Jack Gavin Explained

John F. ('Jack') Gavin
Birth Name:John Francis Gavin
Birth Date:9 February 1874
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Death Place:Bronte, Sydney
Occupation:film director and producer; actor
Parents:Francis Gavin & Catherine (née O'Brien)

John F. Gavin (9 February 1874 – 6 January 1938) was a pioneer Australian film actor and director, one of the early filmmakers of the 1910s. He is best known for making films about bushrangers such as Captain Thunderbolt, Captain Moonlite, Ben Hall and Frank Gardiner. Known informally as 'Jack', Gavin worked in collaboration with his wife Agnes, who scripted many of his films.

Film historians Graham Shirley and Brian Adams have written; "although Gavin was prolific his later surviving work shows that his entrepreneurial talent outweighed any he might have had as director."[1]

Amongst several claims made later in life or soon after his death was one that he had made Australia's first animated short, an advertising film which featured a koala "lapping up a cough remedy".[2]

Biography

John F. Gavin was born in Sydney on 9 February 1874, the eldest child of Francis Gavin and Catherine (née O'Brien).[3] Gavin later claimed he worked for a circus as a ten-year-old.[4] He moved to the country and worked as a cattle drover, being involved in a record cattle drive from Camooweal in Queensland to Adelaide. "A man of fine physique and imposing presence"[5] he served for a time in the Sydney Lancers as the captain of a squadron. He was interested in acting and received an offer to join the touring company of Bland Holt. He stayed with them for a number of seasons, then travelled to the USA where he worked with Barnum and Bailey's Circus, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.[5] He married Agnes in 1898.[6]

Gavin returned to Australia and organised his own Wild West Show which was successful at the Melbourne Cyclorama, although he experienced a number of legal troubles.[7] [8] Gavin eventually had a company of 150 before moving into filmmaking. In 1908, he started managing theatres which he did for the next few years.[9] [10]

Filmmaking debut

His debut feature was about Thunderbolt, produced by H. A. Forsyth, and its success launched his career.[11] As one writer later put it:

With the aid of a gallant, if small, company of triers, including Mrs. Gavin as scenario writer and leading lady, and himself as leading juvenile, he turned out several films dealing with the convict and bushranging eras. There were no such things as studios then, and all scenes, exteriors and interiors, had to be shot in the open with Old Sol supplying the light. The results were considered quite satisfactory, and the pictures made money.[12]
He followed this up with Moonlite and by February 1911 it was written that "more film has been used over Jack Gavin than over any other Australian biograph actor."[13] He was described as "the beauteous bushranger".[14]

A newspaper profile attributed the success of Gavin's bushranging films to two main factors: the quality of horsemanship in them, and the fact they were normally shot on the real locations where the events occurred.[5]

Another writer stated in 1911 that "The pictures already turned out by Mr. Gavin demonstrates that in bio graphic art Australian producers are in no way behind their European and American brothers. Clearness in detail and execution, with the cleverly-constructed stories by Agnes Gavin enable Mr. Gavin to offer attractive films."[15]

A newspaper wrote a ballad about Gavin:

He played as Ben Hall, Moonlight too.He's also played with Holt.And on the screen he's to be seen.Dressed up as Thunderbolt. Whilst acting he has cried,'Bail up'.And put the tops to rout; In fact, he knows more bail upThan some chaps are bailed out.He poses as a cut-throat fierce, With pistols and a frown; But looks a harmless sort of cuss When strutting round the town.[16]
Gavin's films were also often accompanied by popular lecturer Charles Woods.[12]

His first two movies were made for H.A. Forsyth at Southern Cross Motion Pictures but he and Forsyth had a falling out and Gavin went his separate way, publicly announcing the fact in January 1911.[17] [18]

In July 1911 he set up his own company, the Gavin Photo Play Company, based out of Waverley.[19]

He was involved in the formation of the Australian Photo-Play Company but then established his own production company in October 1911.[20] [21] Gavin later said

I did not favour the idea [fo the APP] particularly, as they were introducing two more producers, and I did not think the time was quite ripe for such expansion. As it was, we were all making good money, but the extra people coming in would make the overhead absorb all this; so I pulled out and received a cash price for a parcel of shares, sold out my interest in the four films I had made, and started out on my own as the John F. Gavin Productions.
When bushranging films were banned in 1912 he turned to dramatising other true characters, such as Edith Cavell and Charles Fryatt.

In 1912 Gavin was arrested for owing money to a business associate, though he was later released.[22]

In January 1917 he took out a lease on a studio at North Sydney and announced plans for make four feature films over a year, starting with The Murder of Captain Fryatt.[23] He also started up a film school[24] and spoke of offers from America.[25]

Gavin was also credited as directing the first Australian advertising short film, a koala using a cough syrup.[26]

Move to the US

Making movies in Australia was becoming increasingly difficult for him so Gavin moved to Hollywood, where he lived for eight years in all, appearing in what he claimed were over 300 films[27] and becoming a friend of Lon Chaney[28] Rudolph Valentino and Stan Laurel.[29]

He reportedly also worked with Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard.[26]

Gavin claimed he helped popularise the drinking of tea in Hollywood.[29]

Return to Australia

He returned to Australia in February 1922 to make several outback films,[30] including a serial based on Ned Kelly, and set up a company in Brisbane,[31] [32] but faced censorship problems and could not raise the capital.

