1936
Dance In Honor Of Young Couple
SOME 60 friends of Miss Phyllis Joyce and Mr. Robert Hagan gathered at the Carlton Club last Thursday evening to wish them happiness in their approaching marriage. Dancing was enjoyed, the music being supplied by Miss Sylvia Caporn and Mr. Ray Le Cornu. The guests of honour were presented with a handsome silver teapot.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Monday 20 July 1936, page 6
1937
MRS. RAYMOND H. LE CORNU . . . who, until her marriage this afternoon, was Miss Sylvia Caporn, of Claremont.
Titian Haired Bride In White Satin
White satin was the choice of the titian-haired bride at the wedding of Miss Sylvia Patricia Caporn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Caporn, to Mr. Raymond H. Le Cornu, only son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Le Lornu, of Bayswater, which was solemnised in the Methodist Church, Claremont, this afternoon. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of white satin with a lily-leaf design at the neckline, wide shoulders, long tight sleeves coming to a point over the hands, and front and back panels. The back panel extended into a long train, edged with folded satin. Her tulle veil, which was worn over the face as she entered the church, was caught with a bunch of pearls, and reached to the edge of the train. She carried a small sheaf of white lilac. Old-World Gowns The bridesmaids, Misses Joy Caporn (the bride’s sister) and Myrtle Carlton, were frocked alike in old-world gowns of moon-glint stiffened net, with puffed sleeves and rosettes encircling the hems of the full skirts. Bonnet-shaped hats of net with trailing ribbons and un-usual bouquets of wheat and blue scabious completed their ensembles. The best man was Mr. Jack Cardigan, and the groomsman Mr. Ralph Walters. The Reception After the ceremony a reception was held in the Myola Club hall. Mrs. Caporn wore a gown of navy crepe and white georgette, and carried a bouquet of mixed roses. Mrs. Le Cornu was in pink, and also carried roses. Later Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Le Cornu left by car for their honey-moon, the bride travelling in a frock of rhythm blue crepe trimmed with stiff black net, and black straw hat and accessories.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Saturday 20 February 1937, page 13
CONCERT AT PRISON
Mrs Page Lennon presented the Pleasant Hour concert party in a varied programme to the inmates of the Fremantle Prison last Sunday. Those helping on this occasion were Mr. Ray Le Cornie (orchestra), Misses Jenny Deering, Ethel Crisp. Alma Crane, Vera Fletcher, Sylvia Caporn, Valda Gray, Edna Lancaster, Jean Kurts and Nellie Kershaw, Messrs. Jack Maloney, Wally Wandless, Harry Dorrington, Kay Norgard, Norm. Dunne, Harry Pender, Kay Le Cornie, Ron Alexander, Reg. Harte, George Brown and Jess Frankish. Thanks are due to Messrs. Gus Shulman, Arnold Kershaw, Norm Reid, Roy Saunders, Arthur Hoskins, Jack Maloney, Ray Langley and Laurence Brewer for driving the artists to and from the prison. The accompanists were Misses Jenny Derring and Sylvia Caporn. Mr. Jess Frankish arranged the programme.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Thursday 8 July 1937, page 10
1939
On Sunday May 7th 1939 Jack Harrison was guest artist in a “Radiola Rhythm” broadcast by Radio 6PR relayed to 6AM and 6WB.
Billy Barnes Memories
Picking up the thread of Bitty Barnes’s reminiscences… We were discussing the Radiola Rhythm Band around 1935-6. Then Alwyn Kurts conceived the idea of community concerts with variety, and the Town Ball shows were launched. These proved so popular that a larger hall had to be obtained, so a shift was made to the Capitol Theatre. Personnel comprised Alwyn Kurtz compere, Sylvia Caporn piano, the late ‘Skip’ Alexander clarinet and sax, Viv Nylander trumpet, Alf Shute bass, and Billy Barnes guitar vocals and comedy. Show then transferred to the Ambassadors, which became a very popular mid-day show and continued until war broke out and the outfit then carried on the good work entertaining at camp concerts. Mirror Saturday 6 June 1953 page 12
1945
P.O.W. WELCOMED. First of a Series of Dances. The first of the monthly series of the POW Relatives’ Association’s “welcome home” dances proved so popular last night that by 9 o’clock the doors of the Town Hall had to be closed. Crowds of ex-POW and their friends crowded the ball while many more looked on from the balcony. The GOC, Western Command (Major-General A. J. Boase) was present. The chairman of the association (Rev C. E. Taylor) welcomed the men and pointed out that the dances were intended for renewals of friendships and a chance for servicemen to get together. He said that the association intended to hold a dance on the last Tuesday of every month and hoped it would not be long before many of the POW in Japanese hands would be able to be present, Nell Shortland-Jones was in charge of the programme while the music was supplied by Sylvia Caporn.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Wednesday 1 August 1945, page 7
1947
THREE MEMBERS of a Perth band gave a noisy farewell to people who watch them leave for Collie for the first of a series of one-night performances which will take in nearly all principal country centres. Northam and Bunbury are next on the list. Left to right above are George Caro (saxophone), Peter Boyd (trumpet) and Sylvia Caporn (pianist).
