Freda Stark
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Freda Stark (1910-1999) was a New Zealand dancer, and a prosecution witness after the prescription drug overdose of her lover, Thelma Mareo, in 1935. During the Second World War, she was a famed exotic dancer at Auckland's Wintergarden cabaret and nightclub, and a favourite of American troops stationed there, where she earned the title "Fever of the Fleet."
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[edit] Early life
Born in 1910, Freda Stark was the daughter of James Stark, a shopkeeper, and attended St Benedicts Convent School and Epsom Girls Grammar School after her parents shifted to Auckland shortly after her birth. Her father encouraged her to learn dance, and she began to do so at nine years of age.
After leaving school, Freda worked as a clerical worker by day, and danced as "L'Etoile" during the evenings, and her reportoire included tap, high kicks, tumbles and hula. During the thirties, she also learnt classical ballet, as steps toward an advanced examination certificate at New Zealand's Academy of Dance, which she acquired in the late thirties.
[edit] The Eric Mareo Trial and Controversy
In 1933, Freda joined Ernest Rolls' revue, and met a young dancer named Thelma Trott, and the two women fell in love with one another. In 1934, Freda was in the chorus of the Duchess of Danitz, while Thelma starred. At this time, Thelma married Eric Mareo, their conductor, but the relationship was cruelly cut short when Thelma took a fatal Veronal prescription drug overdose under unexplained circumstances in 1935, which led to her husband's murder trial.
At Mareo's trial, Freda served as a prosecution witness and had to endure being 'outed' as a lesbian, and constant subsequent accusations that she had given either mistaken or selective testimony while under oath. Nude photographs of Freda were reproduced during the trial, but Freda remained unperturbed, and was later described as a model Crown witness. The trial ended in Eric Mareo's conviction and a twelve year prison sentence.
[edit] "Fever of the Fleet:" Freda Stark and the Wintergarden (World War II)
During the Second World War, Freda was a clerical worker at the Colonial Ammunition Company during the day. At night, she entertained New Zealand and American troops at the Wintergarden cabaret and nightclub. At times, she was clad only in gold bodypaint, wearing a feather headdress and g-string. The appreciative American Expeditionary troops bestowed the title "Fever of the Fleet" on Freda, and often booked out the Wintergarden specifically to attend her performances, hiring an accompanying band and floorshow at the same time.
[edit] Postwar career
After the Second World War, Freda relocated to London, where she met and married Harold Robinson, a New Zealand-born dancer (and himself a gay man) at Sadlers Wells. The duo starred together in New Zealand-born Robert Steele's art film, Curves and Contrasts [1947], before their marriage ended by mutual consent in 1947. Although based in the United Kingdom, Freda frequently revisited New Zealand, before she returned permanently in 1970, and became a secretary at the University of Auckland.
During the nineties, there was renewed interest in her days as a dancer, and her life was celebrated in a biography and in Peter Wells and Stewart Mains' documentary, The Mighty Civic [1989]. Freda died in the Abbey Heights Rest Home in Massey, Auckland, in March 1999.
[edit] Bibliography
- Charles Ferrall and Rebecca Ellis: The Trials of Eric Mareo: Wellington: Victoria University Press: 2002: ISBN 0-86473-432-8
- Dianne Haworth and Diane Miller: Freda Stark: Her Extraordinary Life: Auckland: HarperCollins: 2000: ISBN 1-86950-352-X
- Criticus: I Appeal: Auckland: Oswald-Sealey: 1945.
- Shirley Hodsell: "Stark, Freda Beatrice": 1910-1999: Directory of New Zealand Biography: 2000,2006: [1]
[edit] Filmography
- Peter Wells and Stewart Main (directors)The Mighty Civic: Wellington: New Zealand Film Commission: 1989: Video, VHS format, 62 mins.
