POWERHOUSE MUSEUM ARCHIVES GUIDE TO …images.powerhousemuseum.com/images/pdfs/300246.pdfPOWERHOUSE...

P OW E R HOUS E M US EU M A R CH I V E S

GU I DE T O T H E A R CH I V E S OF T H E

WEATHERLY SISTERSPAU L W I L S ON 2009

CONTENTS Biographical Note 3 Series List 5 Series Descriptions and Item Lists 6

COLLECTED ARCHIVES BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

98/29/1

Weatherly Sisters

Registration Number:

Creator:

The Weatherly sisters, Gaga and Toots, worked in circus, vaudeville, film and television as clowns,

contortionists, mimics, dancers, singers, songwriters and musicians. They both began performing on

stage at the age of two and continued as entertainers well into their 70s. They were fifth generation

show people. Their grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great grandparents were English circus

proprietors; their parents and their aunts were circus and vaudeville performers; one of their nieces was

the actress and variety performer Gloria Dawn.

The Weatherly Sisters' great grandparents on their maternal side, James and Pauline Newsome née

Hinne, were English equestrian performers and circus entrepreneurs. James Newsome was born in

Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1824 and apprenticed at the age of 12 to William Batty of Astley's Circus. An

older brother, Timothy, also trained in the circus and by the 1860s was the most famous lion-tamer in

England. Pauline Hinne was from a French circus family but had been born in Berlin. She married

James Newsome in 1846. For the next few years they travelled extensively throughout Europe.

Newsome's Circus was established in 1856 and by the mid-1870s had become one of the most successful

circuses in provincial England. James Newsome was also a highly regarded horse-breaker. According to

Thomas Frost in his Circus Life and Circus Celebrities, the distinctive features of Newsome's Circus

were that he broke in his own horses and that his company played in purpose-built structures. His

circus toured the north of England and Scotland. The Newsome's six daughters - Adele, Emma, Marie,

Pauline, Virginie and Ella Bertha - all became noted circus equestrians. Emma married another circus

performer and equestrian William Fredericks who also used the name William Frederick Coleman and

who was known professionally as 'Professor Fredericks' or 'Mr Fredericks'. It appears that William

Fredericks was born in Germany c1845. Frost mentions in his book that "Fredericks" was a member of

Newsome's Circus by 1873. Later in his career 'Professor Fredericks' became well-known for his troupe

of performing animals which included monkeys, cats, rats, mice and birds. At one time he also managed

Fredericks' Star Circus. In 1887 Newsome's Circus suffered a disastrous fire that destroyed its

Edinburgh Circus. The company continued for another two years but closed in Sunderland in 1889.

Pauline Newsome died in 1904 and James Newsome in 1912.

The Fredericks family had ten children, including Gaga and Toots' mother Clothilde, who was known as

Pinky. Billed as the Rio Sisters but sometimes as the Rio Troupe or the Fredericks, Pinky and four of

her sisters toured through India, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand with Harmston's Circus

during the 1890s. Pinky like her siblings often used the surname Coleman and in Melbourne in 1898 as

Clothilde Coleman she married another Harmston's performer, Sydney Odling, who was generally

known as Charles E Weatherly. Charles Weatherly was a musician, acrobat, contortionist, animal

trainer and clown, often billed as 'Pippo the Clown'. According to family legend, he had been born to a

well-to-do family in Birmingham, England, had led an orchestra in Birmingham at the age of nine, and

had abandoned a university course and run away to join the circus. However none of this can be verified

from the records. On both his marriage and death certificates "Charles Weatherly" was named as

Sydney Charles Odling. Charles and Clothilde's three children were born while the family was

travelling with Harmston's Circus: Zilla in a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand (then Siam) in 1900; Zaida

(Gaga) in a hotel in Singapore in 1903; and Queenie (Toots) on a ship travelling between Sumatra and

Penang in 1905.

As a family, the Weatherlys (or Weatherleys as their name was sometimes spelt) performed with

circuses throughout the Indian sub-continent, the Far East, Australasia, and southern Africa or with

regimental theatres operated by the British Army on the Indian sub-continent and in Burma, Malaya,

Singapore, and southern Africa. They made a number of short trips to Australia to perform with

circuses including Wirth's and Barton's. For a short period around 1910 they left show business and

Charles Weatherly worked as a driver in Toowoomba, Queensland. At first the children sang songs on

stage, played musical instruments and performed impersonations, but around 1917 they introduced a

contortion act into their program.

98/29/1

Weatherly Sisters

Registration Number:

Creator:

From 1920 the Weatherly family was based in Australia and focussed on vaudeville. They travelled

widely as itinerant performers. They were usually billed as the "Five Musical Weatherlys" and their act

involved a mixture of music, singing, dancing, comedy, impersonations and contortion work. For a short

period the Weatherly children also billed themselves as the "Atlantic City Girls". During the 1920s

Charles Weatherly, Pinky Weatherly and Toots Weatherly appeared in a small number of Australian

silent films. The family also travelled with Fuller's Theatres on tours of Australia and New Zealand and

performed with other vaudeville companies. In addition they performed at boxing and wrestling

stadiums providing entertainment between bouts. In 1927 Zilla Weatherly married William Evans, a

ventriloquist, magician and paper tearer, who billed himself as "Billy Andross". Their daughter, Gloria

Dawn, was born in 1929. By the time Gloria Dawn was aged two, Zilla and Billy were travelling

independently of other members of the family.

In the early 1930s Charles, Pinky, Gaga and Toots Weatherly undertook a tour to Singapore, India,

Burma and Java. In India they experienced civil unrest associated with Gandhi's campaign against

British rule and Toots also contracted smallpox. It was this trip that convinced the family to settle

permanently in Australia. Nevertheless they continued to travel and Gaga and Toots undertook tours

with a number of tent shows including Sorlie's and Barton's.

At the outbreak of World War II the family was in Brisbane preparing to undertake a tour of India but

international developments forced them to abandon this plan. They decided to buy a bus and for the

next two years travelled throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory, performing along the way.

Later in the war they settled in Sydney. Gaga and Toots performed their last contortion act in 1945.

Charles Weatherly died in 1945 while Pinky Weatherly died in 1952.

At times when things were quiet in show business Toots Weatherly worked as a secretary. Gaga had a

long-standing engagement as a drummer in an all-girl band that played at Leichhardt Stadium. From

the early 1950s the sisters concentrated on a boxing bells act and later appeared on a number of

nationally-televised variety shows including "The Don Lane Show" and "The Mike Walsh Show". The

last time they played on television was in the early 1970s and after that they confined their

performances to nursing homes and hospitals. Toots died in September 1989; it is not known when Gaga

died.

Sources:

98/29/1 Weatherly Sisters Archive, Powerhouse Museum

Oral history interviews conducted with the Weatherly Sisters, Toots and Gaga, by Graham Shirley on 9

February 1983 (NFSA 376614) and 20 June 1983 (NFSA 375653), National Film and Sound Archive of

Australia

Fairground Heritage Trust http://www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/ [Accessed 17 December 2007]

Frost, Thomas. Circus Life and Circus Celebrities. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1875.

Hogan, Susan. "Dawn, Gloria (1929 - 1978)", http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130659b.htm

[Accessed 21 November 2007]

Van Straten, Frank. Tivoli. South Melbourne: Lothian, 2003

COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES LIST

Weatherly Sisters

Reg. Number Series Title Date

Creator:

98/29/1-1 Programs 1879 - 1938

98/29/1-2 Posters and advertising cards c 1887 - 1921

98/29/1-3 Photographs c 1895 - c 1927

98/29/1-4 Documents c 1890 - 1930

98/29/1-5 Press and magazine articles and clippings 1874 - 1930s

98/29/1-6 "Circus Life and Circus Celebrities" 1875

COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION

Registration Number: 98/29/1-1

Creators: Weatherly Sisters

Series Title: Programs

Date Range: 1879 - 1938

Physical Characteristics: Loose paper programs, programs pasted onto sheets of paper, silk

programs sewn onto pages of a scrapbook or onto sheets of paper.

