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Day Two (Part 3) of my Errol Flynn/Hobart Adventure – 60 Duke Street, Hobart

As a child, Errol lived in a number of different houses and lodgings in Hobart, which reflects the unsettled and restless life of his parents. Over the next few days, I will post images of these various “homes” of the young Errol. The first one in Duke Street is a fine and fairly standard Hobart residence, and at the nearby junction of Duke and Parliament Street you can see a scattering of snow on Mount Wellington. Parliament Street is about 20 m from Errol’s home. 
In 1919, the Flynns were living at this address. The small plaque shows the year that the house was built. The 10 year old Errol allegedly conducted his infamous experiment with “the living bracelet of ducks” in the backyard.

Thanks Ross!

— David DeWitt

Mail Bag!

Thanks, Ross!

— David DeWitt

Mail Bag Part two from Ross Schnioffsky!

Day Two of my Errol Flynn/Hobart Adventure – Good Morning Hobart!
It’s so easy to see why Errol loved the sea. It was all around him and in his blood from the day he was born …

Thanks, Ross!

— David DeWitt

Ross Schnioffsky sends us news about his recent trip to the birthplace of Errol Flynn in Hobart, Tasmania … Russ says:

I thought it might be a good idea to celebrate Errol Flynn’s birthday in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. So here I am. Errol was born on this day, June 20 in 1909 and this afternoon I was standing in front of the building where he was born. It is now an apartment complex. Some sections of the original building still exist. The other buildings are nearby and in the same street. Already I am in love with Hobart.

Thanks, Russ!

— David DeWitt

The Mail Bag bring most interesting news!

Hi David,

my friend, Mrs. Ilona Ryder (Curtiz call « The Errol Flynn Blog), the granddaughter of Michael Curtiz, follows the EF Blog and would like to connect with all Flynnmates interested in a conversation with her on her FB homepage: Michael Curtiz – Director of Casablanca | Beaumont AB | Facebook

Thanks and hugs,
Heinz

— David DeWitt

Heinz Kampel sends me this private misdive then grants us a new Mail Bag item! Thanks!

I am currently writing an article called “Der Nazi im Mond” (“The Nazi in the Moon”) and during my researches finally managed to locate the daughter of Otto Skorzeny, the SS man who in a daring mission snatched Benito Mussolini from Italy, when the Duce was put under house arrest at a remote hotel high in the Appenin mountains.She is 83 years old kindly agreed to do an interview with me. Her son Robin (!) assisted. Right off  the bat, I asked if she knew, if Otto and Errol ever met. Skorzeny moved to Mallorca after being cleared at the Nuremberg trials and the EF blog`s own Ventu Sala indicated, his house was not too far from Errol`s Es Moli- that being on an island though. Not to her knowledge, but she remembered Rudi`s Bar (Chez Rudi « The Errol Flynn Blog) quite vividly- Skorzeny went there quite often. His idea of an ideal night was being recognized in the streets of Majorca, getting invited to dinner and then recounting his rescue mission of Mussolini to an awed crowd at lenght. “…alpha male and penny pincher that he was…” (O-Tone). I think Errol and Otto would have gotten along quite well, they even may have traded punches. LOL! If they ever met, it could have been in Argentina at the film festival, for Otto established the structures of secret services for Peron, and for Nasser and…King Hussein of Jordan. Saw an inscribed photo of the king in full regalia. I saw a photo of Skorzeny with Hitler in their family album too. The 6 foot 4 henchman and the Austrian madman in unison- SCARY! Manfred Lentner, the convicted crew member of Freddie McEvoy was cut out of the same wood. Same stature, same ideology (volunteered at 17, one year short of graduation). Fred and Freddie met along the so-called rat line (Rome-Genova- South America), the route paved by the Vatican for nazis with dreams of a Forth Reich. This story surrounding the untimely death of Errol Flynn`s best man Freddie Mac has still to be told!

All the best,
Heinz

— David DeWitt