Melbourne-born vaudevillian Ernest Charles Vockler carved out an extraordinarily-long career between ca. 1911 (as a juvenile comedian and dancer) and at least the mid-1950s He found initial success in the 1910s as a Chaplin impersonator before firmly establishing himself as one of the country’s leading entertainers in two popular partnerships – the Delavale Brothers, and Delavale and Stagpoole. Known as “Ike” Delavale from 1923 onwards, he managed his own revue company during the 1920s and 1930s, and had toured for many years with soprano Maggie Buckley (1930-1940s). This later partnership also coincided with his new billing – the “Assassin of Sorrow.”
Highly regarded as a revusical writer/director, troupe manager/proprietor, and radio celebrity, Delavale worked for most of the big Australian-based firms and had long associations with Harry Clay, Fullers’ Theatres, Les Shipp, Stanley McKay, and Bruce Carroll (Perth). He also toured New Zealand twice with the Delavale Brothers (1917 and 1919) and twice with Stanley McKay’s Gaieties (1935 and 1936).
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Click below to go to the AVTA page containing Ike’s biography.
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive (AVTA) is a research website devoted to popular culture entertainment in the Australasian region between circa 1850 and 1930. This year, 2016, marks its sixth year of publication.
The website went online on 10 May 2011, the 146th anniversary of the birth of Australian vaudeville entrepreneur Harry Clay. Since then the archive has published more than 1,200 new records, while also updating many entries previously published.
During the past 12 months 137 new entries and 6 new sections were added, as were more than 30 Research Notes PDFs. This new initiative will for the time being replace the AVTA’s traditional expanded biographies. The increasing availability of digitised resources – especially the Australian National Library’s digitised newspaper service, Trove – now makes these expanded biographies out of date almost as soon as they are published.
Another initiative for 2015/16 and for the remainder of 2016 is to overhaul all records and pages within the AVTA. This will see include:
1. Creating hyperlinks to all currently digitised newspaper resources in Trove and elsewhere (where applicable); and
2. Reformatting all PDFs with full citation details (removing abbreviations)
It is anticipated that this project will be completed by January 2017
˚˚˚
Dr Clay Djubal would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the archive during the past 12 months. Without their help the AVTA would be much less enlightened.
He would also like to thank the 21,160 people who visited the site between 10 May 2015 and 10 May 2016. The busiest month was August 2015 with 2,203 visitors.
Celebrity Endorsements & Cross Promotion • Fads and Fashions: Technology • Film & Vaudeville • International Media • Showboats & Cruises • Schools of Arts
Entrepreneurs:
George E. Melrose • A. T. Richards • Charles Sudholz
Fads & Fashion
Coin-in-the-Slot Machines • Salome Dance
Film and Vaudeville
British Biograph Co • Williamson’s Bio-Tableau
Industry
Ayala Champagne • Bambury & White • Bonnington’s Irish Moss • Harold Ashton • Cato & Co • Charles L. Devereaux • Dr Sheldon’s • Freeman & Wallace • G. W. Hean • Andy Hosking • Madison’s Budget • S.S. Gippsland • The Player • Product Placement • Rexona • S.S. Rose • A. C. White • White-Cane Agency
Industry: Trans-Oceanic Circuits
Loew’s Vaudeville Circuit • Orpheum Circuit (USA) • Port Louis Theatre (Mauritius) • United Booking Office of America (USA)
International Tourists
Arthur Albert [UK] • Alcase-Lorraine • Paul Kinko • Lampini Bros • World’s Entertainers [1]
Music Directors/Composers
J. P. Knowles • R. W. Oyston
Organisations and Partnerships
Amusu Vaudeville • Williamson, Lee & Rial
Practitioners:
