AustLit

The theatrical firm J. and N. Tait was founded in 1902 by three of the five Tait brothers, John Henry (1871-1955), James Nevin (1876-1961) and Frank Samuel (1883-1965). In his overview of the brothers for the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Frank Van Straten notes that Charles, who remained with Allan and Co, guided the business, while Edward, who was with J.C. Williamson's, watched from the sidelines. The brothers built their initial success by engaging celebrity artists from England, and then expanded their activities into various areas of the entertainment industry, including film. In 1906 they co-produced The Story of the Kelly Gang (the world's first-ever feature film) and in 1911 co-founded the production firm Amalgamated Pictures. The Tait's eventually re-focused their energies towards live theatre and concerts, however, and in 1913 built the Auditorium (Melbourne), which served as the company's principal concert venue until 1934. 1913 also saw another brother, Edward Tait (1878-1947) join the company from J. C. Williamson's, thus allowing Nevin to establish a permanent base for the company in London.

The Taits interests were not confined only to international celebrities and extravagant musicals, however. In 1918, for example, they produced the Jack and Jill pantomime (featuring English dance stars Moon and Morris) and in 1920 produced the debut Australian tour of the Smart Set Diggers. In 1920, however, the brothers merged their interests with J. C. Williamson's, and over the next two decades arranged for many of the greatest contemporary artists and companies to tour Australia. The company also formed in 1924 the Broadcasting Company of Australia Pty Ltd, which initially operated Melbourne station 3LO, and later 3AW (1932 -).

The brothers continued to maintain a pre-eminent position in Australia theatre through until the 1960s. Although they were criticised for not supporting local talent enough as Frank Van Straten notes in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, they provided "employment and experience for thousands of singers, musicians, actors and backstage personnel" while also helping to lift Australian theatrical standards."