Description: Programs, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 1879 - 1938

Programs detailing performances by Toots and Gaga Weatherly and

their immediate and extended family in a number of circuses

including Newsome's Circus, Fredericks' Circus, and Harmston's

Circus, and on the vaudeville circuit with companies such as

Fuller's, the Tivoli, and Sorlie's. A scrapbook containing coloured silk

programs produced by Harmston's Circus while touring through

India and South-east Asia forms part of the series.

Arrangement: By theatrical organisation

Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.04

Box Number: 1

COLLECTED ARCHIVES

Series Title: Programs

ITEM LIST

Item Number BoxItem Title

198/29/1-1/1 Program, Newsome's Hippodrome and Circus, Birmingham,

England, paper, James Upton, Birmingham, England, April

1879

Program for a performance of Newsome's Hippodrome and

Circus held at the Curzon Hall, Birmingham, England. The

program has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 243 w.

98/29/1-2 is on the reverse.

198/29/1-1/2 Program, Musical concert presented by Weatherly Sisters and

family, paper, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South

Wales, Australia, c 1920

Section of hand written program for a musical concert

presented by the Weatherly family including Toots and Gaga

Weatherly, the Weatherly Sisters. The program has been torn

and what remains has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h

x 243 w. The program is possibly a draft prepared for a printer.

It includes a piano recital by Charles E Weatherly and songs

by "Miss Zilla, "Miss Toots" and "Miss Zaida", Charles and

Clothilde Weatherly's three daughters. 98/29/1-1/1 is on the

reverse.

198/29/1-1/3 Program, Newsome's Grand Circus, Dundee, Scotland, paper, J

Durham, Son & Kinnoch, Dundee, Scotland, 21 July 1880

Program for a performance of Newsome's Grand Circus held at

Craig Pier, Dundee, Scotland, on Wednesday 21 July 1880 for

the "BENEFIT OF MR LOUIS EGERTON, RING MASTER."

Various acts featuring members of the Weatherly Sisters'

extended family have been underlined using a blue pen. On the

front cover there are portrait sketches of James and Pauline

Newsome as well as a drawing of James Newsome riding a

horse in the circus ring. The program also has drawings of two

horses on a see saw and of equestrian and clown acts.

198/29/1-1/4 Program, Newsome's Grand Circus, Glasgow, paper, T C

Barlow, Glasgow, Scotland, 1885

Program for a performance of Newsome's Grand Circus held at

Ingram St, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1885. Various acts featuring

members of the Weatherly Sisters' extended family have been

indicated using red pen. On the front cover there are portrait

sketches of James and Pauline Newsome, a drawing of James

Newsome riding a horse in the circus ring, and other drawings

of horses performing a range of tricks. Throughout the

program there are other drawings of performers.


198/29/1-1/5 Program, Newsome's Hippodrome and Circus, Edinburgh,

Scotland, paper, James Brydone, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1885

Program for a performance of Newsome's Grand Circus and

Hippodrome held at Nicolson Street, Edinburgh at New Year

1886. The program was billed as "The Grand Equestrian Fairy

Spectacle/WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT/or, THE FAIRIES

BANQUET and MINIATURE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW". The

program further stated that 100 children of Edinburgh had

been specially trained to take part in the production. On the

front cover there is a drawing of Dick Whittington as a young

boy.

198/29/1-1/6 Program, Newsome's Grand Circus and Hippodrome,

Newcastle upon Tyne, England, paper, M Benson, Newcastle

upon Tyne, England, 27 September 1886

Program for a performance of Newsome's Grand Circus and

Hippodrome held at Percy Street, Newcastle, England, on

Monday 27 September 1886 as a benefit for James Newsome.


extended family have been indicated using red pen. There is a

drawing of William Fredericks, Toots and Gaga Weatherly's

grand father, sitting on a horse at the top of the program. The

program has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 325 h x 200 w.

198/29/1-1/7 Program, Fredericks' Star Circus, Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland,

paper, Stephen Young, Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland, c 1890

Program for a performance of Frederick's Star Circus at Love

Street, Paisley, Scotland. Fredericks' Star Circus was managed

by Toots and Gaga Weatherly's grandfather, William

Fredericks who was also known as William Frederick

Coleman, who billed himself as "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr

Fredericks". The highlighted acts on the program were the Rio

Sisters which included the Weatherly Sisters' mother Clothilde

(Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman as well as a number of their

aunts; Professor Fredericks and his troupe of trained cats,

rats, mice and canaries; and "MDLLE. EMMELINE, 'THE

AERIAL QUEEN'".

198/29/1-1/8 Program, Fredericks' Star Circus, Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland,

paper, Stephen Young, Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland, c 1890

Program for a performance of Fredericks' Star Circus at Love

Street, Paisley, Scotland. Fredericks' Star Circus was managed

by Toots and Gaga Weatherly's grandfather, William

Fredericks who was also known as William Frederick

Coleman, who billed himself as "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr

Fredericks". Various acts featuring members of the Weatherly

Sisters' extended family have been indicated using red pen.

They are the Rio Sisters which included the Weatherly Sisters'

mother Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman as well as a

number of their aunts; Professor Fredericks and his troupe of

trained cats, rats, mice and canaries; and "Graceful Evolutions

on the Aerial Trapeze by Mddlle. Emmeline".


198/29/1-1/9 Programs and playbills, Flying Jordan's Circus and

Hippodrome, Hipodromo de Verona, Newsome's Grand Circus,

Nouveau Cirque, Ocolat Mexicain, Gatos Sabrios, and Circo y

Teatro de Price, paper, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New

South Wales, Australia, 1880s - 1890s

Double-sided sheet of paper containing various programs and

playbills for the following circuses that featured performances

by members of the Weatherly Sisters extended family

particularly Emma and William Fredericks ("Professor

Fredericks"), Toots and Gaga Weatherly's grand parents:

Flying Jordan's Circus and Hippodrome; Hipodromo de

Verona, 5 August 1888; Newsome's Grand Circus, Dundee,

Scotland, 19 July 1886; Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France; Ocolat

Mexicain, 3 March 1895; Gatos Sabrios, Lisbon, Portugal;

Circo y Teatro de Price, Lisbon, Portugal, 1887. There are two

drawings: one of a performance at the Nouveau Cirque, and

the other of "Professor Fredericks" menagerie of performing

animals.

198/29/1-1/10 Scrapbook containing programs (10), Harmston's Circus,

paper/satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 1896 - 1897, 1902 - c 1907

Scrapbook containing satin programs for Harmston's Circus

variously billed as Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal

Menagerie of Wild Animals, Harmston's Grand Circus and

Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals, Harmston's

Circus and Harmston's Circus and Royal Menagerie for

performances in India and Java. The programs have been sewn

onto the pages of the scrapbook using coloured thread. Acts

performed by the Weatherly Sisters as children, by their

parents Charles and Clothide (Pinky) Weatherly, and by their

extended family of circus performers have been underlined

using coloured ink or pencils.

The "Ideal/SCRAP BOOK" appears to have been printed in the

1960s. On the front cover is a picture of a young girl wearing a

tartan dress holding up her hands which are covered in dough;

on the back cover is a picture of a young girl holding a pink

rose.


198/29/1-1/10/1 Program, Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of

Wild Animals Vice Regal Night performance in Calcutta, India,

satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 17 January 1902

Program printed on gold satin of Harmston's Grand Circus and

Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals Vice Regal Night

performance held in Calcutta, India, on 17 January 1902.


immediate and extended family have been underlined using

red pencil. They are: "CLOWNS, PIPINO AND AUGUSTE.";

IMPERIAL LADDERS...{MONA, JESSIE, DAISY,

DORA/BLANCHE, ANNIE, PINKEY, &/CHAS.

WEATHERLY."; "MUSICAL ENTREE...CHAS. E.

WEATHERLY."


Wild Animals Special Command Night performance in

Bombay, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New

South Wales, Australia, 13 February 1902

Program printed on pink satin of Harmston's Grand Circus

and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals Special Command Night

performance held in Bombay, India, on 17 January 1902.



red and blue pencil. They are: "Imperial Ladders...Mona,

Tessie, Daisy, Dora, Blanche, Annie, Pinkey, & Chas.

Weatherly"; "Musical Entree...Chas. E. Weatherly".


Wild Animals performance in Bombay, India, satin, Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 9 February

1903

Program printed on white satin of Harmston's Grand Circus

and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals Special Command Night

performance held in Bombay, India, on 9 January 1903. A

"Musical Entrée" performed by the Weatherly Sisters' father,

Charles Weatherly, has been underlined using red pencil.


Performing Wild Animals Vice Regal Night performance in

Madras, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New

South Wales, Australia, 26 March 1896

Program printed on red satin of Harmston's Grand Circus and

Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals Vice Regal Night

performance held in Madras, India, on 26 March 1896.



black pencil. They are: "CLOWN, C.E. WEATHERLY"; "THE

HUMAN ROCKET...'On the Slack Rope...Miss Adele

Fredericks'"; "W. FREDERICKS...Equestrian Director".



Wild Animals Large Gala Show performance in Soerabaja,

Java, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 11 July 1896

Program printed in Dutch on pink satin of Harmston's Grand

Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals Large Gala Show

performance held in Soerabaja [now Surabaya], Java, on 11

July 1896. The circus was billed as Harmston Circus en

Koninklyke Menagerie van gedresseerde wilde dieren. Various

acts featuring members of the Weatherly Sisters' immediate

and extended family have been underlined using red and blue

pencil. They are: "Musikaal Entree...C.E. Weatherly";

"Equilibrisme Op de Trapèze...Miss Emma Fredericks";

(CLOWN, C.E. WEATHERLY)"; "Komische manege

vertooning...C.E. Weatherly."


Performing Wild Animals Vice-Regal Night performance in

Calcutta, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New

South Wales, Australia, 18 December 1896

Program printed on red satin of Harmston's Grand Circus and

Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals Vice-Regal Night

performance held in Calcutta, India on 18 December 1896.



black pencil. They are: "Musical Entree...C.E. Weatherly"; "The

Human Rocket on the Slack Rope...Miss Addie Fredericks";

Comic Burlesque...Chas. Weatherly/and McGinty".


Performing Wild Animals performance in an unknown location

possibly Calcutta, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield,

New South Wales, Australia, 15 January 1897

Program printed on pink satin of Harmston's Grand Circus

and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals performance held in an

unknown location possibly Calcutta, India on 15 January 1897.



blue and red pencil. They are: "EQUESTRIAN MONEKEY

(Stofel)...Introduced by Pro. Fredericks."; EQUILIBRIUM ON

THE TRAPEZE...Miss Emmaline Scadel."; THE ARAB

STALLIONS....Introduced by Pro. Fredericks."; GRECO

ROMAN STATUARY...The Rio Troupe of Lady

Acrobats/assisted by the Sisters Lange and/Mdlle. Annette.";

THE HUMAN ROCKET ON THE SLACK ROPE...Miss Addie

Fredericks".



Performing Wild Animals Special Command Night

performance in Madras, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 19 February 1897

Program printed on beige satin of Harmston's Grand Circus

and Royal Menagerie Performing Wild Animals Special

Command Night performance held in Madras, India on 19

February 1897. Various acts featuring members of the

Weatherly Sisters' immediate and extended family have been

underlined using red and blue pencil. They are: "Comic

Entree...The Aldeans."; educated Ponies and Monkeys...The

Great Riding Monkey STOFEL/and the only talking PONY in

the world./INTRODUCED BY THEIR TRAINER PROFESSOR

FREDERICKS."; (CLOWNS WEATHERLY AND McGINTY)";

High School Riding...By Pro. Fredericks."; "The Rio Troupe of

Lady Acrobats...Direct from the Nouveau Cirque Paris."; W.

FREDERICKS...EQUESTRIAN DIRECTOR".


Performing Wild Animals Special Command Night

performance in Madras, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 17 March 1897


and Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals Special

Command Night performance for the benefit of Indian Famine

Relief held in Madras, India on 17 March 1897. Various acts

featuring members of the Weatherly Sisters' immediate and

extended family have been underlined using red pencil. They

are: "Educated Ponies and Monkeys...The Great Riding

Monkey "STOFEL"/and the only talking Pony in the

world./INTRODUCED BY THEIR TRAINER PROFESSOR

FREDERICKS."; (CLOWNS C E WEATHERLY AND THE

DWARF McGINTY)"; The Arab Stallions...Introduced by their

trainer, Pro./Fredericks."; "The Rio Troupe of Lady Acrobats,

(direct from the Nouveau Cirque, Paris.)"; Burlesque...Chas. E.

Weatherly."; W. FREDERICKS...EQUESTRIAN DIRECTOR".


Wild Animals performance at an unknown location possibly on

Java, satin, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 14 August 1897

Program printed in Dutch on beige satin of Harmston's Grand

Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals performance at

an unknown location possibly on Java on 14 August 1897. The

circus was billed as Harmstons Groot Circus en menagerie van

wilde dieren. Various acts featuring members of the Weatherly

Sisters' immediate and extended family have been underlined

using red pencil: Emmaline Schadelle; Professor Fredericks

[William Fredericks also known as Frederick William

Coleman], and Clown Weatherly [Charles Weatherly].


198/29/1-1/11 Program, Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of

Wild Animals Gala Show performance at Buitenzorg, Java,


Australia, 9 September 1897

Program printed in Dutch on pink satin of Harmston's Grand

Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals Gala Show

performance at Buitenzorg [now Bogor], Java, on 9 September

1897. The circus was billed as Harmston's Groot Circus en

Menagerie Van Wilde Dieren. Clown and musical acts

performed by the Weatherly Sisters' father, Charles

Weatherly, have been underlined using red pencil. The

program has been sewn onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 235 w.

98/29/1-1/12 is on the reverse.

198/29/1-1/12 Program, Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of

Wild Animals performance at Calcutta, India, satin, Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 21 December

1899


and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals performance at

Calcutta, India, on 21 December 1899 for the "Benefit of the

Transvaal Widows and Orphans' Fund". Elephant and musical

acts performed by the Weatherly Sisters' father, Charles

Weatherly, have been underlined using red pencil. They are:

"(CLOWNS PEPPINO AND DUMMY.)"; EDUCATED

ELEPHANT (Babe) Introduced by C.E. Weatherly."; MUSICAL

ENTREE...C.E. Weatherly." The program has been sewn onto

a sheet of paper 365 h x 235 w. 98/29/1-1/11 is on the reverse.

198/29/1-1/13 Program, Harmston's Circus and Royal Menagerie

performance at Madras, India, satin, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c 1905

Program printed on teal satin of Harmston's Circus and Royal

Menagerie performance at Madras, India, c 1905. Various acts

featuring members of the Weatherly Sisters' immediate and

extended family have been underlined using red pencil. They

are: "COMIC ENTREE...By Pips and Shadow."; MUSICAL

ACT...By the Weatherleys."; "POT POURRI DANCE...By Miss

J. Harmston and Miss Zilla/Weatherley." The program has

been sewn onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w. 98/29/1-1/14 is

on the reverse.


198/29/1-1/14 Program, Harmston's Circus performance at Mysore, India,


Australia, c 1907

Program printed on pink satin of Harmston's Circus

performance at Mysore, India, c 1905. Various acts featuring

the Weatherly Sisters and their immediate and extended

family have been underlined using red pencil. They are: "High

Jumping Dog Tiger.../Introduced by Mdlle. Clothilde."; Comic

Entree...Pips and Jimmy."; The Flexible Marvels...Zeno Zaida

and Pearlie."; and "Musical Melange...By Zilla Zaida and

Toots.", the three children of Charles and Clothilde (Pinky)

Weatherly, baptised as Zilla, Zaida (Gaga) and Queenie

(Toots). The program has been sewn onto a sheet of paper 365

h x 245 w. 98/29/1-1/13 is on the reverse.