Mons. Henry Abdy • Billy & Pearl Akarman • Molly Ambrose • Amusu Duo • Arthur Albert • Joe Archer • Austral Trio [1] • Austral Trio [2] • Doris Baker • Norman Bambury • Heather Belle • Al Bruce • Charles Bryant • Eileen Capel • Myra Carden • Herbert Cato • Ken Collie • Congo Minstrel [1] • Congo Minstrel [2] • Congo Minstrel [3] • Piccaninny Congo Minstrel • Keith Connolly • Mary Connolly • Bert Corrie • Corrie & Baker • Corrie & Verne • Freda Cuthbert • Harriet Gordon • Charley Horton • Elsie Hosking • J. P. Hydes • Jackson & Pagden • Vivie Keeling • James E. Kitts • Madame Lampino • Charles Lawrence • Ward Lear • Ward Lear Jnr • McKisson & Kearns • Murray Masculin • Prince Masculin • The Mintons • George Pagden • Pagden & Stanley • Cleo Rinaldo • Joseph Rinaldo • Gerald Shaw • Gladys Shaw • Harry Shine • Phil Smith • Kitty Stanley • Joe Verne
Practitioners: Other
Mona Barlee • Henry Deering • Olly Deering • Marie La Varre
Stage Characters
Hank Dinkumflater • Lanky & Bulky
Theatres
Albert Theatre (Geelong) • Huon Mechanics’ Institute (Franklyn) • Mechanics’ Institute (Geelong) • Royal Dramatic Hall • Theatre Royal (Geelong)
Troupes: Other:
Al Bruce and His Rosebuds • Bain & Lawton’s Vaudeville Co • Bryant’s All-Star Novelty Co • Clark & Shine’s All-Star Co • Congo Minstrels • A Day in Dogtown Co • Devereaux’s World’s Biotint Entertainers • Diamond Variety Co • English Pierrot Entertainers • Frivolities of 1935 • Gay Crusaders • Hill’s World’s Entertainers • League of Notions • London Bioscope Co • Loyola’s Magnet Variety Troupe • Myra Carden’s Magnet Co • New York Serenaders [1] • New York Serenaders [2] • O’Donnell & Ray’s Pantomime Co • Old Time Minstrels [1929] • Richards’ Entertainers • Royal Magnet Combination Troupe • Royal Magnet Variety Troupe [2] • Shaw’s Entertainers • Sudholz’s Bio-Tableau & World’s Entertainers • World’s Animatograph Co • Veterans of Variety [1] • World’s Entertainers [2] • World’s Entertainers [3] • World’s Entertainers & Animatograph Co • World’s Star Entertainers • World’s Vaudeville Co
Works
Variety: Beauty and the Beast (1858) • Cafe de Jazz (1924) • Crispin, King of the Cobblers (1847) • Emigration; Or, Harlequin in California (1849) • Fe Fi Fo Fum; Or, Jack the Giant Killer (1849) • Harlequin and the Enchanted Egg (1842) • Harlequin and the Evil Spirit of Wye (1841) • Harlequin and the Talking Bird (1844) • Harlequin and the Three Wishes (1849) • Harlequin Greek (1849) • Harlequin Tom, the Piper’s Son (1847) • Humpty Dumpty; Or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the Enchanted Egg (1846) • Jack and the beanstalk (1848) • Lanky and Bulky as Farmers (1918) • Lanky and Bulky in Paris (1918) • Mother Bunch, the Fairy of the Lake and Palace of the Blazing Star (1847) • Mother Hubbard and Her Dogs (1849) • Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (1849) • Puss in Boots (1848) • The Red Gnome of the Ruby Mines (1848) • Red Riding Hood (1920) • Rich Girl, Poor Girl (1921) • Tom Tom the Piper’s Son (1846) • Transportation, and the Demon Discord (1847) • Vogues of 1935
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive (AVTA) is a research website devoted to popular culture entertainment in the Australasian region between circa 1850 and 1930. This year, 2015, marks its fifth year of publication.
The website went online on 10 May 2011, the 146th anniversary of the birth of Australian vaudeville entrepreneur Harry Clay. Since then the archive has published more than 1100 new records, while also updating many entries previously published.
The goal for the past 12 months, to publish one entry a day, was exceeded by 38, with 403 new entries added to the AVTA.
Dr Clay Djubal would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the archive during the past 12 months. Without their help the AVTA would be much less enlightened.
He would also like to thank the 18,852 people who have visited the site between 10 May 2014 and 10 May 2015. The busiest month was August 2014 with 1,966 visitors.
