J.P McGowan - Biography of a Hollywood Pioneer with Lisa McAskill: At Terowie in the Mid North region of South Australia
The town of Terowie, in the State's mid-north looks like a film set. It’s the ideal location to shoot an early Australian period drama and as a result, it’s been the centre of attention at key times in our past.
It was at the Terowie Railway Station, the commander of the allied forces in the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur made his famous "I shall Return" speech in the darkest days of World War Two.
Another story associated with Terowie is that of Hollywood legend, J. P. McGowan who became an honorary member of what is now the Directors Guild of America alongside such greats as Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney.
J.P. McGowan was born in Terowie and spent his earliest years in the bustling railway community. It’s quite now, but until the 1970s this was the longest running change-gauge railway station in Australia. So it’s not surprising trains became a hallmark of J.P. McGowan’s work in Hollywood.
“He was a big restless, try anything sort of a guy,” his namesake and biographer, John McGowan told us. “He was like that all of his life.”
A prolific actor, director, screenwriter, industrial advocate and movie producer, he cut his cinematic teeth in the silent era. While he made the image of a terrified woman being tied to the railway tracks famous he also featured many forceful women who were able to take control and save the day. As a result his work gained the attention of early feminists.
His work also had a strong sense of the dramatic which is not surprising because JP's early life was full of drama. Having fought in the Boer War, McGowan later worked as a stuntman in the US re-enacting battle scenes involving seven hundred people and thousands of horses.
“They went to the World Fair in St Louis and did battle scenes for six months in front of audiences of fifteen thousand people,” said John McGowan. “He was a real showman.”
John McGowan has had a long fascination with JP, partly because of the name but mainly because of his amazing life. At the launch of the biography he’s written on JP, John put into context the historic importance of the boy from Terowie.
“The movie, ‘From the Manger to the Cross’ was the first American feature length movie.” he said.
JP was involved in over six hundred productions, many of which were in the silent era. He also made the transition to the talkies and starred alongside the likes of Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry.
“He also worked with John Wayne. He gave John Wayne some of his earliest roles. He worked with Rita Hayworth, Bing Crosby, Spencer Tracey, Anthony Quinn, Randolph Scott in the Westerns,” said John. “He knew everybody in Hollywood.
“He blazed the trail for all who came after him... Mel Gibson and the rest.”
The railway town of Terowie, the home of the man they called Hollywood's Railroad Man is on the Barrier Highway about 220 kilometres from Adelaide. John McGowan's biography of JP is available at Mary Martin's Bookshop for $49.95.
Terowie
Mid-north of SA
Barrier Highway 220 kms from Adelaide.J.P McGowan - Biography of a Hollywood Pioneer
Available at good bookstores including Mary Martin Bookshop, 249 Rundle St East, Adelaide, SA
