“THE GOOD TIMES” by Des Kelly

Again, in the 1950’s, what a decade that was !.

Donavan Andree, by far, the very best “Entrepreneur”that our little Country ever had, brought out “Artistes”, “Bands”, “Groups”, “The Ice Follies”, “Circuses”, even “Wrestlers” from around the World, was “still going”, with the help of Elmo Andree, a close relative, his own son Malcolm, & a band of trusted employees, among whom was an Uncle of this writer, Roy Demmer, who was his right-hand man at the Casino in Havelock Park, which Donavan owned & ran.

In addition, he had started “The 3 Club” Complex in Bambalapitiya, described more correctly, I suppose, as an all-time “Carnival-Complex”, where, on about 3 nights a week, “Housey-Housey”  also called “Bingo”, was regularly attended by the folk in Bambalapitiya, especially the ladies who loved to play the game. Around the Carnival-ground, were at least another dozen little enclosures where one could try to win a bit of money by what I would term, “small-time gambling”, interesting little games to lose the “little money you had.

Even at the young age of around sixteen I worked for this man, who became like a father-figure to all of us “wannabe- entertainers”. I cannot think of too many “show-biz names” who didn’t make their “mark”, without the help of Donavan.

All of us were happy to work for him because he treated us, the ones he chose, as the “Stars”, we were hoping to be, someday. One demand he made, from the “Singers” like “your’s truly” was, that whenever he attended a concert with a “lady-friend”(and he had many), I had to sing one of his favourite songs, “Ain’t Misbehavin”, my good pal, Denis Roberts, a superb “Sinatra-Style” Vocalist had to sing “To each, his own” (Ink-spots-style), Cliff Foenander, Bill Forbes, & many other “top” entertainers, also had to be ready to “warble” one of Donavan”s favourites, whenever he was around. All of the female “Stars” & “Stars to be” were also involved with Donavan Andree, but he knew how to “treat a lady”, & I can honestly say that there were no “sexual- harassment” claims against him. In the 50’s, that particular claim was unheard of, anyway.

At around the same time, there was another “Showman”

coming into the picture. His name was Mubarak Thaha. There would have been no doubt in his mind, that he could not “match” Donavan in the “Show-biz Stakes”, but he was going to give it a damn good try, anyway. He started by owning & running a night-club called the “Atlanta”.

There was absolutely no disloyalty involved. Donavan was fully aware that some of us “needed” that extra money, and as long as it d8d not interfere with his schedule, as far as he was concerned, we could “work” for anyone. I well remember that Cliff Foenander, a top entertainer & the best “front-man” that any band in Ceylon, at the time, could ever have, worked regularly for Mubarak as a ” Compere”. Cliff, who was another “special friend”, had a “voice” of liquid-gold, easily, one of the best voices in Ceylon, who went on to “entertain” the World with the “Fabulous Echoes”, but died, far too young, in Melbourne. (God bless you, Cliff).

Another superb singer was my pal Denis Roberts. Suffice to say, that if you closed your eyes, it was Frank Sinatra, you were hearing. Denis also passed-on, a few years ago, but I will never ever forget this guy, a true friend, who would now be entertaining the angels in heaven, I feel sure. We cannot forget many others (both male & female), and especially, as far as I am concerned, Bill Forbes, in England, now, a singer who “wowed” them everywhere he went. Bill & this writer are still alive & kicking, thank God. I don’t know about Bill, but many Lankans think that Desmond Kelly, poor bugger, has died. I have worked out why they have arrived at this sad conclusion. Firstly, there are about eight Desmond Kelly’s living in Dandenong, Melbourne, alone. There were nine, altogether, one was a horse-trainer, until one of his “charges” kicked him, unfortunately, in the head, and then there were eight.

For all the members & readers of eLanka , the “good times” will continue in part 2 of this true story, where Mubarak Thaha “produced” his big stage show, named “Myombe”, naturally, with Arsenio Alexander & his partner Manuela Sanchez coming up to entertain you.

See you next time. Ladies & Gentlemen, “Those WERE the good times.

Desmond Kelly
Star of eLanka
(Editor-in-Chief).