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Tuesday 9 December 1947, page 12
1949
(photo) The Rhythmettes: A combination regularly featured in “Mirth and Music” from 6WF on Tuesday nights. Left to right: Harry Bluck (leader, piano accordionist and arranger), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Sylvia Caporn (pianist), Ralph Filmer (bass), George Hay (guitar) and Bill Hendrie (guitar).
The Broadcaster Saturday July 2 1949 Vol. 16. No. 796
1950
A.B.C. TO VISIT MANDURAH
For the first time since the inception of the A.B.C. programme “I’ll pay that One” the unit will make a public visit to a country district on Thursday October 26. On this date, competitors in the enjoyable quiz will be drawn from residents of Mandurah and surrounding areas at an evening at the Hotham Valley Hall, Mandurah, at 8 o’clock. Before recording “I’ll Pay that One”, the visiting ABC team will offer the audience a number of items interspersed with community singing led by jovial compere John Juan. Producer of the show is well-known saxophonist Dave Howard who, with pianist Sylvia Caporn, will play several popular numbers. After this interlude, recording begins of “I’ll Pay that One”. This is a bright session based on a simple quiz which contestants never have any trouble answering. It is the only West Aust, feature broadcast regularly to all Australian States, including New Guinea, and is a regular feature of programmes on Radio Australia. An A.B.C. spokesman said this week that members of the “I’ll Pay That One” team were looking forward to the Mandurah visit because it represented the first of the country contacts which they hoped to make more frequently in the future.
South Western Advertiser (Perth, WA), Thursday 12 October 1950, page 8
1951
Square Dancing Draws Record Attendance At Pinjarra Hall
The introduction of Square Dancing to country districts proved an outstanding success at Pinjarra when representatives of the ABC, Messrs. Dave Howard, Bob Scudder, Harry Bluck, George Caro and Sylvia Caporn entertained a capacity house on Monday night. From Harvey to Armadale, Mandurah to the Hills Districts, the record crowd came. So many attended that the entrance to the street and side windows crowded as they endeavoured to see the new craze which is
sweeping the country. As an introduction to country towns the success of the venture is assured. That a record crowd would be in attendance was obvious by the number who attended to receive tuition given between 6 and 8 p.m.
Popular Caller
Caller Bob Scudder carried the evening with a swing and kept the large crowd entertained with his variety and versions of old and popular songs. From toddlers to ancients who came along just for the heck of seeing the dance, from the gentleman in the dinner suit to the teenager with the gaily coloured swinging skirt it was entertainment plus. The echo of those enjoying themselves awakened residents who until the end of the evening would find sleep impossible.
Captivating
It is rarely that one dance can captivate an audience for a whole evening, normally one dance repeated throughout would become monotonous but the square dance with variety has set a precedent. Not since the Charleston swept the country has anything been seen like this. So much were the crowd enjoying themselves with laughter and song that two small children having a free for all near the entrance were passed unnoticed. As the crowd swelled into the hall endeavouring to enjoy the fun they pressed onto the stage among the musicians who didn’t seem to mind and were obviously enjoying themselves as much as anyone. When it became obvious that no more could be admitted Dave Howard forsook the ticket office for his main attraction, the saxophone, and joined the band.
South Western Advertiser (Perth, WA), Thursday 15 March 1951, page 1
Symphony In Swing
On Thursday October 4, Harry Bluck will present is annual concert in the form of the Jubilee Symphony in Swing.
