Vaudeville and revusical character.
Paul Stanhope came to Australia in 1913 with the American Burlesque Company. After the troupe disbanded in 1914 he formed the Paul Stanhope Musical Burlesque Company, presenting a series of one act musical comedies based around the wild Irishman 'Spike Murphy.' In revusicals such as This is the Life, Pardon Me, Roley Poley and Dilly Dally 'Spike' appeared in a variety of professions, including a piano mover and burlesque musician, sending audiences into convulsions with his quaint sayings and antics. Stanhope's off-siders over the years included Reg Herbert, Les Bates and Charles 'Ike' Delavale.
