Arthur Tauchert

One of Australia's most popular early actors, Arthur William Tauchert was of German-Irish extraction. He initially gained recognition on the vaudeville circuits of Sydney and Melbourne, first as a 'parody' singer, later as a member of various different vaudeville troupes. By 1913 he had gained a high profile from touring around the country. He was engaged by producer Raymond Longford to play 'The Bloke' in an adaptation of C.J. Dennis' humorous poem 'The Sentimental Bloke'. This film, now regarded an Australian classic, was an enormous critical and popular success, and established Tauchert's widespread fame. He often made personal appearances before screenings, reciting passages from the original poem. Although he made a triumphant move into the talking era with movies such as 'Showgirl's Luck' (1931), the Australian industry itself was in a slump. He focused his energies on radio, until failing health led him to be hospitalised. He died in 1933. He was, both in real life and onstage, an accessible 'everyman' hero, with a rough exterior but a heart of gold - an image enhanced by the charitable work he participated in for many worthy causes.