AustLit

A promising swimmer in his youth, Syd Beck joined Hugh Huxham's Serenaders (ca. 1923/24) after being discovered by the entrepreneur while doing a comedy routine at a swim meet in Manly. Beck's next known engagement was at Brisbane's Cremorne Theatre with Colin Crane's Topics of 1925, followed a year at the Bohemia Theatre with the Vogues Costume Comedy Co and later with the Lee White and Clay Smith Co.

Following a season in Perth with Lee White he returned to Brisbane to play the Tivoli, and during the remainder of the 1920s found work with the Tivoli Celebrity Vaudeville circuit and Fullers' Theatres (including Robert Roberts Bon Bons Revue Co and Mike Connors and Queenie Paul's League of Notions Co). He also made frequent appearances at cinemas, notably the Lyric Wintergarden and Crystal Palace cinemas (Sydney), West's Cinema (Adelaide) and the converted Tivoli cinema (Brisbane) and maintained a constant presence around the country through his numerous radio broadcasts (continuing this well into the late 1930s).

In January 1931 Beck joined Nat Phillips company, having recently finished up with Bert Howell's Stage Band in Perth. Initially featuring Stiffy, Joe (Lawman) and Syd, the troupe became the Phillips and Beck Revue Company in mid-1931. During the 1930s and 1940s Beck cemented his position as one of Australia's most popular comedians, working consistently in revues, follies and pantomimes. During that period he was associated with the Tivoli circuit, Ernest C. Rolls, Graham Mitchell's Jesters (later the Serenaders), Stanley McKay's Gaieties, Madge Cloherty's Vaudeville (Brisbane) and Deane's Dandies and among other companies.

By 1947 Beck appears to have been living in Brisbane, where he died of natural causes (believed to have been alcohol-related) on rail tracks at South Brisbane.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]