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.
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.
A remarkable thing about this programme is the number of type faces used in it. Today Rubini is perhaps best remembered for the woodcut and letterpress poster of him performing the Decapitated Lady illusion.
The show was said to be a varied musical and mimetic entertainment. Note that the front page lists Mr R. Howard as the Business Manager. This is presumably the magician Mr Robert Howard who also performed with the “Merry Moments!” at the Egyptian Hall – see N3061 and N3062.
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.
This programme is of interest to magic historians because the cover includes an advertisement for Professor Herrmann performing every night at the Egyptian Hall. Alexander Herrmann performed at the Egyptian Hall during 1871 to 1873, so the programme date must be within this date range.
The Gallery of Mystery was on Dean Street in London. The programme announces the special engagement of Hercat, the eminent American illusionist, ventrilquist and humorist. In fact, he was British named R.D. Chater.
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.
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.
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.
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