Captive Audiences/Captive Performers

Figure 00.00 Captive Audiences / Captive Performers cover illustration. Detail from Jack Chalker's watercolor of the Chungkai Theatre in 1944.

Figure 15.08. “Duet.”

Figure 15.07. Camp announcement: Chungkai.

Figure 15.06. “Lotus Mystery.”

Figure 15.05. Camp announcement: Chungkai.

Figure 15.04. "1001 Nights."

Figure 15.03. Han Samethini in orchestra pit at Chungkai.

Figure 15.02. “Roll Call.”

Figure 15.01. POW [Stanley Gimson], Chungkai Thailand, January 1944.

Figure 14.10. Notice for soccer match.

Figure 14.09. Image of Bobby Spong. Details from the "Wonder Bar" photographs.

Figure 14.08. Image of Bobby Spong. Details from the "Wonder Bar" photographs.

Figure 14.07. Barry Custance Baker.

Figure 14.06. John “Nellie” Wallace.

Figure 14.05. Douglas Morris

Figure 14.04. Jack Chalker in Bangkok following liberation. Photograph.

Figure 14.03. “Ted Weller Goes Edwardian as Band Vocalist.” Sketchbook detail.

Figure 14.02. “Ted Weller Goes Edwardian as Band Vocalist” Rae Nixon’s Sketchbook.

Figure 14.01. Photograph of Lieutenant Ted Weller.

Figure 13.16. Poster for "The Rhythm Club."

Figure 13.15. Poster for "Cinderella."

Figure 13.14. Small poster for "Accent on Youth."

Figure 13.13. Audience announcement.

Figure 13.12. Actors backstage at Tamarkan.

Figure 13.11. Leo Britt. Detail of "Wonder Bar" photograph.

Figure 13.10. Poster for "Wonder Bar."

Figure 13.09. Playbill for "Love Thais." Takanun, 1943.

Figure 13.08. Program cover for "Love Thais."

Figure 13.07. Announcement for "Wonder Bar."

Figure 13.06. Program for "Hellsabuzzin’!."

Figure 13.05. E & O Green Room Club Membership Card.

Figure 13.04. Production still from "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse."

Figure 13.03. Poster for André Charlot’s "Wonder Bar."

Figure 13.02 Letter of appreciation to Allum from Dutch Army Captain B. Sluimers.

Figure 13.01. Norman Whittaker’s Brass Band at Tamarkan.

Figure 12.69. Sketch of ukulele construction.

Figure 12.68. "Tony Gerrish’s dance band.” Sketchbook detail.

Figure 12.67. "Wonder Bar" detail: camp-made bass viol.

Figure 12.66. Sketch of camp-made bass viol.

Figure 12.65. Sketch of camp-made instruments.

Figure 12.64. Sketch of camp-made instruments.

Figure 12.63. Costume plot: “Lights of London” characters.

Figure 12.62. Costume plot: “Music Hall” characters.

Figure 12.61. Costume plot: Lieutenant Ted Weller’s characters.

Figure 12.60. "Wonder Bar" detail: Douglas Morris.

Figure 12.59. "Wonder Bar" detail: Bobby Spong.

Figure 12.58. “Two Wigs” detail.

Figure 12.57. Wigs.

Figure 12.56. “Can-Can Dancers.” Costume plot detail.

Figure 12.55. “Accessories.”

Figure 12.54. “The Mashers.”

Figure 12.53. Hats.

Figure 12.52. Renderings for women’s outfits.

Figure 12.51. Renderings for women’s outfits.

Figure 12.50. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Lady Elizabeth.”

Figure 12.49. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Milania.”

Figure 12.48. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Mirabelle.”

Figure 12.47. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Paul.”

Figure 12.46. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Bobsleigh team member.”

Figure 12.45. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Peter.”

Figure 12.44. "Wonder Bar" detail: “Simon.”

Figure 12.43. "Wonder Bar" detail.

Figure 12.42. Costume shop at Nakhon Pathom.

Figure 12.41. Ubon theatre.

