Harry Lauder II, the fifth son of Matthew Currie Lauder (1872-1933) by his spouse
Catherine (née Vallance), was a musical prodigy educated at the expense
of his famous uncle, Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950). Harry II was an
advanced pupil of Leopold Dagradi in Milan, of Hardesty Johnson in
Paris, and Ellis Rhodes in Chicago. A fine tenor, he was possibly best
known for his roles with the Winthrop Ames Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
touring widely with them in 1928, including Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and
Richmond, Virginia. He was second conductor with this company's orchestra,
and did some guest conducting in Chicago, before being employed by
William Fox's Fox Movietone News, where he conducted the orchestra for
18 months before being taken by Fox to Hollywood.
In addition to being one of William Fox's conductors, he also played parts as an
extra in several Fox films, such as "Happy Days" (1929) (chorus),
"Women Everywhere" (1930), "Rough Romance" (1930), "Sea Wolf" (1930),
and "Delicious" (1931).
He also had a teaching studio at the Glendale Music Company, 118
South Brand, Glendale, California, his business card saying that he had
18 months conducting on the concert platform, and was a vocal teacher
and microphone specialist. He also wrote a mass of popular tunes and an
opera, based in the South Sea Islands entitled "Tina", which have not
been published. His several plays had more success.
During the Second World War he found himself stranded in Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia, where several of his plays were staged, including
"Glorious Descent" at 'The Little Theatre', and where he was again
engaged in film production as an assistant director and
conductor for "The Power and the Glory" (1941). He died in Sydney
on December 5, 1951, after suffering a Stroke.
(Information from Death certificate and from the book on his famous
uncle, Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950): "Harry Lauder in the Limelight" by
William Wallace, Lewes, Sussex, England, 1988, ISBN
0-86332-312-X)
