Bessie / Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Richmond Herald – Saturday 14th December 1901
Miss Bessie Ray, with whose performance as a child in pantomime all Richmond was delighted is a big girl now and has taken unto herself the name of Gabrielle as a Christian appellation in place of the homely Bessie. As a rule, artistes who achieve any success stick to the name associated with their success to the end of their days. Miss Ray, however, has chosen to do otherwise, and who shall question the right of so saucy a damsel to please herself. There is one thing the young lady appears to be conservative about, and that is her wearing apparel – for Gabrielle’s frocks in “The Casino Girl” must surely have been made for Bessie when Bessie was a very little girl.
The Richmond Herald Saturday – 14th December 1901
Bessie / Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26th July 1901
MR. BEN GREET’S “Casino Girl” Company is meeting with a hearty welcome on tour. Four of the principal performers, Miss Isa Bowman, who plays the title role, Mr. Joseph Wilson, Mr. Max Copland, and Little Ganty, have recently been appearing with success on the London music halls, and they, in conjunction with a sweetly pretty little lady who used to be known as Miss Bessie Ray, but who has now adopted the Christian name of Gabrielle, form the nucleus of a very strong company. The production is beautifully dressed by Messrs. Rayne.
The Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26th July 1901
Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Richmond Herald – Saturday 14th December 1901
“THE CASINO GIRL.”
A very bright show indeed is “The Casino Girl,” and it is presented by a capital company sent out by Mr. Ben Greet and captained by Mr. W. J. Robertson. The piece is not called the twin sister to “The Belle of New York” for nothing. There certainly is a remarkable likeness between the two in regard to the characters, the most striking resemblance being in Pilsener Pasha who is simply the Polite Lunatic over again. Mr. Max. Copeland in the part is very good indeed. Mr. Joseph Wilson as J. Offenbach Gaggs, is full of amusing antics and clever business, though his singing is decidedly weak, and it may interest him to know that only words her and there of his song about “The Tatooed Man” could he heard in the stalls. Mr. Cecil Curtis is satisfactory as the young doctor, and Messrs Stanley White and Walter Freear as the brother bandits are very comical. Miss Isa Bowman is as charming as she is clever in the part of “The Casino Girl,” singing and dancing very daintily, while Miss Gabrielle Ray, nee Bessie of that ilk, was full of pretty tricks and graceful poses as Dolly Twinkle. Miss Lilian and Miss Ethel Allendale are very chic girls front Chicago, and their Malaprop Mamma is well impersonated by Miss Alice Gordon. The music is very bright, the singing is on the whole excellent, the piece is very well dressed and the stage pictures are particularly good, being quite a feature of the entertainment. The cast is as follow:-
Pilsener Pasha, a Brewer, whose introduction of Beer into Egypt won him his title, Mr. Max Copland.
Offenbach Gaggs, known as Senior Hasbeeni, a Grand Opera Tenor who takes a Company to Cairo and meets with reserves, Mr. Joseph Wilson.
Percy Harold, Ethelbert Van Styvesant of New York, a young Doctor in love with the Casino Girl, Mr. Cecil Curtis.
Ben Muley, Chief of a Gang of Thieves, a Deserter from the French Army, Mr. Stanley White.
Potage, his Lieutenant, Mr. Walter Freear.
First Officer, Mr. Cook.
Laura Lee, formerly of the New York Casino Company known in Cairo as Mdlle. Estelle, a French Milliner, Isa Bowman.
Dolly Twinkle, leading Dancer of the Comic Opera Company, managed by J. Offenbach Gaggs, Miss Gabrielle Ray.
Miss Roxano Rocks, an Heiress from Chicargo, Miss Lilian Stafford.
Lotta Rocks, her Sister, Miss Ethel Allendale.
Mrs. H. Malaprop Rocks, a leader of Chicargo Society, better half of Rocks & Co., Pork Packers to the Western Metropolis, Miss Alice Gordon.
Selim, a Page, Miss Edith St. Clair.
Odaliska, the Pasha’s Favourite, Miss Mabel Levelle.
Miss Broadway, of New York, Miss Wallington.
Miss Chestnut , of Philadelphia, Miss Wabash, of Chicago, Miss Charles, of Baltimore, Miss Avenue, of St. Louis, Miss Kearney, of San Francisco, Members of an Opera Company (Gaggs) Miss Collyer, Miss Napier, Miss Brewster, Miss Vera Trevelyan, and Miss Daisy Trevelyan.
Errand Boy, Mr. U. Grant.
The Richmond Herald – Saturday 14th December 1901
Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Manchester City News – Saturday 5th October 1901
THE CASINO GIRL.
Every part of the Victoria Theatre, Broughton, has been closely packed during the week by The Casino Girl. This musical production runs much on the lines of the Belle of New York. It depends almost wholly for its success which is by no means small – on a blending of the most extravagant farce with an attractive setting of bright scenery and costumes; numerous songs, several of which have become popular on street pianos and on variety stages; and a rapid whirl of dances, some of them far from being graceful or pleasant to contemplate. All the members of Mr. Ben Greet’s company, headed by Messrs. Max Copland, J. Wilson, Cecil Curtis, Misses Isa Bowman, Gabrielle Ray, and Alice Gordon, work harmoniously together, and laughter and encores make the order of the evening.
The Manchester City News – Saturday 5th October 1901
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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