Discover the Dumbells, WWI Entertainers and Drag Performers
During the First World War, several comedy-musical troupes entertained the Canadian Corps. The most famous was the Dumbells from the 3rd Canadian Division. Like similar variety-act groups, known at the time as “concert parties,” the Dumbells featured men in drag as part of their morale-boosting shows. The troupe became a hit back home in North America and toured until 1932.
In 1978, the estate of one of the original Dumbells, Ivor E. "Jack" Ayre, donated his memorabilia to Toronto Public Library. Preserved in our Special Collections in the Arts, this archival material comprises photos, letters, sheet music and keepsakes that shed light on the formation, performances and legacy of the once-famous Dumbells.
Formation of the Dumbells
Captain (honourary) Merton Plunkett, a YMCA entertainment officer, assembled the Dumbells from serving members of the 3rd Canadian Division. Formed in France, they put on their first performance in August 1917 and entertained frontline troops until June 1919.
The original eight members included:
- Merton Plunkett (1888–1966), managing director and comedian
- Albert "Al" Plunkett (1899–1957), baritone and brother of Merton Plunkett
- Edward "Ted" Charters (1882–1958), assistant manager and comedian
- Ross Hamilton (1889–1965), famous for crossdressing as “Marjorie”
- Allan Murray (1893–1967), famous for crossdressing as “Marie from Montreal"
- Jack Ayre (1895–1977), pianist and music director
Two more members joined shortly thereafter: tenor Bill Tennent and bass baritone Bert Langley. Following their first show, the Dumbells’ numbers increased to 16. These additional members were Bill Redpath, Elmer Belding, George Thorne, Andrew Catrano, J. McCormick and D. L. Michie.
Jack Ayre recounted the origin of the group and its name, as documented in our archival transcript for a CBC broadcast:
"Back in July of 1917, while fighting in France orders came down from Canadian Third Division Headquarters for a Canadian arts entertainment show. Those of us who were selected came from various units and regiments; some of us were literally pulled from the front line trenches, including me.
We got our name The Dumbells from our divisional patch, which was a red dumbell on a French blue/grey field. I’m sure some thought we really were dumbells for getting involved in such a crazy venture but frankly, we never did. We tried to put on the best damn show we possibly could for all those courageous lads and we worked very hard – three and four shows a day."
A troupe performing for troops
The Dumbells worked together to come up with a program of popular songs and skits about life in the trenches. The performers mocked the military system and its high-ranking officials, which senior officers let slide due to the positive impact on morale.
The troupe carried their curtains, costumes and an upright piano to where the troops were located—even the front lines. They liked to perform in the early evening. It was late enough to use stage lights but not so late to be disrupted by common overnight bombing raids. Troops saw their fellow soldiers cover songs, act out humorous scenes and enjoyed what was perhaps most cherished component: the female impersonators.
The Dumbells made do with makeshift stage elements and second-hand costumes. They made wigs out of horsehair from furniture in bombed-out houses. They used German shell cases for footlights. The character of Marjorie got her first dress from a sex worker in a beer garden, and other dresses came from London stage stars. Since many of the later Dumbells were members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Princess Patricia of Connaught, daughter of the Governor General of Canada, donated clothing discarded by her ladies-in-waiting along with some of her own pieces.
The Dumbell Rag
The Dumbell’s theme song was The Dumbell Rag, which Jack Ayre wrote when he first went to France. For many young Canadian soldiers, it may have been the last music they heard before they died. You can hear a recent instrumental rendition of The Dumbell Rag on YouTube.
Here are the lyrics, transcribed from one of a sheet music manuscript found among the archival items:
Hi Boys
Hear our latest rag. It's a sort of raggy drag
Just listen while we sing it once for you
We hope you'll sing it too
If anyone has the "blues"
His "Blooming Blues" he will lose
Oh that Dumbell Rag. That "Dummy" Dumbell Rag
Sing it high or sing it low
Just sing it together and let 'er go Hi!
Oh that Dumbell Rag. Don’t let your voices lag (what do we care)
If it's shine or rain. This makes you think you're home again
"D" "U" "M" "B" "E" "L"
That everloving Dumbell Rag
From wartime to peacetime
The Dumbells' popularity allowed them to transition from the theatre of war to actual theatres. A newspaper clipping from our archival materials reveals that the Dumbells were such a big hit that, even during the war, they were furloughed to play in theatres in London, England for four weeks. (That same article reveals that the Dumbells, at some point, offered to return to their combat roles. However, their offer was denied because their work as entertainers was deemed too important for morale.)
After the war ended, the Dumbells returned to Canada and became a leading Canadian vaudeville troupe, performing as civilians. Members from the early days of the Dumbells who performed as civilians included Al Plunkett, Ross Hamilton, Bill Tennent, Bert Langley, Allan Murray and Jack Ayre. Members from other Canadian concert parties had also joined the troupe.
The Dumbells opened the revue Biff, Bing, Bang on October 1, 1919 at the Grand Opera House in London, Ontario. They then performed at the Grand Theatre in Toronto for 16 weeks and completed 12 cross-Canada tours over the next 13 years. (Our archival materials include Jack Ayre's detailed log books of where they travelled.) In May 1921, a revised Biff, Bing, Bang opened at the Ambassador Theater in New York. It was the first Canadian musical revue to appear on Broadway. The show ran for about 12 weeks and Jack Ayre became the first Canadian to conduct an orchestra on Broadway. In November of 1921, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables saw Biff, Bing, Bang in Toronto when she visited for Canadian Book Week. She wrote in her diary: “It was incredibly funny and I laughed as I haven’t laughed in years. The female parts were all played by men and three of them were the most stunning beauties I ever beheld.”
The success of their tours and the popularity of their music in Canada resulted in 27 recordings and the distribution of sheet music songs.
End of the Dumbells
The Dumbells disbanded in 1932 in the face of financial difficulties brought on by the Great Depression and competition from talking pictures. At their peak, the Dumbells made national stars of the crooner Al Plunkett, comic singer Red Newman and drag star Ross Hamilton. Hamilton was a particularly notable figure of the Dumbells because, after volunteering to serve in the Second World War, he was discharged for “a reason other than medical,” a phrase often used to remove members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community from the military.
The troupe reunited for concerts on a few occasions and has been the subject of several documentaries and reenactments. As well-known as they became, perhaps their most important legacy was the laughter they were able to give to young Canadian soldiers facing the unimaginable horror of war. Here's how Jack Ayre put it, as documented in our archival transcript for a CBC broadcast:
"I can tell you the hardest and saddest part was playing for an audience at 5:30 and knowing that at 7:30 some of them might be killed. I guess we thought ourselves lucky to be out of it. I often figured that being able to play the piano probably saved my life."
Explore more
Archival materials at TPL
- Finding aid for The Dumbells Collection (1917–1976) (PDF)
- Digitized items related to the Dumbells on our Digital Archive
Comments