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

Oswald Williams

Poster of Oswald Williams at the Tivoli, Australia

Poster of Oswald Williams at the Tivoli, Australia

Oswald Williams was a first class magician who flourished in the first decades of the 1900s. He was also well known as the inventor of many large illusions and smaller tricks. His name deserves to be better known today. The Harry Rickard theatre circuit in Australia owned a Tivoli theatre in more than one city. This poster could be used at all of them because only the name Tivoli, and not the city name, is given at the top of the poster.

St. George’s Hall, printer’s date 8 August 1924

St. George’s Hall, printer’s date 8 August 1924

Programmes of this type have the printer’s date at the bottom left of the third page. The date when this programme was presented to the public is not given. The pages illustrated are 1, 12 and a compilation of pages which together show the billing matter for all the acts.

Oswald Williams’ Mouse Trap cod invention

Oswald Williams’ Mouse Trap cod invention

This crazy invention is a triumph of entertainment and design. The performer explains in a very visual, amusing way, how the contraption should be used to catch a mouse. The original patter by Oswald Williams is also in the collection. The apparatus has been designed so that it fits compactly into its travelling case which has the initials O. W. on it. The photographs show how it opens out to its full length. Inside the opening of the travelling case are Oswald Williams’ contact details: Oswald Williams, 510 Clive Court, Maida Vale, London W. 9. Phone Cunningham 2420.