Billy, again thanks for some fascinating information.
Up to the end of the 1950s there were still travelling booth theatres (along with mobile cinemas) here in Ireland.
They appeared to take two distinctive forms - the professional groups with extensive equipment, costume and props, (Eoin(?) McMasters was one of the leading actor/producers in these), and the occasional ones, extremely basic, with the minimum of equipment and usually organised by Traveller families.
I am interested in both, (theatre as a whole in fact) but the Traveller fit-ups are part of our collecting work. One singer's sisters were part of one in Kerry at the end of the 1940s. This was run by Christie Purcell, who, along with his daughter Lal Smith, was recorded singing by the BBC during their mopping up project.
I'm trying to find out some of the titles of the plays presented - so far I only have 'Willie Reilly and Collen Bán'.
There was a television programme devoted to McMasters earlier this year and also a 15 minute early documentory film on the fit-ups in general.
Thanks again
Jim Carroll