junior appeared at age three in a Sydney pantomime. He was in his parents' song-and-dance act until they divorced. He later busked in

Pyrmont, New South Wales Pyrmont is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is also part of the Darling Harbour reg ...

waterfront, worked in his stepfather's ink factory, and was a farm-hand and canecutter in North Queensland. He then joined a road show at age sixteen. Wallace married Margarita Edith Emma Nicholas on 3 January 1917 and moved to Sydney in 1918. Wallace worked at Newtown Bridge Theatre for £4 a week. Wallace used his wife in his act. Their two-year-old son join them in acrobatic poses. His parents separated in 1924.

Professional career

In the 1919 he formed a double act with Jack 'Dinks' Patterson as "Dinks and Onkus" (The Two Drunks), created in the style of Stiffy and Mo The pair danced and sang, and for someone who looked like a wharfie (with his barrel chest and short legs) Wallace was surprisingly acrobatic and light on his feet, and the public loved him for his slapstick style and

everyman The everyman is a stock character of fiction. An ordinary and humble character, the everyman is generally a protagonist whose benign conduct fosters the audience's identification with them. Origin The term ''everyman'' was used as early as ...

appeal. Turning solo, Wallace was soon snapped up by the Fuller circuit in Sydney and from there he moved to the Tivoli Theatre circuit. At Tivoli, he was teamed up with British actress, Jenny Howard. By the 1920s, he was considered to be one of the "Big Three" most popular performers in Australian comedy. He wrote all of his own scripts and in 1942 penned a song that was to become a

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

standard, "A Brown Slouch Hat with The Side Turned Up". The 1930s saw George turn his talents to film. He starred in five films, all comedies and was the biggest, if not the biggest, Australian star. Three of these, '' His Royal Highness'' (1932), '' Harmony Row'' (1933) and '' A Ticket in Tatts'' (1934), were directed by F. W. Thring for Thring's company, Efftee Film Productions. Wallace was under contract to Efftee during this time for an estimated £3000 – £5000 per year, during which he also made stage appearances for the company."Counting the Cash in Australian Films"', ''Everyones'' 12 December 1934 p 19-21 He said in 1933 that he turned down an offer from Universal to film in the US. The other two, '' Let George Do It'' (1938) and '' Gone to the Dogs'' (1939), were directed by Ken G. Hall for

Cinesound Productions Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was an Australian feature film production company, established in June 1931, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred on Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from produ ...

. Wallace's contributions to these films extended beyond his performances. He developed the concepts for ''His Royal Highness'', ''Harmony Row'' and ''A Ticket in Tatts'' by drawing on his stage revues, and co-wrote ''Let George Do It'' and ''Gone to the Dogs''. Wallace's other film work included a 1932 short film, "Oh! What a Night!", which he is said to have directed unofficially. In later years, he was seen in supporting roles in two dramatic films, '' The Rats of Tobruk'' (Charles Chauvel, 1944, Australia) and '' Wherever She Goes'' (Michael Gordon, 1953, USA/Australia).

Films

The five feature films Wallace starred in are among the few surviving examples of his work. As the most sustained series of Australian comedian comedies produced before World War II, these films provide some support for the claim that George Wallace is Australia's equivalent of

Charles Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consid ...

. In his physical presentation as well as his performance style, George Wallace differed from international stars of slapstick comedy. For instance, his clothing and speech allude to an Australian working-class type and contrast with

's mock-dapper Tramp persona. The fact that Wallace's performances combine tap-dancing with pratfalls makes him unusual among film comedians anywhere. Moreover, Wallace's films prefigure developments in Hollywood comedy. An example is the fictional country of Betonia in ''His Royal Highness'', which predates satirical depictions of fictional nations in such celebrated films as The

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

' '' Duck Soup'' (1933) and

's ''

The Great Dictator ''The Great Dictator'' is a 1940 American anti-war political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin, following the tradition of many of his other films. Having been the o ...

'' (1940). Other aspects of Wallace's films that are relatively unusual for the period are the comedic treatment of haunted houses in ''Harmony Row'' and ''Gone to the Dogs'' and scientific experimentation in ''Gone to the Dogs'', which emphasize the resourcefulness of Australian filmmaking in the face of Hollywood's international dominance. George Wallace's transition from stage to screen parallels the career progressions of many internationally famous vaudeville performers in a period when movies' popularity was eclipsing live theatre. However, the financially struggling Australian film industry of the 1920s and 1930s provided fewer opportunities than Hollywood did. Although Wallace continued to work after World War II, with a successful career in radio and on stage as well as occasional film roles, his film career never returned to its 1930s peak. This was undoubtedly influenced by factors outside his control, such as F. W. Thring's death in 1936 and

' decision to cease feature film production in 1940. Indeed, the films that Wallace stars in defy the fact that the Australian film industry was already struggling to survive. These films continue to be a high point of Australian screen comedy.

Legacy and influence

The films Wallace made with F. W. Thring influenced subsequent Australian comedians who successfully made the transition from stage to television and then film, such as

Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries (born 17 February 1934) is an Australian comedian, actor, author and satirist. He is best known for writing and playing his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. He is also a film pr ...

Paul Hogan Paul Hogan (born 8 October 1939) is an Australian actor and comedian. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance as ...

and the ''

Frontline (Australian TV series) ''Frontline'' is an Australian comedy television series which satirised Australian television current affairs programmes and reporting. It ran for three series of 13 half-hour episodes and was broadcast on ABC1 in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Produc ...