Figure 12.40. Chungkai Theatre detail.

Figure 12.39. "Wonder Bar" detail.

Figure 12.38. Camp-made coconut oil reflector lamp.

Figure 12.37. Sketch of Tamarkan theatre. Detail.

Figure 12.36. Sketch of Nakhon Pathom theatre.

Figure 12.35. “The Orchard” setting. Costume plot detail.

Figure 12.34. “The Lights of London” setting. Cosume plot detail.

Figure 12.33. “The Lights of London” setting. Costume plot detail.

Figure 12.32. “The Can Can” setting.

Figure 12.31. Costume plot detail showing “The Margate Beach” setting.

Figure 12.30. Costume plot detail showing “Music Hall” setting.

Figure 12.29. “Little annexe” setting.

Figure 12.28. "Wonder Bar" detail.

Figure 12.27. Costume plate for "Dingbats Abroad," detail.

Figure 12.26. Set rendering for "Hot Ice," detail.

Figure 12.25. Set rendering for "Hot Ice."

Figure 12.24. Set rendering for "Bright & Breezy."

Figure 12.23. Set rendering for "Hollywood Revue."

Figure 12.22. Set design for café scene.

Figure 12.21. Ground plan for "Greenwood Fantasy."

Figure 12.20. Set rendering for "Greenwood Fantasy."

Figure 12.19. Kanburi Officers’ Camp theatre.

Figure 12.18. “Know Your Ticket” sign.

Figure 12.17. New Nong Pladuk Theatre.

Figure 12.16. Backstage dressing room in the Tamarkan theatre.

Figure 12.15. Back view of the Tamarkan theatre.

Figure 12.14. Ubon theatre.

Figure 12.13. Nakhon Pathom theatre.

Figure 12.12. Sketch of Chungkai theatre detail.

Figure 12.11. Sketch of Nakhon Pathom.

Figure 12.10. Ground plan of Chungkai theatre.

Figure 12.09. Kanburi Officers Camp theatre.

Figure 12.08. Façade of Kanburi Officers’ Camp theatre.

Figure 12.07. Chungkai theatre logo by Huib van Laar.

Figure 12.06. Chungkai theatre detail.

Figure 12.05. Kanburi theatre detail.

Figure 12.04. Tamarkan theatre detail.

Figure 12.03. Hut interior at Nong Pladuk.

Figure 12.02. Kanburi Officers’ Camp theatre.

Figure 12.01. Watercolor of the Chungkai theatre.

Figure 11.21. Close-up of accordion keyboard.

Figure 11.20. Frankie Quinton’s accordion.

Figure 11.19. Camp-made evening gown.

Figure 11.18. Fragment of scenery.

Figure 11.17. Tom Boardman heads home with his camp-made ukulele.

Figure 11.16. Watercolor sketch of Kanburi Theatre.

Figure 11.15. Program for "Mystery in Budapest."

Figure 11.14. “Shipboard Concert.”

Figure 11.13. Australian–Dutch/Indonesian Concert Party.

Figure 11.12. “Out of the Blue Came . . .”

Figure 11.11. “Campfire Community Concert.”

Figure 11.10. Photograph of the Ubon theatre.

Figure 11.09. Photograph of the Ubon theatre.

Figure 11.08. Ubon Theatre. Sketch.

Figure 11.07. Kanburi theatre with scenic artists at work onstage. Photograph.

Figure 11.06. Poster for "The Rajah of Coconut."

Figure 11.05. Advertisement for "Pygmalion."

Figure 11.04. Poster for "Hold That Thaiger."

Figure 11.03. “The Night We Were Free.”

Figure 11.02. “His Own Words.”

Figure 11.01. Detail of aerial photograph showing Tamuang theatre.

Figure 10.12. Set design for "Hot Ice."

Figure 10.11. Set design for "Bright & Breezy."

Figure 10.10. Ground Plan of Kachu Mountain Aerodrome Camp.

Figure 10.09. “Our Publicity Office.” Sketch by Norman Pritchard.

