English-born variety performer, pantomime librettist/songwriter, and dame.
Born ca. 1878, Dan Thomas carved out a successful career in Great Britain as a Hebrew comedian and pantomime dame. He came to Australia via South Africa for the
Fullers in 1914 billed as the "dame from Drury Lane," but was soon afterwards leased out to George Willoughby for the
Alf J. Lawrence pantomime
Babes in the Wood. Cast as Dame Durdan, he starred opposite Daisy Jerome and
Bert Le Blanc. Thomas returned to the Fullers in mid-1915, remaining with that firm through until 1917, with his engagement including two tours of New Zealand. In 1915 he was also engaged as Editor in Chief of
Australian Variety's 1915 "Annual" edition.
After returning to play South Africa 1917 Thomas took over control of the London Gaiety Co for the African Theatres Trust. He came back to Australia in 1922 to play the dame role for George Marlow's
Bo-Peep, and although known to have returned to England at various times after this, he effectively spent much of the rest of his life in the country.
During the 1920s Thomas found engagements with
J.C. Williamsons', the Fullers,
Harry Clay and Coleman's Pantomime Company among others, staged some of his own revusicals on Harry Clay's circuit in 1925 and made his first radio appearance in 1927. In the 1930s he appeared in three of
George Wallace's films -
His Royal Highness (1932),
Harmony Row (1933) and
A Ticket in Tats (1934). In 1954 Thomas also claimed to have appeared in Britian's first feature film, titled
Comedy Interlude, although this has not yet been confirmed (Adelaide
Mail 11 September 1954, p.3)
Thomas continued to appear regularly in vaudeville (including the
Tivoli circuit) and on radio through until the late 1940s, eventually touring largely for charity organisations. He was still working as a comedian in Australia as late as 1954.
[Source:
Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
