THE SO AND SO'S [3] AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE: RESEARCH NOTES See last page for citation, copyright and last updated details. aka Shafto's So and So's (Western Australia: 1922-1923) Almost exclusively associated with Perth's Shaftesbury Theatre, the So and So's comprised some of the cream of Australia's variety entertainers of the 1920s. The first line-up, which made its debut on 17 March 1922 under the direction of comedian Arthur Hemsley and musical director Harold Partington, had been engaged from the Eastern states by the Shaftesbury's owner/producer, T.A. Shafto. The debut line-up included Hemsley, his partner Elsa Brull, Dot Browne, Fred Williamson, Florrie Mable, George Malfe, 1 Cyril James, Charles Wren, the Phillips Sisters, and James Caldwell. The So and So's entertainment largely comprised a mix of revue/revusicals, operetta (notably The Bohemian Girl) and vaudeville - including comedy scenas, sketches, solos, duos, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers. Moving pictures were also screened on a regular basis. On 26 May the first So and Sos company played its final performance at the Shaftesbury, and the following night transferred to Fremantle where it played a brief season before opening in Kalgoorlie on 3 June. All of the performers left Western Australia after the final show (8 June). On 27 May a new So and So's opened at the Shaftesbury. Featuring Peter Brooks, Hats McKay, Lillian Graham, Will Rollow, and Fred Keeley and Ivy Aldous, the company had arrived in Western Australia a little over a week earlier, playing Kalgoorlie for four nights while the first company completed its Perth season. The director for these pre-Perth shows was Fred Keeley. He likely oversaw the Perth season as well. George Sharratt, who had toured his own [unrelated] So and So's company [2] through New South Wales in 1921, took over the direction of "Shafto's" company from 22 December 1922. He also brought with him several performers who had toured with his So and So's - namely his partner Annette Lang, and Hazel Fuller and Aneurin Morris. This third company remained at the Shaftesbury until mid-1923, albeit with regular line-up changes. From around April the company's name is mentioned less frequently in advertising and reviews. The last reference to the So and So's appears in the 7 July issue of the Daily News. • T.A. Shafto's So and So's does not appear to have had any relationship with J.C. Williamson's So and So's Costume Comedy Company [aka The So and So's [2], which played Adelaide in late-1920 and early-1921. • Performers incl. Abbott and Sidney, Ernest Baraclough, Joy Barry, The Brackens, Peter Brooks, Ruby Brown, James Caldwell, Two Campbells (aka Campbell Boys), Signor Cerbasi, Lee Chandos, Tommy Clyde, Madame Cotilda and Gladys, Vince and Eva Courtney, The Cracknells, Craydon and Mack, Delavale and Stagpoole, Frieda de Marsden, Doody and Wright, Bert and Evelyn Dudley, Harley Edwards, Rose Fitzgerald, Hazel Fuller, Bert Glover, Thomas Gordon, Lillian Graham, Nat Hanley, Dulcie Hall, Lesley Holmes, Lola Hunt, Mayo Hunter, Hunter and Bobs, Cyril James, Kayle and Koyne, Jack Kearns, Keeley and Aldous, Lindsay Kemble, Grace King, Annette Lang, Joan Lascelles, Lloyd and Raymond, Fred Lorriane, Hats McKay, Marks and Fields, Eddie Martyn, Jean Maynard, Carlton Max, Aneurin Morris, Pagden and Stanley, Phillips Sisters, Ramona, Will Rollow, Russell and Frost, Beryl Scott, Sharrett and Lang, The Shirleys, Cicely Stewart, Dan Thomas, Sadie Tilburn, Togo (Japanese juggler), Vaude and Verne, Clare Vears, Victor the Great, Fred Williamson, Flying Winskills, Charles Wren, Tom Zeno. 1 Malfe's surname is sometimes misspelled as Ralfe in previews and reviews. T.A. Shafto Truth (Perth) 9 Sept. 1928, 6. Call (Perth) 17 Mar. 1922, 12.