2014/15 also saw the introduction of two new sections:
Film and Vaudeville
Revusical Ballets & Chorus
Entrepreneurs:
Vincent M. Beebe • George H. Birch • Dan Clifford • Frank Hussey • George H. Jones • Robert McLeish • Graham Mitchell • George Stephenson • Frank Weston
Fads & Fashion
American Box Ball • Ball Punching • The Mutoscope • Netball • Push Ball
Industry
M. Dinsdale • Will Andrade [1] • Will Andrade [2] • Australasian Publicity Bureau • Australian Melodist • Australian Musical Productions Pty Ltd • Henry Benjamin • Board & Residence Establishments • Clifton Gardens (Mosman, Sydney) • Valentine Day • Dreamland (St Kilda, Melb) • Eastern Vaudeville Agency • Goodson Bros • Goodson Pictures • Green Room Club (Melb) • Green Room Club (Perth) • Huon Mechanics Institute (Tas) • North’s Concerts (Melb) • Prince’s Court (Melb) • R.S.L. Concert parties • Sidelines • Joe Slater • Joe Slater Publishing • Snowy Sturgeon • E. Totten • Val Morgan Advertising Contractor • White City (Perth) • Wonderland City (Sydney)
Industry: Trans-Oceanic Circuits
Pantages (USA) • Sullivan & Considine (USA)
International Tourists
Charles Backus • Backus Minstrels • Emil Biermann • Paul Cinquevalli • Frank Dix • W. C. Fields • George Gibbons • Harry Houdini • Harry Lauder • Sable Minstrels • Eugen Sandow • Chung Ling Soo
Music Directors/Composers
May Brook • Kenneth L. Duffield • Hal Dyson • Lou Weichard • F. Wynne Jones
Music Directors/Composers [Other]
Herbert De Pinna • H. T. Harrison • Willy Redstone • Reginald Stoneham
Orchestras & Bands
Flying Squadron Orchestra (Rockhampton)
Organisations & Partnerships
All-Star Vaudeville • Austral Picture Co • Australian Musical Productions Pty Ltd • British Bioscope Co (Rockhampton) • Delohery, St John and Holland • Dix’s Gaiety Co • Efftee Film productions • Empire Theatre Ltd • Lyceum Pictures Ltd • Mount Morgan Amusement Co • North’s Concerts • North’s vaudeville Co • Olympia Amusement Co • Weston & La Feullade
Practitioners:
Percy Abbott • Dan Agar • Armstrong & Howarth • Armstrong & Phillips • Armstrong & Rose Armstrong & Verne • Chic Arnold • Sam Babicci • Billy Barlow • Bob Bell • Bert Ralton & His Havana Band • Bridges Trio • Jack Bryant • May Bryant • • BryantTom Buckley • Buckley & Holly • Mae Busch • William Busch • Frank Cane (aka Kavello) • Vera Carew • Billie Carlyle • Denis Carney • Carr-Glynn, Neva [1] • Carr-Glynn, Neva [2] • Daisy Chard • Nat Clifford • Maud Courtney • Colin Croft • Finlay Currie [aka Mr C] • George Dean • Sam Dearin • Dora De Vere • Leonard Doogood • Driscoll Bros • Ethiopian Serenaders [1] • Nellie M. Ferguson • Ferry the Frog • Buster Fiddes • Johnny Gardner • Johnny Gilmore • Ben Goodson • Syd Hollister • Charles Holly • Mabs Howarth • Dot Ireland • Jarvis & Campbell • Essie Jennings • Keith’s Syncopating Jesters • Keating & Ross • Sylvia Kellaway • Annette Kellermann • Willie Kerr • Jantz Kohlman • Kohlman & Gardner • Page Lang • Hal Lashwood • Emil Lazern • Minnie Love • Edna McCall • George McCall • Val Mack • Durham Marcel • Maud Courtney & Mr C • Clement May • Carl Mehden • Harry Mehden • Page Lang Entertainers • Paragon Trio • “Banjo” Patterson • Queenie Paul • Tommy Peel • W. S. Percy • Peter Piccini • Alexander Poe • Victor Prince • Reg Quarterly • Grace Quine • The Racoons • Molly Raynor • Ada Reeve • Goodie Reeve • Maurice Rooklyn • The Three Ruddles • Lynn Smith • Lynn Smith’s Royal Jazz Band • Ernest Nicholls • Doc Rowe & Mystic Mora • Terrt Scanlon • Joe Small • Stampini • Marjorie Streeter Pain • “Tassie” Tole • Tom Katz & His Saxophone Band • Madam Verto • Percy Verto • The Tyrells • George Wallace Jnr • Ward & Sherman • Matador A. Zigomar/Zigomars
Practitioners: Other
Peter Finch • John Gavin • Alf J. Goulding • J. A. Lipman • Vaiben Louis • Louise Lovely • Albert Lucas • Dot Mendoza • Gladys Moncrieff • Marietta Nash • Tal Ordell • Arthur Stignant • Dion Titheradge • Ronald Whelan • Byrl Walkley • Howett Worster
Repositories
American Minstrels Shows Collection (Houghton Library) • Concerts and Theatre Programs Collection (AWM)
Stage Characters
Bluey & Dopey • Little Hermie • Mutt and Chop
Theatres
