A Few of Our Favourite Things

“The QPAC Museum has well over 80,000 items in the collection; to select favourites is hard, like having a favourite child. The items chosen belonged originally to an array of talented artists who have shared their stories with QPAC. Dancer and soubrette Peggy Ryan, aerialist Olga Varona, actor, author and musician Denis Melksham, ventriloquist Malcolm McPhee and designer Bruce Auld, all remind me of the many thousands who continue to dedicate their lives to the performing arts in Queensland.”

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 & 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.

This tenor trombone and its case belonged to George Jones who performed in the orchestra pit at the Cremorne Theatre in its early days, circa 1920s.

Framed photograph of the Humphrey Bishop Troupe on stage including Billy Maloney, with cane, Leila White, in the middle, and Grace Savieri, along with the band in the orchestra pit, at the Cremorne Theatre.

“In one handful, I can travel the world. My small box of pins transports me to the places I’ve seen, events I’ve loved and the people I’ve shared them with. It started as a practical souvenir purchase when I was 14 years old and has since become a quest. This isn’t a collection, these are my stories.”

From Disneyland to New York, Corfu to Kingaroy, Isabel’s pins are her favourite reminder of the places she’s travelled and the memories she’s made.

With Stormtroopers, AT-DP Walkers and Banthas, it was hard for the QPAC Story team not to get carried away in the world of play!