1949
Jack Harrison augmented his swing band according to the requirements of functions, sometimes up to ten players, such as the April 22nd 1949 University of Western Australia Graduation Ball at Winthrop Hall. Players were issued with a cheque on 5th May 1949 and were paid 3 pound 2 and 6 for the gig. Players paid were: Norm Wrightson (saxophone), G. Kirkby, Jack Pope (trumpet), George Franklin (trumpet), C. Thompson, Bill Hendrie (guitar), N. Coates, Ray Harrison (drums), Jill Harrison (piano) and Jack was the tenth band member.
“COMMAND PERFORMANCE”
Capitol Theatre Next Sunday Night (Sun 2 Oct 1949)
In old of Legacy War Orphans’ Appeal.
Dick Fair, of Amateur Hour fame.
Anew McMaster and Company.
Gaved, Chinese Magician.
Albert Chappelle.
Billy Edwards and The Specialty Harmonists.
Y.A.L. Boys in Jack Anstey’s “Cuban Fair.”
Jack Harrison’s Swing Quartette.
The Wrightsons.
Betty Whittaker and Phil. Moran.
Wally Hadley.
Laurie Croisette of London.
Billy Clowes, Blind Pianist.
Charlie Court.
Cliff Adams.
Pamela Flower.
Phyllis Blott and Winnie Walker, Accompanists.
Caledonian Pipe Bond.
ANEW McMASTER, Producer.
Lounge 10/-, Front Stalls 7/-, Circle 5/-, Back Stalls 3/-.
The West Australian Wednesday 28 September 1949 page 30
CONCERT AT CAPITOL (Sunday 2 Oct 1949)
Good Response To Legacy Drive
The Legacy Club’s appeal for £ 10,000 benefited to the amount of £650 from the “Command Performance” on Sunday night at the Capitol Theatre. It was announced that in the two days since the appeal was launched, £1,500 had been donated and that an anonymous person had offered to donate £100 if five others would contribute a similar sum. The performance was compered by Mr. Dick Pair, of “Australia Hour” fame, produced by Mr. Michael Eustace and contributed to by star artists, all of whom gave their services free. The theatre was packed in all parts. Mr. Fair was piped on to the stage by the W.A. Caledonian Pipe Band. Mr. F. Gaved opened the programme with entertaining feats of magic, after which Mr. Charles Court (cornetist) rendered two items. Miss Pamela Flower’s contributions were followed by dance items by Mr. and Mrs. Wrightson and two sisters, Regina and Janina. Mr. Laurie Croisette, a London baritone, made his first appearance in Australia with two numbers and a guitar selection. Mr. Billy Edwards’s Specialty Harmonists (Messrs. L. Hancock, G. Griffiths, W. Frankish and L Richardson) were heard in three choruses, and Jack Harrison’s Swing Quartette was then heard. A male ballet of Y.A.L boys gave an exhibition of dancing and tap dancing. There was sustained applause for the blind pianist, Mr. Billy Clowes and Bette Whittaker and Phil Morgan. Mr. Albert Chappelle (baritone) had to respond to an encore. A banjo solo by Wally Hadley was also included. The accompanists were Mrs. N. W. Freemantle, Misses Phyllis Blott and Joan Drede and Mr. Billy Edwards.
The West Australian Tuesday 4 October 1949 page 6
1951
CAPITOL THEATRE
SUNDAY 28th OCTOBER 1951
JAZZ JAMBOREE
Featuring
12 of Perth’s Leading Dance Bands
Jazzstars, Cliff Adams, Norm Wrightson, Merv Rowston, Ron Jenkins, Harry Bluck, Jimmy Beeson, Bill Kirkham, Peter Clinch, Ken Murdoch, Jack Harrison, Sammy Sharpe.
Booking Opens at Nicholsons. Friday 19th October 1951.
1951 Jazz Jamboree program cover
1952
Sunday October 26th 1952
Jazz Jamboree
DANCE BAND FANS!
BOOK EARLY And Avoid Disappointment for the
JAZZ JAMBOREE
CAPITOL THEATRE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 At 8.45 p.m.
