Australian variety theatre 1850-1930

AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE POPULAR CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT 1850-1930

In this project we will try and locate the performers featured on this website in the world family tree. Once found list them on this page or ask a collaborator to do it for you.

The site is being preserved by PANDORA and the persistent url of versions is, and will always be

Please use these links to reference the site

Check it out and have some fun :)

I may list the names here once I have permission from the site owner - FANTASTIC SITE!

Practitioners

A

• ABBOTT, Percy (1886-1960) Magician, ventriloquist, businessman, author. [Born in Braidwood, Victoria]
• ABDY, Harry (1889-1966) Animal trainer, entertainer and actor.
• ABDY, Mons. Henry (aka Fritz Von Linden / Mons. Poincare) (ca. 1861-1931) Animal trainer, impersonator, miniature circus proprietor, farmer.
• ABDY’S ANIMAL CIRCUS (aka Abdy’s Bird & Animal Circus / Abdy’s Boxing Dogs & Kangaroos etc) The son of a circus animal trainer (Mons. Abdy)
• ADLER, Francie (1879-1952) New Zealand-born singer [Born: Fanny Jane Davis]
• ADSON, Steve End-man, dancer, singer and specialist dialect comedian.
• AGAR, Dan (1881-1950) English character actor and comedian.
• AIRLIE, Ella Librettist, dramatist, songwriter, singer, pianist, variety performer. Ella Airlie (born Ella Ogilvie)
• AKARMAN, Billy and Pearl William “Billy” Akarman: comedian, interlocutor, singer, clown, stage manager, troupe proprietor. Pearl Akarman: contortionist, singer, dancer.
• AKHURST, Will W. M. AKHURST (1822-1878) Dramatist, composer, journalist.
• ALBERTS, Arthur aka Arthur Albert Comedian, singer, actor.
• ALDRIDGE, Arthur (1872-1929) Singer. Arthur Aldridge initially established himself in England and the USA before coming to Australia in 1919 with Nell Fleming.
• ALMA, W. G.  (aka W. G. Alma) (1904-1993) Magician, businessman, collector. [Born: William George Bishop in Melbourne]
• AMBROSE, Molly  (aka Mollie Ambrose) Singer, dancer, actor.
• AMERY, E. (Edwin) (-ca. 1888) Edwin Amery’s career dates back to the early 1860s when he was a member of Melbourne’s Orpheus Union
• AMUSU DUO, The (ca. 1922-1925) Song and dance act.

A Page Two

• ANDERSON SISTERS
• ANDREWS, Mary
• ARCHER, Joe
• ARMSTRONG, Tom
• ARMSTRONG & HOWARTH  [Tom Armstrong & Mabs Howarth]
• ARMSTRONG & PHILLIPS  [Tom Armstrong & Nat Phillips]
• ARMSTRONG & ROSE  [Tom Armstrong & June Rose]
• ARMSTRONG & VERNE  [Tom Armstrong & Priscilla Verne]
• ARNOLD, Chic
• ARNOLD & NORMAN  [Chic Arnold & Charles Norman]
• ARTEENS, The (1)
• ARTEENS, The (2)
• ARTEENS, Jack
• ATTENBORO, Hilda
• AUSTRAL TRIO [1]
• AUSTRAL TRIO [2]

B

• BABICCI, Sam
• BAIN, Verna
• BAKER, Doris
• BALDWIN, Professor S. S.
• BALMUS  [aka Walter Wheatley]
• BAMBURY, Norman
• BANVARD, Yvonne [aka Fifi Banvard]
• BARLOW, Billy
• BARRINGTON, Harry
• BATES, Les
• BECK, Syd
• BELL, Bob
• BELL, James
• BELL, Madame (Alice)
• BELLE, Heather
• BENT, Horace W.
• BERT RALTON & HIS HAVANA BAND
• BIG FOUR, The
• BISHOP, Oswald  (aka Alma the Mysterious / Alma the Court Magician / Pharos)
• BLACK, Elton
• BLACK, Nellie
• BLACK FAMILY, The
• BLACKIE, Amy
• BLETSOES [Albert and Maud]
• BLUETT, Fred
• BORRADALE, Harry
• BOVIS BROTHERS
• BRIDGES TRIO, The [Cliff, Nancye & Babe Bridges]
• BROWN, Billie C.
• BROWN & SORLIE  [Billie C. Brown & George Sorlie]
• BROWN, Lester
• BRUCE, Al
• BRULL & HEMSLEY [Elsa Brull & Arthur Hemsley]
• BRYANT, Charles
• BRYANT, Jack
• BRYANT, May  [aka Madame Flaro]
• BUCKLEY, Tom
• BUCKLEY & HOLLY [Tom Buckley & Charles Holly]
• BURGESS, Harry
• BUSCH, Mae
• BUSCH, William (Billy)

