Photos of Adelaide in the 1950s.

I ran across this website story while trying to find out what the event at the town hall might have been.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/photos-of-everyday-life-in-adelaide-in-the-1950s/story-fni6uo1m-1226983270157?nk=816965287d4502f2fdc1f44f44842c03
Wonderful old photos, and filled with memories. Sorry if not all can see them. Seems that you have a limited number of 'free' articles that you can read. :(
It's one of the first references I've seen to the Koala zoo. It was in the parklands, a bit north of the zoo. It's there that I rode an elephant, I'm sure.
I remember the city baths (swimming pool) but know that many avoided it because of catching something 'nasty'. How true that was, I don't know.
I love the Royal show photos, was such an event. I loved everything about it. Show bags, Fairy Floss, sample size bottles, animals and more.
Sunday drives with picnics, thermos of tea was a 'must have'. That first photo was like so many. So typical.
Charlesworth nuts was a 'must' to visit each time one went to the city.
And it's amazing to see how close some got to the Queen, when she visited.

Page 4 of my miniatures - some are from South Australia.

The landscape is the Dry Creek wetlands, north of Adelaide, and the sunsets are local Adelaide, South Australia beaches. I'm doing an archive of all my art (no easy task). Currently working on my dollhouse miniatures. I'm up to page 4.
This is a link to this page on my 'artistjillian' website:
http://www.artistjillian.com/miniature-art-dh04
Graphic shown above is a pictorial summary of the 10 original paintings on that page. The page includes painting details. All are 1:12 scale.
Some of these were done for themed work for miniature enthusiasts (Paris/Tuscany) specifically for their dollhouses/room boxes.

Dancing for the Mayor of the City of Adelaide - Adelaide Town Hall

I think this is the first time I ever was in such a grand building. It was the Adelaide Town Hall. I'm not sure of the occasion, but there were a lot of us 'fairies'. I think I got to be there because of St. Agnes church in Grange, but not sure. They used to have dancing and calisthenics in the adjacent hall (as well as wedding receptions, sales, etc.).
I know much preparation went into it. I don't know if the dress was hand made, but know the sequins were sewn on by hand. The fairy wings were coat hangers, shaped, and covered in tulle. With sequins sewn on it. The wand and headband with star was cut out carefully from cereal boxes to a pattern, then covered in foil. This was all a fascinating process to me, and I know I helped out.
I don't remember much about the performance. The building was big, the curtains were deep red velvet and very heavy. It was cold. I had a heavy coat on over my costume. There seemed to be a lot of confusion, and a lot of kids. I know it was a very special occasion, but have no memories of what it was about. I do remember the audience being very enthusiastic in their applause. It was thunderous to me. I was only used to the meager clapping in local town hall and church halls in and around the Henley and Grange area.
I hated getting the eyebrows drawn on, and look so fake. I am sure I probably wasn't standing very still for it. I remember the lipstick, making 'cherub' peaks in the middle. It was bright red, and had to purse and contort my lips for this process. I never did take much to wearing lipstick, and never red or any dark colors. Though loved the shimmering pale pink lipstick I got for my 'big' thirteenth birthday when I was deemed to be a 'big' girl.
I haven't marked the photo as copyright. But it is. Please don't use without my written permission. Thank you.

Page 2 of my miniature paintings - featuring some of South Australia

OK. Page 2.
The dogs were from about 2001 or 2002 - at the S.A. Canine grounds? By Grand Junction Road.
The yellow dinghy was Port Adelaide, and the sunset was Semaphore Jetty.
Below that is a Grange beach sunset, and next to that a stormy sea - winter at Maslins Beach.
The old gate is at a gallery in Port Wakefield. Don't know if it's still there - late 1990s - same street as the old abandoned railway station, I think.
The roses are a path in North Adelaide.
The 2 heritage homes are in North Adelaide. I think the top one was done by a noted architect.
Anyway - more to come.
My 'new' website is up and running in its correct place. Starting to put up inventory and stories behind my artworks.
This is page 2 of my 1:12 scale dollhouse miniatures.
http://www.artistjillian.com/miniature-art-1-12-scale-page-2
You can see where my heart is. - Animals (dogs), gardens/old things, beach/ocean/sunsets, and houses, particularly old ones, both these are heritage homes. The first had animals (cats), birdlife, beaches, flowers/gardens, old things (buildings) and beaches. 

Perhaps a more personal look at 'me'. My artworks - many feature South Australia.

Being so far away from Adelaide, I can't say - hey I did a painting of here. So you may recognise some of these places.
The top left - roses are from the rose garden at the Botanical Gardens in Adelaide - Kent Town.
The old ginger cat was at Kapunda Railway Station.
The pine cones on the table was at Riverton Railway Station.
The morning glories was on an old shed west of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club.
The rose bush was somewhere in North Adelaide.
The beach scene was at Henley South.
I am getting my art together, along with the stories behind the paintings. This is the first page - numbers 1-10 of my miniature paintings in 1:12 scale - meant primarily for dollhouses, roomboxes, etc.
http://www.artistjillian.com/miniature-art-1-12-scale-dollhouse

Alick Lill - Magarey Medalist

PHOTO: © Jillian Crider

This is a photo I have just scanned of 'uncle' Alick. He was a Magarey Medalist when he played for Norwood Football Club. Some of his information can be found on Wikipedia - HERE.
This is just a small photo, probably taken with a 'Brownie' box camera. I think this is Darwin? during WWII. He signed the back of it. I think it was sent to Uncle Wally & Auntie Dulcie - see below.
He was the father of John Lill, also known in the sports world. I always had fond memories of him. He was a bank manager for the South Australian Bank, and was well respected in that position, from what I understand.
He was great 'mates' with my Uncle Wally (Walter Williamson). Also on Wikipedia - HERE. Who was also notable in the football world. He was captain of West Torrens when they won their premiership. The football was donated to the Football club - accepted by Bruce Lindsay (sp?) in the early 1980s. It had a silver shield with all the players names on it.
I can remember as a child, loving going to my Aunt's (Dulcie, wife of Uncle Wally) home in Jetty St., Grange, and the footballers would be there. A marquee was put up in the yard. Great fun was had by all!

"Texting" in school classrooms in the 'good old days'.

This photo has been doing the rounds on social media websites (FB, etc.).

It reminded me of my personal story:

"For sure! In high school, I sat at the back of the class. There was a knot hole in the floor boards, so I used to push notes down into it, after reading them. One day I was in the school yard with a girlfriend, and had the occasion to look under the school buildings. (The buildings were 'transportables' - easy to shift around as needed.) 

They were up on blocks and the underside was boarded off with wood, but with spaces in between of a couple of inches, to let air circulate under the rooms. (No airconditioning in rooms.) She and I became engulfed in laughter - so much so, a teacher came to find out what was going on. 

There was a HUGE 'pyramid' of paper under the building. Probably 2-3' high and stretching over about 10 square feet! All under the knot hole in my classroom. I wonder if this is still so. What a story some of these notes might tell. Love you Henley High School."

The Movie "Cabaret" starring Liza Minnelli. 1972.

A friend of mine was talking of Liza's powerful performance in the movie Cabaret.
This movie is very memorable movie in my life.
September/October 1972 it was released in Australia (at that time we usually had to wait 6 months for movies to filter through from the USA. 

I was wanting to see it so badly, but was heading for London, so I was really upset to miss it. Got on board the 747 and what was slated to play ... Cabaret. 

Joel Grey was extraordinary too. (Money makes the world go round). I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although did keep raising the window 'curtain' to look at the Aussie outback, which was totally amazing too! (I have a photo or two to prove it! :) )

I feel even a bit more 'connected' to this movie, and Liza, as I got to London, and Liza was having a rather torrid affair with Peter Sellers and it was front page news, they were making out in the parks and so forth. *lol* Then of course, later going and living in Germany for 3 years, and learning of the culture there and seeing remnants of the war post 'just' some 27 years later (seemed a long time at that time, but so soon after, I feel, now), but there was a lot - visited prison camps, and explored burnt out tank shells when camping out in German war fields.

