Frank Marien

Who was Frank Marien?

Francis Joseph Marien born in Sydney, Australia of Irish and Italian parents was an editor of Smith's Weekly.

Educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, he proved to be an all-round achiever, rowing in the winning school eight, becoming captain of Rugby Union football, cricket and athletics teams, as well as editing the school magazine and producing all its artwork, even helping design the school badge.

Dattilo Rubbo was sufficiently impressed with his artistic abilities to recommend he take up painting professionally.

But he took up journalism, first with the Australian edition of the Freeman's Journal, The Daily Telegraph from 1919 to 1922 then the Sun. In 1926 he was appointed Managing Director of Truth, where he succeeded in raising its circulation substantially.

In 1928 he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Smith's Weekly, replacing Claude McKay, where he built up its stable of black-and-white artists including Leon Miller, Joe Jonsson, Emile Mercier, Virgil Reilly, Rosaleen Norton, Marie "Mollie" Horseman and Joan Morrison, as well as giving great support to those already on the payroll - George Finey, Frank Dunne, George Donaldson, Stan Cross.