Figure 10.08. Set rendering for "Hollywood Revue."

Figure 10.07. Photograph of Ubon Theatre.

Figure 10.06. Hand-drawn and colored poster for "Strike A New Note."

Figure 10.05. Program cover for "The Dreamer."

Figure 10.04. Small poster for "Outward Bound."

Figure 10.03. Norman Pritchard. Sketch by Jan van Holthe.

Figure 10.02. Prospectus for “The White Pagoda Players.”

Figure 10.01. Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Kachu Mountain Camp.

Figure 09.12. Costume rendering for male and female costumes by Peter Bernard.

Figure 09.11. Kanburi Officers’ Camp hut interior.

Figure 09.10. Sheet music on paper made from rice sacks.

Figure 09.09. “Fizzer” Pearson performing. Cartoon by Fred Ransome Smith.

Figure 09.08. “C minor!” Cartoon by Fred Ransome Smith.

Figure 09.07. Kanburi Camp Theatre, August 1945.

Figure 09.06. POWs attending a concert at Kanburi.

Figure 09.05c. Playbill for "A New Revue," page 3.

Figure 09.05b. Playbill for "A New Revue," page 2.

Figure 09.05a. Playbill for "A New Revue," page 1.

Figure 09.04. Program cover for "A New Revue."

Figure 09.03. Playbill for "Music Hath Charms."

Figure 09.02. Photograph of Kanburi Orchestra.

Figure 09.01. Playbill for "Where There’s A Will."

Figure 08.15. Remains of Cast List for English-language production of "Roland Our Child."

Figure 08.14. "Variety Show" Poster.

Figure 08.13. Playbill for "Yes! Mr. Barry" by Flip Relf.

Figure 08.12. Souvenir Program Cover for "Yes! Mr. Barry."

Figure 08.11. Sketch of Wim Kan.

Figure 08.10. Cast list for "Roland ons Kind" from Wim Kan’s Burmadagboek.

Figure 08.09. Sketch of new Nakhon Pathom Theatre by unknown Dutch artist from Ingram’s “Paddy Field Playhouse.”

Figure 08.08. Len Gibson’s score for “Monsoon.”

Figure 08.07. Excerpt from "Good Morning Bill."

Figure 08.06. Nakhon Pathom Theatre.

Figure 08.05. Souvenir Program Covers for "Greenwood Fantasy."

Figure 08.04. Souvenir Program Covers for "Greenwood Fantasy."

Figure 08.03. Sketch of Nigel Wright.

Figure 08.02. Poster for Dutch Christmas shows.

Figure 08.01. Pencil sketch of Nakhon Pathom with Phra Pathom Chedi in distance.

Figure 07.36. Playbill for "3 Moods."

Figure 07.35. Souvenir program cover for "Three Moods."

Figure 07.34. Souvenir program for "Café Craze."

Figure 07.33. Souvenir program for "Crazy Café."

Figure 07.32. Playbill for "Escapado Argentino."

Figure 07.31. Souvenir program for "Escapado Argentino: The Sequel."

Figure 07.30 Bob Gale. Escapado Argentino script, page 4.

Figure 07.29. Playbill for "Rhythm Roundabout."

Figure 07.28. Cover for "Rhythm Roundabout."

Figure 07.27. Souvenir program for "Band Scramble."

Figure 07.26 Image Gallery

Figure 07.25. Program cover for "Nongpladuk Nonsense."

Figure 07.24. Playbill for "Any More for Sailing."

Figure 07.23. Souvenir program for "Any More for Sailing."

Figure 07.22. Souvenir program for "Home Affairs."

Figure 07.20. “Sawdust” playbill. Norman Pritchard.

Figure 07.21. “Great New Theatre.”

Figure 07.19. Souvenir program for "Blackpool By-The-Sea."

Figure 07.18. Playbill for "Rock and Roll."

Figure 07.17. Souvenir program for "Rock And Roll."

Figure 07.16. Souvenir program for "The Show Must Go On."

