AustLit

Comedian Bert Ray and entrepreneur Jack O'Donnell joined forces in 1921 to tour a specialist pantomime company around regional Australia. The pair had first met in 1908 when O'Donnell hired Ray for a tour of New Zealand. The two men were later involved with an aeronautical (ballooning) tour of Australia and Java before O'Donnell focused his attention on managing quick-change artist Winifred La France (1914-1920). Ray in the meantime returned to vaudeville, securing engagements with the Fullers, harry Clay and others during the 1910s.

O'Donnell and Ray toured their company througout regional Australia, with occasional city seasons, up until the late 1930s. The partnership saw Ray write most of the productions and star as dame while Ray O'Donnell handled the business. The firm also produced revues, revudeville and vaudeville in the 1930s.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]