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PROGRAMS AT THE REGENT (Cont'd) - page 6
WILLIAM RICHARD CADE (1883-1957)
Conductor of the Regent Theatre Orchestra 1929 - 1935
was born on 30 June 1883 in Adelaide, son of William Cade, coach-painter, and his wife Esther, née Perkins. Educated at Pulteney Street School and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (1899-1909) where his violin teacher was Hermann Heinicke, in 1904 Bill won the (Sir) George Brookman prize for the best performance on a stringed instrument. He excelled as a soloist (violin and viola), played in chamber-music ensembles and orchestras, and gave private lessons. In 1910 he studied at the Conservatorium Der Musik von Max Pohl in Berlin and next year was leader of the Quinlan Opera Company's orchestra in England.
Returning home, on 1 May 1912 Cade married a New Zealander Gladys Irene Muriel Odell at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Adelaide. From that year until 1928 he was associated with J. C. Williamson Ltd and, in the meantime, conducted for the original (and from 1913 for the new) Wondergraph Picture Theatres. Appointed musical director of the Theatre Royal in 1916, he discreetly introduced music of more substance, even movements from symphonies, and performed violin solos from the pit. In 1928 Hoyts opened a new cinema, the Regent Theatre; Cade became musical director of its seventeen-piece orchestra after resigning as leader of the South Australian Orchestra, a post he had held since 1920. Moving to Melbourne in 1929, he conducted over seven thousand performances as musical director of the Regent and Plaza theatres' orchestras; he succeeded Joseph Slapoffski as conductor of the Victorian Professional Symphony Orchestra's eighty players
Back in Adelaide, in 1935 Cade joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission for which he formed a broadcasting orchestra. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Celebrity Orchestral Concerts were inaugurated next year, with him as resident conductor. Cade was a sympathetic and popular conductor who blended self-confidence and modesty. Good-looking, with expressive eyes and slicked-back hair, he made a ritual of each concert entrance: a brisk walk on, a step to the podium, a bow, arms outstretched to the applauding audience. He appeared with visiting artists, prepared the augmented Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for conductors from interstate and abroad (once confiding that he felt his own lack of a European name), and fulfilled engagements in capital cities throughout Australia. In 1929 he had formed the Adelaide Wireless Chorus (later Adelaide Singers). He also directed studio broadcasts of operas and musical comedies, conducted the Adelaide Light Orchestra, organized the Students Training Orchestra and Schools' Orchestral concerts, and made recordings.
Following his retirement in 1948, Cade was appointed an honorary life member (1949) of the Musicians' Union of Australia. He continued with the A.B.C. as a presentation officer until 1955 and for relaxation enjoyed motoring, golf and gardening. Survived by his wife and three daughters, he died on 4 August 1957 at his Erindale home and was cremated. James Glennon said that there were no 'dynamic sforzandoes' in Cade's life, 'only a consistent crescendo in a fruitful career'
JOSEPH GUSTAVE SLAPOFFSKI, (1862-1951),
Guest Conductor of the Regent Concert Stage Orchestra 1929
was born on 20 August 1862 in London, son of Adolph Slapoffski, Russian-born musician, and his Sydney-born second wife Anne, daughter of Major William Hunter, military secretary to Sir Richard Bourke. Growing up at Oxford, England, Gustave attended Christ Church Cathedral School and took up the violin, soon gaining a reputation as a prodigy. Impressed by his playing, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, arranged in 1876 for him to enter the Royal Academy of Music where he studied violin with Prosper Sainton and composition with (Sir) Arthur Sullivan.
Completing his studies in 1879, Slapoffski toured as a soloist, played first violin with the Opéra Comique in London and then became musical director at the Princess Theatre, Manchester. He joined the (Royal) Carl Rosa Opera company, becoming leader and solo violin, assistant conductor and eventually chief conductor. On 4 October 1881 he married Charlotte Barrett (d.1896) at All Saints Anglican Church, Oxford.
In 1900, on the recommendation of Hans Richter, George Musgrove engaged Slapoffski as musical director to bring a season of opera to Australia. During seasons in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand, performances included Australian premières of Wagner's Tannhäuser, Lohengrin and The Flying Dutchman. Singing soprano with the company was Mme Slapoffski (d.1952), Gustave's second wife Elizabeth Frances, who as Lillian Williams had sung with the Carl Rosa company and whom he had apparently married in England. Critics praised Herr Slapoffski's 'grip' of his orchestra and his wife's 'artistic refinement', unforced acting and vocal purity in roles such as Elsa (Lohengrin) and Marguerite (Faust).
Short, heavily muscled, with 'the smile of a good-natured Mephistopheles', Slapoffski for nearly four decades was at the heart of Australasian theatrical musical life. On 9 May 1901 he conducted a concert at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, to celebrate the opening of the first Federal parliament. Next year he conducted the orchestral concerts in (Dame) Nellie Melba's Australian tour. In 1903 he directed The Fortune Teller for Musgrove with Mme Slapoffski in a leading role. Following her to the United States of America where she was on tour, he rejoined Musgrove in 1906 to present Nellie Stewart to American audiences in her famous role as Sweet Nell of Old Drury. Musgrove and Slapoffski then travelled to Germany to engage singers for an Australian Wagner season which opened in 1907, introducing Die Walküre to a 'spellbound' audience; Slapoffski, as conductor, counted it 'the proudest night' of his life. In the subsequent years he fulfilled a host of conducting engagements with the Sydney Amateur Orchestral Society, the Sydney Symphony and Lady Northcote orchestras and others, and was musical director for several visiting artists. He was a foundation council-member for the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music where his wife taught singing in 1916-28. In 1919 he was made an associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Closely associated with J. C. Williamson & Co., Slapoffski was musical director of its grand opera company in 1919-22 and for its brilliant Gilbert and Sullivan seasons of 1920, 1926-27 and 1931-32. In 1925-26 he was musical director of the Dunedin Exhibition, New Zealand, and on 22 March 1931 he conducted 3000 singers and 500 players in a Melba memorial concert at the Adelaide Oval. From the mid-1930s the dynamic, 'bald-headed old maestro' threw himself into support of the National Theatre Movement.
Paralysed in his right arm from his earlier years as a violinist, Slapoffski conducted with his left. A contemporary described him as 'a sound conductor without any cultural frills or social graces and in the habit of expressing himself tersely, forcibly and not altogether politely'. Affectionately known as 'Slap', he referred to his wife as 'the missus'. Aspiring singers and musicians regarded him as 'a holy terror' as an adjudicator: he reputedly told one lamentable singer that he owed ten points and advised another to return to her wash-tub. Trim and vigorous until old age, he had been an amateur boxing champion in his youth. He died at Windsor, Melbourne, on 3 August 1951 and was cremated. His wife and five of the eight children of his first marriage survived him

