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Theatre in the Blood
The Fuller introduction to the stage
was itself the stuff of theatre. The story
goes that John Fuller senior, a printing
compositor in London with a good, but
untrained voice and a yearning for a
life on stage, rescued a drowning man
from a canal. He was a music teacher
who gratefully offered Fuller singing
lessons, which put him on the rungs of
the vaudeville ladder.
Fuller arrived in New Zealand in
1893 with most of his family,
determined that they would make a
‘Hilarity without vulgarity’ - Fuller and sons - Ben (left) and John Jnr. (right) flank their
mark as producers and performers.
father. Source: St James Theatre NZ Souvenir Program 1991.
Daughter Hetty was a soprano, Lydia
performed recitations, Walter was a style and innovative touches such as The NZ cinemas were sold to the
solo pianist and accompanist, and boxes angled to give the best possible Kerridge chain in 1945. Co-director
youngest son John later trained as a view of the stage. Garnet H. Carroll carried the Fuller
projectionist. Benjamin was still in Sir Benjamin (he was knighted in torch for live theatre into the sixties. Sir
England. Apprenticed at age nine to the 1921 for services to the theatre, the war Benjamin died on a ‘working holiday’
Young Doyley Opera Company, he had effort and Sydney University) wanted in London in 1952 at the age of 77. In
a fine voice and was gifted with perfect to rename the Princess the St James. semi-retirement, he loved nothing better
pitch. His fondness for this name was thought than scouting for possible shows. John
Benjamin joined his family in to relate to memories of London’s St died in 1959 at the age of 80. ★
Auckland in 1894 and within four years James theatre.
REFERENCES
was in charge of the family enterprise. The conversion of the cinemas to
Theatre In Australia John West Cassell
His father was content to sing and let sound was a financial strain from which
Aust. 1978
his son manage the shows. the company never really recovered. A
Cinemas of Auckland B.W Hayward
The Fuller’s first link to Melbourne quote attributed to Sir Benjamin, “I and S.P. Hayward. Lodestar Press
came in 1900 when the company don’t have to put up with Auckland 1979.
brought to NZ the figures from the temperamental actors any more. Now Curtain Call Nancye Bridges. Cassell
Waxworks, Bourke Street and used they deliver them in a tin every Aust. Ltd 1980
them as prelude to a night of theatre. Saturday”, was more a joke than an When Vaudeville was King Charles
First came an inspection of the figures indication of his true feelings, because Norman. Spectrum Publications Melb.
– royalty, celebrities, the notorious and he continued to put money into live 1984
the chamber of horrors - while Punch shows. His sponsorship of the ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
and Judy acted out their domestic financially disastrous Opera season of Fred Page conducted the reference
drama in the background. Then came 1934 was a gesture to Melbourne in its search.
the stage show - ballads, comic songs, Centenary year.
impersonations and humorous
dialogues. The Auckland Observer
wrote of this show: ‘When it is over,
the one thing you reflect on is how Mr.
Fuller can, for the charge of a sixpence
give you so much that is good.’ Their
unofficial slogan was ‘hilarity without
vulgarity,’ a policy that was to help
build a theatre empire.
By 1908 Fullers Ltd. were
proprietors of a chain of quality
vaudeville theatres. The Fuller-
Hayward Theatre Corporation grew to
63 cinemas in NZ.
The brothers’s contribution to
theatre design was their support for
Dunedin-born architect Henry White.
White’s re-modelling of the Princess
and the Palace (Melbourne 1921-22)
and the new St James (Sydney 1926)
demonstrated his flair for the Adam
The Princess, south wall. The scroll words read, United We Stand – Dieu Et Mon Droit –
Advance Australia.

12 2004 CINEMARECORD