C

• CAMPBELL, Lawrence
• CANE, Frank  [aka Kavello]
• CANNOT, Jack
• CARDEN, Myra
• CAREW, Vera
• CARLTON & SUTTON
• CARLYLE, Billie
• CARNEY, Denis
• CARPENTER, “Tiki”
• CARR-GLYNN, Neva [1]
• CARR-GLYNN, Neva [2]
• CARSON, Dave
• CASS, Billy
• CATO, Herbert
• CHARD, Daisy
• CHASE, Carlton
• CHENOWETH, Maurice
• CLAY, Essie
• CLAY, Katherine “Kate”
• CLIFFORD, Nat
• CLUTSAM, George
• COGILL BROTHERS
• COHEN, Harley  [aka Harley Cohan]
• COLLIE, Ken
• CONGO MINSTREL, The [1]
• CONGO MINSTREL, The [2]
• CONGO MINSTREL, The [3]
• CONNOLLY, Keith
• CONNOLLY, Mary  [aka Claire Delmar / Madam Marie Shaw]
• CONNORS & PAUL
• CONNORS & WITT
• COOK, Clyde
• CORRIE, Bert
• CORRIE & BAKER
• CORRIE & VERNE
• COTTIERS, The
• COTTIER, Walter C.
• COURTNEY, Lou
• COURTNEY, Maud
• COURTNEY, Vince
• CRAYDON, James
• CRAYDON, Letty
• CROFT, Colin
• CROSBY, Marshall
• CURRIE, Finlay  [aka Mr C]
• CUSKO’S MONKEYS
• CUTHBERT, Freda

D

• DAMPIER, Claude
• DAVENPORT, Alice
• DAVYS, Fred [aka Prof. Davys]
• DAWSON, Tom
• DEAN, George
• DEARIN, Sam
• DELAVALE, Charles
• DELAVALE & GILBERT
• DELAVALE & STAGPOOLE
• DELAVLE & VOCKLER / DELAVALE BROTHERS
• DELOHERY, CRAYDON & HOLLAND
• DELROY, Ada
• DE ROBECK, Harry
• DESMOND & JANSEN
• DE TISNE, Edward
• DE VERE, Dora [aka Dora Devere / Dora Busch]
• DEVOE, Georgie
• DOBBIE, John
• DOOGOOD, leonard
• DREW, George
• DRISCOLL BROS [Alf and Bob]
• DU BARRY, Phyllis

E

• EASTON, Hosea
• EDGLEY & DAWE
• EDWARDS, George
• EDWARDS, Wally
• ELLIOTT, Arthur
• ELLIOTT, Violet (1)
• ELLIOTT, Violet (2)  [aka Chic Elliott]
• EMERSON, Billy
• EMERY, Gilbert
• EMMET, Harry W.
• ERA COMEDY FOUR
• ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS [1]

F

• FANNING, Charles
• FANNING, Maud
• FELLOWS, Effie
• FERGUSON, Nellie M.
• FERRY THE FROG
• FIDDES, Buster
• FINN, Pat
• FITTS, Ernest
• FLEMING, Nell
• FLEMMING, Claude
• FORDE, Florrie
• FOUR ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS, The
• FRANK, LANK & ALICE
• FRANKS, Gus
• FREDO BOYS, The
• FREDRICKSEN, Charles

G

• GALE, Sadie
• GALE, Sam
• GARDNER, Dave “Murrumbidgee”
• GARDNER, Johnny
• GEORGE, Walter
• GERALD, Jim  [including Essie Jennings]
• GILBERT, Bert
• GILBERTS, The  [aka The Two Gilberts]
• GILMORE, Johnny
• GLOVER, Edward A.
• GOLDING, Claude
• GOODSON, Ben
• GORDON, Harriet
• GOUGENHEIM, Joey
• GRAFTERS QUARTETTE

H

• HAGAN, Martyn
• HAINING, Frank L.
• HAMILTON, Kathleen
• HANLEY, Nat
• HASTINGS, Will
• HAWTHORNE, Frank
• HEDLEY, Tom [aka “The Musical Moke”]
• HELSTON, Freda
• HEMSLEY, Arthur
• HOLLAND, Claude
• HOLLISTER, Syd
• HOLLY, Charles
• HOLT, Charles
• HORTON, Amy
• HORTON, Charley
• HOSKING, Elsie  [aka Sunny Day]
• HOWARDE, Kate
• HOWARTH, Mabs
• HUNT, Lola
• HURD, George
• HUXHAM, Hugh
• HYDES, J. P.