198/29/1-1/15 Program, Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France, paper, H Sicard,

Paris, France, 10 March 1887

Program card for the Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France for a

matinee performance on Thursday 10 March 1887. On the

front of the card is the program for the performance. Two acts

featuring the Weatherly Sisters' aunt Maggie Fredericks (also

known as Maggie Coleman), who performed here under the

name Maggie Frederick, have been starred using a red pen. On

the reverse is a list of the "TROUPE DU NOUVEAU CIRQUE"

for the 1886/1887 season.

198/29/1-1/16 Program, Orpheum Theatre, Manila, Philippines, paper, The

Philippines Gossip Press, Manila, Philippines, Australia, 30

September 1905

Program for the Orpheum Theatre, Manila, Philippines, for the

week beginning Saturday 30 September 1905, featuring "The

Entertaining & Humourous Burlesque IN GAY PAREE. The

cast included Toots and Gaga Weatherly's father Charles

Weatherly as well as their aunts, Rosie Coleman and Carmen

Coleman. On the back of the program is a photograph of the

comedy troupe, "The Gothams".

198/29/1-1/17 Program, Theatre Royal, Hong Kong, paper, South China

Morning Post Ltd, Hong Kong, 1 November 1919

Program for a performance at the Theatre Royal, Hong Kong,

on 1 November 1919 described as "A Potted Revuette" entitled

"Chin Chin, Hong Kong". The musical numbers were "Written

and Composed by CHAS. E. WEATHERLEY" with

performances by other members of the Weatherly family. The

program is interspersed with numerous advertisements for

local businesses.


198/29/1-1/18 Program, Willison's British American Circus and Mammoth

Menagerie, Penang, The Criterion Press Ltd, Penang, 1920s

Program for a performance of Willison's British American

Circus and Mammoth Menagerie at Magazine Road, Penang

sometime during the 1920s. The Willison's were members of

the Weatherly Sisters' extended family. One of the acts on the

program is described as, "Now comes The Weatherley Prize

Packets in a/Pot Pourrie of Pleasing Pastimes

incidentally/introducing all the latest and greatest/American

Songs and Musical Selections."

198/29/1-1/19 Program, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

paper, Everyone's Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

15 March 1924

Program for a performance at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, New

South Wales, Australia billed as the "Musgrove Celebrity

Vaudeville". One of the acts was described as "THE FIVE

WEATHERLYS/In an Unorthodox Act". The program includes

an extensive number of advertisements for local businesses.

198/29/1-1/20 Program, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

paper, Whitmarks Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia, 21 April 1934

Program for a performance at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, New

South Wales, Australia which also incorporated the "New

Tivoli Theatre Magazine". One of the acts was "THE

WEATHERLEY GIRLS (Two Dainty Sisters in a New/Angle of

Contortion". The program includes an extensive number of

advertisements for local businesses.

198/29/1-1/21 Program, Fuller's Opera House, Christchurch, New Zealand,

paper, John Fuller & Sons Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia, November 1925

Program for a performance at Fuller's Opera House,

Christchurch, New Zealand during November 1925. In Part I

of the program it lists "THE MUSICAL

WEATHERLEYS/DELIGHTFUL NOVELTY

INSTRUMENTALISTS". The program includes an extensive

number of advertisements for local businesses.

198/29/1-1/22 Program, Carson's Great American Circus combined with Ott's

Famous European Circus, Calcutta, India, paper, Movie Press,

Calcutta, India, 1930

Program for a performance of Carson's Great American Circus

combined with Ott's Famous European Circus held in

Calcutta, India, during 1930. Act 7 in Part I featured "THE

FAMOUS WEATHERLY SISTERS, Invertebrate Artist in

amazing feats of contortion", while Act 13 in Part II was

described as "THE WEATHERLY SISTERS, Two clever artists

presenting a song and dance revue". These two acts have been

identified using a red pen.


198/29/1-1/23 Program, Les Shipp Variety Revue, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia, paper, James & James, Ashfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 1930s

Program for a performance of the Les Shipp Variety Revue in

Sydney during the 1930s billed as "GEORGE WALLACE/THE

ASSASSIN OF SORROW/AND BIG REVIEW COMPANY IN

'FUNBURSTS'". The program included performances by Toots

Weatherly, Zaida (Gaga) Weatherly and the The Weatherly

Sisters. On the front cover of the program is a picture of

George Wallace, described as "AUSTRALIA'S KING OF

COMEDY".

198/29/1-1/24 Program, Wild West Rodeo Carnival, Exhibition Grounds,

Melbourne, Victoria, paper, Adersons' Printing & Publishing

Co Pty Ltd, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 January

1933

Program for the Wild West Rodeo Carnival held at the

Exhibition Grounds, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and

promoted by Arthur Greenlaugh. The Weatherly Sisters

appeared at the carnival and the description in the prgram

read, "THE MISSES WEATHERLEY will now surprise you/in

what a little practice and patience can do". Their act has been

indicated on the program using a red pen. There are

illustrations on the front cover showing steer-riding and buck

jumping.

198/29/1-1/25 Program, Wild West Rodeo Carnival, Exhibition Grounds,

Melbourne, Victoria, paper, Australia, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 30 January 1933

Program for a performance at the Prahran Town Hall,

Prahran, Victoria, Australia billed as the "MONSTER

BENEFIT/Tendered to Professor FRED IRELAND/The

Well-known Pianist". The comedian George Wallace headed

the bill and the "Weatherly Sisters" was listed as one of the

acts. Their sister Zilla, brother-in-law Billy Andross [William

Evans], and neice Gloria [Gloria Dawn] also appeared on the

program. There is a caricature of George Wallace on the front

cover.


198/29/1-1/26 Program, George Sorlie's "The Crispies and Crackers of 1937"

Tour, paper, Sorlie's Country Theatrical

Enterprises/Whitmarks Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia, 1937

Program for George Sorlie's "The Crispies and Crackers of

1937" Tour to the Northern Rivers District of New South

Wales. There is a photo of George Sorlie on the front cover and

photos and brief descriptions of two acts: Moran and Wiser,

"The Highest Paid Act Ever to Visit the Rivers" who were

"Recognised the World's Champion Hat Throwers and Club

Manipulators"; and U.S. Thompson, "America's Champion

Whirlwind Dancing Star". A range of other acts are listed on

the back cover including "THE WEATHERLEYS/The Twisting

Girls in a Unique Speciality".

198/29/1-1/27 Program, "Sorlie's Souvenir Programme No. 3", paper, Sorlie's

Country Theatrical Enterprises/Job Stone Pty Ltd, Sydney,

New South Wales, Australia/Toowoomba, Queensland,

Australia, 1938

Program for George Sorlie Country Theatrical Enterprises

20th Anniversary Year Tour. There is a photo of George Sorlie

on the front cover and a list of his key staff on the inside front

cover. The program includes photos and biographical sketches

of performers George Hurd, Ronnie Shand (listed as Ronie

Shand), The Moreni Trio, The Weatherly Girls, and The

Newtons.

198/29/1-1/28 Program, "Sorlie's Souvenir Programme No. 4", paper, Sorlie's

Country Theatrical Enterprises/Job Stone Pty Ltd, Sydney,

New South Wales, Australia/Toowoomba, Queensland,

Australia, 1938

Program for George Sorlie Country Theatrical Enterprises

20th Anniversary Year Tour. There is a photo of George Sorlie

on the front cover and a list of his key staff on the inside front

cover. Act 5 of the program features "THE

WEATHERLYS/Twisting Sisters" with Toots and Zaida (Gaga)

Weatherly also appearing in a number of other acts. The

program includes photos and biographical sketches of

performers George Hurd, Ronnie Shand (listed as Ronie

Shand), The Moreni Trio, The Weatherly Girls, and The

Newtons.


