AustLit

While working on Harry Clay's Sydney circuit in 1924 comedian Charles "Ike" Delavale began writing and producing his own one act revusicals in 1924 , possibly in collaboration with other members of the various companies he was working with (one of the regular members was his wife, Elvie Stagpoole). Among these early works were The Giggle House and The Good Ship Ribtickler.

Following Clay's death in 1925 Delavale began taking on managerial positions with the company, and eventually put together his own troupe of performers, under the banner of the Ike Delavale Revue Company. By 1926 the troupe was a regular attraction on the Clay circuit, leading to Delavale being given the responsibility of producing Clay's Christmas pantomime The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe that year. From this time on his revues became frequent attractions for Clay's and generally garnered much popularity with Clay's audiences.

"A hit all over the Clay circuit is Ike Delavale with his smart revue entertainers," writes the Theatre's critic in May 1926. "He lately staged Lovey Dovey at the Gaiety in Oxford Street, and this piece, generally regarded in many quarters as the best in his repertoire, went as well as ever. The clever jokes and, above all, the delightful dancing of the Gaiety Girls all contributed to the general success of this well-built piece, a sample of revue that compares more than favourably with the imported article (41).

Delavale continued leading his own company after moving to the Fullers' circuit in 1928, and is known to have still been working in this line of entertainment around Australia and New Zealand in the early 1930s. By this time the troupe was known as Ike Delavale's Metropolitan Star Company.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]