MICHALIS THOMAKOS
He began his artistic career in operetta, collaborating with Yannis
Papaioannou's troupe Hellenic Operetta, with which he appeared in productions
such as Take Me with You, Blue Mazurka, The Dutchwoman, The Queen of the
Fox-Trot, and Where the Lark Speaks (1922), as well as Bayandre, The Last Waltz
(1922–1923), Frasquita (1923), among others.
He made his first appearance before an Italian audience in Onelia,
where he made such a strong impression that he was immediately invited to
appear again. This was followed by a concert in Milan and performances at the
Politeama Milanese theater in the operas Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Lucia di
Lammermoor, where he won public admiration and favorable reviews from the
Italian press.
In May and October of 1928, he recorded for Fonotipia in Milan under
the name Michele Tomaco.
In 1929, he appeared in Italy in productions of Il Barbiere di
Siviglia at the Politeama Mabellini in Pistoia, Tuscany, and at the Teatro
Civico in Merano.
Upon returning to Greece around 1930, he collaborated with the Greek
Melodrama troupe. According to Antonis Hatziapostolou (History of Greek
Melodrama, Athens, 1949, p. 128), he remained with the company for several
years, taking part in tours and performing in numerous operas. His roles
included Faust (Olympia Theater, 7 July 1930), Lakmé (1932–1933) as Gérard, Il
Barbiere di Siviglia (1932 and 1933) as Count Almaviva, Manon (1932) as Des
Grieux, Don Pasquale, La Traviata (1933), among others.
In 1931, he participated in a Greek Melodrama tour in Trikala,
presenting operas such as La Traviata, Aida, Rigoletto, and Markos Botsaris at
the Attikon Theater. In the summer of 1933, he took part in a tour through the
Peloponnese, Messolonghi, Agrinio, Arta, and Ioannina, and in the winter of
1937, he appeared again with the troupe at the Olympia Theater in Athens.
During the 1930s, he also worked with the Paulas–Iatrou Operetta
Company, performing in the revue operetta Jenny Falls in Love, as
Michalis Nomides, and in Countess Maritsa as Count Tasilo.
In 1934, he appeared in the Greek film They're Calling You on the
Phone, playing the role of a jazz singer.
In February 1938, he performed with Nikos Gounaris at the Ethnikon
center in Heraklion, Crete.
He emigrated to the United States, likely after World War II. In the
late 1940s, he appeared in various performances organized by the Greek Actors'
Troupe, such as a tribute to Katina Thymiou (Palm Garden, New York, 4 April
1948), the drama Why Did I Sin (New England Mutual Hall, Boston, 7 November
1948), and events including the American Legion George Dilboy Post and the
Association of Athenians (Manhattan Center, New York, 23 May 1948), the Asia
Minor Association "The Providence" (Manhattan Center, New York, 4
December 1948), and an artistic evening organized by G. Degaitas (Palm Garden,
New York, 5 December 1948).
On New Year’s Eve 1948, he performed with the orchestra of Lucianos
Kavvadias at the Acropolis Casino in New York, where he continued to appear
regularly. He collaborated with artists such as G. Vitalis, A. and K. Pongis,
Koula Giuseppe, among others, and in 1949 took on duties as a manager and
master of ceremonies. That year, he also performed at the New York restaurant
Wivel, and participated in dances organized by various clubs and associations:
the women's club Aspasia (Diplomat Hotel, New York, 22 February 1949), Pan-Proikonisia
(Yorkville Casino, 26 March 1949), Kalavrytina (Palm Garden, 27 March 1949),
Samia (Manhattan Center, 17 April 1949, with Paola and others), the
Hellenic-American Football Club (Diplomat Hotel, 14 May 1949), and the Asia
Minor Association "I Pronoia" (Manhattan Center, 19 November 1949).
On 8 May 1949, he appeared on the radio program The Albert Bacolas
Hour, broadcast on WLIB 1190 Kc.
Throughout the 1950s, he continued performing at venues such as Dennis
Chop House (New York, opening 3 November 1950), and at various social events:
the Kefallinia Ladies' Club (St. Moritz Hotel, 12 February 1950), the
Kefallinians (Hotel Statler, 12 March 1950), Nikos Gounaris's farewell concert
(Manhattan Center, 30 April 1950), the American Legion George Dilboy Post dance
(Manhattan Center, 7 December 1951), the Federation of Dodecanese Associations
(Capitol Hotel, 12 January 1952), Acropolis Casino (New Year’s Eve 1954), and
the Athenian Association dance (Statler Hotel, 18 March 1956).
TRACKLIST
Argentina (Raimondi)
Columbia D. G. 4 W. G. 2
Athina to
paliou kerou (Manesi-Antoniade) Duett (w. unknown singer) Standard F-9046-A
10-562
Ay - Ay - Ay
(Freire) Columbia D. G. 9 W. G .11
Don't ask me
Columbia F. G. 184 W. G. 210
Lucia di
Lammermoor (Donizetti) Fra poco a me ricovero 120189 Pho6297 Fonotipia, Milano
1928-05-31
Manon
(Massenet) Chiudo gli occhi 168200 Pho6449 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-27
Mignon
(Thomas) Addio Mignon, fa core! 168200 Pho6448 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-27
Mipaz
(Mirage) (Wise-Leeds-Demey-Diamantis) Standard F-9110-A E2-CB-8035-1
Nineta
Nanina Ninon Columbia D. G. 153 W. G. 168
Ramona
(Wayne) Columbia 8347
Serenata
(Toselli) Columbia D. G. 9 W. G. 1
Why do you
say you love me (Metaxas) Columbia D. G. 308
Ya matia ta
dika sou agapo (Manesi-Rigopoulos) Standard F-9046-B 10-564
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