Commentary 2 - The Maloneys in Show Business

 THE MALONEYS IN SHOW BUSINESS



c. 1890 - The young performers known as “The Lenton Brothers” are the brothers, William Rory Maloney (1879-1900) and Ronald Francis Maloney (1882-1948).

In 1905, they called their acrobatic and juggling act – “The Testro Brothers”, playing Vaudeville theatres and Circuses.  After Rory died, Ron continued solo – mainly as a Juggler and Clown.



Then Ron met, wooed and married (1903-1905) the chorus girl, Ruby Cartwright (1885-1963), the daughter of the famous Frank Cartwright. They refined the act and became “The Tossing Testros”, Jugglers and Comedians, touring the World for the next 21 years.




Ruby’s father, Francis Richard Cartwright (aka Frank Stevens) (1852-1899), was the consummate show business personality of his day – dancer, acrobat, circus clown, circus rider, ringmaster, sideshow entrepreneur, comedian and always the self-publicist.

  


  

 

 

 

 



But in 1899, his life ended in a dramatic murder at the Old Eastern Market, Melbourne, when Frank, attempting o save his fortune-teller wife, Annie, was murdered by Mad Medar.

 

The Herald Newspaper stopped the presses to announce Frank’s death.  

Medar was found insane by reason of alcohol.

 The Cartwright show business wealth dissipated quickly as the surviving widow, Annie, and the daughter, Ruby, sought work as Wax Museum Guides and Chorus Dancers.

 The Show business tradition has continued down the generations with

 


Stephen Outch (1884-1952) (3rd from left) in the world-famous circus trapeze act, “The Flying Jordons”.

 

 

 









Margaret May (Maggie)Buckley (1896-1971) – “The Last of the Red-Hot Mamas.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Ruby’s 4th son, Rex Clifford Maloney (Testro) (1917-1988), Comedian, Juggler, and Theatre Producer -  

 


and his wife, Joan Mary Saunders (Joan Blake) (Testro) (1923-2015), the songbird for the Australian troops (WWII) and then leading “boy” in the Testro theatre Pantomimes of the 1940s and 1950s.


Ruby’s 5th son, Keith Royal Maloney (Testro) (1922-2008) created the 2nd “Tossing Testros” with his songbird wife, Jean Alice Byatt (Testro) (1925-2010) and worked the Circuses and the Pantomimes.

 


 Then the Next generation, the Baby Boomers, produced full-timers in



Anastasia Lee (Stacey) Testro (1953-)

Singer, Lead in “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Cabaret Owner, Film Producer,

 and International Theatrical Agent

 

 

                                                          

  



Amanda Rose Testro (1955- ), Jazz Singer, Musician

and now, Children’s Performance Teacher

 

 And that Baby-Boomer Generation produced a few part-timers such as

·         Denise Maloney (Anderson) (1945-), Theatre Dancer

·         Warren Maloney (1948-), Theatre Actor

·         Glenn Testro (1953-), Theatre Dancer




 




And it continues into Generation Y and the Millennials with

·     Lucas Testro (1974- ), Film & TV Director & Writer

·     Blake Testro (1985 -), Singer & Actor

·     Kyahl Jeremy Anderson (1985-), Actor, Singer, Opera and Film Director

·     Eadie Testro-Girasole (1997- ), Singer, Theatre Writer, Actor

 



 




“SHOWBUSINESS IS PART OF OUR SOUL”

 


   



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