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THE SO AND SO'S [3] · - Sadie Tilburn: singer/coster impersonations - Togo: Japanese juggler - Victor the Great: ventriloquist - Fred Williamson: singer - Chris Wren: female impersonator
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THE SO AND SO'S [3]
AUSTRALIAN VARIETY THEATRE ARCHIVE: RESEARCH NOTES
See last page for citation, copyright and last updated details.
aka Shafto's So and So's
(Western Australia: 1922-1923) Almost exclusively associated with Perth's
Shaftesbury Theatre, the So and So's comprised some of the cream of Australia's
variety entertainers of the 1920s. The first line-up, which made its debut on 17
March 1922 under the direction of comedian Arthur Hemsley and musical director
Harold Partington, had been engaged from the Eastern states by the Shaftesbury's
owner/producer, T.A. Shafto. The debut line-up included Hemsley, his partner Elsa
Brull, Dot Browne, Fred Williamson, Florrie Mable, George Malfe,1 Cyril James,
Charles Wren, the Phillips Sisters, and James Caldwell.
The So and So's entertainment largely comprised a mix of revue/revusicals, operetta
(notably The Bohemian Girl) and vaudeville - including comedy scenas, sketches,
solos, duos, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers. Moving pictures were also
screened on a regular basis.
On 26 May the first So and Sos company played its final performance at the
Shaftesbury, and the following night transferred to Fremantle where it played a brief
season before opening in Kalgoorlie on 3 June. All of the performers left Western
Australia after the final show (8 June). On 27 May a new So and So's opened at the
Shaftesbury. Featuring Peter Brooks, Hats McKay, Lillian Graham, Will Rollow,
and Fred Keeley and Ivy Aldous, the company had arrived in Western Australia a little over a week earlier, playing
Kalgoorlie for four nights while the first company completed its Perth season. The director for these pre-Perth shows
was Fred Keeley. He likely oversaw the Perth season as well.
George Sharratt, who had toured his own [unrelated] So and So's company [2] through New South Wales in 1921,
took over the direction of "Shafto's" company from 22 December 1922. He also brought with him several performers
who had toured with his So and So's - namely his partner Annette Lang, and Hazel Fuller and Aneurin Morris. This
third company remained at the Shaftesbury until mid-1923, albeit with regular line-up changes. From around April the
company's name is mentioned less frequently in advertising and reviews. The last reference to the So and So's appears
in the 7 July issue of the Daily News.
• T.A. Shafto's So and So's does not appear to have had any relationship
with J.C. Williamson's So and So's Costume Comedy Company [aka The
So and So's [2], which played Adelaide in late-1920 and early-1921.
• Performers incl. Abbott and Sidney, Ernest Baraclough, Joy Barry, The
Brackens, Peter Brooks, Ruby Brown, James Caldwell, Two Campbells
(aka Campbell Boys), Signor Cerbasi, Lee Chandos, Tommy Clyde,
Madame Cotilda and Gladys, Vince and Eva Courtney, The Cracknells,
Craydon and Mack, Delavale and Stagpoole, Frieda de Marsden, Doody
and Wright, Bert and Evelyn Dudley, Harley Edwards, Rose Fitzgerald,
Hazel Fuller, Bert Glover, Thomas Gordon, Lillian Graham, Nat Hanley,
Dulcie Hall, Lesley Holmes, Lola Hunt, Mayo Hunter, Hunter and Bobs,
Cyril James, Kayle and Koyne, Jack Kearns, Keeley and Aldous, Lindsay
Kemble, Grace King, Annette Lang, Joan Lascelles, Lloyd and Raymond,
Fred Lorriane, Hats McKay, Marks and Fields, Eddie Martyn, Jean
Maynard, Carlton Max, Aneurin Morris, Pagden and Stanley, Phillips
Sisters, Ramona, Will Rollow, Russell and Frost, Beryl Scott, Sharrett and
Lang, The Shirleys, Cicely Stewart, Dan Thomas, Sadie Tilburn, Togo
(Japanese juggler), Vaude and Verne, Clare Vears, Victor the Great, Fred
Williamson, Flying Winskills, Charles Wren, Tom Zeno.
1 Malfe's surname is sometimes misspelled as Ralfe in previews and reviews.