I

• IRELAND, Dot
• IRELAND, Trixie

J

• JACKSON & PAGDEN
• JAMES, Sydney
• JARVIS, Arnold [aka “the Australian Cinquevalli”]
• JARVIS, Ida
• JARVIS & CAMPBELL
• JAZZ BAND, The
• JENNINGS, Essie
• JEROME, Daisy
• JOB, Harry  [aka Will Andrade (2)]
• JOHNSON, Walter
• JONES, George A.
• JUAN, John
• JULES GARRISON & HIS TWO ROMAN MAIDS

K

• KAVELLO [see: Frank Cane]
• KEARNS, Jack (“Porky”)
• KEARNS, Vera
• KEATING, Clara
• KEATING & ROSS [Clara Keating & Harry Ross (2)]
• KEELING, Vivie
• KEENAN, Sam
• KEITH’S SYNCOPATING JESTERS [aka Keith’s Merry Jesters]
• KELLAWAY, Alec
• KELLAWAY, Jack
• KELLAWAY, Sylvia  [aka Sylvia Gardner]
• KELLERMANN, Annette
• KELLY, Edwin
• KEMBLE, Lindsay
• KERR, Willie  [aka Billy Kerr / Bill Kerr]
• KERRIDGE, Stan
• KITTS, James E.
• KOHLMAN, Jantz
• KOHLMAN & GARNER  [Jantz Kohlman & Johnny Gardner]
• KOLLE, Nellie

L

• LA MILO  [aka Pansy Montague • The Modern Milo]
• LAMOND, Stella
• LAMPINO, Madame
• LANG, Page
• LASHWOOD, Hal
• LAURI, Ernest
• LAWMAN, Joe
• LAWRANCE, Alf J.
• LAWRENCE, Charles
• LAWTON, Alfred
• LAZERN, Emil
• LEAR, Ward
• LEAR, Ward Jnr  [aka James Ward Lear]
• LE BLANC, Bert
• LE BRUN, Bobby
• LENTON, Lance
• LEON, Francis
• LESLIE, Fred
• LES THIERES   [aka Les Thiers]
• LINN SMITH’S ROYAL JAZZ BAND
• LITTLE VERLIE  [aka Little Winsome]
• LEVANTE  [aka Les Cole / Magician Cole]
• LUMSDEN, Alf G.

M

• McALLISTER, Kyrle
• McCALL, Edna
• McCALL, George
• McKISSON & KEARNS [Albert McKisson & Jack Kearns]
• MACK, Val
• McLAREN, Polly
• McLEAN, Eddie and Decima  [aka The Australian Dartos]
• McLENNAN, Esmee
• MAHON, Isabel
• MALONEY, Billy
• MARCEL, Durham
• MARTIN, A. E.
• MARTIN, Georgie
• MARTINI, J.
• MASCULIN, Murray  [aka Murray Lampino/Phil Murray]
• MASCULIN, Prince [aka Prince Lampini]
• MASTERS, Eric
• MATLOCK, Johnny
• MAUD COURTNEY & MR C
• MAY, Clement
• MEHDEN, Carl
• MEHDEN, Harry
• MELROSE, George E.
• MERRITT, Daisy
• MINTONS, The  [Hugh & Gertrude Minton]
• MOON, George Jnr
• MOON & MORRIS
• MOORE, Carrie
• MORENI, Con
• MORLEY, Arthur
• MORRIS & WILSON
• MOYNHAM, Alf
• MURRAY, Blanche
• MURRAY, Florence (Flo)
• MURRAY, Slade

N

• NAPIER, Hector
• NAPIER, Valantyne
• NEIL, Frank
• NELSON FAMILY
• NELSON, Leonard
• NEWMANS, The  [aka Val & Lottie Newman]
• NICHOLLS, Ernest
• NICKLESS, H. (Harry)
• NORMAN, Charles

O

• ODIVA & HER SEALS
• OCTAVIA, Lily
• OCTAVIA & WARNE

P

• PAGDEN, George
• PAGDEN & STANLEY
• PAGE LANG ENTERTAINERS
• PARAGON TRIO, The
• PATERSON, Jack “Dinks”
• PATTERSON, “Banjo”  [aka Norman “Banjo” Patterson]
• PAUL, Queenie
• PEARCE, Vera
• PEARE SISTERS
• PEEL, Tommy
• PENNINGTON, Olga
• PERCY, W. S.
• PHILLIPS, Nat
• PHILLIPS & MERRITT
• PHILLIPS SISTERS
• PICCANINNY CONGO MINSTREL, The [aka Master Chambers]
• PICCINI, Peter (Snr)
• PITCHER, Ernest
• POE, Alexander
• POLLARD, Daphne
• POLLARD, Harry “Snub”
• POLLARDS  [aka Pollard family]
• POPE, Charlie
• POPE & SAYLES
• PRINCE, Victor

