Summary

Black and white negative of Acting Melbourne Lord Mayor Oliver J. Nilsen handing out drinks, State Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, 25 Jun 1953. Photograph commissioned by the Coca-Cola Company.

It is believed the children in this image may have lived in or been connected to an orphanage in Melbourne at the time this photograph was taken. We are trying to learn more about this image so the story behind it can be better reflected in our collection records.

Museums Victoria acknowledges that institutional life was a time of distress and trauma for many people. The passing of time, and the ways people are depicted in photographs, does not lessen or mitigate these experiences or feelings.

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 man is pictured in the centre of image handing out bottles of Coca-Cola to children. Children are pictured eitherside of the man. Drink crates and the State Theatre is shown in the background.

Physical Description

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

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