JIMMY JIMMY
Jun 9th, 2008 by Conor McCabe
More albums from St. Vincent’s on Sean McDermott Street. This one is a collection of the best sketches of comic duo, Jimmy O’Dea and Harry O’Donovan. The following comes from the album sleeve notes, written by Matthew Murtagh:-
“Born in Lower Bridge Street in the heart of old Dublin - not far from “Biddy Mulligan´s” Coombe - on April 28th, 1899, Jimmy O’Dea was one of eleven children, four of whom went on the stage. His mother ran a small toy shop to supplement the earnings of his father, who worked as an ironmonger. Given the benefit of a first-class education and having been blooded with an amateur dramatic company, the Kilronan Players, Jimmy plucked up enough courage to suggest to his parents that his future might lie in a careers as an actor. His father gave him a stern look: “son, I´d rather see you in your coffin.” Instead he was apprenticed to an optician. Undeterred he continued with his stage work and ambitions, graduating to the Irish theatre in Hardwicke Street and a propitious association with actor-producer John McDonagh, in whose company he recalled, amongst other roles, that of the old man-servant, Firs, in Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” in 1920. When, shortly after, MacDonagh produced his comedy play, “The Irish Jew” at the Empire (now Olympia) Theatre, he gave the young actor a choice cameo role to portray, one which proved to be the laughter hit of the evening.
“Around this period he qualified as an optician, and still only 21 set up his own business (later hen he became a full-time actor this enterprise was disposed of to his sister, Rita). After a season with Madame Kirdwood-Hackett´s Repertory Company at the Abbey Theatre in George Bernard Shaw plays, Jimmy rejoined MacDonagh to appear in his Irish revues, the first of which, “Dublin To-Night”, was produced at the Queen’s Theatre on February 4th, 1924. In a new edition of the same revue at the Olympia Theatre the following August he donned female attire for the first time when he took the part of the landlady in a sketch, “Our Visitors”, which was such a success before packed houses that by popular demand it had to be repeated in a subsequent revue, “Next Stop, Darling”. In unbounded versatility of character acting, ranging from Napoleon to the country lad “up on the last load”, Jimmy O’Dea rapidly rose to the rank of “Ireland’s Representative Comedian”. During the 1927 he went on his first English tour in MacDonagh’s revue, “The Goods”, only to learn on his return that John MacDonagh, who had made him a star, was about to emigrate to America. But the gloomy news was forgotten after a fortunate encounter with fellow-Dubliner Harry O’Donovan. A chance meeting in a Dublin street of those two actors, whose paths had crossed in several stage plays some years earlier, brought a partnership sealed with a handshake and a bottle of stout in the nearest pub. Practically broke - Harry had to sell his piano - they scraped up enough money (?20) to launch their first show, a revue “we’re Here” at the Queens Theatre in April 1928.”
“The passing of Jimmy O’Dea on January 7th 1965, left a void which may never be filled, for he was undoubtedly the greatest native comedian who ever graced the footlights. Although no more than 5 feet 4 inches in height, he was a giant of the Irish theatrical scene. Harry O’Donovan outlived his partner by several years, his death taking place on November 3rd, 1973.”
Jimmy O’Dea´s family moved to Capel street, some time after the start of the century. They are listed in the 1911 census as living at 162 Capel Street, Dublin. It was while living there that O’Dea became friends with future Taoiseach, Sean Lemass - O’Dea would later serve as best man at Lemass’ wedding.
Below are four tracks from the album, plus a recording of James Joyce reading “Anna Livia Plurabelle”. The similarities between the musical intonations of O’Dea’s Biddy Mulligan, and Joyce’s Anna Livia washerwomen, are quite noticeable. Not surprising, as both were drawing off the same source.
Enjoy.
Biddy Mulligan on the Tram [3:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup Biddy Mulligan Casts Her Vote [3:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup Biddy Mulligan (song) [3:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup James Joyce, Anna Livia Plurabelle [8:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup O'Dea and O'Donovan, non troppo largo [3:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup
hi all, as a young lad i loved to listen to, and go to see “jimmy”in Dublin at the Royal Theatre, on a weekly thursday night out, with my parents, and as the Royal Theatre was been knocked down “Jimmy” told my dad, he could have his make up mirror, which he did and i still have it today.
ah, that’s great! A real piece of history.
Couldn’t help but put in my penny’s worth! Amongst other celebrities, Jimmy O’Dea would seek out my great-grandmother as she was an uncanny fortune teller. Her name was Edie (born in the late 1800’s). She was so popular that appointments were very hard to get and she not only read Irish celebrities fortunes but also those of foreign leaders - Haille Salassie to name but one! If anyone has any information on her, I would be grateful as I only have sketchy accounts.
Has anyone ever heard of a dublin entertainer in the 40s and 50s by the name of Freddy Doyle
I haven’t, Kevin. do you know anything about him?
