Gabrielle Ray – Flying Colours – The Preston Herald – Saturday 28th October 1916
LONDON ENTERTAINMENTS.
THE HIPPODROME.
“Flying Colours,” a new Hippodrome revue, is drawing big houses at the London Hippodrome. Among the artistes in this excellent revue are “Little Tich,” Dorothy Ward, Ray Cox, Gabrielle Ray, etc. It is produced by Albert Courville and staged Wm. J. Wilson. The Hippodrome is one of the cosiest theatres in the country, and when in London you should not forget to pay it a visit.
The Preston Herald – Saturday 28th October 1916
Gabrielle Ray – Flying Colours – The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 19th August 1916
MISS GABRIELLE RAY,
The musical comedy actress, who has been engaged for the new revue at the London Hippodrome.
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 19th August 1916
Flying Colours – The Irish Independent – Monday 18th September 1916
NEW REVUE.
The latest of the long succession revues, which are so popular with the London public, is “Flying Colours,” by A. da Courville and Wal Pink, with music by W. F. Peters. It was produced with a fair amount of success at the Hippodrome on Saturday night. The piece differs from most Hippodrome revues in being less noisy and less glaring, and the performers make comparatively little use of the auditorium. But while the artistes are mostly entertaining there is hardly a scene or song which is particularly humorous or clever in itself. The lady principals, including Miss Gabrielle Ray and Miss Dorothy Waring are only sparsely employed. The chief comedian is Little Tich, who appears in all sorts of guises – a bull-fighter, a Spanish lady, a jockey, a music-seller, and what not, and is his droll self in them all. A notable episode is Capt. Bairnsfather’s trench scene, reproducing exactly the spirit and detail of his famous drawings of scenes at the front.
Irish Independent – Monday 18th September 1916
Flying Colours – New York Herald – Sunday, August 20th 1916
“Flying Colors” has been chosen by Mr. Albert de Courville as the title for the new revue which he is preparing for early production at the Hippodrome as a successor to “Joyland.” This production will see Miss Gabrielle Ray for the first time in revue, and Little Tich will have the leading comedy part. Mr. de Courville and Mr. Wal Pink are responsible for the book, and what should prove a novel and attractive feature will be a little “trench episode” written by Captain Bairnsfather, whose “Fragments from France” have so happily illustrated the humorous side of things connected with the war. For “Bairnsfatherland,” or “The Johnson ‘Ole,” as it is called, the author himself is turning his leave of absence to account in superintending the rehearsals, besides designing the scenery.
New York Herald – Sunday, August 20th 1916
Flying Colours – Reviews – 1916
The Era – 16th September 1916
The Stage – 16th September 1916
Illustrated London News – 22nd September 1916
Flying Colours – Facsimile booklet
My thanks to Dominic C. H. Combe for kindly sending me this facsimile and the jpgs to add to this blog.
Flying Colours – Programme – September 1916
Flying Colours – Programme – October 1916
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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