Program No. 24 - August 24-30, `1929
Feature Film: "Lady of the Night" (United Artists, 1927, Silent) with Lupe Velez, William Boyd and Jetta Goudal (Directed by D.W. Griffith)
Support Films: "The Knife" (Talking) Lionel Atwell
Stage: "Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "The Mikado" (Gilbert & Sullivan) with Merna Stewart, soprano.
Orchestra: Will Cade conducting
Organ: Eddie Fitch

Program No. 25 - August 31 - September 6, 1929
Feature Film: "Strange Cargo" (P.D.C. 1928, Silent) with George Barraud, Kyle Bellew, June Nash and Lee Patrick
Support Film: "Geraldine" with Marion Nixon
Stage: Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "Il Travatore" (Verdi) with Norman Bradshaw, tenor and Florence Blitz, soprano.
Orchestra: Will Cade conducting the Regent Orchestra
Organ: Eddie Fitch
Review: (Herald, August 31, 1929)
"ORCHESTRAL MUSIC POPULAR"
"THE REGENT PROGRAMMES"
"Gilbert and Sullivan opera makes matte for old Italian opera at the Regent Theatre today.
The Regent Concert Orchestra which has been featured in performances of airs from "The Gondoliers" and "The Mikado" will today give a selection from "Il Trovatore".
Gustave Slappoffski has arranged the music. This widely experienced musician is the first of the 'guest' conductors.
The orchestral performances at the Regent have been very successful. According to a managerial statement they have proved much more attractive than the stage presentations which they have replaced and are to be continued indefinitely.
Vocalists will frequently be engaged to sing with the orchestra. Norman Bradshaw, tenor and Florence Blitz soprano, will be heard today.
(Table Talk, August 31, 1929)
"...if you want to hear Grand Opera minus Melba this week, just book your usual seat at the Regent, where the orchestra are playing "Il Travatore" with Mr. Gustave Slapoffski conducting. Mr. Slapoffski is refreshingly dignified compared with the usual movie conductors, and unlike those gentlemen, he refrains from dancing in front of his orchestra like King David before the multitude.

Program No. 26 - September 7-13, 1929
Feature Film: "Fox Movietone Follies on 1929) (Fox, 1929, Talking, Colour) with Sue Carol, Sharon Lynn, Dixie Lee, Lola Lane, John Brenden, David Rollins and Stepin Fetchit
Support Film: "The Leatherneck" with William Boyd
Stage: "Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "Iolanthe" (Gilbert & Sullivan) with Moran Hilford, baritone
Orchestra: Conducted by Will Cade
Organ: Eddie Fitch

Program No 27 - September 14-20, 1929
Feature Film: "The Awakening" (Samuel Goldwyn Co., 1928, silent) with Walter Byron & Vilma Banky
Support Film: "Show Folks" (part talking) with Ima Basquette and Eddie Quilby
Stage: "Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "The Pirates of Penzance"" (Gilbert & Sullivan) with Violet Jackson, soprano
Orchestra: Conducted by Will Cade
Organ: Eddie Fitch

Program No 28 - September 21-27, 1929
Feature Film: "White Shadows in the South Seas" (Cosmopolitan, 1928, part talking) with Monte Blue and Racquel Torres
Support Film: "Batchelor Girl" with Jacqueline Logan
Stage: "Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "Floradora"" with Violet Jackson, soprano, and Gordon Jones baritone.
Orchestra: Conducted by Will Cade
Organ: Eddie Fitch

Program No 29 - September 28 - October 4, 1929
Feature Film: "The Woman Disputed" (United Artists, 1928, Silent) with Norma Talmadge, Gilbert Rowland and Arnold Kent
Support Film: "Molly and Me" with Joe E. Brown
Stage: "Gustave Slapoffski conducting the Regent Concert Orchestra in selections from "H.M.S. Pinafore" (Gilbert & Sullivan)
Orchestra: Conducted by Will Cade
Organ: Eddie Fitch

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