Gabrielle Ray

Gabrielle Ray – The Sunday Post – Sunday 22nd May 1932

Forty Years a Showman

“My Fight for “The Belle”

By J. Bannister Howard.

One evening I went into a public house in Warrington which had a large saloon attached. In this saloon entertainments were given. When 1 strolled in I saw two girls begin a song-and-dance act. They were announced as the Sisters Ray.

That was my first sight of Gabrielle Ray, the girl who was to become one of the greatest stars musical comedy ever had, and whose photo, in picture postcard form, was to enter into every home in Britain.

She was then about sixteen years of age. As she danced and sang with her sister she did not look any older, but there was something about her poise, her self-assurance, which gave the impression that she was well out of her teens. 1 soon discovered what it was.

I watched her carefully. 1 mean no disparagement to the other “half” of the little act when I say I had only eyes for Gabrielle. It was she who “got across.”

She had that indefinable quality which we call personality. She had appeal; she radiated cleverness, confidence in herself, ambition, and enthusiasm in her work. Even then I could not imagine her ever ‘‘slacking.”

When the turn was over I went and spoke to her.

“I am manager of one or two musical comedy companies,” 1 began. “I’ve been watching you, and it struck me you might like to change this work for the stage. You are very young, yet you work as if you had some experience. How is that?

Gaiety Stars

“Because I started when I was ten,” she replied. “Then I went on playing for some years off and on. But I say.” she looked up at me eagerly, almost breathlessly, ““I would like to get on to the stage regularly. What I’d love, what I always dream about, is to get on in a West End show. I don’t mind what it is – as chorus girl or anything else. I want to go to London. I’m certain I’d work my way up.” She was like some child begging to be given a chance to show what she could do.

I felt more convinced than ever that this Lancashire girl had qualities which marked her out. It was not her beauty, though she had that in plenty – a kind of spiritual beauty that was allied to the most wonderful colouring and perfect blending of features that had ever seen. But it was her personality that captured me, and made me say –

“Well, if you like, I’ll get you to London. I’ll give you my address, and I’ll fix you up when I return to town.”

She thanked me profusely, and she has told me many a time since that that evening lifted the curtain on a new act of her life.

In due time I sent for her, and the first thing I did was to give her an audition. She came through with flying colours. Then I told her –

“I am sending out another company with ‘The Belle of New York,’ and I propose to give you the part of Mamie Clancy.”

She clapped her hands with joy. “Oh, I’ll do my level best Mr Howard,” she said.

Gabrielle Ray was under my management for nearly three years, and each time she returned from the provinces she had improved. She improved to such an extent that one day the late George Edwardes saw her in, I think, “The Casino Girl.”

Straight away he came to me. “1 say, Bannister Howard, you’ve got a girl I want to put in a new show I’m putting on at the Gaiety. It’s called ‘The Toreador’ and Gertie Millar is plying the lead. I want this girl Ray to understudy her. I’ll give her a contract. What about it?”

“Well,” I said, “she’s a free agent. You’d better see her and put it up to her yourself.”

For a girl to go into a George Edwardes production opened up a vista of possible stardom at the Gaiety or Daly’s, and of a brilliant marriage with a coronet attached.

I don’t think that Gabrielle Ray gave much thought to the marriage or the coronet. But she jumped at the chance of a five years’ contract with George Edwardes, and began to understudy Gertie Millar as Cora.

Gabrielle got her chance very soon, for on several occasions she was called on to play the part. All London began to talk of the new beauty who was going to succeed Marie Studholme, Gertie Millar, and Evie Greene.

Postcard Beauties

The postcard craze broke out. Soon photographers and publishers were vieing with each other to secure Gabrielle Ray. She rapidly rose into competition with Marie Studholme as the most photographed person in the British Isles.

I remember meeting her in Piccadilly one afternoon.

“How is everything?” 1 asked.

“Absolutely splendid,” she said, “Except that I’m kept on a constant rush to photographers. I’m of to one now.”

A week later I met her, this time in Bond Street.

“Where are you off to?” I asked,

“Where? Listen to me. If you ever see me round here you needn’t ask where I’m going. The answer is always the same. The photographer’s. Do you know, I’’m heartily sick of the sight of a camera.” Has ever stage beauty had such worship? Round the stage door every night when she was at the Gaiety were crowds of men and women, the form all in evening dress. Gabrielle Ray that rare quality which made women flock to see her on the stage and leaving the theatre.

Yet when she gave it all up to m Eric Loder she vowed she had severed all contact with the theatre. She did so, too, except for a brief spell in 1920. And then, only the other day, I met he and had a chat, during which she said –

“I’ve finished entirely with the stage, and there is only one thing that might ever induce me to come back.”

“What is that?” I asked.

“To play the part I first took in you company,” she answered. “If ever I came back it would be as Mamie Clancy in ‘The Belle.’”

The Sunday Post – 22^nd May 1932

March 22, 2024 Posted by summertime75 | Biography, Eric Loder, Gladys Raymond, The Belle of New York, The Gaiety Theatre, The Toreador | Actress, Biography, Cora, Dolly Twinkle, Edwardian, Eric Loder, Gabrielle Ray, George Edwardes, Gertie Millar, Gladys Raymond, J. Bannister Howard, Mamie Clancy, Music Hall, Social History, The Belle of New York, The Casino Girl, The Gaiety Theatre, The Sunday Post, The Toreador, Theatre | Leave a comment