Leslie Gaze

Leslie Wentworth Gaze (29 February 1880 – 1957) was a baritone singer, born in Australia and educated in New Zealand, remembered in Australia for playing the hero, Bumerli, in the operetta The Chocolate Soldier. His elder daughter Gwen Gaze was an actress who appeared in several Hollywood films.

History
Leslie Gaze 1911

Gaze was born in Adelaide, South Australia, son of William Henry Gaze (c. 1855 – 21 August 1918),[1] a medical doctor with a practice in Norwood and Thebarton. The family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, where Gaze was educated and sang in St John's Church,[2] Latimer Square, Christchurch.

By 1897 the family had moved to Victoria, where his father acted as consulting chemist,[3] apart from his medical practice.

He left for England, intending to establish a career in medicine, but chose the stage instead, and following an introduction by Willie Edouin,[4] played with several touring London comedy companies, a hand-to-mouth existence. After some training with Ernesto Baraldi[lower-alpha 1] he won a place with William Greet's company, playing in The Earl and the Girl, for Frank Curzon in Sergeant Brue, Robert Courtneidge in The Blue Moon and George Edwardes in The Girls of Gottenberg. He had a few engagements in America, then returned to England. By December 1910 Gaze was in Ireland with George Edwardes' company, playing Slithers in Our Miss Gibbs, starring Carrie Moore.[2]

He first played Lieut. Bumerli, the title part in The Chocolate Soldier in Australia with the Clarke and Meynell Opera Company at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne from 2 September 1911[5] with Winifred O'Connor as Nadi. The season concluded at Adelaide in April 1912.[6]

Gaze left for Europe and America by ship; his wife Belle died on the voyage, at Aden on 14 May 1912.[7] He played in Oscar Hammerstein's New York production of The Firefly starring Emma Trentini.[8]

In October 1914 he returned to Melbourne, where he set himself up as a teacher of singing.[9]

In June 1921 he returned to the concert stage, King's Hall, 69 Hunter Street, Sydney, with some of his students.[10]

In 1922 Gaze and his family moved to Los Angeles, where he operated as a real estate agent, later as teacher and insurance broker.

Other interests

Gaze was a keen sportsman, a competitive pigeon shooter and boxer.[11]

Family

Gaze married Alta May Tomlinson (1885–1948), a native of Chicago, USA. They had two daughters:

  • Alta Gwendolen "Gwen" Gaze (6 September 1915 – 29 August 2010)
  • Pamela Wentworth Gaze (25 February 1921 – 9 August 1993)

His brother Harold Gaze was a writer and illustrator of books for children.[12]

Notes and references
  1. Ernesto Baraldi (1868–1939) was teacher at the College of Music in Manchester 1900–1911.
  1. "Obituary". Shepparton Advertiser. No. 3586. Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Mr Leslie Gaze". The Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1346. New South Wales, Australia. 5 November 1911. p. 20. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Train illumination". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 5268. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1897. p. 1. Retrieved 7 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Musical and Dramatic Notes". The West Australian. Vol. XXVII, no. 7, 963. Western Australia. 7 October 1911. p. 14. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Mr Leslie Gaze". Melbourne Punch. Vol. CXV, no. 2925. Victoria, Australia. 17 August 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Au Revoir "Chocolates"". The Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 652. South Australia. 6 April 1912. p. 15. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 20, 570. Victoria, Australia. 27 June 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "On and Off the Stage". Table Talk. No. 1426. Victoria, Australia. 21 November 1912. p. 20. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Leslie Gaze". Table Talk. No. 1526. Victoria, Australia. 22 October 1914. p. 25. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Leslie Gaze Recital". The Sun (Sydney). No. 952. New South Wales, Australia. 26 June 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Personal". The Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 3, no. 637. South Australia. 23 March 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ""To Serve"". Table Talk. No. 1537. Victoria, Australia. 7 January 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 8 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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