Figure 07.15. Bob Gale. "Escapado Argentino" script, page 4.

Figure 07.14. Bob Gale. "Escapado Argentino" script, page 3.

Figure 07.13. Bob Gale. "Escapado Argentino" script, page 2.

Figure 07.12. Bob Gale. "Escapado Argentino" script, page 1.

Figure 07.11. Playbill for "Escapado Argentino."

Figure 07.10. Souvenir program for "Escapado Argentino."

Figure 07.09. “Hospital!!”

Figure 07.08. Playbill for "Ik Hou Van Holland."

Figure 07.07. Souvenir program for "Ik Hou Van Holland."

Figure 07.06. Program cover for "Murder at Sea."

Figure 07.05. Playbill for "Radio Guest Night."

Figure 07.04. Souvenir program for "Radio Guest Night."

Figure 07.03. Caricature of John D. V. Allum.

Figure 07.02. Playbill for "Cinderella."

Figure 07.01. Souvenir program for "Cinderella" by William Wilder.

Figure 06.51. Program cover for "Joop Lacht Weer."

Figure 06.50. Unfinished publicity poster (?) for "Mars Fantasie."

Figure 06.49. Drop curtain for "Mars Fanatsie."

Figure 06.48. Another setting for "Mars Fantasie."

Figure 06.47. "Mars Fantasie." Set design by Huib van Laar.

Figure 06.46. “Strong Men Needed.” Sketch by P. A. O. Van Velthuysen.

Figure 06.45. “Bed Down.” Sketch by P. A. O. Van Velthuysen.

Figure 06.44. Poster for "Waltz Time."

Figure 06.43. Poster for "Major Barbara."

Figure 06.42. Poster for "The Christmas Spirit."

Figure 06.41. Poster for "Lichten Op!"

Figure 06.40. Poster for "Oh Susannah."

Figure 06.39. The New Chungkai Theatre.

Figure 06.38. Poster for "Stockpot."

Figure 06.37. Cast change announcement.

Figure 06.36. Poster for "On Your Toes."

Figure 06.35. Poster "For The Amazng Dr. Clitterhouse."

Figure 06.34. Program cover for "Zijn Groote."

Figure 06.33. Poster for "Musical Scrap Book."

Figure 06.32. Poster for "Eddie’s Road Show."

Figure 06.31. Sketch of flooded theatre.

Figure 06.30. Program cover for "From Laugh to Laugh."

Figure 06.29. Poster for "Garrison Theatre."

Figure 06.28. Poster for "Night Must Fall."

Figure 06.27. Program cover for "Sweet and Swing."

Figure 06.26. Poster for "Thai Diddle Diddle."

Figure 06.25. "Wonder Bar," Act III.

Figure 06.24. "Wonder Bar" Curtain Call.

Figure 06.23. Souvenir Program. "Wonder Bar." Cast List.

Figure 06.22. "Wonder Bar" poster.

Figure 06.21. "Promenade Concert." Musicians.

Figure 06.20. "Promenade Concert." First page of the program.

Figure 06.19. The Chungkai Theatre. Watercolor by Jack Chalker.

Figure 06.18. Soccer Match Announcement.

Figure 06.17. “The Mystery of the Lotus.”

Figure 06.16. Program cover for "Circus Cavaljos."

Figure 06.15. Sketch of the Chungkai Theatre, April 1944.

Figure 06.14. Program cover for "The Circle."

Figure 06.13. Geoffrey Gee. Photograph.

Figure 06.12. Poster for "Animal Crackers."

Figure 06.11. Tango Dancers. Peter van Velthuysen.

Figure 06.10. Sketch of scenes from "1001 Nacht."

Figure 06.09. Unfinished Poster for "1001 Nacht."

Figure 06.08. “Het Hollandsche Cabaret” Cofounders.

Figure 06.07. Hans Samethini at Chungkai. Detail of Wonder Bar photograph.

Figure 06.06. “The Exiles.” Detail.

Figure 06.04. “The Bam-Booz-Lers.” Playbill for opening show.

