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Bijou Theatre 217 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Ralph Marsden writes - Performers at the Bijou included ‘Stiffy’, ‘Mo’ and George Wallace - Stiffy and Mo were back for another long and successful season from 13 March to 27 August 1920, broken only by a fortnight by Wish Wynne early in July.

Immediately after this, the bills featured an act called Mr C. and Maud Courtney. Mr C. later enjoying greater fame in many British films as Finlay Currie. The year 1921 brought the return of Jim Gerald and Essie Jennings, with Arthur Tauchert, the original silent screen Sentimental Bloke, also on the bill, and in July came English soprano, Bessie Slaughter.

Names of 1922 included British comedy duo, brothers Eric Edgley and Clem Dawe, and British music hall (and later film and radio) comic Claude Dampier, with returns by Stiffy and Mo and Connors and Paul.

Jim Gerald was back for five months of musical revues in July 1923 and late in December came English comedian Sydney Hollister, who stayed on to become locally well-known.

The Age of 25 July 1924 reported that extensive renovations were underway at the Bijou. These included moving the stage back four feet and building a new orchestra pit, improvements in stage and auditorium lighting, reduction of boxes from six to four, replacement of seats and redecoration in a scheme of cream and gold with a wine coloured drop curtain. The cost of renovations was about £10,000 and the theatre remained operating while the work was carried out.

Australian comics Fred McDonald (‘Dave’ of ‘Dad and Dave’ fame), Fred Bluett (albeit British born) and Sadie Gale (future wife of Roy ‘Mo’ Rene), were all featured on the Bijou bills in 1924.Mo himself held the boards with partner, Stiffy, for a further four months from 7 February 1925.

Immediately before them had come comedian Jack Cannot, making his Bijou debut on 10 January; immediately after him came George Wallace, making his Bijou debut on 6 June, with his ‘Merry Revue Company’ including Sadie Gale and Marshall Crosby.

Almost as popular as Stiffy and Mo, Wallace also scored a very successful four-month run. Although Stiffy and Mo, George Wallace and Jim Gerald remained Fuller’s top draws for the rest of the 1920s, they had plenty of competition from fellow comics such as George Ward, Ike Delavale, Bert Ray and many others, each with their individual revue companies.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -