Collier Wood (Did)

Edward Harold Collier (22 January 1905 – 8 April 1966)

Harold Collier’s son Geoff posted a comment on Collingwood’s Crackajack Collier way back in 2023. We’ve kept in touch and he recently sent a few photocopies of his Dad which are pictured here. Geoff also provided a wee bit more information on his father, who was so prominent and pioneering in the mouth organ world in Victoria in the twenties and thirties.

“Dad was playing in a dance band (drums) prior to his first marriage in 1928 and working days as a theatre manager prior to becoming a butcher and then a theatrical agent. I have a gold plated trophy presented to him by 3LO when he won the open championship of Australia in 1927. He was conducting talent quests at the Kings Theatre in Russell St well before I was born in 1943.”

“I forgot to mention that dad’s dance band released a 78 rpm record of 12th street rag/When your smiling which received air play for a while.”

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South Street Competition (1925)

I located some additional information on Harold’s success at the inaugural Ballarat South Street National Championships judged by Gustav Slapoffski. There may have only been two contestants in the over 16 and under 21 years event, but Harold was a comprehensive winner. Walter William Whykes I believe had just turned eighteen (21/10/1907) and in 1928 he returned to the age restricted contest finishing third to Oliver Roberts by two points. Oliver triumphed in the open section the following year.

Mouth Organ Contest (over 16 and under 21 years): Edward H. Collier (Collingwood), 25 points, 1: W. Whykes (Ballarat), 21 points, 2.

Judge’s comments: E. H. Collier, made differences between p. and f. very clever 3/4, good tone and accompaniment particularly well marked. (The Age Melbourne,Tue 13 Oct 1925)

Walter may have been lucky to perform as an accident a couple of years earlier nearly witnessed his demise.

Ballarat, Sunday. – The parties concerned in a motor accident which happened near Buninyong on the Ballarat road last night are lucky they are alive to-day. They survived a smash between a car and a cycle, and the subsequent fall over a 15ft. embankment, with the car pinning them down. The net result was some bruises and abrasions, a smashed screen, damaged mudguards, and a badly wrecked bicycle. The car was being driven by Mr. J. Willis, employed by the Ballarat Brewing Company. With him were Mr. J, Powell, a woman, and a child. Willis tried to avoid running over a calf which was asleep on the highway, and it is alleged he ran into Walter Whykes, a young cyclist. The car then swerved, burst through the rails protecting the embankment, and fell 15ft., dragging Whykes and his bike under it. Assistance had to be got to extricate the cyclist and the car occupants, but no one was seriously hurt.

(The Sun News-Pictorial, Melbourne, Mon 26 Nov 1923)

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Crackajack Orchestra (1927/28)

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Melbourne Crackajack Ladies Mouth Organ Band (1939)

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South Street Competition (1936)

After quite a few close results (with no cigar) in the open championships, Harold was finally crowned National Champion in 1936 heading the brilliant Les Benoit in a tight finish. Held at the Albert Hall Ballarat, the stars had aligned when Gustav Slapoffski returned to judge the event.

Commenting on the work in the solo championship won by Mr E. H. Collier of Collingwood, Gustav commented that, “there had been many remarkable performances on such a small and very simple instrument.” (The Argus Melbourne, Tue 27 Oct 1936)

For more articles on Harold check out A Crackajack Story, All Crackajackies and the Masters of Jazz.

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