Figure 06.05. Jimmy van Lingen. Pencil sketch by Stanley Gimson.

Figure 06.03. “Dysentery ward—view from my bed space.”

Figure 06.02. The Chungkai Theatre.

Figure 06.01. Chungkai theatre logo.

Figure 05.11. Costume rendering for the lead roles in "Aladdin."

Figure 05.10. Souvenir program for Norman Carter’s "Cinderella."

Figure 05.09. Costume plot for "Dingbats Abroad."

Figure 05.08. Costume renderings for characters in “Lights of London” melodrama in Memories of the Gay 90s.

Figure 05.07. Cancan scene from "Memories of the Gay 90s."

Figure 05.06. Costume rendering for “The Mashers.”

Figure 05.05. The Nominal Rolls and Rae Nixon’s sketchbook.

Figure 05.04. Backstage in Tamarkan theatre. Sketch.

Figure 05.03. Jungle Theatre, Tamarkan.”

Figure 05.02. “Rest from the Railroad . . .”

Figure 05.01. “Tamarkan Theatre 1943.”

Figure 04.13. Souvenir Program. "Frills & Frolics."

Figure 04.12. Souvenir Program. "A Promenade Concert."

Figure 04.11. Souvenir Program. "A Promenade Concert."

Figure 04.10. Souvenir Program. "Rabbie’s Roost."

Figure 04.09. Setting for "Kannibal Kapers."

Figure 04.08. Rail Travel Siam.

Figure 04.07. Souvenir Program. "Hogmanay."

Figure 04.06. Secret photograph of audience at Tarsao.

Figure 04.05. “Follies de Noel” playbill.

Figure 04.04. Souvenir Program. "Follies de Noel."

Figure 04.03. Christmas Program.

Figure 04.02. “Farewell Performance” Playbill. Rimboe Club.

Figure 04.01. Souvenir Program. "Down South."

Figure 02.002. “Forced Laborers.”

Figure 02.001. Map of the Thailand-Burma railway.

Figure 03.06. Burma Railway Map #4. Aungganaung—Little Nikki.

Figure 03.05. “Zooals velen onzer makkers heengingen” (Burial Detail). Burma Camp 100 July–August 1943.

Figure 03.04. Burma Railway Map #3. Meiloe—Paya Thanzu Taung.

Figure 03.03. Burma Railway Map #2. Betetaung—Meiloe.

Figure 03.02. Burma Railway Map #1. Thanbyuzayat/000 Kilo—Betetaung.

Figure 03.01. Major Jim “Hole-in-the-Road” Jacobs.

Figure 02.14. Thailand Railway Map #3. Takanun—Konkoita.

Figure 02.13. Frankie Quinton.

Figure 02.12. Thailand Railway Map #2: Hintok—Takanun.

Figure 02.11. Mass grave. Thumbnail sketch.

Figure 02.10. “Better Death.”

Figure 02.08. “Hintock Cutting.”

Figure 02.09. “Leaving Kanu.”

Figure 02.07. “The Duet.”

Figure 02.06. “Cholera Tents – Kanyu.”

Figure 02.05. Program cover for "Sincerely Yours."

Figure 02.04. “Kampvuur in de jungle.”

Figure 02.03. Campfire Concert Kanu.

Figure 02.02. Thailand Railway Map #1: Ban Pong—Malayan Hamlet.

Figure 02.01. “Singapore—Bangkok.”

Figure 00.04. “Fun Fare” for Entertaining the Forces.

Figure 00.03. Masks of comedy and tragedy. Soldier Shows logo, 1943.

Figure 00.02. “Working Men, Kanyu Camp” Pen and wash drawing.

Figure 00.01. Publicity poster for "Wonder Bar."

Figure 01.32. Han Samethini. Prewar photograph.

Figure 01.31. “Pass the Nuts” playbill, page 5.

Figure 01.30. “Pass the Nuts” playbill, page 3-4.

Figure 01.29. “Pass the Nuts” playbill, page 2.