Childhood memories of being taken to Dublin during the pantomime season to see Jimmy O’Dea and Maureen Potter bringing the house down at the matinees. Jimmy was always the great granny cross dresser on those occasions. He/she had the rubber face with the big eyes and sang well, while Maureen Potter had the sharp witted voice. She often dressed like Robin Hood. Great Dubs the two of them. Maureen’s Sunday afternoon Radio Eireann show cheered the nation up on wet winter afternoons. Her catchline went: “Rip it up, Jim”; and the response was: “Yis, Agnes”. And there was nary an F-word to be heard. Comedy was pure and simple them days.
Jimmy O’Dea is best known for the movie King Brian in the movie Darby O’Gill and the Little People and he will be known forever and to the ages as King Brian!
Does anyone know the show that Jimmy did - he always started with “Fado Fado” - Not sure if it was called ‘Once Upon A Time’. Can’t seem to find anything on that. I used to come home from school and listen to it - great it was - Love to get info on that.
Some nice clips of Jimmy here. A shame that there is nothing currently on CD. Also RTE should release their recordings of “Once upon a time” and “O’Dea’s Your Man” on DVD. They still had recordings when I tried to get copies over 10 years ago but they wanted £400 - far beyond my means.
Wow never expected to find anything like these! I’ve been looking for anything to do with Jimmy for a long while and haven’t had a ton of luck, so this is really appreciated. I have to mention though that upon checking these out a second time, the “non troppo largo” are showing up saying “error opening file.” Just so you know.
I take it there’s probably no way to get a hold of any film of Jimmy O’Dea, aside from that Darby O’Gill film…?
Sorry, I meant all aside from the non troppo largo are having errors.
Hi Erika, I just tried them all and they are playing fine for me. If you right-click on the file you should be able to download them. They might play better that way for you.
Hi there,
You might be interested in an archive documentary we have just published on the RTE Radio One Documentary on One website - “The O’Dea Story”, a documentary made about Jimmy O’Dea in 1954:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone//radio-documentary-the-o-dea-story.html
Thanks for that Nicoline, I’m going to enjoy that. Cheers!
Jimmy recorded a number of monologues on 78s, made I think in the ’40s or ’50s. Can anyone help me find the words of these recordings? One in particular I remember about a day-trip to Ireland’s Eye. This has special memories for me because it used to be my mother’s party-piece. I would love to have the lyrics if anyone can help me find them.
My grandfather, Jack Sullivan was manager of the Queen’s Theatre ih the period covering the troubles of 1916-1924. One Summer while on holiday in Skerries, he spotted O’Dea in a production by a concert party known as “The Sand Dabs”, and was so impressed he made a note of his name, so when O’Dea and Jimmy McDonagh approached him with “Dublin Tonight” in 1924, he signed them up straight away. I remember a framed photo of O’Dea in his costume as King Brian from “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” on the drawing room wall in my grandparents’ house in Dartmouth Square in the 19660s. O’Dea had signed the photo “To my father of the Theatre, Jack Sullivan”. My grandfather had been forced off the stage in the 1930s Depresssion, and gone back to his original trade as a printer, though O’Dea and Harry O’Donovan tried to lure him back into theatre management in the late 1950s, during O’Dea’s 21st Anniversary season at the Gaiety. My grandmother put her foot down on that notion PDQ.
To Erika
I noted during the recent obituaries to Betty Driver (Coronation Street’s Betty Turpin) that several of her film credits from the late 30s early 40s included Jimmy O’Dea’s name as one of the main stars. Perhaps Granada TV could assist you on that score.
To Maria
It was called “Once upon a Time” and ran in the very early years of Telefis Eireann (1962 onwards). It could have run no later than 1964, as he died in January 1965.
To Niall Sullivan
Dear Niall,
I’m working on a book about the Travelling Show scene last century. In it, I’m writing a feature piece on two UK music hall people - out of many such -who joined that scene. I hear they first played here in The Queens in 1916. So it was lovely to hear about yr grandfather. Can I quote you on his name and role and the little Sand Dabs detail ? I’m writing a little about the Concert Party scene as well, you see. Finally, the folks I’m featuring were Phil and Lily Benson, and if it was variety they were at in Queens ( as I heard) there were musical handbells involved, from them, duo sketches and possibly diverse puppets! Did yr grandad ever mention them? Or has anyone else heard of? All archives and newspapers combed at this point! Found 50 years of their itineraries and news in Irish and London STAGE papers and audience memories from all round country. But never a detail about the workings of early Variety shows in Queens or firm proof that they were there. They were back in Twenties, off again to the UK’s “regions” then, and came to live here (and live mobile lives here) in 1929. Sometimes went as The Musical Bensons. Be really grateful if anyone remembers being told of them!
Yvonne Cullen