Sir Frank Tait 1883-1965

In 1965 another of Frank Tait’s dreams was fulfilled, when Williamson’s presented Joan Sutherland in opera in her homeland. Sir Frank Tait, the last of the remarkable ‘family of brothers’, died on 23 August 1965, shortly after the Melbourne season ended.

For over 70 years the Taits had brought Australians some of the best of the world’s musical and theatrical attractions. Their philosophy of quality entertainment, well presented, rarely failed to win audiences. Although they were criticised for not encouraging local talent, they did provide – without any form of government subsidy – employment and experience for thousands of singers, musicians, actors and backstage personnel, and they undoubtedly lifted the standard of Australian theatre.

With the passing of the Tait brothers, the J.C. Williamson organisation struggled to survive, though Fiddler on the Roof in 1967 and Man of La Mancha in 1968 were notable successes. There was conflict between managing director John McCallum and John McFarlane, the managing director of the parent company, J.C. Williamson Ltd. In 1969 both men resigned and “The Firm” formed a partnership with the Herald and Weekly Times of Melbourne. In 1971 Williamson-Edgley Theatres was set up as a subsidiary of J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd, with Michael Edgley as managing director. Edgley withdrew a year later.

A grandson of John Tait, Alistair Mitchell, became managing director in 1973. In 1976, after an unsuccessful application to the Industries Assistance Commission, the company was wound up, its assets realised and its theatres sold. The name passed to a new company, J.C. Williamson Productions Ltd, a consortium headed by Kenn Brodziak of Aztec Services Pty Ltd, with Stadiums Ltd and Edgley International. The directors included Lady Viola Tait, widow of Sir Frank. The new company presented plays and musicals including A Chorus Line, before moving into the area of concert promotions. In 1984, the company was acquired by the Danbury Group, a private investment company.

In 1971 Lady Tait published A Family of Brothers, a valuable chronicle of the Taits’ remarkable contribution to Australian show business. Her second book, a pantomime treasury called Dames, Principal Boys… and All That, was published in 2001. She died on 6 February 2002. Her large collection of theatrical memorabilia was donated to the Victorian Arts Centre.

In 1992, in memory of their father and uncles, Sir Frank’s daughters established the Tait Memorial Trust. Lady Tait was the founding patron. The Trust offers awards and grants for postgraduate study and performance opportunities to young Australian musicians and performers, and assistance during their visits to Britain.

Frank Van Straten, 2007