The Davenport Collection
- a growing resource on magic and entertainment history

Programmes & Handbills

The majority are for variety shows which include a magician. Most are from the UK covering the 1870s to the present day.

To search for a specific date use the format 10 October 1924

Dr Lynn assisted by M. Corelli at the Bloomsbury Hall, London

Dr Lynn assisted by M. Corelli at the Bloomsbury Hall, London

This may be incomplete because stitching in the left margin suggests that other pages were included. The front page tells us that these performances at Bloomsbury Hall signal the return to London of Dr Lynn assisted by M. Corelli (The Silent Conjurer). The actual programme is unclear, because on page 2 we are told: ‘The programme will be selected from the following’.

Although this item is undated, N3148 is an 1888 newspaper article based on an interview with Dr Lynn at the Bloomsbury Hall. It therefore seems likly that the date of this performance at the Hall is 1888.

Programme for The Royal Polytechnic Institution Limited, 1868

Programme for The Royal Polytechnic Institution Limited, 1868

The pink front cover has been printed out of true, as illustrated here. Lectures and novelties are presented by several people including Mr Robert Coote; Professor Pepper; Herr Schalkenbach; Thomas Tobin; Mr William Stokes; Mr J.L. King. The programme gives the timings for each day of the week. Examples of pages are shown under Details. The whole programme may be seen in the PDF which can be downloaded.

Programme for Professor Herrmann at the Egyptian Hall, circa 1871

Programme for Professor Herrmann at the Egyptian Hall, circa 1871

Alexander Herrmann performed at the Egyptian Hall during 1871 to 1873, so the programme date must be within this date range. Note that the front page says ‘Second Season’. It therefore appears that this programme cannot be from the very start of Herrmann’s run at the Hall. The fact that the back has an advertisement for Christmas and New Year’s novelties suggests that the programme was used in the run up to Christmas.

Programme for Hercat at the Egyptian Hall, 1888

Programme for Hercat at the Egyptian Hall, 1888

This run opened on 29 September 1888. Hercat (real name R.D. Chater) performed at the Egyptian Hall while Maskelyne and Cooke were away. The show included his successful illusion “The Mystery of She”. Miss Fay Rivington is listed as his assistant.

Programme for Hercat at the Egyptian Hall, 1888

Programme for Hercat at the Egyptian Hall, 1888

This run opened on 29 September 1888. Hercat (real name R.D. Chater) performed at the Egyptian Hall while Maskelyne and Cooke were away. The show included his successful illusion “The Mystery of She”. Miss Florence Glencairn is listed as his assistant.

Programme for Herr Adalbert Frikell at the Egyptian Hall, 1880

Programme for Herr Adalbert Frikell at the Egyptian Hall, 1880

During this period Maskelyne and Cooke performed every evening at 8pm, and on Saturdays at 3 and 8pm. Frikell’s performances took place on weekday afternoons. The programme also tells us that Mr John Hacksley Evans performed a charming interlude of L’Imitation D’Oiseaux. To learn about Adalbert Frikell’s life see N2326 which is a PDF of a talk that Paul Freeman delivered in Berlin and London.