George Wallace (Australian comedian) facts for kids

George Stephenson "Onkus" Wallace (born June 4, 1895 – died October 19, 1960) was a famous Australian comedian. He was also a vaudeville performer, a radio star, and an actor in movies.

In the early to mid-1900s, George Wallace was one of Australia's most loved comedians. He was popular on stage and in films. He was a small, round man with big eyes and a funny, croaky voice. He often wore baggy trousers, a checkered shirt, and a felt hat. His comedy career lasted for 40 years, from the 1920s to 1960. He performed on stage, on the radio, and in movies. Ken G. Hall, a director who worked with him, said George Wallace was the best Australian comedian he ever knew.

Biography

Early life

George Stephenson Wallace was born in Aberdeen, New South Wales, Australia. His father, George Stevenson "Broncho" Wallace, was a painter and performed in minstrel shows. Young George first appeared on stage at age three in a Sydney play. He performed with his parents in their song-and-dance act.

Later, he earned money by performing on the streets near the Pyrmont, New South Wales waterfront. He also worked in an ink factory and as a farmhand. At 16, he joined a traveling show.

Personal life

George Wallace married Margarita Edith Emma Nicholas on January 3, 1917. They moved to Sydney in 1918. Their son, George Leonard Wallace, later became a famous comedian too.

Professional career

In 1919, George Wallace started a comedy act with Jack 'Dinks' Patterson. They called themselves "Dinks and Onkus," like "The Two Drunks." They danced and sang. Even though Wallace looked like a strong worker, he was surprisingly good at acrobatics. People loved his slapstick style and how he seemed like an everyday person.

Later, Wallace started performing by himself. He became very popular in Sydney and joined the famous Tivoli circuit. There, he worked with British actress Jenny Howard. By the 1920s, he was known as one of Australia's "Big Three" comedians. He wrote all his own jokes and acts. In 1942, he wrote a popular song for World War II called "A Brown Slouch Hat with The Side Turned Up."

Film star

In the 1930s, George Wallace became a movie star. He acted in five comedy films and was one of Australia's biggest film stars. Three of his films, His Royal Highness (1932), Harmony Row (1933), and A Ticket in Tatts (1934), were directed by F. W. Thring. During this time, Wallace also performed on stage for Thring's company.

He once said he turned down an offer to make films in the United States.

His other two films, Let George Do It (1938) and Gone to the Dogs (1939), were directed by Ken G. Hall. George Wallace did more than just act in these movies. He helped create the ideas for His Royal Highness, Harmony Row, and A Ticket in Tatts. He also helped write Let George Do It and Gone to the Dogs. He even unofficially directed a short film in 1932 called "Oh! What a Night!" Later, he had small roles in two drama films: The Rats of Tobruk (1944) and Wherever She Goes (1953).

Films

The five main films George Wallace starred in are important examples of his work. They show why some people called him Australia's version of Charlie Chaplin.

George Wallace had his own unique style. His clothes and way of speaking showed he was an Australian working-class person. This was different from Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp" character. Wallace's performances were special because he combined tap-dancing with funny falls.

His films were also ahead of their time. For example, His Royal Highness featured a fictional country called Betonia. This was before other famous films like Duck Soup (1933) by the Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator (1940) did something similar. Wallace's films also had funny parts about haunted houses and scientific experiments. This showed how creative Australian filmmakers were, even when competing with big Hollywood movies.

Many vaudeville performers moved from stage to movies as films became more popular. George Wallace did the same. However, the Australian film industry in the 1920s and 1930s faced many challenges.

After World War II, Wallace continued to work in radio and on stage. He also had some film roles. But his film career never reached the same heights as it did in the 1930s. This was partly because F. W. Thring died in 1936, and Cinesound Productions stopped making feature films in 1940. Despite these challenges, Wallace's films remain a highlight of Australian comedy.

Legacy and influence

George Wallace's films influenced later Australian comedians. These include Barry Humphries and Paul Hogan, who also moved from stage to TV and film. Unlike many Australian comedies from before World War II, Wallace's films focused on city life, not just the Australian countryside. This was a new direction for Australian comedy.

His career as a popular comedian lasted four decades, from the 1920s to 1960. He performed on stage, radio, and in movies. Ken G. Hall, who directed him, said George Wallace was the best Australian comedian he knew.

In recent years, a documentary film called Funny By George: The George Wallace Story was made about him. There was also a stage show about his life called Falling On My Left Ear: A Show About George Wallace.

George Wallace's son, George Leonard Wallace (known as George Wallace Jnr), also became a famous comedian. He was very successful on television in the late 1950s and 1960s. His TV show, Theatre Royal, won a Logie Award in 1962 and 1963.

Filmography

Unmade films

• Ginger Murdoch (1930s)

Select theatre credits

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)