1947
Ice Skating Star – Mrs. Wally Hadley
TWEED-CLAD, with a gay painted Jacgmar scarf knotted casually around her neck, London style, Mrs. Wally Hadley, formerly Miss Joan Lovell, one of England’s ice skating stars called in last week. This tall, slight young woman with ashblonde hair, her West Australian banjoist husband and three young sons are among recent arrivals from England. Staying at Cannington with Mr. and Mrs. George Hadley, they had come up to spend the day with dance-band leader Sammy Sharpe and bis wife, old friends whom they had not seen for eight or nine years. Mrs. Hadley who began her ice skating career at 19, said she had given it up five years ago when her third child was born; looking after a family in wartime England was a full-time job on its own, she declared. With the Phil and Meagan Taylor Winter Sports Show for a number of years, Mrs. Hadley said she had skated in almost every town , in England, as well as touring Holland. But for family responsibilities, Australia would have met her years ago when the Phil and Meagan Taylor Company toured the Commonwealth.
The Hadleys will probably settle in Perth, when Mr. Hadley’s Australian tour is over, but with plans so indefinite, Mrs Hadley seemed content to wave off the future while concentrating on adjustments to a life “so completely different” to that which she had known. Change of environment had apparently been no setback to the three young Hadley hopefuls aged 12, 10 and five. The elder two are already settled down in Cannington school and hoping to take part in localshow day events, while the five year old, although he had completed a year’s schooling in England, was able to revel in an unexpected holiday, still being below school age here.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 – 1954), Thursday 9 October 1947, page 4
1950
All Together With A Tra-la-la
EVERY musicker of note turned up at the Jack and Dudie Pateman’s Nedlands home for the serious business of wetting baby Graeme William’s head. They packed the women off to Sylvia Caporn’s home and the ”boys’ had a right royal time. During the arvo Harry Bluck cheffed up spag. savories and what have you. Pete Sullivan (not the curly headed one) brought a can of Indian curry. A spokeshavian playlet ‘Cinderella’ was produced by Maestro Beeson, featured Alan Gough, Cliff Adam, Pete Harrison, Merv Rowston and ‘Lily of the Valley’ Roberts. It was a real classic. Kev Logan even stopped hibernating and made an attempt to hydrate himself. They nearly sold him a sax. Sam Sharp put on a happy time and the beer flowed like wine. Ray Le Cornu did a job with the kegs. Chick helped the food along. Wally Hadley, Maurice Maurice, Keith Whittle. ‘Mule Train,’ George Caro, ‘Cigarettes’ Cooke, Baden Flxter, Butch Kirkby, Bill Kirkham, Henry Cochran. were ell in it. At nine o’clock sharp they drank a special toast to George Franklin— wherever he might have been between here and Curfew rang at 2 a.m and everyone departed for their homes. They tell me the Patemans have since bought a block and 3 tents in case of repercussions from neighbours who may dislike jazz, Dixieland — and just plain noise.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 20 May 1950, page 12
1952
Wally Hadley, who organised this year’s Jazz Jamboree, has been a guitarist for 22 years. He left Perth in 1934 and after playing at famous hotels in India and Ceylon went on to England where he joined up with Freddy Morgan to form a banjo duo.
Freddy Morgan, incidentally, is now with Spike Jones. This act toured the US, the Continent — playing at one time with the Folies Bergere — and also did two tours of Australia with the Tivoli Circuit.
Famous names with whom Wally Hadley has worked Include Ted Ray, Ronald Frankau, Max Miller and Josephine Baker. Wally, a printer by trade, works at the Government Printing Office. He ranks as topliners In his particular field, American banjoist Harry Reser and French guitarist Django Reinhardt.
1953
IMPROMPTU JAM STOLE THE SHOW
An impromptu jam session nearly stole the show at Thursday night’s WA Amateur Dance Band Concert at the Capitol Theatre. Composite band of members who had competed earlier, really went to town and had patrons rocking in their seats. Jam band was led by internationally known Harry Phillips on the trumpet and Sid Vandervelde on guitar. Boys really turned it on and the crowd went wild. Even when Sammy Sharp came forward to announce the night’s awards the audience clamoured for another spread of jam. So, a grinning Sammy waved the boys to continue. Night was a feast of bounce, jive and bop with the amateur instrumentalists showing enough promise to indicate that many will soon be making pro names for themselves. Hundreds were present to hear 13 outfits, ranging in size from 4 to 11 pieces, vie with one another in a variety of Jazz renditions. Judges Ken Murdock, Ron Moyle, Merv Rowston, Harry Bluck and Bill Kirkham were not set an easy task. Finally, they awarded the shield to the West Coast Dixielanders, a 7 -piece outfit led by Phil Battey on trumpet, George Battey, clarinet, Dick Hatton, trombone. Conn Goldsmith, bass, Bob Anderson, piano. Alan Blight, drums, and Vince Goldsmith, guitar. These boys have been playing together less than a year and decided at the last minute to enter the contest They will hold the shield until next year’s contests.
The Dixielanders all prefer the type of music their name suggests is their special dish and are keen on the Jelly Roll Morton school. Second place went to Neil Manno’s Quintette with the Jive Five led by Wynne Hammer third. Other awards were: Best Instrumentalist; Ray Taylor, trumpet. Best Guitar: Jimmy Taylor. Best Drummer: Wynne Hammer. Best Pianist: Thelma McGrath. Best Vocalist: Bill Groessler. Most promising reed player was 17-y-o Neil Boon, a Dutch youth. Organisers, the W A Musicians’ Union, Sammy Sharpe and compere Wally Hadley are to be congratulated on a good show which all agreed was a great improvement on previous contests and augurs well for the future of dance music in this State. Saw quite a sprinkling of musicians who have given up regular playing in the audience at the Capitol, including Harry Ward and Laurie McGrath.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 25 July 1953, page 11
NOTES ON THE DANCE BANDS
Thursday 27 August 1953
The Inkspots, not the famed coloured outfit, but a group of well-known business, sporting and musical folk who usually gather at popular Clive McMillan’s home, held a ladies’ night at the Continental, Claremont, on Thursday last. Guests included the following: Clive McMillan, Steve McHenry, Murray Church, Merv Rowston, Morry Maurice, Cliff Adam, Jim Beeson, Wally Hadley, Roy Delamere, Reg Benjamin, Jack and Jill Harrison, Johnny Mowson, Dr. Willington, Cyril Bird and Reg North. Mine host Harry Ward entertained on the banjo and joined the boys on trombone in several jam sessions.
Mirror Saturday 29 August 1953 page 13
Wally Hadley and Sammy Sharp were interviewed by Andrew Bisset for the History of jazz in Australia collection [sound recording]
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4604482
Bisset, Andrew. Black Roots White Flowers. Globe, 1987.