Figure 01.28. Souvenir program for "Pass the Nuts."

Figure 01.27. Hula Dancer. Charles Burki.

Figure 01.26. Program of music for "Promenade Concert."

Figure 01.25. Fergus Anckorn as “Wizardus.”

Figure 01.24. Souvenir program for "Fun Fare: A New Edition."

Figure 01.23. Transport to Thailand. Robert Brazil.

Figure 01.22. “Smiles on the Nile” on stage in the Keppel Harbour Theatre.

Figure 01.21. The Gaiety Theatre.

Figure 01.20. Len Gibson and friends in Liverpool before embarkation.

Figure 01.19. “Changi Scenes” cartoon.

Figure 01.18. “Changi Scenes” detail.

Figure 01.17. Program cover for "Red, Bright and Blue."

Figure 01.16. Tom Boardman in Malaya before the war.

Figure 01.15. Bobby Spong. "Wonder Bar" photograph detail.

Figure 01.14. Lieutenant Terry Morris.

Figure 01.13. Captain Eric Griffith-Jones.

Figure 01.12. Captain Wilfrid “Fizzer” Pearson.

Figure 01.11. Frankie Quinton and friends in Malaya Prior to Hostilities (Frankie Quinton is on the left).

Figure 01.10. Arthur Butler as “Gloria d’Earie” in front of his billet.

Figure 01.09. Leo Britt. Photograph detail.

Figure 01.08. Norman Smith.

Figure 01.07. Leofric Thorpe.

Figure 01.06. Norman Pritchard.

Figure 01.05. Fergus Anckorn.

Figure 01.04. Captain Val Mack.

Figure 01.03. Major James William (Jim) Jacobs.

Figure 01.02. Changi POWs bathing and scavenging. Watercolor by Robert Brazil.

Figure 01.01. Map of Singapore showing Changi POW Camp.

This is the site for Sears Eldredge’s groundbreaking investigation of the musical and theatrical performances that occurred in Japanese prisoner of war camps in Southeast Asia during World War II, and the critical role they played in the survival of Allied POWs.

The book tells the story of how music and theatre helped the 61,000 POWs who were sent to these camps survive their ordeal. It is a story that is not well-known to history and it is now being recovered. It is a story about how music and theatre and the other arts are absolutely essential to a society's life.

Taking advantage of the digital platform, the book incorporates the following interactive multimedia links into the text: image galleries where visual images not in the text may be found, audio excerpts from interviews with former POWs and/or realizations of original music written by the POWs, and video clips that investigate artifacts more closely (see “A Note Regarding Reading and Listening” below).

An archive of Sears Eldredge's research materials and other resources related to this book will be established at the Macalester College Archives.

ISBN-10: 0615574459
ISBN-13: 978-0-615-57445-5

Shannon M. Pennefeather edited the book. Johan Oberg coordinated preparation of interview, audio, and video materials. Jacki Betsworth coordinated preparation of text and images for online publication.

The cover illustration is a detail from Jack Chalker's watercolor of the Chungkai Theatre in 1944. Courtesy of Jack Chalker.

While every effort has been made to contact copyright owners for the material used in this book, the author will be glad to rectify any errors or omissions brought to his attention. Please contact the Macalester College Library with any questions or concerns: email: scholarpub@macalester.edu, or telephone 651-696-6346.

A Note Regarding Reading and Listening

Clicking on an audio-link in the chapter opens a window that contains an audio player. If you have trouble returning to the main text, you could try the following: Place the Audio Clips page (with the list of audio clips) next to the text on the right (actually behind the text). Then, when you come to a blue audio clip button in the text, instead of clicking on it, you should click on the corresponding audio clip number on the Audio Clip page. This should get the audio clip to play beside the text. When the clip is finished, click on your browser's back button to get the audio clip to return to the Listing.

Browse the Captive Audiences/Captive Performers Collections:

Audio Clips for Captive Audiences / Captive Performers

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Video Clips for Captive Audiences / Captive Performers