SAMMY SHARP HARRY BLUCK
MERV ROWSTON KEN MURDOCH
BILL KIRKHAM JACKIE HARRISON
THE JAZSTARS NORM WRIGHTSON
RON JENKINS JIMMY BEESON
COLIN HICKS CLIFF ADAM
Tickets 4/-
BOX PLAN NOW OPEN AT NICHOLSONS
Jazz Festival Week Part Two:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st, 1953
CAPITOL THEATRE
THE BOB GIBSON SHOW
Featuring Australia’s Outstanding Band Leader
WEST COAST DIXIELANDERS
NORM WRIGHTSON
MARTIN GISCHUS
JACKIE HARRISON
HARRY PHILLIPS
COLIN HICKS
KATH BASS
Box Plans for both these attractions now open at Nicholsons
TICKETS 5/
The West Australian Saturday 17 October 1953 page 35
1954
JAZZ AT THE CAPITOL
TEN TOP BANDS TO BEAT OUT JAZZ
SUNDAY 27 JUNE 1954
That Jazzbo Collins’ quip ‘Be you round, be you square, it’s guaranteed to curl your hair,’ could well be applied to tomorrow’s ‘Jazz at the Capitol.’ Perth fans have always rushed these shows and judging by the crowd round the box office during the week this one will be no exception. Ten of Perth’s top bands will get together to boost the Wendy Nash Appeal. And in the midst of all this jazz Wendy herself will take the spotlight and play a couple of classical numbers— Clare de Lune (Debussy) end Khatchachurian (Toccato). Organiser Harry Bluck says that though these compositions are definitely in the classical sphere he is sure they will go across well with the jazz lovers.
Listed for the program are the Harry Bluck Sextette, Ray Le Cornu’s Band, Cliff Adams’ Sextette, The Jazstars, Jack Harrison’s Quartette, Norm Wrightson’s Band, the Jimmy Beeson Group and Merv Rowsten’s Band. Popular trumpeter Sammy Sharp will be sitting in with Merv.
All these outfits, with the exception of Merv Rowston, will play 3 numbers. He will
present his own arrangement, ‘Merv’s Music in the Modern Manner.’ Ray Le Cornu’s Band will give out with ‘Tuxedo Junction,’ made famous by the mighty Glen Miller Orchestra. It will be interesting to see how he puts this number across. Also on Ray’s list is the ‘Woodchoppers’ Ball,’ old favorite of which Woody Herman made such a great recording.
King’s Park dance-goers know what a terrific job Jackie Harrison makes of the ‘Golden Wedding.’ The hall comes to a standstill when Jackie gets up on the stool to extract those last few high notes from the liquorice stick.
Ron Jenkins has built a great reputation with his top class music and comic acts. Ron and his quartette will serve up ‘Crazy Man Crazy’— guaranteed to make everyone ‘go mad.’ Norm Wrightson has a certain touch of class about his presentations. He gets a beautiful tone out of his clarinet — which should be well to the fore. His selections are all numbers played by Benny Goodman groups —’I Got Rhythm.’ ‘South of the Border’ and ‘Undecided.’
Those who were at the Jazz Jamboree last, November will no doubt remember the great reception Martin Gieschus got when he sang ‘That Old Black Magic.’ He had to sing it again. Tomorrow night he is singing current pops-top ‘Answer Me My Love’ with the Jimmy Beeson Group. Jimmy’s other 2 items are ‘Sometimes I’m Happy’ and ‘Cheek to Cheek.’ Jazstars are billed for 2 oldies in ‘Tiger Rag’ and ‘That’s a-Plenty.’ Liza Ray provides the vocal of their third number, ‘Somebody Loves Me.’ Harry Bluck sextette will feature ‘Lullaby of Birdland,’ a number popularised by the inimitable George Shearing. Kath Bass exercises the vocal chords singing ‘The One I Love Belongs to Someone Else’ with the Bluck group. Cliff Adams’ outfit will play ‘The Continental,’ ‘Cumana’ and ‘Long John
Stomp.’ It’s no wonder all seats have been taken except 200 to be sold at the door.
The Mirror Saturday 26 June 1954 page 13
George Watson Show
1955
1961
ABW TO SCREEN BIRTHDAY SHOW
Thursday May 11 1961
By Keith Flanagan
ABW Channel 2 will tonight present its biggest live show yet, to celebrate its first birthday. There will be singers, dancers, a 25 piece orchestra and an invited audience of 200 for the two hour show.
Jock Millett will produce the cabaret style show in the Kirk Memorial Studio in the radio building – the biggest studio the A.B.C. has here. The record library will be taken over as a makeup room for the 44 people who will come before the cameras. Lighting in the studio will be equivalent to 1000 60 watt globes. Jim Fisher, Earl Reeve and Diana Ward will compere the show, to run from 8pm to 10.30pm, with a half hour break from 9 for the American documentary “Our Man in Space”. Verdon Williams has formed a 25 piece orchestra for the show. Artists to appear are the Four Notes, Margot Robertson, Tony Federici, Carmen Arenas, Adriano Angelucci, Doris Dodd, Garry Smith and Derna Sluik, Jack Harrison, the Wrightsons, Lorna Sydney, Gerrard Sibbritt and Terri Charlesworth, Andre Tio, Peter Piccini and a demonstration ballroom group.
The West Australian Thursday May 11 1961
Norm Wrightson (1924-2020) was a hairdresser and bandleader. His band, the Norm Wrightson Orchestra, played Saturday nights at the Victoria Hall for thirty years from 1949. His salon at 7 William Street was until April 2020 still a barbershop with his name on it, tho he himself had retired in 1999. Norm Wrightson died Friday 14 August 2020, aged 95.
Norm Wrightson born 1924, became the third generation in the family to work as a barber. In 1933 the family opened a shop opposite the Town Hall in William Street and the family lived upstairs. After serving an apprenticeship with his father and completing four years of Army service during World War Two, Norm worked in the shop with the support of his wife, Bernice, until his retirement in 1999. Norm Wrightson developed great skill as a musician, playing the saxophone and clarinet. He started his own band and became a well-known and respected band leader, playing at numerous venues until he retired from music in 1961 to concentrate on the barber’s shop. Bob Wrightson focussed on teaching dance and with his wife Shelda competed in international ballroom competitions with great success. He was involved in dances at Victoria Hall and Canterbury Court. Summary of a 2012 interview with NW by Heather Campbell, Fremantle Library OH/WRI.
Robert Wrightson and his dad Ernie Wrightson had a small barber shop on Canning Hwy in East Fremantle. In 1933 a shop at 7 William St Fremantle became available and they jumped at the opportunity. They named the barbershop R.E Wrightson.
Norm Wrightson, the son of Robert Wrightson would have been 9 years old at the time, and Norm’s brother Robert was 13 years old. Norm’s parents Robert and Moude slept upstairs above the barbershop in the front room practically underneath the Town Hall clock. Norm and his brother Robert also slept in the room upstairs above the barbershop.
Norm’s grandfather Ernie retired from barbering after six weeks of entering their new business premises so from then on Norm’s father Robert started to employ hairdressers.
Haircuts for men at the time were a shilling. Kids’ haircut and men’s shave were sixpence. Norm’s brother Bob started a hairdressing apprenticeship with his dad but at age 16 was selected to go on a tour of South Africa with the YAL (Young Australian League). Norm would practise on his saxophone upstairs and he was sure he used to drive the customers downstair in the barbershop mad. Norm would go off to school and by age 13 would come into the barbershop and start cutting kids’ hair to help out his dad.
In those days Norm’s dad was quite a heavy smoker and his mum who didn’t smoke or drink would roll his cigarettes, light them and pass them on to Norm’s dad to smoke. Norm’s dad used to have a habit of smoking whilst he was cutting hair and one of his friends used to walk in and pick up his cigarette and have a couple of puffs. One day Norm’s dad loaded the cigarette with six wax match heads and his friend that used to come in and puff his cigarette started to puff away. Imagine what happened – the cigarette blew up in his face and there was a lot of laughter from all the other customers and barbers.
The second world war started in 1939 and in 1942 Norm was called up.
While he was away for four years, Norm’s dad put on two apprentices, brothers Les and Horry Hawkins and they turned out to be very good hairdressers so they kept the place going.
During the war there were no shop fronts, all the windows were taken out and the fronts boarded up in case of air raids. When Norm got out of the army in 1946 he completed his apprenticeship. It took Norm eight years all up to finish his apprenticeship including his army time.
Norm married Bernice Poole on 1947 and sent Norm’s parents to England for a holiday for six months by ship and they loved it.
Norm Wrightson’s was one of the first barbershops in WA to put on a lady apprentice, Katrina Bannister and a lady hairdresser Tina Russel. They both turned out to be excellent hairdressers.
Norm’s dad started to take things easy and retired in 1973. Norm’s mum still worked behind the counter and Bernice (Norm’s wife) worked a couple of days also to give Norm’s mum some much needed time off.
During the 1950s and 1960s Norm employed two Italian hairdressers and several ladies. The Italians were Tony D’Andrea and Fedele Potalivo, both excellent barbers and they all had a lot of fun together. Both men worked for over thirty years for Norm. Norm would call Fedele a D-I-N-G and he would call Norm as ‘Ossi Bugga’ – the customers loved the banter.
Norm’s dad passed away in 1981 and Norm’s mum in 1983. The business was originally in the name of R.E Wrightson and when Norm took over from his father he renamed the shop to Norm Wrightson’s Hairway.
As the business started to expand, Norm knocked down the wall to the backroom to increase the barbershop to ‘6 Chairs’ to let people know how big the business was. This proved to be quite effective but also humorous, as friends of the staff were confused and thought the Barber Salon was called 6 Chairs. Text from the history section of the Norm Wrightson Hairway website.
Obituary by Ray Taylor in the West Australian, 11 September 2020
Fremantle has lost one of its best-known and revered personalities, Norm Wrightson, whose history in the port city began in 1933 when he was aged nine.
WA was still struggling with the Great Depression when Norm’s parents and two sons moved into a two-storey historic building with living quarters above a shop. The building was in William Street opposite the Fremantle Town Hall. In a time when businesses were closing and not opening, Norm’s father, Bob, told the landlord he wanted to open a barber shop. Although the landlord expressed doubt, he let the Wrightsons take the tenancy, giving them the first three months rent-free.
So started the business that flourished for 87 years at the same location — and has relocated, also in Fremantle, recently. It was a logical step for Norm to become a barber.
The boys’ mother, Maud, had ambitions for them. They both learnt to tap dance and were encouraged to take up music — a dynasty of music and dancing was born. Elder brother Robert (Bob), excelled at ballroom dancing and in 1954, he and his wife, Shelda, became world champions. Bob and Shelda then opened a chain of dance studios around Australia.
Norm’s interest was the saxophone and clarinet and he became one of the leading WA exponents of reed instruments. But his first commitment during the 1940s was service with the army in Australia during World War II and New Guinea just after the war, before returning to Fremantle.
The ambition of every musician during that era was to play in the band at Perth’s Embassy ballroom in William Street. It was a classy venue with comfortable lounges down each side of a 1115sqm jarrah floor and featuring ballroom dancing nearly every night.
Norm was employed by popular Embassy bandleader Ron Moyle, giving him invaluable experience playing with very capable musos. It was a great contrast to the gigs he had done with his brother, playing drums around Fremantle. The Embassy job was the beginning of a lifetime of hairdressing by day and donning the dinner suit to play in bands at night.
Each night was concluded with God Save the King, as patrons stood to attention. The day job honed Norm’s confidence and personality. Barbers are usually good communicators and he was renowned for his good service and friendly nature.
In 1942, he met the love of his life, Bernice Poole, who worked nearby. It was instant attraction leading to marriage in 1947 and lasted for 65 wonderful years until Bernice’s death in 2012. The marriage produced three children — sons Boyd and Gary, and daughter Marlene.
