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FROM OUTER SPACE MUSICAL MAGICAL REVUE - Empire Theatre Sydney, Daily Mirror, August 1959 - Starring John Calvert & Pilita

Source - Courtesy of Ron Pettersson

Madren Elbern “John” Calvert (August 5, 1911 – September 27, 2013) was an American magician and film actor. He performed on stage (including Broadway) for eight decades both in the United States and worldwide. Siegfried & Roy cited him as an inspiration, and Bess Houdini said that he was second only to Harry Houdini in play(ing) the part of a magician.

He was also an actor who appeared in numerous movies and was the subject of a biographical documentary entitled John Calvert – His Magic and Adventures. The Society of Young Magicians (S.Y.M.) Assembly of the Boston area is named after John Calvert.

Pilita - A musical icon to Filipinos worldwide, as well as Australians in times past, Pilita Corrales is a star like no other.

Television viewers in Melbourne between 1959 and 1961 would remember Pilita as one of the biggest TV stars of their time.

This is the story of a star who became Asia’s Queen of Song, as fans look forward to her upcoming show in Melbourne, in the city where it all began 60 years ago.

Pilita’s career in the world of music began in 1959. The journey to Melbourne, however, was not as smooth sailing as many would expect.

Pilita left the Philippines in her late teens to try her luck as a backup circus performer for John Calvert, a known American actor-magician at the time. They set sail from Manila to Singapore, then on to Darwin on the Seafox, a famous yacht that met its fate in the remote shores of the Northern Territory.

Despite the distress calls made, it was a week before the passengers and crew, including a chimpanzee, made it to shore safely. This event made headlines throughout the world due to the four-day search, and the Australian Navy who helped them back to shore with their damaged leaky vessel.

After two weeks, Pilita was performing as John Calvert’s assistant on live TV in Melbourne. Melbourne was the center of entertainment in Australia at the time.

Pilita’s appeal was quickly discovered by the weekly entertainment show, ‘In Melbourne Tonight’, hosted by Graham Kennedy on GMT-9 (aka Channel 9 or Nine Network).

No longer was Pilita known the magician’s assistant, as she began to be recognised as a singer entertainer in her own right. She resided in St Kilda Road in Melbourne with Calvert, who instantly became her mentor/manager.

After proving very popular with her weekly TV performances, Channel 9 organised her first single release, under the direction of their musical director Arthur Young. The single titled ‘Speak Low / Come Closer To Me’ released on November 2, 1959, became a huge hit.- Notes by By Philtimes.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -