INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS: W WHIMSICAL WALKER [1] UK (1851-1934) British clown, acrobat, animal trainer. [Born: Thomas Henry Walker] [1904] The son of a circus advance rep, Thomas Walker was apprenticed to Pablo Fanque's circus at age eight and continued in the business for around 70 years. During his career he worked with many leading circuses, including Barnum and Bailey, and became a huge star in English pantomime as a harlequin specialist. He also travelled the world three times and toured America on at least 16 occasions. Although he toured Australia only once, arriving here in September 1904 under contract to Harry Rickards, Walker's life and aspects of his career were well-known throughout the region courtesy of regular newspaper reports. Further Reference: Walker, Whimsical. From Sawdust to Windsor Castle (1922) - available online at the Internet Archive's Open Library project [sighted 18/12/2013]. OOO Courtesy of www.fulltable.com WORLD'S ENTERTAINERS [1] aka Lee and Rial's World's Entertainers [1901-1902] In 1901 J.C. Williamson, thinking to expand his already considerable theatrical empire, contracted American actor/impersonator Henry Lee and producer/entrepreneur James G. Rial to bring a company of US vaudeville acts to Australia. The tour, produced under the auspices of Williamson, Lee and Rial, was initially managed by James H. Love (1852-1902), with Lee taking on the duties of stage director. The plan was to take the company to most of the capital cities, with the major seasons naturally being produced in Sydney and Melbourne. A number of select regional centres were also chosen for short visits, while New Zealand was also seen as a likely destination at some stage. New York Dramatic Mirror (USA) 26 Oct. 1901, 19. The World's Entertainers made its Australian debut at Sydney's Palace Theatre on 10 August 1901 and continued through until 30 October drawing positive reviews and consistently large audiences. After Sydney the company played one night in Goulburn (New South Wales), and a short season in Adelaide before opening in Melbourne at the Bijou Theatre on 28 November. It remained there until early February the following year. Among the acts to appear with the company during 1901 were: Kelly and Ashby (comedy acrobats, with Miss Roberts), Arthur Nelstone (comedian/dancer, assisted by Elsie Forrest), Josephine Gassman and her Louisiana Piccaninnies), Charles R. Sweet (monologist/musical comedian), the Mahr Sisters (dancing comediennes), Mr and Mrs Tobin (musical act), Francis Gwynne (illustrated singer), and Allan Shaw ("Monarch of the Coins). The show also included the Projectoscope. Henry Lee In late 1901 James Rial had travelled back home to follow up on cables he had sent Table Talk (Melbourne) 24 July to a number of US artists even prior to the commencement of the tour. Several 1902, 16. newspapers reported that Williamson, Lee and Rial's intention was to "have two vaudeville companies in Australia at the same time, one playing practically all the year round at the Palace Theatre in Sydney, and the other at the Bijou in Melbourne."1 The new troupe opened at the Bijou on 15 February, a week after the first company had ended its season there and transferred back to Sydney. The second company's line-up included Salerno (juggler), Professor Powell and Co (legerdemain), the Ferraris (Russian dancers), the St Onge Bros (trick cyclists), Grace Millar Ward (soprano), Phlatt and Sutherland (sketch and dance act), C.M. Rodney (entertainer), Neal McCay (tenor), Mlle. Ancion (aerial act), the Little Dartos, Florodora Beau and Belles, Mlle. Adele (sketch artist), Hope Haddon (comedienne). Kelly and Ashby, and Francis Gwynne, who had toured with the first company, remained in Melbourne to appear with the newly formed troupe during its debut season. The Tobins also appeared with the second company at a later time. J. C. Williamson Australis; Or the City of Zero The two companies continued to tour into the mid-year, with the No 1 company program, 1901 (Fryer Library) travelling across the Tasman in early May to undertake a short tour of New Zealand. The departure of Williamson from the partnership around this time coincided with the venture's contraction back to one company managed by Lee and Rial. Indeed, although the three men remained publically identified as lessees of the Bijou Theatre until June, Williamson's name had been missing from advertising and publicity associated both touring companies from April. Punch (Melbourne) 21 Nov. 1901, 25. Table Talk (Melbourne) 30 Oct 1902, 13. Punch (Melbourne) 21 Nov. 1901, 25. 