198/29/1-1/29 Program, "Sorlie's A Special 150th Year Celebration Show also

Geo. Sorlie's 20th Anniversary Tour", paper, Sorlie's Country

Theatrical Enterprises, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

1938

Program for George Sorlie's Country Theatrical Enterprises

show to celebrate 150 years of white settlement in Australia

which was held as part of its 20th Anniversary Year Tour.

There is a photo of George Sorlie on the front cover and inside

photographs with captions of "Ronie Shand, the New Electric

Comic", "George Hurd, the Royal Command Juggler", "Percy

Roberts, the Blind Musical Genius", "The Newtons, Best

Yodellers of All Times", "The Morini Trio - Somewhat

Different" and "The Twisting Weatherleys".




Series Title: Posters and advertising cards

Date Range: c 1887 - 1921

Physical Characteristics: Paper posters and advertising cards.

Description: Posters and advertising cards, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New

South Wales, Australia, c 1887 - 1921

Posters and advertising cards publicising performances by Toots and

Gaga Weatherly's immediate family of entertainers as well as their

extended family of circus performers, particularly their grandfather,

William Fredericks who was also known as Frederick William

Coleman and who billed himself as "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr

Fredericks", and the acrobatic act known as the Rio Sisters which

included the Weatherly Sisters' mother Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly

née Coleman and a number of her sisters.

Arrangement: No specific order.


Box Number: 1 & F1

COLLECTED ARCHIVES

Series Title: Posters and advertising cards

ITEM LIST


F198/29/1-2/1 Poster, "The Novelty Combination", paper, Harrold & Parker,

Manchester, England, 1890s

Poster entitled, "THE NOVELTY COMBINATION", designed

by the firm of Harrold & Parker, Manchester, England. The

poster features illustrations of a number of circus acts

including members of the Toots and Gaga Weatherly's

extended family. Heading the bill was Miss Emelina and there

are two drawings of her performing her aerial act. The caption

reads, "MISS EMELINA/THE AERIAL/QUEEN". To the right

of Miss Emelina is a drawing of "The Boxing Cats" and on the

left hand side of the page a drawing of "The Baldwin

Monkeys". In the centre of the poster there are drawings

showing the animal act conducted by the Weatherly Sisters'

grandfather, William Fredericks who was also known as

William Frederick Coleman, who appeared under the stage

names of Professor Fredericks or Mr Fredericks. There is a

drawing of Professor Fredericks holding a hoop while one of his

cats jumps through it. There are also two drawings of "The

Happy Family" showing his menagerie of monkeys, cats, rats,

mice and birds performing various tricks. Further down the

poster there are a number of drawings of the Rio Sisters, which

included the Weatherly Sisters' mother and aunts, performing

their acrobatic act. The overall caption for this set of drawings

is "THE RIO/SISTERS/LADY ACROBATS/5 IN NUMBER 5".

The final drawing shows the acrobat Jackles and the caption

reads, "JACKLES/The/ALPINE CLIMBER". At the bottom left

is the name of the artist who drew the poster which reads,

"Will Parker/del & desn", and one of the lower right the name

of the printers, "HARROLD & PARKER. 38 ROSAMOND ST

EAST MANCHESTER." The poster is in poor condition.


F198/29/1-2/2 Poster, "Rio Sisters", paper, Charles Lane, Brighton, England,

1890s

Poster advertising the Rio Sisters troupe of acrobats which

included Toots and Gaga Weatherly's mother, Clothilde

(Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman, and their aunts. The main

text of the poster identifies the "RIO SISTERS/FIVE IN

NUMBER" as "ACROBATS AND GYMNASTS". The central

drawing shows the Rio Sisters forming a human tower with

three members as the base, another member on the next rung,

and then a final member balancing on top. In an oral history

interview conducted on 9 February 1983 [NFSA 376614] the

Weatherly Sisters identified their aunt Adie Coleman as the

bearer and their mother as the acrobat balancing on top of the

tower. In the top left hand corner of the poster is a drawing of

a member of the troupe - later identified in the same interview

as Adie Colemen - balancing on a ladder. In the top right hand

corner is a drawing of a member of the troupe lying across a

high wire. In the bottom left hand corner is a drawing of three

members of the Rio Sisters performing acrobatics, and in the

bottom right hand corner is a drawing of two members also

performing acrobatics. The name of the artist, "Chas Lane

Lithographer Brighton" is in the left hand corner.

F198/29/1-2/3 Poster, Wirth Bros Ltd Circus and Zoo 1921 Season, paper,

Troedel and Cooper Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,

1921

Poster advertising the opening of Wirth Bros Ltd Circus and

Zoo's 1921 Season in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on

Saturday 15 October 1921. The program was headed by

"THE/5 MUSICAL WEATHERLYS/IN MUSIC, MIRTH AND

MELODY". It also featured "ZEEO, THE LADY FROG/And her

Sisters, ZAIDA and TOOTS/in 'FROLICKS IN FROGLAND'"

and "JOE, DANNY & PIPPS/CLOWNS". Pipps was one of the

names Charles Weatherly used when performing as a clown.

198/29/1-2/4 Advertising card, "Nouveau Cirque" and "Redfern Tailleur

Pour Dames", Paris, France, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield,

New South Wales, Australia, c 1887

Card advertising on one side the Nouveau Cirque and on the

other side the Redfern Tailleur Pour Dames, both located in

Paris, France.

198/29/1-2/5 Advertising card, "Weatherly's Surprise Party and

Bellringers", Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1905

Card advertising the "Weatherly's/Surprise Party/and

Bellringers" first South African tour. The card states that the

group had just completed a successful tour of India, China,

Netherlands Indie, Sumatra, Borneo, India, Ceylon, Burma,

New Zealand and Australia. The card also lists royalty and

senior members of the British colonial administrators whom

the group had performed before.




Series Title: Photographs

Date Range: c 1895 - c 1927

Physical Characteristics: Black and white and albumen photographic prints, photographic

postcards and magazine clipping of an image. All but one of the

images are pasted onto sheets of paper.

Description: Photographs, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1895 - c 1927

Photographs showing members of the Toots and Gaga Weatherly's

immediate and extended family including their parents, the

musician, clown and contortionist Charles Weatherly, and the

acrobat and actress Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman. There

are also photographs of their grandfather, William Fredericks who

was also known as William Frederick Coleman and who billed

himself as "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr Fredericks", and the

acrobatic act known as the Rio Sisters which included Clothilde

Coleman and four of her sisters. There are also images taken while

their family was on tour with various circuses as well as

photographs of other circus or vaudeville performers. There is a later

photograph taken c 1927 of the Weatherly Sisters and other

performers in costume applying make-up before a performance in

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Arrangement: Original order as pasted onto sheets of paper.


Box Number: 1

COLLECTED ARCHIVES

Series Title: Photographs

ITEM LIST


198/29/1-3/1 Photographic print, albumen, Charles Weatherly and the Rio

Sisters performing their Imperial Ladders act with Harmston's

Circus, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1900

Charles Weatherly and the Rio Sisters, an acrobatic act which

also worked as the Rio Troupe or the Fredericks, performing

their Imperial Ladders act with Harmston's Circus under the

big top at a location in Asia. Charles Weatherly and Pinky

(Clothilde) Weatherly née Coleman of the Rio Sisters were the

parents of Toots and Gaga Weatherly, known as the Weatherly

Sisters. Four other members of the Rio Sisters were their

aunts. Their grandfather, William Fredericks who was also

known as William Frederick Coleman and who performed

under the name "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr Fredericks", is

pictured at the bottom right of the image acting as ring

master. The photograph has been pasted onto a sheet of paper

365 h x 242 w and on the other side of the sheet are the images

98/29/1-3/2:4.

198/29/1-3/2 Photographic print, albumen, Mackie Sisters, Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c 1900

The Mackie Sisters (Maggie and Lizzie), an Australian

acrobatic act, pictured in costume in a studio portrait. The

photograph has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 242

w on the same page as images 98/29/1-3/3 and 98/29/1-3/4. On

the other side of the sheet is 98/29/1-3/1.

