NOW
NEXT
LATER
NOW
NEXT
LATER
NOW
NEXT
LATER

Word for Word

5 Jan 2016

The Two Frank Thrings – Author Peter Fitzpatrick

Arts, Society & Culture

The Two Frank Thrings – Author Peter Fitzpatrick

The Two Frank ThringsThey shared a name, of course, and their physical resemblance was startling. And both Frank Thrings were huge figures in the landscape of twentieth-century Australian theatre and film.

But in many ways they could hardly have been more different. Frank Thring the father (1882–1936) began his career as a sideshow conjuror, and he wheeled, dealed and occasionally married his way into becoming the legendary “F.T.” — impresario, speculator and owner of Efftee Films, Australia’s first ‘talkies’ studio. He built for himself an image of grand patriarchal respectability, a sizeable fortune, and all the makings of a dynasty.

Frank Thring the son (1926–1994) squandered the fortune and derailed the dynasty in the course of creating his own persona — a unique presence that could make most stages and foyers seem small. He won fame playing tyrants in togas in Hollywood blockbusters, then, suddenly, came home to Melbourne to play perhaps his finest role — that of Frank Thring, actor and personality extraordinaire. Central to this role was that Frank the son was unapologetically and outrageously gay.

Peter Fitzpatrick’s “The Two Frank Thrings” tells the story of two remarkable characters. It’s a kind of detective story, following the lives of two men who did all they could to cover their tracks, and to conceal ‘the self’: Frank the father used secrecy and sleight-of-hand as strategies for self-protection; Frank the son masked a thoroughly reclusive personality with flamboyant self-parody. It’s also the tale of a lost relationship — and of the power a father may have had, even over a son who hardly knew him.

Winner of the National Biography Award In 2013, “The Two Frank Thrings” has just been re-released in paperback by Monash University Publishing.  To mark the occasion, Dean Beck is joined by author Peter Fitzpatrick.

art-fitzpatrick-620x349 (1)

RECENT PODCAST

Art Simone

16 Mar 2024

Art Simone

Arts, LGBTI Community, Society & Culture

Today’s guest is Art Simone. Art is one of Australia’s most popular drag performers, having featured in RuPaul's Drag Race ...

Evan Cooper

12 Feb 2024

Evan Cooper

Arts, LGBTI Community, Society & Culture

This week’s guest is Evan Cooper. Evan grew up in a variety of locations due to the divorce of his ...

Bryan Cranston

3 Feb 2024

Bryan Cranston

Society & Culture

Today’s guest is Bryan Cranston. Bryan has spent his work life in education and currently works as a senior academic ...