Academy of Music (Launceston) • Albert Hall (Adelaide) • Albert Hall (Brisbane) • Albert Hall [2] (Brisbane) • Alexandra Hall (Toowoomba) • Apollo Hall [2] (Melbourne) + Eastern Arcade • Arcadia (Rockhampton) • Austral Gardens (Adelaide) • Austral Hall (Toowoomba) • Centennial Hall (Moss Vale) • Central Hall / Queen’s Hall [2] (Adelaide) • Coliseum (Rockhampton) • Dale Street Vaudeville Hall (Port Adelaide) • Earl’s Court [2] (Rockhampton) • Empire Theatre (Adelaide) • Empire /Star Theatre (Port Adelaide) • Empire Picture Theatre (Bowral) • Exhibition Gardens (Adelaide) • Golden Gate Gardens (Sydney) • Goodsons’ Promenade Concert Grounds (Rockhampton) • Mack’s Theatre Royal (Moss Vale) • Majestic Theatre (Launceston) • Manchester Unity Hall (Charters Towers) • Northcote Theatre (Melb) • Oddfellows’ Hall (Charters Towers) • Olympia (Rockhampton) • Olympia Skating Rink (Charters Towers) • Palais Royal (Adelaide) • Port Adelaide Town Hall (Port Adelaide) • Port Theatre (Port Adelaide) • Prahran Town Hall (Melb) • Prince of Wales Theatre (Charters Towers) • Queen’s Theatre (Adelaide) • Queen’s Hall [1] (Adelaide) • Rex Theatre (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane) • Rivoli Theatre, Camberwell (Melb) • Royal Assembly Rooms (Toowoomba) • Royal Victoria Theatre (Adelaide) • School of Arts [1] (Brisbane) • School of Arts [2] (Brisbane) • School of Arts (Charters Towers) • School of Arts (Millchester, Charters Towers) • School of Arts [1] (Mt Morgan) • School of Arts [2] (Mt Morgan) • School of Arts [3] (Mt Morgan) • School of Arts [1] (Toowoomba) • Stadium / Olympia Theatre Strand Theatre / Tivoli Theatre (Rockhampton) • Temperance Hall (Hobart) • Theatre Royal [1] (Melb) • Theatre Royal (Rockhampton) • Tivoli Gardens (Adelaide) • Tivoli Theatre (Adelaide) • Toowoomba Town Hall [1] • Toowoomba Town Hall [2] • Walhalla Hall (Toowoomba) • Walker’s Store (Toowoomba) • Wintergarden (Rockhampton)
Digger Troupes: Amateur Frolics Co • Australian Dandies • Australian Flying Corps Concert Party • The Beaufort Merrymakers • Black Diamonds Costume Comedy Co • Blue Dandies • Blue Diamonds • Cheer-Oh Girls • Dum Dum Dinkums • The Empties • Field Artillery Pirates • Flying Kangaroos • Green Diamonds • The Kangaroos [2] • Kangaroos Koncert Kompany • Kookaburras [3] • The Merrymakers • The Night Birds • The Perhams Stars • Serenaders • The Tropical Troubadours • The Wattle Birds • Whizz-bangs • The Wombats
Other: Ada Reeve Vaudeville Co (Perth, 1924) • Australian Bushranging Bio & Specialty Co • Australian Minstrel Co • Baltimore Minstrels [1] • Baltimore Minstrels [2] • Barlow, Bromley, Buckley & Holly • Billy Cass Revue Co • Billy Maloney’s New Ideas • Billy Maloney’s Scandals [1] • Billy Maloney’s Scandals [2] • Biograph and Trans-Atlantic Entertainers • Blondenette Lady Minstrels • Boley’s Minstrels • Bosley Vaudeville Co • Buckley & Gardner Minstrels • Buckley & Holly’s Pleasure Party • The Cameos • Campbell’s Minstrels [1] • Campbell’s Minstrels [2] • Christy’s Minstrels [1] • Christy’s Original Sable Opera Troupe • Cosmopolitan Band and Coloured Opera Troupe • Ethiopian Serenaders [2] • Gibbons’ Minstrels • Hussey, Kelly & Holly’s Celebrated Comedians • Jones’s Huge Surprise Party • Jones’s Mammoth Moving Theatre • Kenna’s Empire Minstrels • K-Nuts • La Feuillade, Peel & Weston’s Christy Minstrels • Lawton, Dearin & Sayers’ Troubadours • Lawton and Dearin’s Federal Minstrels & Comiques • Lottie Magnet Variety Troupe • Mutoscope Biotint Co • Nightingale Serenaders [1] • Nightingale Serenaders [2] • 1925 Minstrels (Perth) • Old Time Nigger Minstrels [1] • Old Time Nigger Minstrels [1] • Paragon Bellringers • Polite Vaudeville & Minstrels Co • Priddy’s Electric Marvels & Mammoth Specialty Combination • The Revellers • Royal Magnet Variety Troupe • Sam Dearin’s Minstrels & Comiques • Smith, Brown and Collins Minstrels • So & So’s (Perth) • So and So’s Costume Comedy Co (Adel) • Stanley McKay’s Gaieties • State Entertainers • Swastika Players • Ted Tutty Vaudeville Co • T.O.M.C.A.T.S. (Charters Towers) • Topics of 1925 • Verto Vaudeville Co • Vert’s Biotint & Novelty Co • The Wanderers • Weichard’s International Vaudeville Stars • Weston & Hussey’s Minstrels • Weston & La Feuillade’s Minstrels • William Anderson’s London Vaudeville Stars • Will’s Surprise Party • Ye Olde Nigger Minstrels • Young Australia League (Y.A.L.)
