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Barclay Theatre 131 Russell Street, Melbourne, VIC - Previously known as the Kings which was originally built on the same block of land as per the future Barclay.

Image - Theatre Program cover for McCackie ‘Mo'ments. From a Private Collection - Title ‘Mo'ments with Roy Rene 'Mo’ - Kings Theatre Memories Written by Bob Cunningham

The same year the Kings Theatre was the venue for the mad-cap American revue Hellzapoppin, an American show imported by the entrepreneur Harry Wren and featuring the famous Olsen and Johnson comedy duo, who used to franchise the production. There were lots of sight gags and zany comedy mixed with some exotic dancing from a lively ballet. It was somewhat different to the Tivoli revues, having a certain brashness about it. We loved it. The flowerpot routine sticks in my mind: ‘Flowerpot for Mr Jones, Flowerpot for Mr Jones’ calls the messenger boy walking across the stage with a small flowerpot. On each of his entries during the show, the flowerpot gets bigger and bigger.

Where it fits into the chronology of Kings Theatre productions during 1948-49 still seems a bit of a jumble, but I know we went to the Kings to see the nostalgic revue McCackie ‘Mo'ments with Roy Rene ‘Mo’.

I had seen ‘Mo’ several times at the Tivoli during the war when my father was home on leave from serving in the Middle East. This was reputed to be ‘Mo’s’ last appearance on stage. I have little memory who was in it.

An old 1950 advertisement for the show at the Sydney Empire announced a one-week-only season following Hellzapoppin, and claimed a cast of 40 stars and 8 international acts. From the front row of the upper circle we roared our heads off at the comedy sketches. The contents of the show are firmly locked away in that fading memory box of time. From the Tivoli days however, I do remember one ‘Mo’ routine and I may be bold enough to describe it.

It went like this: A bedroom scene with a married couple in bed. The husband caresses his wife’s hair and says, ‘Whose beautiful hair is this, sweetheart?’ ‘Mine of course, dear.’ ‘And whose beautiful eyes are these, sweetheart?’ ‘Mine of course, my dear.’ And the routine continues with nose, ears, lips, shoulders, when suddenly the head of ‘Mo’ appears from under the bedclothes between the couple and splutters, ‘And when you come to the feet… they’re mine!’

Harry Wren was supposed to have produced McCackie ‘Mo'ments but three other memory lane type shows were produced by him at the Princess Theatre during the 1950s.

The Thanks for the Memory revue was the first, with George Wallace, Jim Gerald, Morrie Barling, Queenie Paul and Jandy the musical clown. The Good Old Days followed a couple of years later, then Many Happy Returns, in which we finally said goodbye to Gladys Moncrieff. Keith and I had attended all three productions - With much gratitude we appreciate Kings Theatre Memories Written by Bob Cunningham.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -