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 Ray – The Belle of New York – Richmond Herald – Saturday 4th May 1901
The return visit of “The Belle of New York” will doubtless be welcomed by Richmond playgoers, and especially so when they know that it has been arranged that two old favourites are to appear in it. Miss Empsie Bowman as the Belle, and Miss Bessie Ray as a Bowery Girl. The Company is Mr. Ben Greet’s, and nothing more need be said to satisfy the public that the quality of the artistes and the mounting of the play will be all that it should be.
The Richmond Herald – Saturday 4th May 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 Richmond Herald – Saturday 27th September 1902
NEXT WEEK’S PERFORMANCE.
Next week will be produced “The Casino Girl.” The revised version, to be presented by Mr. Ben Greet’s talented company, has achieved the highest possible success. One reason of the success attained in the provinces is that Mr. Greet has adhered to his hard and fast rule of giving the play-going public only “the best.” Consequently, both as regards artists, dresses, scenery, and general appointments, the production is as near to perfection as it is possible to get. The company that Mr. Ben Greet has selected to present “The Casino Girl” contains many artistes well-known to theatre-goers both in London and the country. A most important engagement has been made in the person of that droll American comedian. Mr. J. T. Sullivan (“The Polite Lunatic”), who will play “Pilsener Pasha,” his original character at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. Amongst others in the cast are Messrs. Eardley, Turner, Walter Freear (brother of the famous little “Louie” of that ilk), Stanley White, Laurance Wensley, &c., and Mesdames Maud Darling (who sustains the title role), Gabrielle Ray, Connie Leon, Beatrice Poole, and Madge Cleaver, with an exceptionally large chorus. The company is under the direction of Mr. J. Bannister Howard. and Mr. W. J. Robertson looks after Mr. Ben Greet’s interests as business manager. From every point of view, “The Casino Girl” appeals to the tastes of laughter-loving play-goers, who desire an evening’s bright and merry amusement.
The Richmond Herald – Saturday 27th September 1902
Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Richmond Herald – Saturday 7th December 1901
“The Casino Girl,” which visits Richmond nest week, chaperoned by Mr. Ben Greet, or rather by his able and genial representative, Mr. W. J. Robertson, ought to arouse the lethargic local patrons of the stage and cause a steady stream of people bound for all parts of the house to flow along Duke-street nightly between 7.15 and 7.45 from Monday to Saturday next. “The Casino Girl,” like its twin sister, “The Belle of New York,” appeals to everybody. The artistes include Messrs. Joseph Wilson, Max Copland, Cecil Curtiss, Stanley White, and Walter Freear, Misses Isa Bowman, Gabrielle Ray, Ethel Allendale, Lillian Stafford, and Alice Gordon. It is about time the Richmond Theatre had a run of good fortune. A series of very excellent bookings has now set in, and it is to be hoped that such of the public as are inclined for theatre-going will patronize the local temple of the drama instead of going elsewhere.
The Richmond Herald Saturday 7th December 1901
Gabrielle Ray – The Richmond Herald – Saturday 10th November 1906
Miss Lily Elsie has the makings of a “wastrel” of the deepest die. She would like a vote if she could bring about some nice reforms such as free cabs to and from the theatre. Again, Miss Rosin Fillipi wanted to know whether, if she had a vote, she could help the theatre more. Such frankness is quite charming. These ladies evidently have an eye to the main chance. Miss Evie Green always craves for a vote when the man calls for the income tax; and Mlle. Adeline Greene, the adored of the Oxford undergraduate, strikes the same note when she says that she thinks women ought to have the privilege of voting seeing that they pay just as the men do. These two ladies have struck the bed-rock reason upon which the demand for female suffrage is based, namely, that inasmuch as women help to pay the piper, they should have a voice in the calling of the tune. Miss Montetiore will, I am sure, hold out the hand of fellowship to the Misses Green and Genee. One more Suffragette I must quote. Miss Gabrielle Ray thinks ladies ought to vote, “It would do the men a bit of good,” she said. “The influence of this new and kind-hearted electorate would transform Parliament and brighten up England.” I wonder if it would!
The Richmond Herald – Saturday 10th November 1906
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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