Works
Variety: Aladdin (1914) • Babes in the Wood (1929) • Carrie on Carrie (1918) • Combien (1919) • Demons of the Deep (1922) • Dick Whittington (1917) • Dick Whittington Up to Date (1919) • Dolly’s Dilemma (1918) • Fiddle De Dee (1933) • Flying Colours (1933) • Fortune Hunting (1918) • Fun Rays (1934) • Gay Paree (1934) • Gee Whiz (1934) • Goody Two Shoes (1880) • HMS Pin-A-4 (in Black) [2] (1882) • Laughter Unlimited (1934) • Oddments (1934) • Oh Baby (1934) • The Radio Girl (1926) • Saucy Suzie (1899) • She’s Crazy About You (1934) • Sky High (1934) • Something Different (1934) • Snap (1925) • Tons of Money (1924) • While the Billy Boils (1919)
Legitimate: Australia First (1914)
Film & Vaudeville: Cinesound Varieties (1934) • Efftee Entertainers (1931-33) • Harmony Row (1933) • His Royal Highness (1932) • Show Business (1938) • Strike Me Lucky (1934)
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive is a research website devoted to popular culture entertainment in the Australasian region between circa 1850 and 1930. This year, 2014, marks its fourth year of publication.
The AVTA went online on 10 May 2011, the 146th anniversary of the birth of Australian vaudeville entrepreneur Harry Clay. Since then the archive has published more than 700 new records, while also updating many entries previously published.
In the past 12 months more than 250 new entries have been added to the AVTA.
Dr Clay Djubal would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the archive during the past 12 months. Without their help the AVTA would be much less enlightened.
He would also like to thank the 17,290 people who have visited the site between 10 May 2013 and 10 May 2014. The busiest month was August 2013 with 1,822 visitors.
2013/14 also saw the introduction of four new sections:
Fads & Fashions
International Tourists
Orchestras & Bands
Works Legitimate
Entrepreneurs:
Nellie Chester • Arthur Garner • Joe Lashwood • G.B. L. Lewis • Marino Lucas • Orpheus McAdoo • George Marlow • Jack O’Donnell • Charles Pollard • James Pollard • Tom Pollard • Happy Harry Salmon • Beaumont Smith • Hugh J. Ward • George Willoughby • Joseph Wyatt
Fads & Fashion
Apache Dance • The Charleston • Clog Dancing • The Tango • Vampire Dance
Industry
Australian Vaudeville Artists’ Federation • Coogee Palace Aquarium • Dalton’s Vaudeville Agency • Footlights • Freemasons • John L. Goodman • Green Room • Hoyts • J. Albert & Son • Just It • Lashwood & Royley’s Star Vaudeville Agency • “Old Programmes” • Frank O’Sullivan• J.J. O’Sullivan • Pas • “Peeps at People” • “Reminiscences of the Stage’ • Sir Joseph Banks Pavilion & Pleasure Grounds • “The Strutter’s Page” • Spencer’s Royal Polytechnic • Summer Continentals • Talma Photographic Studios • Tivoli Tango Teas • Union Theatres • Claude H. Whaite • Zenda
Industry: Trans-Oceanic Circuits
Bandmann Circuit • Grand Theatre (Noumea)
International Tourists
Cyril “Tiny” Douglas • Andrew MacCunn • Sydney Nelson • Jack O’Hagan • Will Quintrell • Bert Rache • T. W. Rhodes • Joe Somers • Charles Von Der Mehden
Orchestras & Bands
Charleston Super Six Symphonists • National Orchestra (Syd) • Will Quintrell & His Tivolians • Royal Squadron Syncopators • Tiny Douglas’s Varsity Boys
Francie Adler • Mary Andrews • Hilda Attenboro • Yvonne “Fifi” Banvard • Les Bates • Nellie Black • Black Family • Billie C. Brown • Brull & Hemsley • Lawrence Campbell • Jack Cannot • Carlton & Surron • Billy Cass • The Cottiers • Walter C. Cottier • Cusko’s Monkeys • Alice Davenport • Ralph de Tisne • Edgley & Dawe • John Dobbie • Arthur Elliott • Violet Elliott (1) • Violet Elliot (2) • Frank Emery • Era Comedy Four • Pat Finn • Four Ethiopian Serenaders • Charles Fredricksen • Dave Gardner • George Gardner • Joey Gougenheim • Arthur Hemsley • Frank L. Haining • Lola Hunt • The Jazz Band • Ida Jarvis • John Juan • Jules Garrison and His Roman Maids • George Lauri •Lindsay Kemble • Winifred La France • La Milo • Ernest Lauri • Alf Lawton • Bobby Le Brun • Les Theirs • Alf G. Lumsden • Kyrle McAllister • Polly McLaren • Eddie & Decima McLean • Esmee McLennan • A. E. Martin • Carrie Moore • Con Moreni • Maybelle Morgan • Nelson Family • Newmans (Val & Lottie) • Lily Octavia • Octavia & Warne • Odiva& Her Seals • Vera Pearce • Peare Sisters • Olga Pennington • Daphne Pollard • Harry “Snub” Pollard • Pollard family • Harry Quealy • Bert Ray • Billy Romaine • Joe Rox • Dorothy Rudder • Harry Scales • Bebe Scott • Ron Shand • John F. Sheridan • Charles L. Sherman • Clara Spencer • Hector St Clair • Elsa Sylvaney • Athol Tier • Joe Valli • Bert Warne • Ada Walker • Whimsical Walker (2) USA • George H. Ward • Dave Warne • Warne & Davenport • Albert Whelan • Carden Wilson
Practitioners: Other
Walter Bentley • Ella Carrington • John Cosgrove • J. R. Greville • Aggie Kelton • Blanche Lewis • Mrs G.B.W. Lewis (aka Rose Edouin) • Eduardo Majeroni • John “Jack” Ralston • Wybert Reeve • George Rignold • Charles H. Taylor
Repositories
Nat Phillips Collection • Hood Collection
Scenic Artists
John Little • Rege Robins • John Hennings • William Pitt (Snr)
Theatres
Albert Hall (Launceston) • Bijou Theatre (Launceston) • Burlington Picture Grounds (Sydney) • National Theatre (Launceston) • Princess Theatre (Fremantle) • Princess Theatre (Launceston) • Rosebery Theatre (Sydney) • Royal Olympic Theatre (Launceston) • Theatre Royal (Hobart) • Royal Victoria (Sydney) • Theatre Royal (Launceston) • White’s Assembly and Concert Rooms (Adelaide)
Troupes
All Diggers Co • Arthur Hemsley’s Dandies • Buffalo Female Minstrels • Ella Carrington’s Stray Leaves Combination • Ernest Hogan’s Genuine Negro Co • Fisk Jubilee Singers • F. Gayle Wyer’s Bandbox Revue Co • Fitzgerald’s All-Stars • Follies of Pleasure • Fullers’ American Revue Co • Harry Cogill’s New Musical Comedy Co • McAdoo’s Georgia Minstrels & Alabama Cakewalkers • Pollards Lilliputian Opera Co [1] • Pollards Lilliputian Opera Co [2] • Pollards Juvenile Opera Co [3] • Royal Pantomime Company • So and So Costume Comedy Co • Snapshots Revue Co • Th’ Drolls
Works
Quang Fong Fa (1846) • Harlequin Jack Sprat (1846) • The Hag of the Raven Forest (1846) • Harlequin Shrove Tuesday (1849) • King Pippin (1849) • The Fairy of the Golden Regions (1849) • Blue Bell in Fairyland (1908) • Robinson Crusoe (1908) • Aladdin (1914) • Babes in the Wood (1929)
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive has recently published four new pages.
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Fads and Fashions
Provides insights into aspects of popular culture production that were influenced by or which in turn influenced the Australian variety stage. Includes dances, flappers, tango teas, sporting and physical culture fads etc.
˚˚˚
International Tourists
Presents overviews and/or historical data relevant to significant and influential oversees practitioners whose association with Australia (and New Zealand) was brief.
˚˚˚
Orchestras and Bands
A section focusing on music ensembles, including orchestras, pit bands and jazz bands, that provided accompaniment to various forms of variety theatre production – notably vaudeville, burlesques, revues, revusicals.
˚˚˚
Works: Legitimate
Operas, operettas, plays with music and other Australian-written “legitimate” music theatre works that were written by dramatists, librettists and composers who had an association with variety theatre. Also includes works which catered fro the broader public but which are not generally considered popular culture.
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive is a research website devoted to popular culture entertainment between circa 1850 and 1930. This year, 2013, marks its third year of publication.
The AVTA went online on 10 May 2011, the 146th anniversary of the birth of Australian vaudeville entrepreneur Harry Clay. Since then the archive has published more than 450 new records , while also updating a large majority of the entries which were available at the start .
Dr Clay Djubal would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the archive during the past 12 months. Without their help the AVTA would be much less enlightened.
He would also like to thank the 15,727 people who have visited the site between 10 May 2012 and 10 May 2013. The busiest month was October 2012 with 1,352 visitors.
Includes significant births, deaths, theatre openings, and troupe, practitioner and industry activity from the early 1800s to the 1990s.
