Roy Rene ‘Mo’ doll

This Roy Rene doll, showing him as the character ‘Mo McCackie’, was owned by Evelyn Chamberlain, who received it as a child. It dates back to 1930, with Roy one of Australia's greatest comedians of the early 20th century. Like a local Charlie Chaplin, he was renowned for his physical, vaudevillian humour and enjoyed enduring popularity. 

His popular catchphrases – such as ‘Don’t come the raw prawn with me’ and ‘You little beauty!’ – have been immortalised in Australian slang. He is an especially interesting figure in Australian pop culture history because he came to embody a sense of ‘Australianness’ as a Jewish performer during a period of widespread anti-Semitic sentiment.

Despite his popularity, he appeared in only one feature film – Strike Me Lucky (Ken G Hall, 1934). Rene’s stage presence did not translate well to the screen. In its review, The Sydney Morning Herald critic tersely noted, ‘An experienced director of Hollywood farce could perhaps have reshaped the comedian's style to fit the new medium; but Mr Ken Hall has made only an amateurish job of things’. 

Despite this setback, Roy Rene remains an icon of the Australian entertainment industry. His legacy has been honoured by many artists following in his footsteps, including the 1977 play Young Mo by Steve J Spears that starred Garry McDonald, who was then at the height of his ‘Norman Gunston’ fame. The Nimrod Theatre production even featured a poster designed by renowned artist Martin Sharp.