The Victoria and Albert Museum reproduced this postcard from a playbill in their collection. The playbill advertises Rubini at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, where he performed in 1867. It features Rubini’s decapitation illusion. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum.
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.
Most of the reviews are dated December 1878, with the last one dated 4 January 1879. As mentioned in the press opinions, Richard Howard spent some time working at the Egyptian Hall with Mr H. Liston’s “Merry Moments”.
Although the name of the newspaper is not included on the clip, there is a quotation from it in the programme N3057 which named the source as the Daily Telegraph.
This is a ticket for Professor Herrmann’s First Complimentary Benefit at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly on Tuesday afternoon 4 February 1873. The ticket is for a Fauteuil for a price of 10s 6d.
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.
Alexander Herrmann performed at the Egyptian Hall during 1871 to 1873, so the programme date must be within this date range. The Praeger Family were also performing at every performance.
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.
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.