˚˚˚
Entrepreneurs:
William Anderson • J. Billin • James Brennan • Dan Carroll • Sir Benjamin Carroll • John Fuller (Jnr) • Will Harris • Jack Landow • George R. Lawrence • John Lazar • Samuel Lazar • Hugh D. McIntosh • Frank Reis
Practitioners:
Harry Abdy • Anderson Sisters • James Bell • Madame Bell • Harry Burgess • “Tiki” Carpenter • Carlton Chase • Essie Clay • Kate Clay • Harley Cohen • Connors & Paul • Connors & Witt • James Craydon • Lettie Craydon • Marshall Crosby • Claude Dampier • Harry de Robeck • Hosea Easton • Nell Fleming • Walter George • Claude Golding • Syd James • George A. Jones • Clara Keating • Alf J. Lawrance • Fred Leslie • Levante • J. Martini • Morris & Wilson • Alf Moynham • Slade Murray • Blanche Murray • Flo Murray • Charlie Pope • Pope & Sayles • Bert Ray • Irving Sayles • Ivy Schilling • W. Billy Speed • Harry Taylor • Three Starrs • Ed Warrington • Les Warton • Fred Whitlow • Charles Zoli
Industry:
African Theatres Trust • Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil • Bondi Aquarium • The Manly Chute • John J. Liddy • Mendelssohn’s Photographic Studio • Ramos and Ramos • Summer Continentals (Bris)
Composers/Music Directors:
Marsh Little • Harold Middleton • Bert Rache • Evan Senior • Charles Zwar
Troupes:
Anzac Coves • Australian Eleven Minstrel & Variety Co • Blythe Waterland’s Serenaders • Coo-ees, The • Gallipoli Strollers (1) • Gallipoli Strollers (2) • Georgia Minstrels (1) • Georgia Minstrels (2) • Graham Mitchell’s Jesters • Graham Mitchell’s Serenaders • Hugo’s Buffalo Minstrels • Issues Comedy Co • Jasper’s Pantomime Company • Kookaburras • Lawton and Leslies’ All Nations Co • London Revels • Madge Cloherty’s Celebrities • Matsa Vaudeville Co • Palais Royal Cabaret & Vaudeville Co • Richard Shafto’s Revels • Royal Strollers • Sentimental Blokes • Serenaders, The [1936] • Slade Murray’s Gaiety Burlesque Co • Smart Set • Smart Set Diggers • Snowdrop Minstrels • Sunbeam Pantomime Children • Sunshine Kiddies • Tivoli Frolics • Trilby Tourists • Vital & Electric Sparks • Walter George Sunshine Players • World’s Entertainers
Organisations:
Brennan’s Amphitheatres Ltd • Con-Paul Theatres • Fuller-Ward • Jones & Lawrence • Frank Levy
• Pugliese Enterprises • Stephenson and Linley
Industry:
African Theatres Trust • Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil • Bondi Aquarium • The Manly Chute • John J. Liddy • Mendelssohn’s Photographic Studio • Ramos and Ramos • Summer Continentals (Bris)
Theatres:
Academy of Music (1879-84; Adelaide) • Academy of Music / Bijou Theatre: No 1 (Melb) • Academy of Music / Gaiety Theatre (Syd) • Adelphi Theatre / Grand Opera House / Tivoli Theatre: No 2 (Syd) • Albany Town Hall (WA) • Albert Hall / Gaiety Theatre (Bris) • Bijou Theatre / Theatre Royal (Boulder, WA) • Bijou Theatre [2] (Melb) • Bohemia Theatre (Bris) • Coliseum Theatre (Nth Syd) • Cremorne Gardens (Albany, WA) • Cremorne Gardens / Cremorne Theatre (Bris) • Cremorne Gardens / Cremorne Theatre / Palace Theatre (Perth) •Cremorne Theatre and Gardens (Kalgoorlie, WA) • Dutton Park Garden Theatre (Bris) • Earl’s Court (Rockhampton, Qld) • Eden Gardens (Manly, NSW) • Enmore Theatre (Enmore, Syd) • Gaiety Theatre (Melb) • Garden Theatre (Darlinghurst, Syd) Haymarket Theatre (Melb) • Hippodrome / Royal Pictures / Empire (Adel) • Hippodrome / Capital Theatre (Syd) • King’s Theatre (Adel) • King’s Theatre (Melb) • Lawler’s Music Hall / Sydney Music Hall (Syd) • Lyric Theatre (St Kilda, Melb) • Majestic Theatre (Newtown, Syd) • Manchester Unity Hall (Newtown, Syd) • Mason’s Concert Hall / Victoria Theatre / Royal Victoria / Queensland Theatre (Bris) Melrose Gardens / Melrose Theatre / Prince of Wales (Perth) • Olympia Gardens / Theatre (Perth) • Olympic Theatre (Melb) • Opera House [1] / Prince of Wales Opera House / Her Majesty’s Opera House / Alhambra Palace of Varieties (Melb) • Opera House / Kelly and Leon’s Opera House (Syd) • Polytechnic Hall / Novelty Theatre / Duke’s Theatre / Hall of Science / Nugget Theatre / Cottier’s Theatre (Melb) • Princess Theatre (Melb) • Shaftesbury Theatre / Luxor Theatre / Tivoli (Perth) • St George’s Hall (Newtown, Syd) • Theatre Royal (Bris) • Theatre Royal (Melb) • Theatre Royal (Perth) • Tivoli Gardens and Theatre (Hamilton, Bris) • Tivoli Gardens / Her Majesty’s Theatre (Kalgoorlie, WA) • Tivoli Theatre [1] (Syd) • Trocadero (Newtown, Syd) • Varieties, The / Australia Hall / Opera Comique (Melb) • Victoria Theatre (Newcastle, NSW) • Victory Theatre (Marrickville, Syd)
Works:
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The AVTA also published two new pages:
Industry: Transoceanic Circuits and Troupes: Juvenile Companies.
