Jimmy O'Dea
Encyclopedia
James Augustine "Jimmy" O'Dea (26 April 1899 – 7 January 1965) was an Irish actor and comedian.
and Belvedere College
. From a young age he was interested in taking to the stage; he co-founded an amateur acting group, the Kilronan Players, in 1917. But his father would not hear of it. O'Dea was apprenticed to an optician in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he qualified as an optician.
He returned to Dublin where, aged 21, he set up his own business which he was, eventually, to give to his sister, Rita. In his spare time he took part in amateur productions of Ibsen and Chekhov. From 1920 he was in the Irish theatre in Hardwicke Street working with actor-producer John McDonagh. After working in plays by Shaw
for a few years he rejoined McDonagh in revues, the first of which, Dublin To-Night, was produced at the Queen's Theatre
in 1924. In 1927 he took to the stage full-time. In 1928, this company's first production Here We Are won international acclaim, and in December of the same year it produced its first Christmas Pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor.
O'Dea formed a partnership with Harry O'Donovan
(died 3 November 1973) whom he first met in a production of You Never Can Tell in 1924. Their first show was Look Who's Here at Queen's
. For more than two decades beginning in 1929 the duo produced two shows a year in Dublin, first in the Olympia Theatre
, then in the Gaiety. They created O'Dea's most famous character, "Mrs. Biddy Mulligan". The role drew on Jimmy's previous manifestations as "Dames" in Variety performances and pantomimes. Biddy Mulligan was the representation (caricature, parody and stereotype) of a Dublin street-seller, with all the working-class repartee, wisdom and failings implicit. He made a number of recordings of sketches starring Mrs. Mulligan. Biddy Mulligan is referenced in many Dublin music hall songs such as "Biddy Mulligan the Pride of the Coombe
", "Daffy the Belle of the Coombe" and "The Charladies' Ball
".
O'Dea made some film appearances, such as Darby O'Gill and the Little People
(1959) in which he played King Brian of the little people and Johnny Nobody
(1961). He also had a successful career in pantomime and toured Ireland and England many times, and is much associated with actress Maureen Potter
(1925-2004), with whom he often partnered.
O'Dea was also a prolific songwriter in his day. Many of his songs are still well known to this day, some of them having been sung and recorded by Dublin singer Frank Harte
.
was best-man; he would also give the valedictory oration at O'Dea's funeral in 1965.
Life
Jimmy O'Dea was born in Lower Bridge Street, Dublin, where his mother kept a small toy-shop. He was one of 11 children. His father was an iron-monger and had a shop in Capel Street. He was educated at Blackrock CollegeBlackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
and Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
. From a young age he was interested in taking to the stage; he co-founded an amateur acting group, the Kilronan Players, in 1917. But his father would not hear of it. O'Dea was apprenticed to an optician in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he qualified as an optician.
He returned to Dublin where, aged 21, he set up his own business which he was, eventually, to give to his sister, Rita. In his spare time he took part in amateur productions of Ibsen and Chekhov. From 1920 he was in the Irish theatre in Hardwicke Street working with actor-producer John McDonagh. After working in plays by Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
for a few years he rejoined McDonagh in revues, the first of which, Dublin To-Night, was produced at the Queen's Theatre
Queen's Theatre, Dublin
The Queen's Theatre, Dublin, located in Pearse Street was originally built in 1829 as the Adelphi Theatre. This building was demolished in 1844 and rebuilt. It reopened that same year as the Queens Royal Theatre, the new owner having been granted a Royal Patent to operate as a patent theatre. The...
in 1924. In 1927 he took to the stage full-time. In 1928, this company's first production Here We Are won international acclaim, and in December of the same year it produced its first Christmas Pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor.
O'Dea formed a partnership with Harry O'Donovan
Harry O'Donovan
Harry O'Donovan was an Irish comedy scriptwriter, stage manager and actor.-Life:He was born in Dublin, Ireland and was apprenticed to a painter. In his spare time, he took part in amateur dramatics, finally joining a troupe of actors and touring Ireland for several years...
