Peggy Ryan’s travelling trunk and Olga Varona's sequinned leotard (Pictured with Ginger the ventriloquist dummy)

Peggy Ryan's travelling trunk

Before the days of airline weight limits, an essential item for any touring artist was a sturdy travelling trunk. This one belonged to dancer, soubrette, magician's assistant, and dance mistress Peggy Ryan. Coming from a theatrical family, Ipswich-born Peggy toured with her family before she herself started to perform. In the 1940's she joined the Cremorne Theatre ballet, progressed to soubrette and Ballet Mistress there and at the Theatre Royal. She worked with all the famous comedians of the day, toured Australia and New Zealand, and played in vaudeville and pantomime. Peggy also performed with WW2 Forces Entertainment Unit.

Olga Varona’s sequinned leotard

Queensland-born Olga Varona was an acclaimed aerialist who started her career in circus before becoming a vaudeville headliner. With her husband and manager Archie Collins, Olga headed to the UK after WWII and toured for a decade, performing with some of the biggest names in variety, and was chosen be part of the 1947 Command Performance at the Palladium in London. Olga’s long red hair and elaborate costumes, all made by herself, were a feature of the act.