David Nettheim
Encyclopedia
David Cosman Nettheim was an Australian actor.
Born in Sydney, and brought up in Cremorne Point
the eldest son of actor (Leslie) Roy Nettheim (who hosted a classical music program on radio 2GB
and its Macquarie Radio Network
) and the actress Mary Hosking, he was introduced to the theatre when his parents joined Doris Fitton
's Independent Theatre
.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
and joined 2GB as an office boy in 1941. He took on occasional writing and announcing roles and was involved in production of John Dease
's "Quiz Kids".
He helped Sir Charles Mackerras
(an old schoolfriend) prepare classical music programs for radio. He adapted Xavier Herbert
's Capricornia
as a radio serial.
He was involved with the Metropolitan Theatre, Mercury Theatre
and Phillip Street Theatre
, where he both wrote for and acted in their famous revues.
He worked with Michael Bentine
and John Bluthal
in the Goon Show-like radio programme "Three's a Crowd" for radio 2UE
, which ran for 34 weekly half-hour episodes. He next worked in England with Peter Sellers
and Michael Bentine in the 1957 television comedy skit show Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show. The following year he relocated to England, and for 20 years he was seldom out of work but maintained ties with Australia in regular hookups with John West
for his radio programme "The Showman".
In 1977 he settled in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, New South Wales|Glebe]]. He appeared in stage and television productions, and took on the positions of federal treasurer for Actors' Equity (now Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
). He was involved in the doomed campaign to save the Regent Theatre
in Sydney from demolition and helped manage the Actors' Benevolent Fund.
He never married and was survived by two brothers and two sisters.
Born in Sydney, and brought up in Cremorne Point
Cremorne Point, New South Wales
Cremorne Point is a harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Cremorne is located 6 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of North Sydney Council....
the eldest son of actor (Leslie) Roy Nettheim (who hosted a classical music program on radio 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
and its Macquarie Radio Network
Macquarie Radio Network
Macquarie Radio Network is the name of the company that owns and operates 2GB and 2CH in Sydney and MTR 1377 in Melbourne. It is a publicly listed company, majority owned by John Singleton. The Chief Executive is Angela Clarke....
) and the actress Mary Hosking, he was introduced to the theatre when his parents joined Doris Fitton
Doris Fitton
Doris Alice Fitton Mason, DBE was an Australian actress and theatrical director who founded and for 35 years headed Sydney's Independent Theatre, staging a diverse range of local and international dramas, many for the first time in Australia, including Sumner Locke-Elliott's wartime comedy, Rusty...
's Independent Theatre
Independent Theatre
The Independent Theatre was a dramatic society founded in 1930 by Doris Fitton , and was also the name given to the building it occupied from 1938. It was named for London's Independent Theatre Society founded by J. T...
.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and joined 2GB as an office boy in 1941. He took on occasional writing and announcing roles and was involved in production of John Dease
John Dease
Conly John Paget Dease was a prominent Australian radio presenter and quiz show host in the 1940s and 50s.He was born in Bhamo, Upper Burma, son of an English lieutenant in the 91st Punjabi Regiment...
's "Quiz Kids".
He helped Sir Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
(an old schoolfriend) prepare classical music programs for radio. He adapted Xavier Herbert
Xavier Herbert
Xavier Herbert was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country . He is considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian literature...
's Capricornia
Capricornia (novel)
Capricornia is a novel by Xavier Herbert. Like his later work considered by many a masterpiece, the Miles Franklin Award winning Poor Fellow My Country, it provides a fictional account of life in 'Capricornia', a place clearly modelled specifically on Australia's Northern Territory, and to a...
as a radio serial.
He was involved with the Metropolitan Theatre, Mercury Theatre
St James' Hall, Sydney
St James' Hall, sometimes written as St James's Hall, was a building which stood at 171 Phillip Street, Sydney, near King Street. It figured prominently in the history of small theatre in Australia...
and Phillip Street Theatre
Phillip Street Theatre
The Phillip Street Theatre was a popular and influential Sydney theatre and theatrical company of the 1950s and 1960s that became well known for its intimate satirical revue productions.-History:...
, where he both wrote for and acted in their famous revues.
He worked with Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine CBE was a British comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons. A Peruvian Briton by heritage as a result of his father's nationality, In 1971 Bentine received the Order of Merit of Peru because of his fund-raising work for the 1970 Great Peruvian...
and John Bluthal
John Bluthal
John Bluthal is a Polish-born British film and television actor, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan and for his roles in the television series Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley.-Early life:Bluthal was born in Galicia, Poland, of Jewish...
in the Goon Show-like radio programme "Three's a Crowd" for radio 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
, which ran for 34 weekly half-hour episodes. He next worked in England with Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
and Michael Bentine in the 1957 television comedy skit show Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show. The following year he relocated to England, and for 20 years he was seldom out of work but maintained ties with Australia in regular hookups with John West
John West (theatre)
John West was an Australian broadcaster remembered for his long-running programmes "Sentimental Journey" and "The Showman" broadcast nationally on ABC radio....
for his radio programme "The Showman".
In 1977 he settled in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, New South Wales|Glebe]]. He appeared in stage and television productions, and took on the positions of federal treasurer for Actors' Equity (now Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries...
). He was involved in the doomed campaign to save the Regent Theatre
Regent Theatre (Sydney)
The Regent Theatre was a heritage-listed theatre in Sydney, Australia, which was demolished in 1988.-Description and history:The Regent Theatre was Hoyts' showcase "picture palace" in Sydney, designed by the distinguished architect Cedric Ballantyne and built by James Porter & Sons.Located at...
in Sydney from demolition and helped manage the Actors' Benevolent Fund.
He never married and was survived by two brothers and two sisters.