Lawrence Campbell

English-born elocutionist, actor, teacher (1867-1941). Lawrence Campbell studied acting and elocution in England and attempted a career on the English stage before poor health forced him to immigrate to Australia in 1892. After setting up schools of elocution in Tasmania he moved to Sydney in 1894 and quickly established himself as one of the country’s leading instructors. Campbell performed regularly himself, and between 1916 and the mid to late-1920s held the rights to recite verse and do impersonations from C.J. Dennis’s Songs of the "Sentimental Bloke" in both Australia and New Zealand. He also presented it on Australian radio in 1930.