The majority of posters in the collection are theatre posters. These are either letterpress posters for variety theatres, or pictorial posters for a single magician or show.
A small number of other posters advertise books, exhibitions or events such as conferences.
To search for a specific date use the format 10 October 1924.
The show played various dates around the UK in 2021 and 2022. The show featured four magicians from The Magic Circle: Megan Swann, Danny Lee Grew, Dean Leavy and either Scott Penrose or Lance Corporal Richard Jones. Scott had recently located and renovated an early copy of Psycho and this was featured in his act. John Davenport caught the show when it appeared at The Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon on 23 October 2021.
The poster advertises the appearance of the circus in Ayr, Scotland, from Monday to Wednesday 29-31 July 2019.
This poster was first introduced at the August 2021 Magic Collectors’ Expo held in Las Vegas. Produced by Bill Smith, one hundred of the posters were also signed. This is #16/100. Unfortunately John Davenport was not able to attend the Expo, which included a visit to the museum and library, because of Covid restrictions.
According to page 193 of Kent Blackmore’s book on Levante, at the time of Levante’s tour of New Zealand in 1964, Levante’s wife Gladys took on a new stage name, becoming ‘Harlequin, the Lady of Shadows’.
Arthur Sketchley (real name George Rose) was a journalist and a very popular Victorian entertainer with his humour and impersonations. Mrs. Brown’s exploits were very popular at the Egyptian Hall and also spawned a range of books covering topics from her views on Cleopatra’s Needle to her travels around the world. This is one of the items contained in a wooden box of 19th century ephemera, mainly relating to the Egyptian Hall. To view all the items from the box, click on View Details and then the Key Phrase ‘Wooden box items’.
The three items pasted onto the sheet of paper are a poster and a newspaper clip for the Egyptian Hall, and a programme for the Spa Concert Room, Harrogate. Miss Grace Egerton (Mrs. George Case) entertains as an actress, singer and danseuse. Her husband adds to the entertainment. This is one of the items contained in a wooden box of 19th century ephemera, mainly relating to the Egyptian Hall. To view all the items from the box, click on View Details and then the Key Phrase ‘Wooden box items’.
This was painted by magician and family friend Bryan Baggs in 2020. It is No. 2 of 30. It is based on a poster design for the stage act of Lewis and Julia Davenport, although no copy of the poster has ever been found. The image was also used for a postcard: see Ref. no. N450. Their act was silent, hence the billing ‘No Time to Talk’. Lewis and Julia performed from 1904-1909, so the date of the postcard is circa 1906.
George Mozart (1864-1947) was a musician and burlesque comedian. He wasn’t one of the top music hall stars, but he had a long, successful career as an entertainer. In the 1920s he worked for the Maskelynes at St George’s Hall. His road to success is a fascinating story which tells us much about life as an entertainer in late 19th and early 20th century Britain. Click below to enter his world.
In 1944 Paul Freeman had the incredible experience of being sold a magic prop by Will Goldston, wrapped up in a Servais Le Roy poster. Click below to join Paul for his account of this transaction and what Paul subsequently discovered about the poster, Adolph Friedländer the lithographic printer, and the performer Servais Le Roy.
The bill includes Lewis Davenport the Bewilderest presenting a series of bewildering novelties. Assisted by Winifred Wynne.
