This section includes all types of ephemera other than Posters & Showcards and Programmes & Handbills.
The collection is particularly rich in ephemera relating to the Davenports, the Maskelynes and Will Goldston.
This clipping from ‘The Daily Telegraph’ includes Maskelyne and Cooke’s Christmas Programme. It mentions the new and original magical romance ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’, Herr Valadon and Animated Photographs.
Other London entertainments are also mentioned.
The first advertisement for Maskelyne highlights the Christmas Holiday Programme. (The Christmas programme usually ran well into the following year.) The second one highlights an animated photograph of the funeral procession of Queen Victoria.
The first advertisement for Maskelyne highlights the Christmas Holiday Programme. (The Christmas programme usually ran well into the following year.) The second one highlights an animated photograph of the funeral procession of Queen Victoria.
Also advertised are entertainments at the Crystal Palace, London Hippodrome, St. James’ Hall and the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington.
The image is signed by Levante with the date 1954. This souvenir most likely originated from Cambridge magician Claude Perry, who went to see Levante at the New Theatre, Cambridge on week commencing Monday, 22 November 1954.
Devant explains that a member of the Ladies’ Grand Council has suggested that members might like to purchase a block of seats on Mr. Maskelyne’s Grand Pavilion to view the procession for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Along the bottom of the item is an unrelated piece illustrating Devant producing a rabbit on ‘animated photograph’ film. It explains how animated photographs work and acts as an advertisement for Devant’s exhibitions.
It is well known that Devant tried to sell seats in Maskelyne’s Grand Stand at St. Paul’s for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee procession on 22 June 1897, for example, see Ref. no. N2082. However, this is the only evidence that I have seen for Devant selling seats in the Royal Horse Guards Pavilion in Whitehall, a completely different part of London. The Magic Circle Archive also has a copy of this advertisement.
Devant announces new animated photographs for his ‘Cinematographe’. He also explains that to ensure he is able to obtain good pictures of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee procession on 22 June 1897, he has 140 seats for disposal on Mr. Maskelyne’s Grand Stand. The fascinating story of Maskelyne’s Grand Stand can be found in ‘John Nevil Maskelyne’s Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee speculation‘ by Dr Edwin A Dawes on this website.
This article is on page 194 of the 22 February issue. It focuses on the sketch ‘The Gnome’s Grot’ and a summary of the life of Miss Cassie Bruce who plays a character in the sketch. The article refers to an illustration on page 195 which is also reproduced here, courtesy of the Peter Lane Collection.
Attached to the notepaper is a newspaper advertisement for the Egyptian Hall Maskelyne and Cooke Christmas Holiday show. No date is given, but the contents of the show relate to Christmas 1898. Items mentioned on the bill are the sketch ‘Trapped by Magic’; Animated Photographs; David Devant; Mel B. Spurr. The animated photographs include “Off to the Cape” taken on board a Castle Liner by R.W. Paul.
Published in ‘The Sketch’ on 15 August 1894. Under the headline ‘Maskelyne the Magician’ the reporter reviews the magical sketch ‘Modern Witchery’ which was J.N. Maskelyne’s way of making fun of the Theosphy movement.
