Harry Rickards (4 December 1843 – 13 October 1911),[1] born Henry Benjamin Leete, was an English-born baritone, comedian and theatre owner, most active in vaudeville and stage, first in his native England and then Australia after emigrating in 1871.

He established a reputation as a singer of comic songs, even performing for the Prince of Wales and then travelled to Australia, reaching Melbourne on 28 November 1871.

Returning to England he was a successful "lion comique" at the music halls and a good pantomime comedian, particularly in the provinces.

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, Ada Baker, Frank Travis and many others of great talent[2] which he paid well.

[2] For 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.