Hopalong Cassidy’s
Australian cabinet
of curiosities
In November 1954 William “Hopalong Cassidy” Boyd rode into town
and caused a sensation. Huge crowds greeted the Hollywood cowboy
hero in the four cities he visited: Darwin, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.
One hundred thousand people turned up to see him arrive at Myers’
Lonsdale Street store in a Christmas float. Perhaps only the Beatles
attracted larger crowds when they toured Australia a decade later.
Boyd’s visit occurred during
a polio epidemic, and his
purpose was to raise funds for
children crippled by polio and
spend time with sick children.
His physical affection with
the children was remarkable
at a time when some other
overseas celebrities, including
Queen Elizabeth II, were afraid
of contracting the disease
through close contact.
Derham Groves’ illustrated talk will discuss his
research into Boyd’s tour for his forthcoming book,
When Hoppy met Skippy: Hopalong Cassidy in
Australia. He will also describe three other related
projects, including a surreal/science fiction/punk
opera based on Hopalong Cassidy’s visit to Darwin
in 1954 that he wrote for this year’s Darwin Festival.
Derham Groves is an architect and popular culture
historian. He was the founding Vice President of
PopCAANZ (the Popular Culture Association of
Australia and New Zealand), and for many years he
has been the area chair of Popular Art, Architecture
and Design for the Popular Culture Association in the
USA. He is the author of several books, including
Out of the ordinary, 2012, Anna May Wong’s lucky
shoes, 2011, There’s no place like Holmes, 2008,
and TV houses, 2004. He also teaches architecture
at the University of Melbourne.
Thursday 30 October
5.30pm
Grainger Museum
The University of Melbourne
Royal Parade, near Gate 13
Admission free
Images: top: Unknown photographer, Hopalong Cassidy at Mascot Airport, Sydney, 1954, Derham Groves collection, Melbourne; left: “At a particularly
low point in his career, Percy Grainger considered becoming a singing cowboy — he liked the costumes. Thankfully his friend, William ‘Hopalong Cassidy’
Boyd, dissuaded him …” From Derham Groves’ presentation.
Enquiries contact the
Grainger Museum
Telephone: 8344 5270
Email: grainger@unimelb.edu.au
www.grainger.unimelb.edu.au