Alice Dolphin

Alice Isobel Dolphin (née Organ; 1900–1985) was an Australian musician who played clarinet, saxophone, piano, and cornet.[1]

Career

Alice Dolphin was born in Cheltenham, Victoria. Her family were musicians and she learnt to play piano as a child, performing in public for the first time around the age of 10, when she filled in on organ at a church. During her teens she began her professional career as a musician, performing at picture theatre matinees,[1] and gained press attention by playing the piano and cornet simultaneously, accompanying her own solos.[2][3]

Between 1923 and 1926, Dolphin played in different musical groups around Melbourne, before moving to Sydney to perform as a duo with Elsa Lewis. After two years, Dolphin returned to Melbourne with violin maker William Edward Dolphin where they married.[1][4]

When Thelma Ready started her all-girl orchestra, she hired Alice Dolphin as a saxophonist.[5] Formed in 1928,[6] The Thelma Ready Orchestra made regular appearances on radio, played in hotels around Melbourne and is considered "Australia's first all-girl dance band".[7]

During the Great Depression, Alice Dolphin's work as a musician supported her family with regular performances.[1] She had her own group, the Alice Dolphin Orchestra in the 1930s,[8] and was also a member of Eve Rees and her Merrymakers,[8] The Hollywood Redheads, and The Marion Lightfoot Orchestra.[1]

Once retired, she took to writing, and her collection of essays, musical compositions, pantomimes, poems, and prose fiction are held by the Australian Performing Arts Collection.[1]

Alice Dolphin died in 1985, aged 84.[9] Her husband William had died in 1981. They had one son, Paul.[1][4]

  • Thelma Ready's Orchestra on stage at the Grill Room, Hotel Australia c1929. Musicians include: Lilian Stender, Kath McCall, Thelma Ready, Alice Organ/Dolphin, and Lena Sturrock.
    Thelma Ready's Orchestra on stage at the Grill Room, Hotel Australia c1929. Musicians include: Lilian Stender, Kath McCall, Thelma Ready, Alice Organ/Dolphin, and Lena Sturrock.
  • Eve Rees' Merrymakers at the Mayoral Ball held at Caulfield Town Hall. Musicians include: Eve Rees, Gwen Mitchell, Stella Funston, Lorna Quon, Alma Quon, Alice Dolphin, and Grace Funston.
    Eve Rees' Merrymakers at the Mayoral Ball held at Caulfield Town Hall. Musicians include: Eve Rees, Gwen Mitchell, Stella Funston, Lorna Quon, Alma Quon, Alice Dolphin, and Grace Funston.
  • Alice Dolphin Orchestra performing in the dining room at Foy and Gibson c1935. Musicians include: Joyce Smith, Alice Dolphin, Molly Byron, Phyllis Smith and Marj Brown. Photograph by C.J. Frazer.
    Alice Dolphin Orchestra performing in the dining room at Foy and Gibson c1935. Musicians include: Joyce Smith, Alice Dolphin, Molly Byron, Phyllis Smith and Marj Brown. Photograph by C.J. Frazer.

Further reading

Dreyfus, Kay (1999). Sweethearts of rhythm : the story of Australia's all girls bands and orchestras to the end of the Second World War. Sydney: Currency Press. ISBN 0-86819-452-2. OCLC 236010097.

References
  1. "Alice Dolphin Collection". Arts Centre Melbourne. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. "The Border Watch". Border Watch. 1923-03-23. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  3. "SCOTTISH THISTLE SOCIETY". Williamstown Chronicle. 1924-01-12. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  4. "Violin made by William Dolphin". collection.maas.museum. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  5. Clements, Pam (August 2010). "I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate" (PDF). VJazz (47): 6–7.
  6. "No title". Table Talk. 1928-02-16. p. 56. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. Horne, Craig (2019). Roots : How Melbourne Became the Live Musical Capital of the World. Melbourne, VIC. ISBN 978-1-925556-93-3. OCLC 1127944344.
  8. Dreyfus, Kay (1999). Sweethearts of rhythm : the story of Australia's all girls bands and orchestras to the end of the Second World War. Sydney: Currency Press. ISBN 0-86819-452-2. OCLC 236010097.
  9. "Personal Announcements - Dolphin". The Age. 7 August 1985. p. 52.
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