AustLit

The first issue introduced the magazine's aim as 'to provide pithy paragraphs' about the amusement world generally, with special attention given 'to fair and impartial criticisms on vaudeville acts that will come under notice from time to time in this and other States'. As well as vaudeville, it reported on legitimate theatre, amusement parks, moving pictures, boxing, and racing, and published interstate notes and letters from performers working overseas. It praised talent and good fellowship and fully accepted performers regardless of ethnicity. Directed towards an insider readership of peripatetic theatrical performers and the racing fraternity, its commitment to the latter was made more explicit by a change of title from 6 January 1915 to Australian Variety and 'Sports' Gazette, and a regular column by 'Redleap' (bookmaker Jika Hendy) of 'items of interest to those men about town who relish the pointed references and innuendoes calculated to entertain and amuse'. There was a series of occasional columns on 'Frocks and Frills at the Vaudeville Theatre'. It more regularly included reports on social clubs such as the Australian Terriers Society, Australian Boosters Club, and the Chasers (q.v.); benevolent lodges (RAOB); and professional associations such as the Australian Vaudeville Artists' Federation and Magicians Club. Its office provided such services as a letter drop and the preparation of performance materials. It also organised benefits for distressed performers and their dependents, and lobbied against the unscrupulous and the unfair.

Vol.10, no.115 (29 Dec.1915) was published as Australian Variety Annual (three pence), edited by the panto dame, Dan Thomas.