ABERDEEN’S Golden Oldies for Golden Oldies event is set to enjoy a local twist next week, with the group watching a film from Aberdeen-born film icon George Wallace.
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Wallace was born in the Upper Hunter town in 1895, and went on to be one of the pioneers of Australian movies, and gained so much stardom he even appeared on advertisements in England, which was an incredible feat for the time.
His comedy, A Ticket in Tatts, which was written by and starred the actor, was one of the first “talkies” ever produced in Australia.
It will also be one of the oldest films the Upper Hunter Museum of Rural Life (UHMRL) volunteer group, who runs the event, has ever shown.
They will host a screening at the Aberdeen Sports and Recreation Club Auditorium on Tuesday, September 11, at 11.30am, which will also include a three-course luncheon.
The entry fee is only $10, and long-time volunteer Jan Sumner said it’s a great opportunity to support the group who are trying to do good for the community.
She also encourages people to come along to witness one of the country’s most talented entertainers of the early 20th century.
“He was one of Australia’s first movie stars I suppose,” she said.
“He made four or five movies of his own, he was a vaudevillian so he sung, he danced, he wrote the scripts, he wrote the play, he painted the backdrops – he did the lot.
“He was an all-rounder, a short, little tubby guy with a floppy hat and a fall down and make them laugh sort of character.”
Ms Sumner hopes the laugh-out loud flick will generate some much-needed money for the organisation, who has been trying to bring tourism to the town by relocating the UHMRL to Aberdeen.
“We started out about 12 years ago to raise funds for a museum and cultural centre in Aberdeen,” she said.
“There is a beautiful museum out at Glenbawn Dam that has been closed up and left to rot virtually.
“We saw the potential to relocate it to Aberdeen and make a tourist attraction of it – and make it available for people to come have a look at.”
Unfortunately they haven’t been able to achieve that goal yet, and Ms Sumner has urged people to help out in any way possible, with volunteers being required across a number of roles.
She is herself leaving the group soon and said anyone interested in movies, old or new, should step in and help out.
Booking can be made by contacting 6543 8356 or 6543 7150.