198/29/1-3/3 Photographic print, albumen, Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly,

Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c

1900

Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman, a member of the Rio

Sisters acrobatic act, wife of the performer Charles Weatherly,

and mother of Toots and Gaga Weatherly, known as the

Weatherly Sisters, pictured in costume in a studio portrait. All

four corners of the photograph have been trimmed. The

photograph has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 242

w on the same page as images 98/29/1-3/2 and 98/29/1-3/4. On

the other side of the sheet is 98/29/1-3/1.


198/29/1-3/4 Photographic print, black & white, Group photograph of the

Rio Sisters, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1900

Group photograph taken in a photographic studio of the

acrobatic group billed as the Rio Sisters which also worked as

the Rio Troupe or the Fredericks. Toots and Gaga Weatherly's

mother, Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman, was a

member of the act as were a number of their aunts. The Rio

Sisters are pictured wearing their costumes. The photograph

has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 225 w on the

same page as images 98/29/1-3/2 and 98/29/1-3/3. On the other

side of the sheet is 98/29/1-3/1.

198/29/1-3/5 Photographic print, black & white, William Fredericks,


1895

Studio portrait of the performer William Fredericks who was

also known as William Frederick Coleman and who billed

himself as "Professor Fredericks" or "Mr Fredericks". At one

time he was also Manager of Fredericks' Star Circus. William

Fredericks was Toots and Gaga Weatherly's grandfather on

their maternal side. All four corners of the photograph have

been trimmed and the photograph has been pasted onto a

sheet of paper on the same page as images 98/29/1-3/6 and

98/29/1-3/7. On the other side of the sheet are images

98/29/1-3/8:10.

198/29/1-3/6 Postcard, colour, Group photograph of the Rio Sisters,


1900

Coloured postcard featuring a group photograph taken in the

studio of the acrobatic act billed as the Rio Sisters which also

worked as the Rio Troupe or the Fredericks. Toots and Gaga

Weatherly's mother, Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman,

was a member of the Rio Sisters as were a number of their

aunts. A small panel on the card reads, "European Ladies".

The Rio Sisters are pictured wearing green costumes, white

lace collars, white sashes, pink stockings and white slippers.

The postcard has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 mm h

x 245 mm w on the same page as images 98/29/1-3/5 and

98/29/1-3/7. On the other side of the sheet are images

98/29/1-3/8:10.

198/29/1-3/7 Photographic print, albumen, Red Fort in Delhi, India,


1900

Photograph of the Red Fort in Delhi, India, which has been

trimmed to reflect the shape of the building. The photograph

has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w on the

same page as images 98/29/1-3/5 and 98/29/1-3/6. On the other

side of the sheet are images 98/29/1-3/8:10. The image has

faded.


198/29/1-3/8 Photographic print, albumen, Moving 'Lord' George Sanger's

Circus possibly in South Africa, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield,

New South Wales, Australia, c 1895

A group of five men from 'Lord' George Sanger's Circus

pictured in front of a wagon laden with equipment possibly

while moving the circus in South Africa. On the right hand

side of the photograph is William Fredericks, also known as

William Frederick Coleman, the Weatherly Sisters'

grandfather, pictured smoking a pipe. The photograph has

been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w on the same

page as images 98/29/1-3/9 and 98/29/1-3/10. On the other side

of the sheet are images 98/29/1-3/5:7. The image has faded.

198/29/1-3/9 Photographic print, albumen, Group of people standing in front

of the Phoenix Hotel possibly in South Africa, Weatherly


Group of adults and children standing in front of the Phoenix

Hotel possibly in South Africa. The sign at the front of the

building reads, "PHOENIX HOTEL/J.W.

FRENCH/PROPRIETOR". All four corners of the photograph

have been trimmed. The photograph has been pasted onto a

sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w on the same page as images

98/29/1-3/8 and 98/29/1-3/10. On the other side of the sheet are

images 98/29/1-3/5:7. The image has faded.

198/29/1-3/10 Magazine clipping, Photograph of Meers Sisters, Weatherly


Magazine clipping of a studio photograph of the Meers Sisters,

an American circus equestrian act, in costume. The Meers

Sisters were related to Toots and Gaga Weatherly, the

Weatherly Sisters. The clipping has been trimmed at the top

right hand and left hand corners. The photograph has been

pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 on the same page as

images 98/29/1-3/8 and 98/29/1-3/9. On the other side of the

sheet are images 98/29/1-3/5:7.

198/29/1-3/11 Photographic print, black & white, Charles Weatherly feeding

one of his trained elephants at Kiddepur in Calcutta, India,


1905

The photograph has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 196 h x

240 w. On the other side of the sheet is 98/29/1-3/12.


198/29/1-3/12 Photographic print, black & white, Montage of images of

Charles Weatherly, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South


Montage of 11 images of the performer Charles Weatherly

comprising a central formal side-on portrait which is

surrounded by other images of Weatherly dressed in costume

in various poses as a singer, clown and contortionist.

Underneath the central portrait are the words, "Yours

Truly/Charles Weatherly". The print has been pasted onto a

sheet of paper 196 h x 240 w. On the other side of the sheet is

98/29/1-3/11.

198/29/1-3/13 Postcard, colour, black & white, Group photo of Rio Sisters,

Walls & Skeen, Rangoon, Burma, c 1900

Group photo taken in the photographic studio of Walls &

Skeen in Rangoon, Burma of the acrobatic act known as the

Rio Sisters either seated on or standing by a rickshaw. The Rio

Sisters also worked as the Rio Troupe or the Fredericks. Toots

and Gaga Weatherly's mother, Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née

Coleman, was a member of the Rio Sisters as were a number of

their aunts. Form left to right: Ricksaw driver, Adie Coleman,

Rosie Coleman, Carmen Coleman (at front), Cecilia Coleman

(with hand linked to Adie Coleman), Clothilde (Pinky)

Weatherly, and unidentified. The postcard was later sent to

the Weatherly Sisters by their aunt, Joli Coleman, who at the

time was living in the USA.

198/29/1-3/14 Photographic print, black & white, sepia toned, Group

photograph of the Weatherly Sisters and other performers

applying makeup at Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, New South

Wales, Australia, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South


Group photograph of performers in costume applying makeup

at Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

From left to right: Zilla Weatherly (holding Ivy Rogers' baby),

Ivy Rogers, Toots Weatherly (in background), Fanny Rogers

(seated) and Gaga Weatherly. In an oral history conducted on

20 June 1983 Toots and Gaga Weatherly state that the image

was taken while they were working for the Newcastle

producers Dix and Baker whereas the annotation on the

reverse of the images states that it was taken at a Fuller' s

Theatres production. Both companies used the Victoria

Theatre in Newcastle.




Series Title: Documents

Date Range: c 1890 - 1930

Physical Characteristics: Ink and pencil cartoon on paper; paper documents pasted onto sheets

of paper.

Description: Documents, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1890 - 1930

Small number of documents detailing aspects of the Weatherly

family's circus and vaudeville career such as letters of

recommendation, a permit to transport elephants through Calcutta,

India, in 1905 and a three panel cartoon showing performers and

members of the audience at a benefit for the San Francisco Relief

Fund held in Manila, Philippines in 1906.

Arrangement: Generally original order as pasted onto sheets of paper.


Box Number: 1

COLLECTED ARCHIVES

Series Title: Documents

ITEM LIST



F198/29/1-4/1 Cartoon, Performers and audience members at the San

Francisco Relief Fund concert held in Manila, Philippines, to

aid victims of the San Francisco earthquake and fire,

paper/ink/pencil, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South

Wales, Australia, 1906

Cartoon featuring drawings of performers and members of the

audience at the San Francisco Relief Fund concert held in

Manila, Philippines in May 1906 to aid victims of the San

Francisco earthquake and fire. Charles Weatherly, father of

Toots and Gaga Weatherly, the Weatherly Sisters, appeared on

the program.

