Bon voyage; Deiro embarks on the steamship. From left to right: Guido Deiro, Guido's manager (name unknown), Piatanesi and Colombo from Guerinni Accordion Co. 1928

Perhaps Guido Deiro's most exciting itineraries were two "World Tours" by steamer ship in 1928 and 1929.

1st Tour:

The first tour in the Summer of 1928 took him to Australia where he, booked by the Williamson Tivoli Agency, performed at the best vaudeville theaters in that continent in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. He also made some recordings (his last) while in Australia. On the return back to the United States, he performed in New Zealand, Pago-Pago, Samoa, the Fiji group, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Several news clippings of reviews and advertisements found in Deiro's scrapbook attest to his enthusiastic reception by the "Aussies," who were fascinated by his "melo accordeon" and captivated by his performances and personality. A reporter in Sydney wrote:

Deiro, a Williamson Tivoli vaudeville attraction, presented a remarkable musical turn with his melo accordeon. The instrument, which looks like a miniature piano, was strapped across his chest, and Deiro extracted from it melody that had all the resonance of an organ at times. Chiming bells ringing out in a carillon of joy, or dying away in the distance, were simulated perfectly, and "Ramona" and "Ain't She Sweet" were given with the effect of an orchestra. The player was recalled several times for his fine work and each time he had some fresh novelty to offer.

Guido Deiro Scrapbook No. 2, page 25.

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Click Here (215 KB) to see an advertisement and delightful caricature for Deiro's performances at the Regent in Australia (Summer 1928).

Click Here (105 KB) to see an advertisement for Deiro's performances at the Regent in Australia, along with a film by Douglas Fairbanks.

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An Eureka, California, newspaper, described Deiro's Australian tour thus:

Speaking of his trip to the Antipodes, Deiro described it as a great success. He said that he met with a wonderful reception in Australia, New Zealand and various insular groups in the itinerary, including Pago-Pago, Samoa, the Fiji group, and Hawaii. He said that the Antipodes, however, demand a different type of music than America, showing a marked preference for the classics and popular music with a classic trend, rather than for jazz.

Outside the theatre, Deiro had a number of interesting experiences on his tour, including a shark fishing expedition out of Brisbane, and a trip into the interior of the Fiji islands. The natives of the latter place, he stated, were frightened when he produced his accordion and played for them. He said the majority of these natives are living in the same circumstances as prevailed before the discovery of the islands.

Guido Deiro Scrapbook No. 2, page 27.

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2nd Tour:

Deiro's second world tour took him to Europe in 1929. An Eureka newspaper article dated February 23, 1929 described his tour:

From here Deiro will proceed directly to New York, via his home in San Francisco, sailing on the Leviathan in order to reach England by April 1. He will open his European season in Glasgow after which he is booked for lengthy appearance in London. His contract calls for bookings in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy and Spain. He will spend considerable time along the Riviera. He expects to be gone a year.

Deiro performed concerts in England, the Middle East and the European Continent. Deiro remained over a month in England and filled dates in Leeds and Brighton. He headlined at the even then famous "London Palladium." He did not return to the United States until 1930.

According to the printed program for the Guido Deiro Benefit Concert in 1950, Guido also performed in Africa and the Orient. He probably visited the Orient on his first tour, and Africa on his second tour. We do not know which cities in the Orient Deiro might have performed in, although we suspect it must have been cities which had a strong English presence. Perhaps he performed in Bombay or Calcutta; cities in a country which was governed by the British Empire. In Africa, on his second tour, he probably performed in Cairo, as Egypt had a large English presence during the early 20th century.

To see samples of theater playbills from the tour Click Here.