Gabrielle Ray – Fleetwood Chronicle – Friday 26th September 1924
Gabrielle Ray at the Palace.
Miss Gabrielle Ray. the popular musical comedy star, made her first appearance on the variety stage in Blackpool at the Palace, on Monday.
Needless to say she was a great success. Miss Ray appeared in Blackpool in musical comedy some few years ago.
Last night she pleased her audience by the beauty of her numbers and the charm of her personality. She was admirably supported by Mr. Leslie Barker, a clever dancer and vocalist. Several children added a piquant and pleasing touch, particularly in the “Crinoline” song and dance.
Mr. Leslie Barker delighted the audience with his coon song, vastly reminiscent of the art of G. H. Elliott.
Miss May Henderson, the original dusky comedy queen, created roars of laughter with her antics. As a huntsman she was funny, and her faithful “hound” did all he was told.
Mdlle. Lola Krasavina, an artiste who has won fame on the Continent, gave versatile selections from her repertoire.
Elkins, Fay and Elkins, a talented trio; Mr. Joseph Cheetham, the English tenor: Jack Dodd, the Scotch comedian; and the Palace Girls, trained by Miss May Nicholson, were other interesting tarns.
Fleetwood Chronicle – Friday 26th September 1924
Gabrielle Ray – Fleetwood Chronicle – Friday 19th September 1924
GABRIELLE RAY AND MAY HENDERSON AT PALACE.
A fine galaxy of variety stars will be at the Palace of Varieties next week. First and foremost is the charming Gabrielle Ray, the actress and dancer, who will appear with her company in a sketch that will afford her splendid opportunities to display her many talents and accomplishments.
Miss Ray has a wonderful reputation gained in musical comedies and pantomimes, and she has figured in many productions in London and the provinces. May Henderson is another well-known entertainer, whose chocolate disguise serves to accentuate her special abilities. She is a nimble dancer and voluble vocalist, and she invariably carries enthusiasm among her audience. Elkins, Fay and Elkins are a trio of comedians who believe in making the folks laugh; while Joseph Cheetham, the silver-toned tenor, and Mdlle. Loin Krasavina will make the night melodious with their cultured singing.
Fleetwood Chronicle – Friday 19th September 1924
Aimee Webster – £150 – The Sketch Wednesday 16th May 1917
A JOCK ON LEAVE: AN “ALLEGORICAL PANTOMIME.”
ALL AMONG THE FLAPPERS AND THE FISHER – GIRLS AND THE NURSES, AND DREAMING OF HIS HIGHLAND LASSIE: M. LEON MORTON AS THE SCOTCH SOLDIER, IN “£150,” AT THE AMBASSADORS’.
SHOPS IN AND AFTER WAR: PRESENTS AND FUTURES.
1. SOME SWEET THINGS IN LINGERIE SOLD IN BOXES MADE FOR OTHER SWEET THINGS: WAR ECONOMY IN PRESENTS EXEMPLIFIED IN “£150,” AT THE AMBASSADORS’.
2. WHAT THE BIG STORES WILL BE LIKE AFTER THE WAR: A SHOP WALKER (MR. MURRI MONCR1EFF), A CUSTOMER, AND A COMMISSIONAIRE (M. LEON MORTON) IMBUED WITH THE MILITARY SPIRIT.
The new “war economy revue,” at the Ambassadors’, “£150,” was so named because that was the limit set by Mr. Cochran to the cost of production. In a slip inserted in the programme on the first night, he facetiously apologised for having exceeded the estimate by £4 15s.! The acting of M. Leon Morton is the chief feature of the new show; indeed, one critic, Mr. Herbert Farjeon, goes so far as to say that “any revue with Morton in it is better than any revue without Morton.” We illustrate here three of the scenes. On the left-hand page he is seen as a Scottish soldier– a “Jock,” in the popular phrase – “journeying from the trenches to his home among the heather” (in the words of the programme) in a scene curiously called “an Allegorical Pantomime.” The first photograph shows him among the Flappers (Misses Elsie Gregory, Kathleen Maude, Joan Emney, and Elaine Wells) the second, with the Fisher Girls (Misses Ena Strange, Siddons Saharet, Dolly Cullin, and Maisie Walsh); the fifth, among the Nurses (Misses Irene Russell, Mona Fraser, Ann Furrell, and Aimee Webster). In the fourth photograph (lower left) are, from left to right M. Morton, Mile. Madeleine Choiseulle as His Highland Lassie, and Mr. J. M. Campbell as An Elder. It represents the soldier’s dream of finding his girl as another man’s bride at the kirk door. On the right-hand page the upper photograph shows the scene entitled “The Temptations of the Modern Sweet-Shop.” Here are sold ostensible chocolate-boxes which gallant swains may buy for their lady friends. In reality they contain articles of lingerie. The scene called “A Dream of the Past and the Future, showing the interior of a great shop” is in two parts, before and after the war. The lower photograph shows the second part, when the military spirit is supreme. The staff are all retired Colonels and so on, and the Commissionaire, covered with medals, shoots off a button with the aid of his revolver.
