Tiki, the dancing Australian

P1/2384

fonds

1923

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9665410

1 photographic print - silver gelatin, postcard format on card - 13 x 9 cm

Arthur Sydney 'Tiki' Carpenter (born in Darlinghurst 12 November 1896) was a member of the ANZAC forces in World War I, performing with a concert party called The Green Diamonds. A feature of the ANZAC concert parties was the female impersonator. Femininely attired soldiers were popular in these concert parties. Tiki’s act was ballet drag and he was referred to as ‘the Male Pavlova’, astonishing the audience by pulling off his wig to reveal his true gender. After the armistice he joined the ex-forces drag troupe Smart Set Diggers which toured through to 1930. He also toured the UK as a solo act, billed as 'The Dancing Australian'.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Smart Set Diggers: https://ozvta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/smart-set-diggers-1052010.pdf (Accessed 11 January 2023)

Promotional postcard featuring photograph of Australian performer Tiki Carpenter seated in dress, pearls and headdress with 'Tiki, the dancing Australian' in text underneath. With postmark dated 25 October 1923, the verso features a message from Tiki Carpenter to Edith Ward. Tiki writes about an update to his career: ‘A manager from India saw me dancing in London & booked me immediately for2 years. I left London last Friday by the P & O Mail S.S. China. I am to tour India, China, Japan etc.’.

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

Title from front of postcard.