Borneo Gardiner
Ralph Wilfred Borneo Gardiner (1891 – 1922) was a New Zealand siffleur (whistling performer). Better known as Borneo Gardiner, he imitated bird calls and songs. He was recorded on Pathé Frères 29001.[1] The recordings of him whistling are to "Il Bacio" and a waltz.[2] The National Museum of Australia has a photograph of him and a recording of one of his performances in its website.[1]
He performed in Wellington, New Zealand as a young man in 1909 before departing for England in 1912.[3] He was photographed in South Africa in 1912 including by a billboard advertising him as the Great New Zealand Whistler.[4] He sent a postcard from Sydney in 1913.[5] His whistling accompanied a ballet in 1914.[6] In 1918 he was scheduled to perform with others at Victoria Palace.[7] He was back in New Zealand in 1919.[3] But he returned to London and had success performing at London vaudeville venues in 2020.[8]
In 1919 he was part of a performance headlined by Florence Parbury for wounded soldiers at Daly's Theatre.[9]
He died in London in March 1922.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Borneo Gardiner". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Pages from The Talking Machine World". T. Gracyk. March 1, 1916 – via Google Books.
- 1 2 "Gardiner, Ralph Wilfred Borneo, 1891–". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Mr Borneo Gardiner in Cape Town + Johannesburg, South Africa, 1913 – Kete Horowhenua". horowhenua.kete.net.nz.
- ↑ "Postcard from Mr Borneo Gardiner in Sydney, Australia, 1913 – Kete Horowhenua". horowhenua.kete.net.nz.
- ↑ "Tatler: An Illustrated Journal of Society, the Drama, and Sport..." March 1, 1914 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Tatler & Bystander". Tatler Publishing Company. March 1, 1918 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Wellington Notes". New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1597, 2 December 1920. p. 34.
- ↑ "The Sketch". Illustrated London News and Sketch. March 1, 1918 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Talbot O'Farrell 'Clicks'". Everyones. 3 (109): 19. 1922-04-05 – via Trove.