Q

• QUARTERLY, Reg  [aka Reckless Reggie]
• QUEALY, Harry
• QUINE, Grace

R

• RACOONS, The [aka Racoon Bros / 3 Racoons / 4 Racoons / Great Racoons]
• RAY, Bert
• RAYE, Shannon
• RAYNOR, Molly
• REEVE, Ada
• REEVE, Goldie
• RENE, Roy
• RINALDO, Cleo
• RINALDO, Joseph
• ROBERTS, Vic
• ROCHELLE, Amy
• ROMAINE, Billy
• ROOKLYN, Maurice
• ROSS, Harry (1)  Australian
• ROSS, Harry (2) English
• ROSSITER, Madeline
• ROWE, Doc & Mystic Mora [aka Richard Rowe & Mystic Mora]
• ROWLEY, Sam
• ROYLE, Bert
• ROX, Joe
• RUDDLES, The Three
• RUDDER, Dorothy  [aka Dorothy May]

S

• SAYLES, Irving
• SCANLON, Terry
• SCALES, Harry
• SCHILLING, Ivy  [aka Ivy Shilling]
• SCOTT, Bebe
• SCOTT, Edwin Lewis
• SISTERS PHILLIPS [2]
• SHAND, Ron
• SHAW, Gerald
• SHAW, Gladys
• SHERIDAN, John F.
• SHERMAN, Charles L.
• SHINE, Harry
• SKEYHILL, Tom
• SLAVIN & THOMPSON
• SMALL, Joe
• SMITH, Linn  [aka Lynn Smith / Linne Smith]
• SMITH, Phil
• SMITH, Wally
• SPEED, W. H. (Billy)
• SPENCER, Clara
• STAGPOOLE, Alec
• STAGPOOLES, The  [aka The Four Stagpooles]
• STAMPINI  [aka Guglielmo]
• STANHOPE, Paul
• STANLEY, Kitty
• STANLEY, Ted
• ST CLAIR, Hector
• STREETER PAIN, Marjorie
• SYLVANEY, Elsa  [aka Elsa Silvani/Elsa Chauvel]

T

• TAUCHERT, Arthur
• TAUCHERT, Ida  [aka Ida Rosslyn / Ida Kearns]
• TAYLOR, Harry
• TAYLOR, Thomas Hilhouse   [aka Toso Taylor]
• THOMAS, Dan
• THOMPSON, Jock
• THOMPSON, Lyla
• THORNTON, Reg “Kangaroosta”
• THREE STARRS, The
• TIER, Athol
• TOLE, “Tassie”   [aka Len Tole]
• TOM KATZ & HIS SAXOPHONE BAND
• TREVAIL, Winnie
• TUTTY, Ted
• TYRELLS, The  [aka The Dancing Tyrells/ The Flying Tyrells]

U

V

• VALDARES, The
• VALLI, Joe
• VANE, Lance
• VAUDE, Charlie
• VAUDE & VERNE
• VERNE, Joe
• VERNE, Priscilla
• VERNON, Lou
• VERTO, Madam [aka Millie Richardson]
• VERTO, Percy [aka George Hausmann]

W

• WALCH, Garnet
• WALKER, Ada
• WALKER, Whimsical (1) UK
• WALKER, Whimsical (2) USA
• WALLACE, George
• WALLACE, George Jnr
• WARD, George H.
• WARD & SHERMAN
• WARNE, Bert
• WARNE, Dave
• WARNE & DAVENPORT
• WARRINGTON, Ed
• WARTON, Les   [aka Les Wharton]
• WEE DARRELL / WEE NOEL  [aka Darrell Noel Anderson]
• WHELAN, Albert
• WHELAN, Ronald
• WHITBURN, Will
• WHITLOW, Frederick  (Fred)
• WILLIAMS, Billy (1)
• WILSON, Alf “Redhead”
• WILSON, Carden
• WINN, Anona
• WYER, F. Gayle
• WYKEHAM & PRESTON  [Reg Wykeham & Pressy Preston]

X

Y

• YORK, Frank

Z

• ZIGOMAR, Matador A. / THE ZIGOMARS
• ZOLI, Charles

  ---

  
  

If you can locate these Australians on Geni, please also see if you can find what ship they arrived on and note it on the profile, we can include them in our emigration projects as well.

This will be a Geni Special Collections project.