Looking for ancestor who was an entertainer.

[oskandy]

HI All
Anyone got any ideas on the best places to search for an ancestor who was in the entertainment industry.
I have articles of him entertaining at the Bijou Theatre in 1898, and he had previously toured South Africa before this.
, He was living in Adelaide in 1902 He then disappears , not sure if he went back to South Africa.
Have searched everywhere.
Any sites someone can suggest, regarding Etertainment.
Thanks
jenn

[mirl]

Hi Jenn,

I have a wife and husband team of entertainers from around the same time and I found it best to trace their movements through the newspapers.

In Australia   trove.nla.gov.au  is pretty good, and free, and in England  britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk is also good, but not free.

Then try to use passenger records from sites like ancestry or Ellis Island, and some newspapers were still publishing passenger lists for departing ships.

Or simply just google the name, I found references in all types of places.

Perhaps if we had that name some-one may be able to help.

Good luck, Colin

[oskandy]

Thanks Colin
I found him on Trove uptill 1890 then no more references, so makes me wonder if he did leave the Country, or the business of entertaining.
He was calling himself on stage "Olly Gilbert"
but he was born as " Oliver John Drought Mee" born 1873 in Adelaide
I have searched both names to no avail 
thanks
Jenn

[mirl]

Hi Jenn,

I was looking on Trove using Nellie Chapman as the search because she was an artist Olly had performed with and I came across a wedding notice printed 17 November 1898 in The Advertiser in Adelaide:

Gilbert-Chapman: on 18 October as the Baptist Manse Flinders St, by the Rev Mr Raws, Olly Mee Gilbert of Angas St, to Ellen Maud Nellie Chapman the youngest daughter of Mr George Chapman, Pirie St Adelaide.

And another notice of 20 May 1905 also in the Advertiser after an adultery case had hit the news:

I am not the Nellie Chapman concerned in the "Moore" court case of May 18 - Nellie Gilbert nee Chapman, 171 Pirie St.

So it looks to me that Olly stayed in Adelaide using the surname Gilbert and there is an address for which you can search voting, land or rates records.

Good luck, Colin

[oskandy]

Thanks Colin
I dont have Ancestory but l will go to the Library and check the Rolls
Jenn

[giblet]

South australia marriage

1898   197/227   MEE   Oliver    CHAPMAN   and   Ellen Maud Nellie     Adelaide

[giblet]

Found one birth

1906   762/131   MEE   Terence   father Oliver MEE   mother Ellen CHAPMAN   District Norwood
And his death
1906   317/12   MEE   Terence   Oliver MEE (F)   Adelaide

His burial
Mee    Terence   09/04/1906   0      West Terrace Cemetery   Catholic Old Area

Not sure if you want or need this info? 

And a couple more births

1899   647/392   MEE   Ruth Evelyn Ellen   Oliver MEE   Ellen Maud CHAPMAN   Adelaide

1902   691/23   MEE   Laurence Harrowsmith   Oliver Laurence MEE   Ellen Maud Nellie CHAPMAN   Adelaide

[oskandy]

HI Giblet
Thanks for the info, althought i do have it, but still appreciate your effort.
I cant find him after 1906, problem is l dont know what he was calling himsELf BY?
His  name he was born with  " Oliver John Drought Mee" or Stage name  "Olly/ John ?  Gilbert" or who knows what
Exhausted my ideas of where to look
Thanks Jenn

[oskandy]

HI
 I had thought he stayed in  South Australia like Colin said to but l will need to go to the Library to check that address.
Jenn