'' team. Unlike many Australian comedies made before World War II, Wallace's films do not celebrate the bush as "the essence of Australianness". Instead, these films are significant for reflecting Australian comedy's movement away from the bush to emphasise urban settings, which would become more prevalent in later Australian comedy. However, the full significance of Wallace's films in relation to later Australian screen comedy is perhaps yet to be understood. His career as one of Australia's most popular comedians spanned four decades from the 1920s to 1960 and encompassed stage, radio and film entertainment. Ken G. Hall, who directed him in two films, wrote in his autobiography that George Wallace was the finest Australian comedian he had known. In recent decades, George Wallace has been the subject of a documentary film, ''Funny By George: The George Wallace Story'' and a stage show about his life, ''Falling On My Left Ear: A Show About George Wallace''. Wallace died of chronic bronchitis and emphysema at his home in

Kensington, New South Wales Kensington is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area (LGA) of the City of Randwick, in the Easte ...

. George Wallace had one child, George Leonard Wallace (George Wallace Jnr.), who became a famous comedian in his own right. He had considerable success on television in the late 1950s, and 1960s winning Logie Awards in 1962 and 1963. George Wallace Jnr's television show, '' Theatre Royal'', which originated in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...

, won six Logie Awards from 1962 to 1967.Raymond Evans, 'Wallace, George Leonard (1918–1968)', ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, pp 470-471

/ref>

Filmography

Unmade films

* ''Ginger Murdoch'' (1930s)

Select theatre credits

* ''A Fireman's Troubles'' (1919) – Sydney * Act with Jack Paterson, Dinks and Onkus (circa 1919–23) – Harry Clay Sydney suburban circuit * ''Mulligan's Mixup'' (1921) – revusical * ''Two Days Out'' (1921) – revusial * ''In a Ballroom'' (1922) – revusical * ''Over the Hills, Tally Ho'' (1922) – revusical * Fullers Theatres New Zealand tour (1924) * George Wallace Revue Company (1924–30) – revue – various * ''A Dancing Delirium'' (1924) – revusical * ''Some Night'' (1924) – revusical * ''Alpine Antics'' (1924) – revusical * ''The Pickled Porter'' (1924) – revusical * ''Off Honolulu'' (1924) – revusical * ''Harmony Row'' (1924) – revusical * ''The Oojah Bird'' (1924) – revusical * ''At the Cross Roads'' (1924) – revusical * ''Lads of the Village'' (1924) – revusical * ''Midnight Revels'' (1924) – revusical * ''Dangerous Dan'' (1925) – revusical * ''Athletic Frolics'' (1925) – revusical * ''Money and Matrimony'' (1925) – revusical * ''The Sparklers'' (1925) – revusical * ''Rising Tides'' (1926) – revusical * ''Night Lights'' (1926) – revusical * ''Happy Moments'' (1926) – revusical * ''Scrambled Fun'' (1926) – revusical * ''His Royal Highness'' (1927) – revusical * ''Married Bliss-ters'' (1928) – revusical * ''Bald Heads'' (1928) – revusical * ''Me and My Girl'' (1929) – revusical * ''S.S. Sunshine'' (1929) – revusical * ''Cinderella'' (1931) – Melbourne * Frank Neil Musical Comedy Revue (1932) – Brisbane * '' Collits' Inn'' (1933–34) – musical – Melbourne, Sydney * ''Oh What a Night'' (1933) – revusical * '' The Beloved Vagabond'' (1934) – Melbourne, Sydney * ''Business as Usual'' (1939) – revue – Tivoli Circuit * ''The Crazy Show'' (1940) – revue * ''Beauty on Parade'' (1945) – revue – Melbourne * ''Gay Fiesta''/''Mother Goose'' (1951) – Adelaide * ''Thanks for the Memory'' (1953–56) – revue – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide * ''A Night of Pink Champagne'' (1954) – revue – Melbourne * ''The George Wallace Show'' (1955) – revue – Broken Hill * ''Pin Up Parade'' (1955) – revue * ''The Good Old Days'' (1956–57) – revue – started Sydney then toured to Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and throughout New Zealand, then returning to Sydney

Radio

* ''The George Wallace Programme'' (1942) * ''Trial by Music'' (1948) * ''George Wallace's Barn Dance'' (1949) * ''The George Wallace Road Show'' (1949–50) * ''The George Wallace Show'' (1950–53)

References

;Other references * Bertrand, Ina. ''Australian Film Studies: Efftee Productions'', La Trobe University Centre for the Study of Educational Communication and Media, Bundoora, 1977. . * Bridges, Nancye. ''Curtain Call.'' Cassell. * ''Funny By George: The George Wallace Story'', Director Don Percy, Writing Credits Jim Murphy, Australia 1999. * Pike, Andrew, and Ross Cooper. ''Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production''. Oxford University Press and Australian Film Institute, Melbourne, 1980. .

External links

*
George Wallace
Biography at the ''Australian Variety Theatre Archive''.
George Wallace
Portrait, screenography and film extracts at ''

Australian Screen Online The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national c ...

''.
George Wallace
Portrait at ''Live Performance'' Australia Hall of Fame.
George Wallace
Theatre credits at ''

AusStage AusStage: The Australian Live Performance Database is an online database which records information about live performances in Australia, providing records of productions from the first recorded performance in Australia (1789, by convicts) up unt ...

''.
George Wallace
Collection listing at the '' National Film and Sound Archive''.
Performers: George Wallace
Portrait at ''Laughterlog''. Includes extensive radio and film lists.
Wallace, George Stephenson
Biography at '' AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource''.
Wallace, George Stephenson (1895–1960)
Biography at '' Australian Dictionary of Biography'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, George 1895 births 1960 deaths Australian male comedians People from New South Wales Australian film studio executives 20th-century Australian comedians