Photocopied scrapbook of newscuttings, programs, letters and photographs relating to theatre performances featuring comedian Bobby Watson, 1875-1945, photocopied by Julie Bowler 1984

MLMSS 8286/Box 1X

fonds

1875-1945

152286

0.45 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)

Bobby Watson (Robert E.), b. 1861, comedian, was the original ‘Billy Patterson’ in Maggie Moore (1851-1926) and J. C. Williamson’s (1845-1913) drama ‘Struck Oil’ at the Queens Theatre, Sydney in 1875.

Maggie Moore and J. C. Williamson’s toured Australia together from 1874-1894 under contract to George Coppin. They opened at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne on 1 August 1874 with ‘Struck Oil’, Williamson’s own adaptation of a play bought by him from a Californian miner. They moved on to the Queen's Theatre, Sydney. After revisiting Melbourne and touring Adelaide they left in October 1875 wealthy and famous, to tour England, Europe and the United States until 1879. After two years in America they returned to Melbourne on 15 August 1879 with the sole Australian rights to the Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas.

Relations between Williamson and Maggie became strained after a divorce in 1899, and she formed her own company. She continued to travel in North American and Britain from 1903-1908 and returned to Sydney and under J. C. Williamson Ltd starred in seasons from 1908 to 1912, sometimes reviving Struck Oil. In 1915 she joined the Royal Comic Opera Company and toured Australia.

References:
Compiled from the collection
Australian Dictionary of Biography http://adb.anu.edu.au (accessed 24 February 2012).

Original lent for copying by Miss Julie Bowler, April 1984

Scrapbook contains newscuttings of programs, playbills and reviews mainly relating to J. C. Williamson’s and Maggie Moore's Australian tour, and performances featuring comedian Bobby Watson, and other touring theatre companies and actors such as John Lemmone Company, Howard Dramatic Co, Mc’Lean’s Comedy Company, 1875-1945. Also contains newscuttings and letter to Bobby Watson relating to the closure of Tivoli and Her Majesty’s theatres 1925-1933, the screening of films at picture theatres in 1933

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012