The Black and White Costume Company performed at a concert at the Olympia Theatre on 17 October 1917 as part of Gympie’s Jubilee celebrations (50 year jubilee of the Gympie Goldfields) expressed as a “bright and sparkling programme and a crowded house”. The night involved musical performances, humorous songs and comedic farce.

Black and White Costume Company, Gympie, 1917

Women standing, L-R: Jessie Spring and Lila Fleming.
Seated L-R: Gladys Bracewell, Mabel Brown, Jack Goodwin, B. Bottrell and D. Roberts.
Seated on the ground, L-R: Lil Hanley, James Brennan and Reg Flay.

Black and White Costume Company, Gympie, 1917

L-R: Jack Goodwin, Jessie Spring, D. Roberts, Gladys Bracewell, James Brennan, Lil Hanley, Reg Flay, Lila Fleming, B. Bottrell, Mabel Brown.

Young women of the Black and White Costume Company, Gympie, 1917

Front row, L-R: ___, ___, Gladys Jones, Mabel Brown, Lila Fleming.
Back row, L-R: ____, Jessie Spring, Gladys Bracewell, Lil Hanley.
**Please note: Unidentified women are E. Marshall, V. Wallace and F. Thomas, order unknown.

The popularity of the group proved an entertaining success, and by request, the Costume Company tendered more concerts with collection of funds in aid of local patriotic and hospital benefit. They even travelled to perform for the residents of Maryborough at the Town Hall, with the headline printed:

Jonathan J. Goodwin, lead of the group, wrote to the Maryborough Chronicle, with thanks:

Later the group became known as Black and White Costume Revue Company with one of the original members, Jack Goodwin, becoming the Musical Director by 1940.