AustLit

Variety performer, comedians, singers, entrepreneurs, managers, writers.

The Bovis Brothers, Charles and Will (aka Billy), are thought to have begun their careers on the Australian variety stage at least as early as 1885. During their time together, the brothers worked for most of the leading variety organisations and entrepreneurs operating in Australia, including Cottiers' Peoples Concerts (Sydney), Alfred Dampier, Frank Smith (Sydney), John F. Sheridan, Martyn Hagan, Charles Fanning, Harry Rickards, Delohery Craydon and Holland, F. M. Clark, and George Stephenson. They also occasionally undertook managerial operations in partnership with other performers, notably Thomas Delohery and Sydney Deane.

While it has not yet been established when the brothers ended their partnership, Billy Bovis is known to have still be performing in the late 1920s, appearing with companies such as F. Gayle Wyer's Bandbox Revue Co and Roy Rene's Merry Monarchs.