The Sketch – Wednesday May 16th 1917
Amy Webster – The Merry Widow – The London Daily News – Tuesday 11th June 1907
DALY’S THEATRE
THIS EVENING at 8.30. THE MERRY WIDOW
Messrs Robert Evett, W H. Barry, Lennox Pawle, Gordon Cleather, Fred Kaye, V. O’Connor, R. Roberts and Joseph Coyne and George Graves;
Misses Elizabeth Firth, Nina Sevening, Irene Desmond, K Welch, A Webster, D. Dunbar, D. Dombey, D. Irving, P. le Grand, M. Munroe, M. Erskine, G. Lester, M. Russell and Lily Elsie.
The London Daily News – Tuesday 11th June 1907
Fred Walmsley – Little Red Riding Hood – The Daily Mirror – Thursday 17th January 1935
Panto Stars – Fred Walmsley
In Blackpool, during the summer, Fred Walmsley is an institution. For twenty-three years he has appeared on the pier, and in 1914 Sydney Howard was a member of his company. And Fred is just as much a stalwart in pantomime, as Bradford is agreeing. He is playing Baron Badlotte in “Red Riding Hood” at the Alhambra. This is his twenty-third pantomime. He was at the Palace, Manchester, when Fay Compton made her pantomime debut as Dick Whittington, and he also was in the pantomime at which the famous Gabrielle Ray made a triumphant stage come-back in 1917-18.
Not So Hot!
His favourite pantomime story concerns his early days. It was at a dress rehearsal of “Red Riding Hood.” Artificial “snow” was falling on the stage, the scene being the woods in winter. Red Riding Hood entered and complained how bitterly cold it was, and immediately the Principal Boy followed with a scantily dressed chorus, and sang “In Sunny Havana”! None of Fred’s protests could convince the producer that there was anything amiss in this scene!
The Daily Mirror – Thursday 17th January 1935
Gabriele Ray – Mother Goose – The Daily Mirror – Tuesday 26th October 1920
Manchester’s Sunshine Ray.
Miss Gabrielle Ray, I hear, has been engaged for this winter’s pantomime at the Palace Theatre, Manchester – Cottonopolis’ gain, London’s loss. Her first “panto” appearance was as Cupid in “Little Red Riding Hood” at the Richmond Theatre, shortly after she had made her debut at the Princess’ as Geraldine in the “Green ‘Bushes.”
The Daily Mirror – Tuesday 26th October 1920
About
One of my main interests is a love of old pictures and postcards that give us a brief glimpse into a past and often forgotten age.
Collecting old postcard and pictures enables the viewer to glimpse a brief moment from that individual’s life; often far removed from their own either by the passage of time or social class. Social History, often described as “history from below” shows everyday people, their social structure and the interaction of different groups; like the wealthy and politicians these people helped shape and maintain society and so shape history.
Examining the images one can’t help but wonder how the individuals lived, were their lives hard compared with today and were they happy. Often the images come with little or no information that can answer these questions, one can only imagine.
With each image saved and seen by others, so that moment, that person is kept alive, our understanding is increased and so our lives are enriched.
A picture is often more descriptive than words can ever be, but how true is this, if a picture enables us to gain entry to another time, another world, will, like the view from a different window, even in the same house provide a different image?
These images allow a glimpse into another time, another era; but what preceded or followed this image? As the individuals were positioned and posed like an artist’s model is what we see truly reflective or like the slightly softened image of an aging beauty a less that truthful representation?
I am reminded of a documentary I watched several years ago regarding the returning troops from the front during the First World War. The camera images show a broken, demoralised sea of humanity, young men who having seen images that most of us hope never to witness had lost that sparkle; that zest which only youth has. But bring on the news camera and that battered returning group came to life, the smiles returned and even though muddied and bloodied their heads and bodies became erect, their arms swung in time and they demonstrated a swagger that spoke of courage, defiance and determination; an image that gave hope to the viewer.
It seems to me that even in the early days of photography all was not what it appeared and now in the advancing digital age a picture may paint a thousand words but will it be factual or fiction?
My interests And collections vary from Maids, Nuns, religious dress and the more risqué images of the French Maid. Often when searching for a particular subject the boundaries cross and as well as true Maids we find Edwardian actresses dressed as Nuns or Maids. During one of my searches I came across Gabrielle Ray dressed as a Maid, “Susan” in Lady Madcap and was instantly captivated by her.
Collecting the individual cards isn’t enough; I like to know more about the individual, which is easier when that person is an actress, although often the information is scarce
Searching for information about Miss Ray I discovered that she was one of the most photographed women of the Edwardian era and described in “Temps” as the most beautiful woman in the United Kingdom; but sadly her success, if measured by being visibly working or in the public eye was short-lived. She struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and her health declined. In 1936, she suffered a complete mental breakdown and was institutionalized for nearly forty years; dying in 1973 at Holloway Sanatorium at the age of 90.
There are several other sites and blogs dedicated to the memory of Miss Ray and my intention is to share my small but growing collection of pictures and postcards with anyone who shares my interest. Reading about Miss Ray I was saddened that this lady, like many others before and since, after a brief moment in the sun they are soon forgotten. Hopefully as people view and enjoy this blog her memory will remain alive for a little longer.
I have started to write a short Biography about Miss Ray which I will try to update as frequently as possible. The Index page will show any updates under the Biography catagory.
I have also tried to link the various postcards and pictures to the plays in which Miss Ray appeared, however I realise, after several errors that this isn’t an easy task as many are decorative studio poses rather than production images. The individual Rotary, Philco and other publishers numbers are included with any description which should make searching for a particular card or ones from the same set easier. If I have made any glaring errors please feel free to let me know.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I do.
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