1 "Musical and Dramatic Notes." West Australian (Perth) 15 Feb. 1902, 11. During the second company's 1902 Sydney season Lee and Rial briefly operated several touring troupes. In late April, for example, they sent one out west to play towns like Bathurst and Orange, while another headed north to the Hunter Valley to play Newcastle. After its Orange engagement the Western New South Wales company then travelled to Newcastle for a one-night show. The Sydney season saw Lee and Rial also began to gradually introduce some local artists. Among the first was Violet Elliott [2]. After finishing up in Sydney on the 28th the entire second company transferred to Melbourne, opening at the Bijou two days later. Among the new Australian acts to be incorporated into the programme were Australian-based acts the Mintons (banjoists, singers and dancers), and Arthur Morley. Although a Western Australian season was muted (Age 30 June 1902, 7), the company instead travelled across the Bass Strait to play Hobart and Launceston. The No 1 company disbanded following the conclusion of the New Zealand tour (Auckland, 9 July). The majority of the acts returned to the USA, including Josephine Gassman. Several performers, among them Charles Sweet, elected to remain in the region, however, travelling back to Australia with James Rial. After arriving in Sydney they travelled directly to Melbourne where they later met up with members of the Tasmanian touring company (formerly the No 2 company). They then sailed for South Africa in early August. Interestingly this tour was produced by J.C. Williamson and managed by his long-time representative Harold Ashton. It is presently unclear if Lee and Rial had any connection with this tour, or if any Australian artists, apart from Violet Elliot, were engaged. The company disbanded following the completion of the tour. A number of performers from the World's Entertainers No 2 company also remained in Australia country for some time after the tour ended, as did Henry Lee. Some artists from the South African tour also came back to perform for various firms. Josephine Gassman and her Piccaninnies Below: St Ong Brothers Australasian (Melbourne) 30 Nov. 1901, Toscin (Melbourne) 13 Mar. 1902, 7. 26. Punch (Melbourne) 6 Feb. 1902, 25. Historical Notes and Corrections: 1. Henry Lee had previously toured Australia (1896-97) with Arthur Garner's vaudeville company, presenting his lightening change impersonation act. His wife, Hope Haddon, was one of the members of the 1901-1902 World's Entertainers company. 2. In his Live Performance Australia tribute to Harry Rickards, specialist Tivoli and Rickards historian Frank Van Straten writes: In 1895 Rickards leased the old Opera House in Bourke Street, Melbourne, making it the headquarters for his company in that city. That same year [he] received the first challenge to his supremacy in Australian vaudeville. J.C. Williamson backed two Americans Henry Lee and James G. Rial, who imported a company of second-rung acts, which they called "The World’s Entertainers." They met with only moderate success, so Rial announced that he was returning to the United States to recruit fresh talent – but wily Rickards sailed on an earlier ship. He made engagements up to two years ahead. This stratagem cost him some £30,000 – but it 2 made him. His first big star was Charles Godfrey, who made famous the song "After the Ball is Over." Unfortunately Van Straten has confused the first Opera House [1] (1872-1899), with the second Opera House [2] (1901-1966).3 As a consequence everything he writes about Williamson, Lee and Rial, and the World's Entertainers, especially in relation to Harry Rickards, has no basis in fact whatsoever because the tour did not take place for another six to seven years. Van Straten's reference to Charles Godfrey is also irrelevant in this context because the popular entertainer died in 1900 - the year before the World Entertainers made its Australian debut. 3. American manager James H. Love originally came to Australia as the advance rep for Nance O'Neill ("Stageland." Evening News 20 Dec. 1902, 15). 4. James G. Rial returned to Australia in 1904 with Tom Nawn's Polite Vaudeville and Comedy Company. 5. Harry Musgrove, manager for the second company, was the brother of J.C. Williamson's partner George Musgrove and the father of theatrical manager and entrepreneur, Harry G. Musgrove. Further Reference: "Amusements." Evening News (Sydney) 17 Feb. 1902, 5. "Bijou Theatre: The World's Entertainers." Argus (Melbourne) 25 Nov. 1901, 6. "Bijou Theatre: World's Entertainers." Argus (Melbourne) 2 June 1902, 7. "Mr Henry Lee." Table Talk (Melbourne) 24 July 1902, 16. "Musical and Dramatic Notes." West Australian (Perth) 15 Feb. 1902, 11. "Palace: World's Entertainers." Sydney Morning Herald 12 Aug. 1901, 3. "Palace: World's Entertainers." Sydney Morning Herald 17 Feb. 1902, 4. "People Prominent: Mr Henry Lee." Referee (Sydney) 13 Jan. 1897, 7. "World's Entertainers." Age (Melbourne) 25 Nov. 1901, 7. "World's Entertainers." Age (Melbourne) 2 June 1902, 6. "World's Entertainers: His Majesty's Theatre." Telegraph (Brisbane) 24 Mar. 1902, 4. OOO Punch (Melbourne) 6 Feb.