Burial

Coffs Harbour Historic Cemetery

Linked to

Penn’s Picture Hall mus07-2074

Picture Show Man poster M2020.2.1 and movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z45SrOAYGI

Business link with Jack Gerard and the Tasma Theatre.

ROBERT HENRY LAWRENCE BOWDEN/PENN    THE PICTURE SHOW MAN      Timeline

Obituary

Coffs Harbour Advocate (NSW : 1907 - 1942; 1946 - 1954), Tuesday 19 February 1952, page 1

LATE R.H.L. PENN MOTION PICTURE PIONEER

The death of Robert Henry Lawrence Penn, at the age of 80 years in Brisbane recently, removed one of the most colourful figures in the Australian motion picture industry. The late Mr. Penn was born at Torquay, England, in 1872, and came to Australia just before the turn of the century.  He conducted the first moving picture show at Newcastle and later moved to the northern tablelands where he pioneered the film business at Tamworth. At this centre he operated a big open-air theatre and ran a second show in a public hall.

It was at Tamworth, about 40 years ago, that he lost his first wife and following his bereavement he decided to "go on the road" with the first travelling show in the State. His show was billed as Penn's Pictures, and his slogan: "Meet your friends at Penn's." His transport was by means of horse and buggy and his cinematograph was hand operated and lit by lime-light. He travelled the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales with his show.

The late Mr. Penn was a real trouper and first-class entertain. He possessed an excellent, baritone voice and often render ed items between films at his shows. He was an expert at training dogs and created added interest for his patrons by varying the programmes with acts by his performing dogs. His star per former was a cattle dog, "Dempsey," regarded as the cleverest dog in Australia at the time. "Dempsey" was filmed for world distribution in the early 20's and became renowned amongst film goers.

FIRST RADIO RECEIVING SET

In 1924 he purchased one of the first Western Electric amplifyers to which he coupled a radio receiving set which he used for broadcast reception. He engaged Mr. J. Gerard, of Coffs Harbour, to accompany him on a tour of New South Wales and Queensland. Mr. Gerard's duties were to demonstrate wireless broadcast reception in association with moving pictures. The films used on this tour were the "silents," "Lorna Doone" and "Stable Companions." Well-known pianist Chris Young completed the troupe which toured for six months with this programme.

About 1927 Mr. Penn settled in Coffs Harbour and commenced screening films in a large new theatre at the Jetty. This theatre, which was located on the eastern side of where the Forestry Administration building now stands, was later destroyed by fire and he transferred his show to the School of Arts at Top Town. In 1930 the late Mr. Penn and Mr. J. Gerard formed a partnership and conducted motion pictures in the School of Arts. This partnership was inexistence until 1937 when the firm of Penn & Gerard Pty Ltd was formed.

RETIRED IN 1949

In 1949 the late Mr. Penn, who had remarried, relinquished his interests in the firm to end the eventide of his life in retirement at Coffs Harbour Jetty. At the time of his death, he was ranked as one of the very few remaining pioneers of the motion picture industry in Australia He was held in high es teem by picture goers throughout the east coast of the Commonwealth. He enjoyed an enviable reputation for the quality of his shows and was regarded as being most reliable in maintaining advertised screenings. He is survived by his widow,  Mrs. L. Penn (Coffs Harbour Jetty, one son Lyle (Boora!) and one daughter Alma (Mrs. Gorton, Kingaroy, Qld). The remains were brought to Coffs Harbour for interment in the Church of England portion or the cemetery. Rev. T. I. Lawrence officiated at the graveside and funeral arrangements were in the hands of C. H. Everingham & Co.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187951614

Name change The Picture Show Man by Lyle Penn Page 30

Where the ‘Penn’ came from we were never quite certain. Pop used to say that his name was really Penn-Bowden and that Bowden, though eminently suitable to the music business, was no good at all for a showman. The alliteration of ‘Penn’s Pictures’ appealed to him, and from that day we have all been Penns; The Bowdens passed away unmourned with our last glimpse of Charters Towers.

Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article194210787

No evidence has been found that Robert Henry Lawrence Bowden formally change his name to Penn.

Research by Debbie Campbell and Gay Bell.

Movie: The Picture Showman

Based on Lyle Penn’s book.  Produced in 1976, filmed around the Tamworth area.

Released in DVD in 2005. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Picture_Show_Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z45SrOAYGI

(Written by Gay Bell, May 2024)