Alec Kellaway

South African born variety entertainer, actor, producer (b. Capetown, South Africa c.1899 - d. Sydney 18 Jan., 1973) Acted in stage productions at age 8 and in many musical comedies in South Africa. Went to London in 1918 and spent 3 years in a West End musical comedy. Arrived in Australia in 1924 on contract to Fullers’ Theatres as a specialist singer and comedian. Associated with Nat Phillips’s Whirligigs during the mid to late 1920s he later appeared in numerous musical comedies and revues. Went to the U.S. and further vaudeville work in the UK during the early 1930s. Toured the Far East in the caste of "Rose Marie" and came back to Australia in the caste of "Rhapsodies of 1935". On radio with brother Cecil and wife, Estelle Rose. In the early 1940s he assisted Wallace Parnell produce numerous productions for Tivoli Theatres Australia before taking over the role of producer in 1944 under David N. Martin’s direction. Later in Australian productions of "Oklahoma!", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Kiss Me Kate" (1952), "Call Me Madam", "Paint Your Wagon" (1955). Later Executive producer at Chanel 9 Sydney. Retired 1972.