A suitcase left unopened in an Australian family home for 90 years has unveiled images from another world, as a ventriloquist’s archive comes to light.
English journalist Thomas Frederick Parnell, better known by his stage name Frederick Russell, became “the father of modern ventriloquism” after trading journalism for the stage in the late 19th century.
Reinventing the practice of miming speech from puppets, Parnell established the now-common practice of using a single comedic dummy as the puppeteer plays it straight.
His companion was known as Cockney “Coster Joe.”
Alongside his career as a jokester, Parnell’s press work took him around the world from Lake Tanganyika in east Africa to the Western Front, with camera in hand.
A collection of his photographic prints were found in a descendant’s home in NSW last year and have since been catalogued and conserved.
“To our understanding, they do appear to be in good condition for that time,” according to Geoff McKnew, a senior valuer with Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers.
Parnell and his camera documented World War I from the front lines, creating images of soldiers and canine companions, the scorched earth of No Man’s Land, the British navy at sea and Armistice Day.
His personal collection comprises more than 360 photos.
One titled “Scene In London When The News Was Heard” shows a throng erupting as reports of the end of the war reached London.
Most of the images are undated and the people in them have not been identified despite some being official press photographs.
Mr. McKnew says the collection’s worth is hard to estimate but its upcoming auction online is capable of attracting international bidders.
“Because the pictures have never been seen before, it’s hard to put a price on things like that,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to honour the story and the current custodians.”
Parnell’s family hopes museums or libraries will acquire the images to safeguard and exhibit them.
Parnell died in 1957 after being awarded an Order of the British Empire for his services to the stage and is survived by his extended family in England and Australia.
His photographs will go under the hammer in a four-part series from Tuesday.