The cartoon features text and drawings in three panels. The

first panel on the left hand side of the page features two

drawings. The first drawing located at the top of the page

shows Major Putnam Bradlee "Putty" Strong of the USA Army

throwing two bouquets of flowers onto the stage from a private

box in the theatre. The caption reads, "PUTNAM

BRADLEE/STRONG THREW BOQUETS - ". Underneath this

drawing is one of a group of rowdy male members of the

audience who are identified in the text as baseball players.

They are yelling out "WOW!", "AH!", "PIPPIN!" at the

performance of a woman dancing on stage although only the

lower part of the woman's leg features in the drawing. The

caption reads, "OH! I GUESS THEM/BALL PLAYERS IN

THE/CORNER BOX DIDN'T ENJOY THE SHOW/EH! -

WOT?". The centre panel features numerous drawings. In the

top left hand corner the singer Willie Green is strenuously

singing a song which features the line "DARK MAN

COMING/WID A BUNDLE". A man in the audience is pictured

calling out "BUST/YERSELF". The caption for the drawing

reads, "WILLIE/GREEN MADE/A HIT". In the top right hand

corner of the panel is a drawing of the clown Vic Loydall with

the caption, "VIC LOYDALL/IS ALL TO/THE CUSTARD". In

the centre of the panel is a drawing of a female performer with

her arms outstretched. The caption reads, "LITTLE

EVA/WHOSE/"SMILE" WAS/MOST BETWITCHING -

/WOT?". In the lower right hand corner of the panel is a

drawing of the musician, clown and contortionist Charles

Weatherly sitting on a large pile of coins and notes which has a

dollar sign on it. He is laughing and has his right hand over

his face saying the words "OH, WELL". The caption reads,

"WEATHERLY -/MADE A PILE." At the bottom of the panel

there is a drawing of the singer Bobby McGreer with the

caption, "BOBBY/MCGREER". Next to this is a silhouette of a

black cat with the word, "MAC" next to it. In the bottom right

hand corner is a drawing of a card showing the two of

diamonds with the caption, "A GOOD CARD/AT THE

ORPHEIM". The third panel on the right hand side of the page

also features two drawings. The first drawing located at the

top of the page shows a man identified as "JOE TEETER"

seated on a chair surreptitiously indicating the number five

with his left hand. Below him is a drawing of a man identified

as "GLAD HANDS MARKUS" who is seated on a chair


clapping. On the reverse there are a small number of sketches

in pencil showing a man in an armchair, a man dining, and a

woman possibly serving table. There are some pencil

annotations in the border at the bottom of the cartoon and also

on the reverse.

Overall the cartoon is in poor condition having broken at the

folds and with one piece detached and others missing. However

the ink drawings and captions are still highly legible.

198/29/1-4/2 Christmas card, 'Lord' George Sanger's Grand National

Amphitheatre, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South

Wales, Australia, 1892

Christmas card sent by 'Lord' George Sanger's Grand National

Amphitheatre run by the British circus entrepreneur 'Lord'

George Sanger at Christmas 1892 which reads, "WITH VERY

BEST WISHES/TO YOU AND YOURS/LORD GEORGE

SANGER'S GRAND NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE". The card

features a portrait of Sanger enclosed within a border in the

shape of a horse's collar with riding crops running behind the

image. The card has been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x

245 w. 98/29/1-4/3 is on the same page while 98/29/1-4/4:5 are

on the reverse.

198/29/1-4/3 Card, Photograph and description of 'Lord' George Sanger's

present of miniature ponies and miniature carriage to the

children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Weatherly


Card with photograph and caption describing a present of

miniature ponies and a miniature carriage to the children of

the Prince and Princess of Wales made by the British circus

entrepreneur 'Lord' George Sanger. The card has been pasted

onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w. 98/29/1-4/2 is on the same

page while 98/29/1-4/4:5 are on the reverse.

198/29/1-4/4 Letter, Battalion Lieutenant Colonel D P Dickinson, President,

Regimental Institutes, Singapore, to Charles Weatherly,

Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 10

September 1930

Letter in the form of a testimonial from Battalion Lieutenant

Colonel D P Dickinson, President, Regimental Institutes, 2nd

Battalion, The Welch Company, Singapore, to Charles

Weatherly concerning the two performances delivered by the

Weatherly Sisters and "Pippo" the clown [Charles Weatherly]

at the Tanglin Regimental Theatre, Singapore. The letter has

been pasted onto a sheet of paper 365 h x 245 w. 98/29/1-4/5 is

on the same page while 98/29/1-4/2:3 are on the reverse.


198/29/1-4/5 Letter, A F Stork, Honorary Secretary, Bukom Club, Pulo

Bukom, to Charles Weatherly, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield,

New South Wales, Australia, 1 October 1930

Letter from A F Stork, Honorary Secretary, Bukom Club, Pulo

Bukom, [now Pulau Bukom] to Charles Weatherly, 1 October

1930 congratulating him on a performance given on 27

September 1930. The letter has been pasted onto a sheet of

paper 365 h x 245 w. 98/29/1-4/4 is on the same page while

98/29/1-4/2:3 are on the reverse.

198/29/1-4/6 Permit, Office of Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, India,

Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 3

January 1905

Permit issued by the Office of Commissioner of Police,

Calcutta, India, on 3 January 1905 for Charles Weatherly to

transport 10 elephants through Calcutta between 1 and 4 am

from the Circus Ground to Kiddepur Docks via Kiddepur. The

permit has been pasted on piece of card 260 h x 230 w. On the

reverse of the card are three press clippings concerning the

Weatherly family of performers. 98/29/1-5/6 is on the reverse.




Series Title: Press and magazine articles and clippings

Date Range: 1874 - 1930s

Physical Characteristics: Press and magazine articles and clippings either loose or pasted onto

sheets of paper.

Description: Press and magazine articles and clippings, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 1874 - 1930s

Press and magazine articles and clippings that generally document

aspects of the careers of Toots and Gaga Weatherly, the Weatherly

Sisters, and their immediate and extended family of circus and

vaudeville performers.

Arrangement: Broadly chronological


Box Number: 1

COLLECTED ARCHIVES

Series Title: Press and magazine articles and clippings

ITEM LIST


198/29/1-5/1 Magazine article, "Murrays Illustrated News", Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 1874

Four pages (pp6 - 9) from the second issue of "Murray's

Illustrated News" for the 1874 season produced by the

equestrian trainer and proprietor of the John H Murray

Circus, John H Murray. Page 6 has a short story entitled,

"John & Becky" by Charles H Day. Page 7 has an article on the

highwayman "Dick Turpin" as background to Murray's

equestrian drama, "Dick Turpin's Ride to York and the death

of Black Bess"; a humorous story entitled "The Clown and the

Lawyer" about a circus clown giving evidence during a trial in

Manchester, New Hampshire, USA; and an item entitled, "The

Murray Stud" about the horses that performed in Murray's

shows. On page 8 Murray talks about his career and offers

advice to the circus-going public. On page 9 there is a drawing

with the caption, "JOHN H MURRAY EXHIBITING 'BLACK

EAGLE' BEFORE THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND AND ROYAL

FAMILY AT THE ROYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE" in Leicester

Square, London, England.

198/29/1-5/2 Press clippings, John H Murray's Great Rail Road Circus and

Howes & Cushing United States Circus, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c 1874

Double-sided paper sheet containing clippings for John H

Murray's Great Rail Road Circus and Howes & Cushing

United States Circus. The clipping for John H Murray's Great

Rail Road Circus contains illustrations of Emma Fredericks

and William Fredericks (also known as William Frederick

Coleman), Toots and Gaga Weatherly's grand parents. The

clipping for the Howes & Cushing United States Circus

features a drawing of a menagerie of wild animals.