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive
announces a new page on its website:
Troupes: Digger Companies
This page is dedicated to Australian and New Zealand military concert parties which operated during World War One, along with the returned soldier companies (Digger troupes) which toured the Commonwealth professionally for a decade or more following the Armistice in 1918.
The Australian Variety Theatre Archive, a research website devoted to popular culture entertainment between circa 1850 and 1930, is now in its second year.
The AVTA went online on 10 May 2011, the 146th anniversary of the birth of Australian vaudeville entrepreneur Harry Clay. Since then the archive has published more than 200 new records and several dozen expanded biographies, while also updating a large majority of the entries which were available at the start .
Dr Clay Djubal would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the archive during the past 12 months. Without their help the entries would be much less enlightened.
He would also like to thank the 12,548 people who have visited the site between 10 May 2011 and 10 May 2012. The busiest day was April Fool’s Day 2012 (644 hits), which is interesting… if a little mystifying!?
Entrepreneurs:
Herbert Boland • Percy Dix (below) • F.E. Hiscocks • C.F. and Humbert Pugliese • Ernest C. Rolls • Frank Smith • Alfred Wyburd
Practitioners:
Arthur Aldridge • Professor S. S. Baldwin • Syd Beck • Bovis Bros • Fred Davys • Ada Delroy (below) • Faust Family • Effie Fellows • Sam and Sadie Gale • Charles Holt • Arnold Jarvis • Daisy Jerome • Clara Keating • Winifred La France • Stella Lamond • Joe Lawman • Alf J. Lawrence • Little Verlie • Levante (Les Cole) • Morris & Wilson • Slade Murray • Hector Napier • Frank Neil • Leonard Nelson • Ernest Pitcher • Harry Ross • Madeline Rossiter • The Stagpooles • Reg “Kangaroosta” Thornton • Dan Thomas • Winnie Trevail • Priscilla Verne • Alf “Redhead” Wilson • Wykeham and Preston
Composers/Music Directors:
Victor Champion • Owen Conduit • Nicholas La Feuillade • Luscombe Searelle • Fred Whaite (below) • Jessie Gray • W. Hamilton Webber
Troupes:
Ada Delroy Co • Baldwin’s Butterfly Co • Charles Godfrey Vaudeville Co • Classics of 1923 • Elite Burlesque Revue Co • Gallipoli Strollers (below) • The Globetrotters • Graham Mitchell’s Serenaders • Hicocks’ Federal Minstrels • Hugo’s Buffalo Minstrels • Madge Cloherty’s Celebrities • The Royal Strollers • Smart Set Diggers • Sunbeam Pantomime Children
Organisations:
Brennan’s Amphitheatres Ltd • Fullers Theatres (below) • Jones & Lawrence • Holland & St John • J. & N. Tait • Pugliese Enterprises
Industry:
Australian Variety Artists Association • Fuller News • Everyone’s • Mendelssohn’s Photographic Studios • Lilian Ross (below) • Ye Olde Englyshe Fayre • Harry Clay’s Annual NSW/Queensland Waxworks, Comedy and Vaudeville Tours, 1901-18, 1927, 1929 • Theatre Magazine
Works:
Among the new works entered have been more than 30 new revusicals and revues from Nat Phillips Whirligigs (ca. 1929-1932), as well as three radio musicals from 1931. Two of these – On the Air (Evan Senior) and The Tin Soldier (Fred Whaite) were the first Australian works to be written especially for radio.
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The AVTA also published two articles in its Mixed Bag Monograph Series.
These are:
“‘For the Duration’: Australian One Act Musical Comedies and the Fashioning of an Imagined National Identity between 1914 and 1918“ by Clay Djubal ( No 1, 25 June 2011)
“Harry Leston: A Versatile Showman“ by Loreley Morling (No 2, 25 April 2012)
Dr Clay Djubal proudly announces that the Australian Variety Theatre Archive, a new research website devoted to popular culture entertainment between circa 1850 and 1930, is now online.
“Coming Attractions / Recent Additions”
is a post page that will announce recent updates and forthcoming entries
The first post is due for publication following the AVTA’s official launch in late June 2011.
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