Summary

Black and white negative of Swallow & Ariell Ltd, Group Portrait at Smoke Night, Melbourne, Victoria, 26 Jun1953. Photograph commissioned by Swallow & Ariell Ltd.

One of approximately 85,000 negatives from the Laurie Richards Collection taken by the Melbourne based Laurie Richards Studio between the 1950s -1970s.

Laurie Richards was a professional photographer who began his career as a photo-journalist, working for the Advertiser newspaper in Adelaide, and the Argus and the Herald newspapers in Melbourne. In 1953, he opened his own business and set up a photographic studio at his home at 4 Tower Avenue, Alphington, an inner suburb of Melbourne. At its peak, in the late 1960s, the Laurie Richards Studio was one of Melbourne's pre-eminent commercial photographic studios, employing twelve photographers. The Laurie Richards Studio worked mainly in advertising and public relations, and had a broad clientele which included commercial companies, government institutions and the entertainment industry.

Description of Content

A group portrait of men gathered around a table at the Swallow & Ariell smoke night. Most of the men are pictured holding a drink. Flag shown in the background.

Physical Description

Black and white 5" x 4" cellulose acetate negative.

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