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Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Elite Vaudeville Company Elite Vaudeville Company i(A109159 works by) (Organisation) assertion (a.k.a. Elite Burlesque, Comedy and Specialty Co.; Elite Burlesque, Minstrel and Variety Co.)
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BiographyHistory

A minstrel, burlesque, and vaudeville troupe that operated during the mid-late 1890s, the Elite company revolved around Delohery, Craydon and Holland, a trio of variety entertainers who specialised in Irish song and dance sketches. Of the three, Thomas Delohery was the most prominent, since he was the organisation's business manager. Between 1895 and 1899, the company leased several theatres in Brisbane, with fluid business partnerships being put in place between Tom Delohery, W. H. Speed, Charles Bovis, Sydney Deane, and Craydon and Holland.

The company was originally known as both Delohery and Speed's Empire Minstrels and the Empire and World's Gaiety Company during its 1895 season at the Empire Theatre (Sydney) under the management of Delohery and Speed. The name was changed to the Elite Burlesque, Minstrels and Variety Company when it opened in Brisbane on 30 November, a few weeks after the Sydney season closed.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • ENGAGEMENTS CHRONOLOGY:

    The company's movements identified to date are:

    1895: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane ; 30 November - 31 December. Mngr. W. H. Speed, Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland.

    1896: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane ; 1 January - ca. March. Mngr. W. H. Speed, Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland (30 November 1895 - ca. March 1896) / Regional Queensland tour ; ca. April-May. Mngr. Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland.

    1897: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane ; 13 February - 28 June. Mngr. Tom Delohery, Charles Bovis and Sydney Deane.

    1898: Opera House, Brisbane ; 24-31 December. Mngr. Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland.

    1899: Opera House, Brisbane : 1-ca.13 January. Mngr. Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland

    1899: Theatre Royal, Brisbane ; 14 January - 20 February. Mngr. Tom Delohery, Charles Bovis and Sydney Deane / Regional Queensland tour ; ca. February - May. Mngr. Tom Delohery, James Craydon and Ted Holland / Theatre Royal ; 20 May - 7 July. Mngr*. Tom Delohery, Percy St John and Ted Holland.

  • This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive

Last amended 12 Mar 2015 10:58:57
See Also
Delohery Craydon and Holland
Delohery, Bovis and Deane
Speed and Delohery
Percy St John
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