Australian variety performer, dancer, acrobat, songwriter, poet.
OVERVIEW
Once described as a 'whimsical comedian' (Sydney Morning Herald 23 February 1926, p.2), Tom Armstrong carved out a career in vaudeville that lasted more than thirty years. Because much of his career during the early decades of the twentieth century was spent overseas, his achievements as an Australian entertainer have never been accorded the level of recognition that some of his peers have since received. However, Armstrong's frequent billing as a headline act and the more than generous reviews he garnered whenever touring Australia indicate that he ranked alongside the best comedy/sketch performers ever to originate from the country. The Theatre Magazine drew attention to this in 1915, when it noted that Armstrong's delivery was so produced yet so easy and unforced that it carried to audiences in a manner greatly superior to that of his peers (August 1915, p.28).
BIOGRAPHY
Armstrong's first appearance on the professional stage was in a partnership with Nat Phillips, when both were aged around ten. Within a few years, the two boys were touring Australia and New Zealand presenting routines that included comedy acrobatics and song-and-dance numbers. The pair left Australia in 1901 for the lucrative American variety circuits, remaining there for some two years before amicably deciding to go their separate ways. Armstrong soon afterwards established a new partnership with withPriscilla Verne. Previously also known as Mrs Charles Hugo, Verne had toured with her husband's company (Hugo's Buffalo Minstrels) during the 1880s and in the 1890s was a big star on Harry Rickards' circuit. Armstrong and Verne toured constantly around the US, with occasional visits to Canada, and one tour of New Zealand (1907-1908) for John Fuller, before returning to Australasia in 1909. After spending some twelve months in New Zealand (1909-1910) touring for the Fullers the pair came to Australia, securing engagements with James Brennan, Harry Rickards, and William Anderson, among others.
Armstrong and Verne ended their professional relationship In late 1912. While Verne immediately put together a solo act Armstrong took some time off to pursue Australian entertainer Mabs Howarth who was then touring with George Stephenson's Wanderers. The pair, who had been in communication for some two years, married in late-January 1913, and soon afterwards made their way to Perth having secured an engagement at the Shaftesbury Theatre. They debuted their new act there on 21 April. Both performers also featured in William Anderson's panto-extravaganza, The Land of Nod (King's Theatre, Melbourne) at the end of the year. Interestingly Armstrong had appeared in a US production of that show a few years earlier.
In 1914 Armstrong and Howarth signed with Fullers' Theatres and over the next two years toured the company's Australasian circuit, presenting an act that comprised original sketches, patter, duets and dancing. Much of the material, including the songs, was written by Armstrong. On several occasions the Fullers also leased them out to other firms, notably Holland and St John, Birch and Carroll and Dix-Baker. One of their final engagements in 1916, prior to leaving for the UK saw them play the lead roles (Bill Doherty and Nellie Mills) in George Marlow's production two-act musical revue, You're the One. Although the Theatre Magazine was rather critical of Armstrong's 'old jokes,' it nevertheless acknowledged him as the comedy star of the revue (April 1916, p.7).
Although their whereabouts between September 1916 and January 1924 remain sketchy, the pair reportedly spent most of that time touring Britain. They are known to have been performing at Bristol's Hippodrome in November 1917 and were contracted to the L. F. N. circuit in 1921. In an article about Armstrong, published in several New Zealand newspapers in 1924, the writer records:
'During the past seven years Mr. Armstrong has been touring England playing in vaudeville and revue. In England he was specially selected for the provincial tours of "Rockets'1 to play the part created by Charles Austin, the big revue which has been staged in Sydney and Melbourne by Hugh J. Ward' (ctd. Evening Post 8 March 1924, p.21).
Armstrong and Howarth came back to Australia in January 1924. The return was reportedly necessary due to Armstrong's poor health. Howarth appears to have retired from performing at this time and as a consequence Armstrong establish a new act with Australian soubrette June Rose. As with Armstrong's previous partnerships the entertainment comprised either a feature comedy sketch and/or song, dance and patter routines. After playing Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide the pair toured New Zealand from May until August when Armstrong was hospitalised in Wellington with pleurisy. No further engagements have been found prior to Armstrong's death early the following year.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
