About Ted Russell and His Family
| Ted Russell (1904-1977)
The first drama filmed for Newfoundland television was an adaptation of his play The Holdin' Ground, broadcast by CJON in 1959. Tales of Pigeon Inlet has been produced by CBC TV in Newfoundland in the 1970s, as a television series, and his plays have been performed by local theatre companies, including Rising Tide Theatre.
He said of his writings: “The aim I had in mind, I suppose, was just to tell stories - stories I knew were basically true - not factual, but true - about Newfoundland people.” - Ted Russell He was an Assistant Professor of English at Memorial University from 1965-73 and was awarded an Honourary Doctorate in 1973. One of Newfoundland’s best loved tall tales is his Smokeroom on the Kyle. | |||
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Uncle Mose: A Timeless Legacy For the 50th Anniversary of "The Chronicles of Uncle Mose," the CBC launched an interactive website about Ted Russell and his works. The website is still available: Uncle Mose: A Timeless Legacy > >CBC Website about Ted Russell > > |
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Kelly Russell - Newfoundland and Labrador's First Tradition Bearer |
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Kelly Russell: Newfoundland and Labrador's First Tradition Bearer.
Born in St. John’s, Kelly Russell has been a professional musician since 1974. An original member of such iconic Newfoundland and Labrador groups as Figgy Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band in the 1970s, and more recently The Plankerdown Band, he also spent 10 years working closely with the late, great fiddle masters, Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit. Recognizing a need to preserve the music of older performers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Russell founded Pigeon Inlet Productions in 1979. The label has since produced more than 30 full length recordings on LP, cassette and CD. With wife and partner Tonya Kearley, Mr. Russell also runs music and dance events in Trinity such as Dance Up and the popular dinner theatre show A Time in Pigeon Inlet in Bay Roberts. He has performed locally, nationally and internationally, bringing the unique music of Newfoundland and Labrador across Canada and around the world. Most recently, Mr. Russell performed in Vancouver, British Columbia, at BC Place on February 26 – during Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Kelly Russell: Pigeon Inlet ProductionsKelly Russell, one of Newfoundland's most well known traditional musicians, is Ted Russell's only son. Kelly is an admired performer who has brought Newfoundland music all across Canada, to the United States, and other countries around the world. Thought his Pigeon Inlet Productions, he has documented and recorded the works of other traditional Newfoundland musicians. In the summer of 2007, Kelly is performing at "Live at the Loft" in Trinity, Newfoundland. He is presenting "Tall are the Tales - An Evening with Uncle Mose," and "Grandfathers of Newfoundland Fiddle." In addition to producing and selling musical CDs, Pigeon Inlet Productions offers a three volume CD collection for the 50th anniversary of Uncle Mose, entitled "Tales from Pigeon Inlet." Kelly's books and CDs are on sale during "A Time in Pigeon Inlet." | |
Dr. Elizabeth Miller - Biographer and Editor of her Father's Works ... and Dracula Expert! |
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 Dr. Elizabeth Miller Daughter |
Dr. Elizabeth MillerDr. Elizabeth Russell Miller, Ted Russell's daughter, has been an educator her entire career. She began as a high school teacher and principal (at Joe Batt’s Arm.) Later, she spent over thirty years as a professor in the English Department at Memorial University. She edited several collections of the stories of Uncle Mose and published two full-length biographies (on Ted Russell and Norman Duncan) in the 1970s and 1980s. Dr. Miller is internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s foremost Dracula scholars, having published six books on the subject along with dozens of articles. Her expertise is sought for TV documentaries and magazine articles around the world. She is also a huge baseball fan and frequently attends Toronto Blue Jays games. When asked how she could have two such seemingly incongruous passionate interests, she showed her father's sense of humour. "They both have bats!" she said. In 2005, she was declared Professor Emerita, Memorial University. Two currently available Ted Russell books that come from Dr. Miller, both of these books are on sale during "A Time in Pigeon Inlet."
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On June 8, 2011, Ted Russell was designated “ Person of Provincial Significance” by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, and Françoise Enguehard, Chair of Provincial Historic Commemorations Board. A plaque recognizing the honour was presented to Clarence Mercer, Chair of the Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation at a ceremony at the The Rooms in St. John’s. Ted Russell’s son, Kelly and his family, along with members of the Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation Board of Directors, were present for the occasion. In the photo at left, Kelly Russell and Clarence Mercer, Chair of the Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation with plaque.
Ted Russell, born on June 27, 1904, in Coley’s Point (Town of Bay Roberts) has captured outport people in a snapshot that lives in his works. After pursuing many fields from teaching to politics, he created the Chronicles of Uncle Mose which took place in the fictitious outport of Pigeon Inlet and performed his stories on CBC radio in the 1950s and 1960s. The six-minute serial, which Russell also read on air in the character of Uncle Mose, ran until 1962, during which time he wrote over 600 scripts. 
"Ted Russell wrote about the Newfoundland experience as he saw it. He is recognized as one of the first and foremost writers to use Newfoundland outport settings and characters as personifications of themes which, while appearing to be local, are actually universal in their scope and appeal." 
