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

Maskelyne and Cooke Egyptian Hall programme, 1887

Maskelyne and Cooke Egyptian Hall programme, 1887

The programme date is probably somewhere in the November to December 1887 period. At the bottom of page 3 it says that the magical sketch Cleopatra’s Needle will be revived shortly. It was actually revived in December 1887, according to the book by George Jenness on the Egyptian Hall. The bill also includes Arcana, which was first produced on 5 November 1887, again according to Jenness. So the date of the programme must be around November to December 1887.

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 1890

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 1890

An advertisement on the back page includes financial figures for the year ending 25 March 1889. The date 26 January 1890 is written on the cover. There is no reason to doubt this as the bill appears to be consistent with the 1889 Christmas season.

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 1887

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 1887

At the bottom of page 3 it says that Cleopatra’s Needle will be revived shortly. It was introduced in December 1887, according to Jenness. The bill includes ‘Arcana’ which was first produced on 5 November 1887. So the date of the programme must be around November 1887 to December 1887.

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 4 November 1887

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London. 4 November 1887

This is an unusual programme dated 4 November 1887. It is a Private Representation, the purpose of which was to showcase to the press Maskelyne’s new sketch ‘Arcana, or Original Research’. At the conclusion of ‘Arcana’ Herr and Madame Curt Schulz gave a recital in the Withdrawing Room.

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London

Maskelyne and Cooke, Egyptian Hall, London

Although the cover says FROM the Egyptian Hall, implying that this is a touring programme, it is in fact an Egyptian Hall programme. No doubt there were some of these programmes, which had pre-printed full colour covers, left over from the October to December 1886 tour and Maskelyne decided to use them up by printing the Egyptian Hall programme on pages 2 and 3. 10 January 1887 is written on the cover. This is probably correct as the bill is consistent with the 1886 Christmas season.