(died 3 November 1973) whom he first met in a production of You Never Can Tell in 1924. Their first show was Look Who's Here at Queen's
Queen's Theatre, Dublin
The Queen's Theatre, Dublin, located in Pearse Street was originally built in 1829 as the Adelphi Theatre. This building was demolished in 1844 and rebuilt. It reopened that same year as the Queens Royal Theatre, the new owner having been granted a Royal Patent to operate as a patent theatre. The...
. For more than two decades beginning in 1929 the duo produced two shows a year in Dublin, first in the Olympia Theatre
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall/theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.-History:Built in 1879, it was originally called the "Star of Erin Music Hall". Two years later in 1881, it was renamed "Dan Lowrey's Music Hall" and was renamed again in 1889 to "Dan Lowrey's Palace of...
, then in the Gaiety. They created O'Dea's most famous character, "Mrs. Biddy Mulligan". The role drew on Jimmy's previous manifestations as "Dames" in Variety performances and pantomimes. Biddy Mulligan was the representation (caricature, parody and stereotype) of a Dublin street-seller, with all the working-class repartee, wisdom and failings implicit. He made a number of recordings of sketches starring Mrs. Mulligan. Biddy Mulligan is referenced in many Dublin music hall songs such as "Biddy Mulligan the Pride of the Coombe
Biddy Mulligan the Pride of the Coombe
Biddy Mulligan the Pride of the Coombe is a song written by Seamas Kavanagh in the 1930s, and made famous by the performances of the music-hall singer and comedian Jimmy O'Dea, who also took on the persona of the charismatic stall-holder.-History of the Song:The song-writer Seamus Kavanagh...
", "Daffy the Belle of the Coombe" and "The Charladies' Ball
The Charladies' Ball
"The Charladies' Ball" is an Irish folk song written by Harry O'Donovan and popularised by his collaborator, music-hall singer and comedian Jimmy O'Dea...
".
O'Dea made some film appearances, such as Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Darby O'Gill and the Little People is a 1959 Walt Disney Productions feature film starring Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery and Jimmy O'Dea, in a tale about a wily Irishman and his battle of wits with leprechauns. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and its screenplay written by...
(1959) in which he played King Brian of the little people and Johnny Nobody
Johnny Nobody
Johnny Nobody is a 1961 UK drama film brought to the screen by Viceroy Films Limited under the production of John R. Sloan with executive production from Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli. The original story was by Albert Z. Carr with the screenplay by Patrick Kirwan. It was directed by the...
(1961). He also had a successful career in pantomime and toured Ireland and England many times, and is much associated with actress Maureen Potter
Maureen Potter
Maria Philomena Potter , known as Maureen Potter, was an acclaimed Irish singer, actor, comedian and performer.-Life:...
(1925-2004), with whom he often partnered.
O'Dea was also a prolific songwriter in his day. Many of his songs are still well known to this day, some of them having been sung and recorded by Dublin singer Frank Harte
Frank Harte
Frank Harte was a traditional Irish singer, song collector, architect and lecturer. He was born and raised in Dublin. His father Peter Harte who had moved from a farming background in Sligo owned 'The Tap' pub in Chapelizod...
.
Personal life
O'Dea married Ursula Doyle. Maureen Potter was bridesmaid. Seán LemassSeán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
was best-man; he would also give the valedictory oration at O'Dea's funeral in 1965.
Recordings
With Harry O'Donovan:- "Mrs. Mulligan nearly wins the Sweep" E.3694 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan in London" E.3895 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan at the telephone" E.3663 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan at the talkies" E.3764 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan at the racecourse" E.3763 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan in the tram" E.3764 Parlophone
- "The Irish Schoolmaster" E.3634 Parlophone
- "Sixpence each way" E.3634 Parlophone
- "Biddy Mulligan" E 3817 Parlophone
- "Mrs. Mulligan, Smuggler"
- "The Charladies' Ball"