Hi Nigel The Encyclopaedia of Stage & Film Musicals by Colin Larkin, gives the following information: Oscar Asche. Born John Stanger HEISS, 26th June 1871, Geelong, Australia, died 23rd March 1936, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England. An actor, author, director and producer who specialised in the spectacular, Asche was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and studied for the stage at Christiania, before moving to England. Early in his career, he played extensively in Shakespearean productions managed by F R Benson and Sir Herbert Tree. Later he appeared in similar productions under his own management, both in the UK and Australia. In 1915 he made his first appearance on the variety stage as Haaj, in a short play of that title, and a year later, on 31 August 1916, burst upon the musical scene at His Majestys Theatre in London with the Arabian Nights fantasy Chu Chin Chow. Not only did he star in the piece with his wife, Lily Brayton, but he also wrote the book and lyrics (music: Frederick Norton) and directed it aswell. Chu Chin Chow was one of the big hits of the 1st World War! and ran until July 1921 a total of 2,238 performances. Ironically, Chu Chin Chows main rival for wartime popularity was The Maid of the Mountains (1,352 performances), which Asche also directed. Meanwhile, Asche wrote and directed the short-lived Eastward Ho! (1919) in collaboration with Grace Torrens and John Ansell (music) and Dornford Yates (lyrics), and then appeared again at His Majestys in Cairo (1921) a mosaic in music and mime with an Eastern flavour, rather like Chu Chin Chow. Originally entitled Mecca when it was previously presented in New York, Asche was credited with the mime (music: Percy Fletcher) and direction, and also played the part of Ali Shar. In the early 20s, Asche toured Australasia with Chu Chin Chow and Cairo, as well as dispensing his staple Shakespearean fare, before returning to the West End stage in 1925, at the Gaiety Theatre, in the 37-performance flop, The Good Old Days (music: Percy Fletcher), which he wrote, directed and co-produced ! with his wife. Although he had enjoyed considerable success as a director with opulent productions such as A Southern Maid (1918), Frasquita (1925) and Cleopatra (1925), his later work, both as a performer and /or director was generally considered to be undistinguished. It included Marjolaine (1928), The White Camelia (1929)and Eldorado (1930). With the advent of talking pictures, Asche began to make films in 1933. These included Don Quixote (1933, with George Robey), My Lucky Star (1933, with Florence Desmond and Harry Tate), the musical Two Hearts in Waltztime (1934, with Carl Brisson, Frances Day and the 17 year old Valerie Hobson), Scrooge (1935, with Seymour Hicks) and The Private Secretary (1935, with Edward Everett Horton and Alastair Sim). He published his autobiography in 1929,and was also the author of The Joss sticks of Chung (1930). Further reading: Oscar Asche: His Life by Himself, Oscar Asche I hope you find this useful. Joanna Coventry > > Dear Listers > > I am researching Oscar Asche who was born in Australia and died on 23rd > March 1936. > > Evidently Oscar Asche was an actor, producer and author. I understand that > he wrote/produced Chu Chin Chow earlier last century. > > I have got his detail from the UK 1901 Census (he was living in London) but > am interested in where he may be buried. > > Any help would be appreciated. > > Many thanks > > Nigel Hewitt > I use ARCHIVE CD BOOKS for my research http://www.archivecdbooks.org