Anyway, Liza sure packed a punch with "Mein Herr" for sure. Won me over.

People/Horses on beach at Semaphore Beach - New painting.

I've wanted to paint this for a long time, so I can't help but wonder where these people are now. No doubt the 'little' girl is at least a teenager. Dawn at one of Adelaide, South Australia's beaches (Semaphore). Where horses are allowed to exercise on the beach and in the surf up until 8am. At one stage this was along all the beaches, and a great many were exercised at Grange, where I lived, and was lucky enough to be let ride sometimes, as a child. I've done several paintings from this location. Love this with the Mum, child, big and little horses (Shetland pony), and Jack Russell Terrier running alongside. Original watercolour 6x6"

"Starting The Day With A Gallop" - currently listed on eBay for a week at a very low starting price (along with 7 other SFA watercolors). http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=291060359629

1950s - Dog Shows

One of the most amazing times of my young life began when Mum & Dad went out rather secretively and came back with a German Shepherd puppy. Evidently my Mum had wanted one. We named her 'Trixie' (Rowlandscourt Nerissa?) and was bought from a breeder in Brighton. She was a few months old, or thereabouts. I was instantly in love. 

For a long time German Shepherds were in my life, and in my young pre-teen and teen life bought about a 'life' outside the home. We would go to dog shows all over. Just about every community had dog shows and most would be held in conjunction with community fairs (agricultural societies). I loved looking at the crafts, arts, cooking, preserving, and visiting all the animals. We would have great picnic lunches, and I learnt all the fine details of showing dogs, and, as a 'child handler' won many certificates and ribbons. For a while I started training as a judge, and almost immediately became a 'mid-wife' when litters were born. Trixie would let me near, but noone else. She would commence the birth process in my bedroom, so my room became a baby birth station. I had always said I wanted to be a veterinary surgeon, so this fitted in beautifully. Even though my parents told me that I couldn't (I was a girl). My other choice was to be an artist - a commercial artist - even though I didn't truly know what that was. Just knew that it was what I needed to be. I always told people I was an artist. I didn't even know artists, so I was a bit 'weird' to most with this desire. It stood me in good stead in later years, getting a job at a Veterinary Clinic in Atlanta - where I discovered I LOVED the veterinary life, and think I would have made a great surgeon!

Anyway, this is one of the many certificates I got - this was a 2nd prize, on 10-10-59 - Kapunda and Light Agricultural Society Inc. Championship Show. The childish hand for breed, class, name, and exhibitor is probably my handwriting. I can remember that some certificates weren't fully made out. But I didn't falsify it. It was won as stated.

Henley High School - 1960s - Death of Headmaster

I remember that the headmaster of Grange Primary School was Mr Wade, and us students loved him. 1950s. I have a feeling that he died while I was attending there. But it was with total shock that Mr Senior died when I was at Henley High School. I'm not sure of the year - 1964, or 3?

It was such a new school, and held up as a shining example of the times, and we all were so very full of enthusiasm. So full of hope for the future, full of vitality, and activity. This is the news clipping from the newspaper at the time.

One of the 'administration' steps taken at one stage, was to separate boys and girls at recess and lunch breaks. Whether it was put in to effect by the headmaster (not sure which one), or teachers, or prefects, I don't know. I heard stories about why this 'rule' was put in to effect, but won't repeat it here. 

What was the most amazing thing was what happened. There was a drain between the 'old' and the 'new' school where we were told not to cross, boys in 'new' side as was closest to the oval, and girls in the old.

I can remember being one of the first - I don't know how it all started, but once started the whole school joined in. We sat on the ground. Boys on one side of the drain, girls on the other. I can't remember singing, or clapping or anything, but know that the new 'rule' was quickly retracted, and we were all told to get up and go about our usual activities. I'm not quite sure how many students took part. But can remember telling people that there were 900 students. But heck - memories are so fleeting and funny at times. Not all is as remembered.

