In heavy card covers, with device of the Bridge

Component identifier:

Item 81

Content Summary:

Issued: 'With compliments from Lewis Berger Sons (Australia) Ltd'. Inscribed: 'Presented to Harry Chaplin by Hal Gye, January 1952'.

Bound in dark green cloth over the original covers. With pencil drawing on end-paper of C.J. Dennis 'On his way to Menzies: C.J.D. The Toff'. The poet is making his way into the Saloon Bar of the hotel.

Together with autograph letter from Hal Gye to Chaplin: 'Dear Harry Chaplin: I don't know how it came about that 'Den' dipped the lid to Sydney Harbour Bridge. But 'Den' was always keen on money - and even though he had received £18,000 altogether with his poetry, play and picture (so he told me) he at times became nervous and feared that funs might run low...Easy to imagine such fears, too, for when in town, he stayed for fairly long periods at Menzies Hotel, and anyone passing the entrance to this hotel would often hear Market Street fill to the loud and important cry: 'Mister-er-er Dennis's Taxi-i-i-i!'...All the waiters and attendants of Menzies waited on the famous C.J.D. hand and foot an the famous C.J.D. distributed 2 bob-pieces as falls the gentle rain from heaven - so maybe the great bridge, at an opportune time, helped to line 'Den's' silver heaven. Anyway, why shouldn't a poet write an advertisement? If the N.S.W. Railways would commission me I'd compose a most laudatory poem to the Grand Central lavatory, and for 5/- too. Hal Gye and James Hackston'.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

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