198/29/1-5/3 Press clippings, Newsome's Grand Circus, Fredericks' Star

Circus and 'Lord' George Sanger's Grand National

Amphitheatre, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South

Wales, Australia, 1880s - 1890s

Press clippings for Newsome's Grand Circus, Fredericks' Star

Circus and 'Lord' George Sanger's Grand National

Amphitheatre from the 1880s and 1890s pasted on the back of

a section of a map of South Australia.


198/29/1-5/4 Press clippings, Harmston's Circus, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c 1896 - 1900

Double-sided paper sheet containing clippings describing

performances of Harmston's Circus primarily in Ceylon and

Australia. Members of Toots and Gaga Weatherly's immediate

and extended family including their parents, Charles

Weatherly and Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman, were

performers with the circus. There is also an unidentified

clipping which includes an interview with the Weatherly

Sisters' grandfather, William Fredericks who was also known

as William Frederick Coleman and who billed himself as

"Professor Fredericks" or "Mr Fredericks", as well as

illustrations showing his performing cats. Descriptions of

performances by members of the Weatherly Sisters' immediate

and extended family have been highlighted using red and blue

pencil.

198/29/1-5/5 Magazine article, "The 'Groveries' Quiz Supplement",

Bellgrove, Glasgow, Scotland, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield,

New South Wales, Australia, 7 April 1892

Four pages from "The 'Groveries' Quiz Supplement" of 7 April

1892 which includes drawings of patrons, administrative staff

and performers at an exhibition held in The "Groveries",

Bellgrove, Glasgow, Scotland. They include drawings of

members of Toots and Gaga Weatherly's extended family: "The

Fredericks Troupe of 'Lady Acrobats'" (also known as the Rio

Sisters) which included the Weatherly Sisters's mother

Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly née Coleman and a number of

their aunts; and their grandfather who was also known as

William Frederick Coleman and who billed himself as

"Professor Fredericks" or "Mr Fredericks", and his performing

cats.

198/29/1-5/6 Press clippings, Weatherly family, Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, c 1906 - 1920s

Paper sheet containing clippings for the San Francisco Relief

Fund concert held in Manila, Philippines, in May 1906 to aid

the victims of the San Francisco earthquake and fire at which

Charles Weatherly appeared; an advertisement for the

"Weatherleys" concert at the Regal Theatre, Wynberg, Cape

Town, South Africa which featured Saccharine, "The Sweetest

Thing on Earth" and "The only Talking Donkey in the World"

as well as The Contraband, "A Stirring Drama in 2 Parts" and

"NINE OTHER STAR PHOTOPLAYS"; and a performance at

the Alhambra Theatre, Dunedin, New Zealand, which featured

Charles Weatherly who was described as "one of those clever

performers who can extract music from many sources"

including a slide trombone, a single stringed fiddle, the

harmonium and policeman's rattles all of which was

interspersed with comic patter. 98/29/1-4/6 is on the reverse.


198/29/1-5/7 Press clipping, Photograph of scene from the film "Townies and

Hayseeds", Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 1923

Press clipping pasted on a detached page from a photograph

album showing a scene from the 1923 Australian silent film

"Townies and Hayseeds" with various cast members including

members of Toots and Gaga Weatherly's immediate and

extended family including their mother Clothilde (Pinky)

Weatherly who played Mum Hayseed. The caption under the

photograph reads, "SCENE FROM TOWNIES AND

HAYSEEDS AT LYCEUM AND LYRIC". No copies of the film

survive. 98/29/1-5/8 is on the reverse.

198/29/1-5/8 Press clippings, Reviews of the film "Townies and Hayseeds",

Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia,

1923

Press clippings pasted on a detached page from a photograph

album of three reviews of the 1923 Australian silent film

"Townies and Hayseeds" which starred various members of

Toots and Gaga Weatherly's immediate and extended family

including their mother Clothilde (Pinky) Weatherly as Mum

Hayseed. No copies of the film survive. 98/29/1-5/7 is on the

reverse.

198/29/1-5/9 Magazine article, (reprint), "The Latest", Weatherly Sisters,

Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 24 September 1927

Reprint of an issue of "The Latest" published by the

Memorable Order of Tin Hats, a South African ex-serviceman's

organisation formed in Durban on 7 May 1927. It appears the

Weatherly family performed concerts for the organisation.

198/29/1-5/10 Magazine article, (reprint), "The Natal Mercury", Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 10 March

1928

Reprint of an article from "The Natal Mercury", 10 March

1928, entitled, "Heard in the Listening Post". It concerns news

about local activities of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, a

South African ex-serviceman's organisation formed in Durban

on 7 May 1927. It appears the Weatherly family performed

concerts for the organisation.

198/29/1-5/11 Press clippings, Weatherly family, Fuller's Theatres and Clay's

Theatres, Weatherly Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales,

Australia, 1920s

The clippings, which have been pasted onto detached pages

from a photograph album, provide biographical details about

Charles Weatherly and the Weatherly family (or Weatherley as

they were sometimes described). They also concern

performances by the "Five Musical Weatherleys" and "The

Atlantic Girls", an act featured Zilla, Gaga and Toots

Weatherly, at Fuller's Theatres and Clay's Theatres.


198/29/1-5/12 Magazine clipping, Weatherly Sisters in costume, Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 1930s

Magazine clipping featuring seven images of Toots and Gaga

Weatherly, the Weatherly Sisters, dressed in various costumes

either as individual performers or as a duo.

198/29/1-5/13 Magazine clipping, Weatherly Sisters in costume, Weatherly

Sisters, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 1940s

Magazine clipping which includes a photograph of Toots and

Gaga Weatherly, the Weatherly Sisters, in costume as well as

a short overview of their careers.




Tinsley Brothers

Frost, Thomas

Series Title: "Circus Life and Circus Celebrities"

Date Range: 1875

Physical Characteristics: Cardboard covers originally covered in blue cloth. Subsequently

wrapped in brown kraft paper and then surrounded by a leather

cover from another book, 210 mm h x 140 mm w x 40 mm d

Description: Book, Thomas Frost, "Circus Life and Circus Celebrities", Tinsley

Brothers, London, England, 1875

Copy of Thomas Frost's "Circus Life and Circus Celebrities" once

owned by Cecilia Eldred (née Coleman), aunt of Toots and Gaga

Weatherly, the Weatherly Sisters. Cecilia Eldred was a circus

performer and part of the Rio Sisters troupe of acrobats. Her

parents, William and Emma Fredericks who also went by the name

of Coleman, and her grand parents, James and Pauline Newsome,

were all circus performers. James Newsome and his family are

featured in Frost's book. Cecilia Coleman married another circus

performer, Frank Eldred. The book contains various inscriptions.

From the inscriptions it appears the book was originally given as a

present to Cecilia Eldred by her friend Anne Bruce. The first

inscription reads, "Circus Life/By/Thomas Frost/In

year/1873./Property of Cecile Eldred/100. W 54th St/New York." The

second inscription reads, "To Dear Ceil Eldred/This Book was given

to my/[indecipherable] little niece: her last/time in Portugal. Its very

old/I fancy your dear/Mother's name/is in it." The third inscription

reads, "Finder kindly return to/Cecile Eldred/100 W 54th St/New

York" Added in pen at a later time are the words, "Sentimental

Value". The fourth inscription on the title page reads, "Cecile

Eldred/100 W. 54th St/finder will be rewarded." The fifth inscription

on the first page of the preface reads, "See if your Mothers name/is

in here", and the final inscription at the top of the first page of

chapter one reads, "From/Anne Bruce/to Ceil".

Arrangement:


Box Number: 1

The Powerhouse Museum Archives

has a dual purpose. First, to manage

and preserve the institutional records

of the Museum from its establishment

in 1880 to the present. Secondly,

to manage and preserve collected

archives which are the papers

of individuals and the records of

organisations and businesses acquired

by the Museum for its collection in the

fields of science, technology, design,

industry, decorative arts, music,

transport and history.

COVER: Photographic print, Weatherly Sisters

and other performers applying makeup at

Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, New South Wales,

Australia, c 1927 (98/29/1-3/14)

COVER DESIGN: Colin Rowan

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