This poster publicises The Great Chang Polka. Chang was a giant who held audience at the Egyptian Hall in 1865. The caption tells us ‘Shaking hands with everybody within reach, and The Giant’s reach is long, to the tune of a very pretty Polka, composed by Chang’s “Aide de Camp”, Mr. Marquis Chisholm. (Vide Times, Sept 28th 1865)’. We are told the polka is performed at all levees at the Egyptian Hall. Much is written on the internet about Chang Woo Gow, The Great Chang, not all of which tells the same story. The lithograph is signed Alfred Concanen, a leading lithographer of the Victorian era. The Davenport Collection also has a handout from 1865 which contains Chang’s address, as well as that of Chung Mow, who is the small person on the right of the poster. See Ref. no. N1932.
Posters & Showcards
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.
Lincoln was an American Humourist and Entertainer. He opened at the Egyptian Hall on 1 November 1882 while Maskelyne and Cooke were touring. The poster is dated in ink Nov 16th 1882.
The show featured The Great Masoni (Eric Mason) and Shan in Maskelyne’s Mysteries.
The poster depicts the three main characters in the show.
One of many undated posters for the long running show masterminded by Cesareo Pelaez.
This was a gift from Le Grand David company to John Davenport when he visited the show with the American magician Frank Lane (Frank Caldwell) in 1983.
One of the many posters from Le Grand David and his own spectacular magic company.
The poster depicts some of the stars of the show.
Another Grand David poster – always a wonder to remember.
A new adaptation by Bryony Lavery of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with illusions by Scott Penrose. The play was in Cambridge from 29 March to 2 April 2005.