Norm’s music career took a major turn in 1949 when he formed his own band to play a regular Saturday dance at Bob’s dance studio in Victoria Hall, Fremantle. Norm on sax, plus trumpet, piano, drums, bass and vocals was a standard format at the time. Playing a wide variety of swing jazz and pop music, the band soon gained fame around Perth and Fremantle. Following the influence of Frank Sinatra, Norm’s vocalist was a talented young Dane Gorn, succeeded by other male and female vocalists. Norm worked on his musical development and fine-tuned his technique by studying with the principal clarinettist of the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra, Alan Rule. Norm was known for his excellent rendition of the clarinet showpiece of the time, Golden Wedding, a number often requested.
In 1955, Norm’s brother, Bob opened Perth’s biggest cabaret venue, Canterbury Court, with ballroom dancing Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. It was very popular because it featured two bands playing non-stop dancing.
It was quite usual to have 800 dancers enjoying themselves midweek. The patrons were well turned out, men wore ties and jackets and women wore beautiful dresses. Alcohol was not available and not allowed. The dancers just enjoyed the music and intermingling.
For the years 1955 to 1975, Norm was chosen to play in big bands assembled as backing groups for overseas artists. Famous performers Nat King Cole, Pat Boone, Eartha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, Trini Lopez and others were the early visitors to Perth, usually bringing a musical director to conduct the local orchestra. The format was a two-hour rehearsal in the morning, then two two-hour shows at night. It’s a credit to the calibre of local players that the shows were very successful.
In 1968, Bernice and Norm’s 16-year-old daughter, Marlene, was diagnosed with cancer in her back which was a tragedy for the family. Treatment in WA was relatively basic, but Norm faced the problem by sending details to the world’s leading oncologists in America and Japan. The advice was she could not be saved. Marlene died in August 1968. Family, friends and fellow musicians rallied around to get the Wrightson family through that awful time.
Among the most arduous gigs were country ball nights in towns such as Northam, Narrogin, Katanning and Harvey. These gigs involved loading up one car and leaving Perth at 5pm, arriving at 8pm and performing 8.30pm to 2am, then packing up and driving home. After a short sleep, it was off to the day job!
Norm Wrightson was the last of several popular bandleaders in Perth including Harry Bluck, Ron Jenkins, Sam Sharp and Chris Gosper.
In the late 1960s, Norm’s dad, Bob retired, and Norm took over the business, renaming it Norm Wrightson’s Hairway. It was the biggest barbershop in Fremantle and quite a talking point with 1930s decor and lots of memorabilia. Norm retired from his music career in 1989 and he sold the shop in 1999 when his service was acknowledged by the Fremantle mayor and council. In 2013, the 80th year of the shop’s continuous service was celebrated with a concert combining barbershop nostalgia with big-band music to delight a huge crowd of Norm’s fans.
After Bernice’s death, Norm adapted to a new social role, friends alluding to him as the “social secretary” as he regularly organised outings and events. He enjoyed a happy companionship with his sister-in-law Lorna Poole until her death in 2016 and friendships with sister-in-law Josephine Wrightson and broadcaster Carol Kennedy. Well into his 90s Norm was recognised around Fremantle by many clients. He leaves a wonderful legacy with two sons, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Ray Taylor.
References and Links
See also: Wrightsons Barbershop in the ‘Nixon building’.
Campbell, Heather 2012, Interview with Norm Wrightson, Fremantle Library OH/WRI.
Foster, Brendan 2013, ‘A party to cut through the years’, Fremantle Herald, 25 October (photo above).
Horsley, Lorraine & Chloe Papas 2015, ‘Dancing through Fremantle’s history with music veteran Norm Wrightson’, 720 ABC Perth, 27 March (photo right).
Pettitt, Brad 2020, ‘Tribute to the late Norm Wrightson’, Mayor Brad Bettitt’s blog, 21 August.
Norm Wrightson Hairway website (top photo) showing Norm playing his alto sax sitting in one of his barber chairs.
Garry Gillard | New: 22 August, 2015 | Now: 17 March, 2024