Kath Bass (pictured) will be one of the vocalists. The orchestra will consist of 30 dance and symphony players. Lionel Lewis will compere the show. Featured soloists will include: Clarinettist Jack Harrison, pianist Ossie Sanderson, soprano Phyl Davidson, accordionist John Todd, vocalist Anatol Pablo, comedian Laurie Croisette, saxophonist Dave Howard, vocalist Phyllis Frost, the popular radio vocal Tritoff’s Trio, pianist Sylvia Caporn, harmonica player Vic de Lano, Latin dancers Robert and Shelda, organist Allan Golding. Harry Bluck reports that his recent Eastern states trip enabled him to bring back many special orchestrations and arrangements which will be presented at the concert.
The Broadcaster October (from Jack Harrison scrap book)
1952
OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEW SERVICE STATION
Strangers coming into Merredin on Thursday last were a little bewildered as to what was going on. It was not a public holiday or gala day anywhere in the State as far as they knew, but something unusual was certainly going on in the Eastern Wheatbelt capital. Coming into town from the west, the eye met flags flying in Memorial Park, miniature flower beds with flowers of every variety blooming in profusion, which would be the envy of any gardener; fountains with statuettes emitting aqua purra for the goldfish, all this being surrounded by lawns giving a most picturesque effect.
From an improvised platform, the compere, Mr. Ian Millbank invited the company to partake of the good things provided, and then introduced some A.B.C. talent in Sylvia Caporn (pianist), Nea Sharpe (violinist), and Nell Shortland-Jones (soprano) who would entertain during the afternoon. Nell, who is so popular throughout Western Australia, set things moving from the right foot by her superb rendering of the soprano solo, “Because of You,” and as a demand encore “Be My Love.” Other renditions during the afternoon increased this artists popularity. Sylvia Caporn also pleased with piano solos, and Nea Sharpe’s artistic handling of the violin was captivating. A local artist to face the mike was our own Mrs. Chadwick, who as a prelude to her song, “Kimona,” described how when bathing at the coast without bathers, they lost their kimonas and found themselves in an awkward predicament. This brought forth rounds of applause and cries for more, which was willingly given. Then the roof almost lifted when Mr. Bill Kennedy, Dalgety’s rep., was announced as the next artist. Bill has a deep bass-baritone voice which he uses with telling effect in light and shade passages such as are necessary in his selection of the popular ballad, “Klondyke Kate.” The applause had hardly subsided when it broke out afresh at the appearance of Bill Sheridan, Bill’s rival, who was determined not to be outdone and to keep Elder’s flag flying by rendering “Will She Ever Come Back to Me”, a number that gave him plenty of scope to use his beautiful lyric-tenor voice to the best advantage and if there happened to be a wager on this competition we would give it as a photo finish.
Merredin Mercury (WA : 1912 – 1958), Thursday 19 June 1952, page 3
1953
DANCE BAND NOTES
Ladies’ auxiliary of the Musicians’ Association held two successful functions recently. First was the annual dinner at Earl’s Court and then the children’s Xmas tree al Cottesloe Civic Centre. Races and novelties were presented on the lawns and a spread was held in the Lesser Hall, which coincided with the arrival of Santa, who distributed toys from the tree. Congratulations to popular sec. Sylvia Caporn and her energetic committee.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 19 December 1953, page 13
1954
Dance Band Notes
Well known Perth dance and radio band leader Harry Bluck is now convalescent after parting with his appendix at Westminster last week. Harry won’t be back on deck until February, so Sylvia Caporn will fill in on piano, and saxophonist Jack Pateman, who has been associated with HB. tor 8 years, will deputise with the baton. The jive contest will commence at the open air at Cottesloe Palais tonight. Sammy Sharp’s band will dish out their usual groovy rhythms.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 9 January 1954, page 10
Moora Football Association Presentation Ball
The Central Midlands Football Association are holding their 1st Annual Presentation Ball on Wednesday. October 13 1954 at the Moora Town Hall. It is hoped that a large crowd will be in attendance to enjoy the evening which is guaranteed, to be entertainment at its best. Sylvia Caporn on of W.A.’s leading musicians has been engaged to provide music, the catering arrangements for supper are in the hands of Mrs. C. S. Brown—locals will need no further recommendation that this side of the evening will highly successful. During the evening a short ceremony will take place at 10.30 p.m. when the Kestel Gold Medal for Fairest and Best for the season the leading goalkickers trophy etc., will be presented.
Midlands Advocate (Perth, WA), Thursday 30 September 1954, page 3