“Wolverton is plainly an homage to the 1930s-1950s Australian actor Errol Flynn. He has Flynn’s flair, his womanising ways (having a hand chopped off would interfere in his removal of corsets, Wolverton quips), a Zorro-esque mask, and even Flynn’s pencil moustache. Only the épée is missing. Wolverton relies upon stealth, wit, and cunning, wise-cracking all the while.”
— Tim
Seventy years ago – during, prior to, and following the Thanksgiving holidays of 1947 – Errol was planning a major hunting expedition.
With what other person did Errol plan this safari, and in what country was it to take place??
¤ They planned to include about thirty (30) people.
¤ It was planned to last for about two months.
¤ They planned to record, ship, and broadcast clips of the expedition.
¤ It would involve big game hunting.
¤ The safari was to begin immediately after completion of The Adventures of Don Juan.
¤ It never happened.
— Tim
“Meet the man who knew and drew Picasso in Paris, Einstein and Churchill in London, and even lived with Errol Flynn in Sydney”
“Kerwin Maegraith, caricaturist, journalist and true Aussie larrikin, encountered the most famous people of his time from the 1920’s to the Sixties.”
“Well, one night Errol came home drunk. The old girl (the landlady) had lit the plaster statue of the Virgin with a candle at its foot. The statue was about five feet high and coloured. A big bunch of flowers stood at the foot of the image and Errol, thinking it was just another pretty girl, made a lunge. Both he and the statue, in a thousand bits, hurled down two flights of stairs. The enraged landlady, awoken from her slumber, tossed Mr. Flynn and his belongings right out on the footpath. But with his winning ways, Errol was back next morning and forgiven. He was about 17 or 18 at this time, as wild a young man as Sydney ever saw.”
— Tim
Michael Druxman writes to us:
Hello,
I just discovered your blog.
I thought you’d like to know that an audio edition of my one-person stage play, FLYNN, is currently nearing the end of production and, if all goes well, should be available for download before the end of November via Audible, Amazon and iTunes. Sam Burns plays the role of Errol Flynn.
In the meantime, paperback and Kindle editions of the play are available via the link below.
Michael B. Druxman
Thanks, Michael!
— David DeWitt
I am submitting a couple of pictures of Flynn I have had in my collection for many years.
They both appear to be from the same event since they are noted with the WB numbering I system (GEN PUB8546). But, there seems to be some confusion about my listing for time and place. So I am asking for help in confirming just where and when they were taken.
I have this shot of Errol with Faye Emerson, in front of the My Gallery at 850l0 Wishire, during May 25th to 27th, 1945 at the Eleanor Powell pre-auction, open-exhibition. A similar photo also appeared in the August, ’45 issue of Movie Stars Parade magazine. By the way that is Michael Curtiz back to camera looking at another artwork.
2
This shot is of Flynn and Curtiz inside the building, chatting. There are also a few more of these two together, all WB numbered. My confusion is that I also have some old hand notes that this is an exhibition at the Decker and Flynn Gallery sometime in May or June, ’45, but I have no back-up. Since I can not locate any old photos of the front of either of the two galleries, I am not sure which description is correct … or if they are both wrong. So … I appreciate any feedback that will straighten out my dilemma.
— David DeWitt
The Mail Bag brings another Question!
I am trying to find out information about the compass/binnacle that was originally installed on the Zaca.
My friend has one that he believes came from it. I have researched the compass and it was purchased from ES Ritchie & Sons in 1930.
I do not know if you would have more information about the binnacle from the Zaca like the serial number or what happened to it?
Thanks!
Crystal
— David DeWitt
“One look at Flynn and you know he’s a star, and you know he’s the perfect choice for a daring rogue character. His charisma is what sustains the film, you immediately understand why Blood can manage to lead an exceptionally loyal crew and can somehow manage to get power in Port Royal even as he’s a slave. Flynn is a magnetic actor, and even when the plot falls into handy coincidences – which it does often, including having the Spanish fleet salvage a foiled plan – one feels as though the universe itself is charmed by Flynn.”
— Tim
It’s doubtful Errol attended this Christian Brothers “College”, but, if he did, it would not have been for long!
“St Patrick’s College was built towards the end of the First World War and dedicated in 1918. It opened for boys in 1919. The architect for the building was Mr A Harold Masters and the builders were Hinman, Wright and Manser. The style is typical of the Federation era and is known as ‘blood and bandages’ (note the bands of bricks and ‘plastered’ bands flowing from the windows). The cost was a little over £10,000 pounds.
The Christian Brothers taught boys from Grade 3 through to Leaving and Matriculation class. (Now Grade 12).”
— Tim
“This story has more drama and twists and hair raising adventures than all of Errol Flynn’s movies put together.”
We shall see about that!
— Tim