He went back to Hollywood in May 1923, then returned to Australia in 1925.

He gave evidence at the 1928 Royal Commission on the Moving Picture Industry in Australia arguing in favour of a quota for Australian films.[33]

Personality

He was described as "a big man with a generous and naive personality... more enthusiasm and stubborn persistence than talent."[34] Towards the end of his life he lived in a flat in Neutral bay and suffered from rheumatism.[29]

He died in 1938 survived by Agnes and their daughters.[35] A child had predeceased him in 1917.[36]

Filmography

Unmade films

Theatre

External links

Notes and References

  1. Graham Shirley and Brian Adams, Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years, Currency Press, 1989, p39
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-573153114/view?sectionId=nla.obj-576618634 Australian Movie Pioneers
  3. Family records, Ancestry.com.
  4. News: FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN RETURNS. . . Renmark, SA . 23 December 1927 . 3 October 2013 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: A Well-known Biograph Actor. . . Sydney . 4 February 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Family Notices. . . 5 September 1899 . 13 November 2014 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: A SHOWMAN CHARGED. . . Melbourne . 2 March 1906 . 3 October 2013 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: AN EMPLOYER SUED. . . Adelaide . 31 May 1907 . 3 October 2013 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Only an Acquaintance. . . Sydney . 29 August 1908 . 3 October 2013 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: New Bijou Theatre and Picture Palace,. . . Sydney . 5 September 1908 . 3 October 2013 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: AN AUSTRALIAN PRODUCER. . . Sydney . 12 August 1916 . 13 September 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: To Pana's Page On Passing and Past Shows. . The Referee. Sydney . 1 July 1931 . 13 September 2014 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: THE ST[?]. ]. . Sydney . 18 February 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: How They Advertise Plays. . . Sydney . 6 May 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: GENERAL GOSSIP. . The Referee. Sydney . 15 November 1911 . 13 November 2014 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: THEATRICAL TIT-BITS. . . Surry Hills, NSW . 8 February 1911 . 15 February 2016 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Advertising. . . Sydney . 4 January 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Advertising. . The Referee. Sydney . 4 January 1911 . 31 March 2015 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: Advertising. . . Sydney . 19 July 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Advertising. . The Referee. Sydney . 4 October 1911 . 15 February 2016 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: AN AUSTRALIAN PRODUCER. . . Sydney . 12 August 1916 . 3 October 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: PICTURE SHOW PRANKS. . . Sydney . 25 August 1912 . 24 June 2015 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: TRADE NOTES. . . Sydney . 6 January 1917 . 3 October 2013 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: The Miniature Picture Campaign. . . Sydney . 15 November 1917 . 3 October 2013 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: TRADE NOTES. . . Sydney . 7 April 1917 . 3 October 2013 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: AUSTRALIANA. . . Sydney . 1 January 1949 . 15 February 2016 . 21 . National Library of Australia.
  27. News: THE FILM TRADE. . . NSW . 22 October 1927 . 3 October 2013 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  28. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48053901?searchTerm=%22agnes%20gavin%22&searchLimits=l-category=Article%7Ccategory%3AArticle 'THE LATE LON CHANEY AUSTRALIAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED M-G-M STAR', Northern Standard (Darwin), Friday 14 November 1930 p 1
  29. News: "Modern Talkies Lacking In Action and Punch". . . Adelaide . 18 September 1937 . 15 February 2016 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  30. News: From Tram Guard to Film Actor. . The Evening News. Sydney . 21 April 1922 . 3 October 2013 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  31. News: PERSONAL. . . 11 November 1922 . 3 October 2013 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  32. News: Advertising. . . 21 November 1922 . 3 October 2013 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  33. News: QUOTA URGED. . . 18 October 1927 . 25 February 2012 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  34. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 11.
  35. News: Family Notices. . . 20 January 1938 . 3 October 2013 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  36. News: Family Notices. . . 12 September 1917 . 3 October 2013 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  37. News: LLOYD COMEDY AT THREE CITY THEATRES. . . Sydney . 1 May 1927 . 3 October 2013 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
  38. News: Advertising. . . Sydney . 29 November 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  39. News: A Great Australian. . . Sydney . 4 November 1911 . 3 October 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  40. http://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/movingpicturewor32newy_0125 "Australian Notes", Moving Picture World Date: Apr–Jun 1917
  41. News: MOTION PICTURE COLUMN. . . NSW . 21 October 1916 . 3 October 2013 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  42. Web site: Moving Picture World – Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library. lantern.mediahist.org. 14 June 2021.
  43. Web site: Moving Picture World – Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library. lantern.mediahist.org. 14 June 2021.
  44. Web site: Moving Picture World – Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library. lantern.mediahist.org. 14 June 2021.
  45. Web site: Moving Picture World – Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library. lantern.mediahist.org. 14 June 2021.
  46. Web site: Moving Picture World – Lantern: Search, Visualize & Explore the Media History Digital Library. lantern.mediahist.org. 14 June 2021.
  47. News: FOOTLIGHT FLASHES. . . Perth . 7 October 1922 . 3 October 2013 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  48. News: Advertising. . . Adelaide . 2 February 1907 . 3 October 2013 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  49. News: CAPTURED BY A SHARK. . . NSW . 24 December 1907 . 3 October 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.

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