Background
Rickards was born in Stratford, London, England, the son of Benjamin Leete, a printer and later chief engineer of the Egyptian railways.
Rickards was born in Stratford, London, England, the son of Benjamin Leete, a printer and later chief engineer of the Egyptian railways.
Harry was also intended to be an engineer Rickards, however, developed a talent for comic singing — he was engaged as a vocalist at a music hall, where he appeared under the name of "Harry Rickards". He established a reputation as a singer of comic songs, and then travelled to Australia, reaching Melbourne on 28 November 1871.
He made his first appearance there at the Street George"s hall, Melbourne, on 9 December 1871.
He then went to Sydney where he also appeared with success. Returning to England he was a successful "lion comique" at the music halls and a good pantomime comedian, particularly in the provinces.
He again visited Australia in 1885, and for some years toured Australia with a vaudeville company with much success. About 1893 he bought the Garrick theatre, Sydney and renamed it the Tivoli.
He built up the Tivoli circuit, taking control of the Opera House, Melbourne, and was also lessee of theatres in other state capital cities.
Every year he visited England, and during the next 18 years he engaged for the Australian variety stage great artists like Harry Houdini, Marie Lloyd, Peggy Pryde, Paul Cinquevalli, Little Tich and many others of great talent which he paid well. Rickards died in England on 13 October 1911 and was later buried in Waverley Cemetery, Sydney. He was an excellent singer of such songs as "Knocked "em in the Old Kent Road" and "His Lordship Winked at the Counsel", and was a first-rate businessman whose hobby was his work.
Foreign around 25 years his name was a household word in Australia, and at the time of his death his business as a single-handed manager and proprietor was one of the largest in the world.
His theatrical interests were acquired by entrepreneur Hugh Doctorate. McIntosh.