The Tivoli Follies was a series of

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own duri ...

programs in Australia staged between 1914 and 1917 by the

J. C. Williamson's J. C. Williamson's, formerly Williamson, Garner, & Musgrove and Williamson and Musgrove, was an Australian theatrical management company and theatre owner. With its beginnings in the theatrical productions of J. C. Williamson and his p ...

organization through their "Tivoli" chain of theatres in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

and

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

. The name has since been revived for shows at individual "Tivoli" theatres. The series was conceived and initially produced by

Jack Haskell John Thomas Haskell (April 30, 1919 – September 26, 1998) was an American singer and announcer in the era of old-time radio and later in television. Early years Haskell was born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He majored in musi ...

and

Hugh D. McIntosh Hugh Donald "Huge Deal" McIntosh (10 September 1876 – 2 February 1942) was an Australian theatrical entrepreneur, sporting promoter and newspaper proprietor Early life McIntosh was born on 16 September 1876, to Hugh Fraser McIntosh, a Scottis ...

, for

Harry Rickards Harry Rickards (4 December 1843 – 13 October 1911), born Henry Benjamin Leete, was an English-born baritone, comedian and theatre owner, most active in vaudeville and stage, first in his native England and then Australia after emigrating in 1 ...

' Tivoli chain of theatres, commencing at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney on 28 November 1914, headlined by Jack Cannot. The

Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne The Tivoli Theatre was a major performing arts venue in Melbourne's East End Theatre District, located at 249 Bourke Street. The theatre's origins dated from 1866, with various remodelling and rebuilding throughout its history. Its final building ...

followed, and a year later the Tivoli Theatre, Adelaide. Seasons typically opened with a "Saturday matinee" at 2:30pm. and an evening program at 8:00pm., repeated daily (Sundays excepted). Artists who appeared in the "Follies" and later became famous include George Welch, Billy Rego, Verna Bain, Thelma Raye,

Vera Pearce Annie Vera Pearce (27 May 1895 – 18 January 1966) was an Australian stage and film actress. Her lengthy career was carried out in both her home country and in England. Biography Born in Broken Hill (New South Wales), Pearce spent much of h ...

, and Carmel Hakendorf.

History

;Sydney *28 November 1914 – 9 February 1915 with Isabelle D'Armond, Jack Cannot, Monte Wolf, Vera Pearce, Eileen Watson, Jean Keith etc *5 June – 2 July 1915; Sydney Jarvis and Virginia Dare, James E. Britt, Estelle Rose, The Tyrells, The Baltus Trio, Johnnie Fields *27 November – 9 February 1916; Vera Pearce, Jack Cannot, George Welch, Frank Greene, Thelma Raye, Billy Rego, Walter Weems *20 May – 4 July 1916 ; Vera Pearce, Thelma Rae, Jack Cannot, Walter Weems, George Welch, Frank Greene, Billy Rego *9 October – 2 December 1916; Vera Pearce, Jack Cannot, Walter Weems, George Welch, Thelma Raye, Billy Rego, *24 March – 11 May 1917, preceded by the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle 17 March – 23 March ; Vera Pearce, Jack Cannot, George Welch, Thelma Raye, Daisy and Sydney Yates, Billy Rego ;Melbourne *18 February – 23 April 1915; J. W. Rickaby, Isabelle D'Armond, Jack Cannot, Vera Pearce, Monty Wolf *18 September – 19 November 1915; Jack Cannot, Vera Pearce, George Welch, Walter Weems, Alexander Yakovlenko, Frank Greene *12 February – 29 April 1916; Jack Cannot, Vera Pearce, George Welch, Thelma Raye, Walter Weems, Billy Rego, Frank Greene, Brussels Concert Co, Peggy Peate, Jean Keith *16 September – 6 October 1916 ; Vera Pearce, Thelma Raye; Jack Cannot, Walter Weems, George Welch, Billy Rego, Peggy Peate, Jean Keith *16 December 1916 – 2 February 1917, followed by several one-night performances at Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat and Geelong Theatre. *12 September – 1 November 1917 ; Harry Roxbury, Alice Rennetto, Ruth Budd, Joe Reed ;Adelaide *1 May – 10 May 1915 *28 August – 11 September 1915 *6 May – 13 May 1916 *17 February – 24 February 1917: This program clashed with a very popular season at the Tivoli by the William Anderson Comedy Company, leading the "Follies" and Anderson managements to advertise against each other.

Later uses

The name "Tivoli Follies" was resurrected in *6 September – ?? October 1930 at the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne. Among its performers was a young Robert Helpman. *3 and 5 September 1932 at the Maitland Town Hall *3 and 5 October 1936 at the newly opened Tivoli Theatre, Broken Hill.

References

{{Reflist Theatre in Australia 1914 establishments in Australia 1917 disestablishments in Australia