People of the 1960s - Henley Beach Sailing Club (West Beach) + Sturt Movie Theatre

This is an old clipping in the society pages of the Australian Women's Weekly. Not sure of the year. 1960s?
Mr Gordon Wright was the father of a guy I dated in the 60s. Mr Wright was the manager of the Sturt movie theatre in Rundle Street (now Rundle Mall), in Adelaide. The lotteries commission was built on this site. I remember seeing 'The Graduate' there. It was quite a startling movie at the time - very 60s! Also I think I saw 'Mondo Carne' there? and definitely 'Oliver Twist'.

Mr Wright lived at West Beach, not far from the Sailing Club, and was an active sailor. For many years I would go past his house, as many did, and see the yacht he was building - quite a talking point as it was made of concrete.

UPDATE: I'm now fairly certain that I saw 'Mondo Carne', which was considered quite shocking at the time, at the Capri Cinema. I don't know if it still exists as I haven't lived in Adelaide since mid-2003. I believe it to be off either Goodwood or Unley Road. A beautiful theatre. Roundness comes to mind and stucco. Think the facade had these. Gold stucco and reddish accents?

1960s + Yoyo craze + Col. Light statue, North Adelaide

OK. This is an item in "The News" - the evening newspaper at the time. 19th February, 1964.

I'll never know who took the yo-yo down (installed 11th - Sunday evening), but I do know who put it up and who aided by holding onto the rope, and moving it around to the other side of the statue to stop headlights of passing cars finding out what was going on. ;)

At least one of us was not totally sober. Forgotten exactly who was there, and how many. But two I do know.

Henley & Grange earthquake - 1964? - Newspaper clipping.

Made the Adelaide 'Advertiser' newspaper front page.

BUT was eternally made fun of by school pals - at Henley High School they hadn't felt it. I was at my aunt's home on Military Road, Henley Beach (3 houses south of North Tce), sitting on a concrete porch. I'd left school early to go to a doctor's appointment. It felt like a big rumbling truck to me, and I looked for it, but couldn't see one. That was more than a mile away from the Tucker/Pearson home in Grange, mentioned in the article.

I remember the 'big' one in Adelaide when we were soundly shaken in the early 1950s. At the time I shared a bedroom with my Mother. I believe it was the early hours of the morning. I woke up, and the windows were shaking - like a rumbling was happening. At the time the railway line was on Military Road, just below us, at our back fence, with house on Seaview Road. Mum had her bed light on, and I asked her what was happening. She told me it was a train going by, to go back to sleep (thanks Mum! - just as well the house didn't come crashing down!). The windows were 'old' glass with rope pulls at the sides. They did rattle with buses on Seaview Road in later years. 

UPDATE - ADD ON: Seems I've already posted on this. See http://bornin1948.blogspot.com/2012/04/earthquake-newsclipping-adelaide-beach.html and also http://bornin1948.blogspot.com/2012/04/earthquake-hits-adelaide-south.html

Story behind the newspaper photo - Henley High School Prefect Induction 1964

Getting your photo in the Adelaide 'Advertiser' newspaper was always quite an accomplishment. As Henley High School was such a relatively new school (opened 1958), our first prefect induction was covered in the news.

The photographer gathered all the prefects together, then wanted some 'regular' students in the photo, too. The only students were guys - left behind to pack up the metal chairs that we had sat on in the quadrangle. The photographer wanted some female students, but as it was a break most had gone to activities on the oval and far away.

Typically I and my best friend, Robin were where we weren't really supposed to be - inside the main building corridor. They reporters grabbed us and shoved us right behind the prefects, and in front of the guys.

I remember it as being a very uplifting assembly and occasion.

I think part of this photo was part of the celebrations for 50th anniversary of Henley High School. I can always remember going to a display at Henley Town Hall in the 80s or early 90s and the Henley & Grange Historical Society had included this photo in their 'historical' display. You can imagine what went through my mind with that! Me? History/historical? Am I THAT old?

I have the year down for this photo as 1964, and believe that to be approximately correct.