AustLit logo

AustLit

W. H. Speed W. H. Speed i(A104706 works by) (a.k.a. Billy Speed)
Gender: Male
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Australian variety performer, manager, writer, director.

Minstrel comedian Billy Speed first toured the Antipodes with Hicks-Sawyer Minstrels - later the American Coloured Minstrels (1888-91). He later worked for Dan Tracey and Harry Rickards before co-managing several minstrel companies with Thomas Delohery (1895-96). Speed settled in Perth between 1898 and 1903, operating various companies including Speed and Hagan's Comedy Company (with Martyn Hagan) and Speed's Silk and Satin Company. He disappeared, presumed drowned, off a beach near Broome owing money but was seen in Singapore on his way to Europe the following year.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Entries connected with this record have been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian popular theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Last amended 6 Nov 2012 07:03:34
See Also
Speed and Delohery
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X