Tal and Robin Ordell photographs and drawings, ca. 1920-ca. 1946

PXE 1321

fonds

ca. 1920-ca. 1946

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Drawings

901624

21 photographs - black & white, sepia: - 29.5 x 24.5cm and smaller
3 drawings - pen & ink: - 35 x 31 cm and smaller

Talone Ordell (1880? - 1948), born William Talone Raymond Ordell Buntine but better known as Tal Ordell, was an Australian actor, writer and director. After studying drawing and painting he worked extensively on stage and screen as an actor in the 1910s and 1920s, playing Dad Rudd twice for Raymond Longford and Dad Hayseed - a similar role - three times for Beaumont Smith. He turned director with The Kid Stakes (1927), based on the cartoon character Fatty Finn and featuring his son Robin. In 1920-21 Ordell portrayed Dave in Raymond Longford's films On Our Selection, and its sequel. By 1934 he was established as an Australian Broadcasting Commission storyteller. His instructional chats with Robin soon developed into a children's serial, 'Wattletown', that ran for five years. In 1934 he moved to 2UE as a story-teller.

Robin Ordell joined the RAAF in World War II and rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He was killed in 1945 while piloting a Lancaster bomber over Holland. He was awarded a posthumous D.F.C.

References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, (MUP), 1988
MLMSS 4822

3 photographs of Tal Ordell in acting roles, ca. 1920s.
3 photographs of Robin Ordell as Fatty Finn, 1927.
1 photograph of Tal and Robin Ordell, ca. 1936
2 photographs of Tal Ordell "during his 2UE years".
1 photograph of Robin Ordell and Colin Croft, ca. 1941
3 photographs of Robin Ordell with comedienne and actress, Joy Nicholls, 1942.
2 photographs of Robin Ordell's "send-off" at the Pickwick Club, 1942.
2 photographs of Robin Ordell on stag, 1943.
1 photograph of Robin Ordell and his bomber crew, 1944.
1 photograph of a group, including Tal Ordell, at the Pickwick Club, undated.
1 photograph of Tal Ordell and his step-daughter, Joyce Dowling Smith at Government House, ca. 1946.
1 photograph of a letter to Joy Nicholls from Judy Garland, 16 April 1942.

2 cartoons, pen & ink, by Tal Ordell, undated.
1 cartoon, unsigned, pen & ink, undated.


Part of the Ordell family papers relating to Tal Ordell and Robin Ordell, ca. 1920-1981 at MLMSS 4822

Out of copyright: photographs created before 1955
Out of copyright: drawings - artist died before 1955.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Pic.Acc. Update Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.6238 as part of the eRecords Project, 2012-2013

Most of the photographs are identified.

Good condition