{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1156811"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1156811/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE0627/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE0627/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HE0627","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1156811","accessionNumber":"S.5015-2009","objectType":"Poster","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This handbill advertises a twice-nightly variety programme at the Palace Theatre, Blackpool, in 1912, which included early cinema billed as 'Palace Perfection Pictures'. It starred George Formby Senior, the father of the more famous comedian and singer of the same name, and a variety of other performers including Arthur Astill, billed here in his early career as 'the Whistling Ploughboy'. By the 1940s Arthur Astill was on the halls in a variety act with Gwen Fontaine, which involved the mimicry of children, and of birds and animals, obviously using his whistling skills.\r\n\nThis hanging card was part of a collection made by Arthur Astill (1887-1962) of publicity material from theatres where he and his wife Gwen Fontaine appeared. The names of the best-known performers appear in larger or bolder type-face, while George Formby (1875-1921), the performer James Booth who took his stage name from a Lancashire town, was popular enough to have his name printed most prominently on the handbill, and vertically down each side, with the slogan: 'John Willie, Come On' along the bottom. This was the title of the song he wrote and performed about a Lancashire man coming to London for the day with his wife. It was published by Francis, Day & Hunter in 1909 and recorded by George Formby Jnr. in 1926.","physicalDescription":"Typographic poster printed in black ink on orange paper, headed in black PALACE THEATRE, and the date MONDAY JUNE 24th 1912 AND EVERY EVENING DURING THE WEEK, followed by the names of the performers, in  black ink: George Formby (Senior) 'the great comedian \"John Willie\", the Three Gelins 'premier eccentric acrobats', Baby Arthur 'the bijou star comedienne', Arthur Astill 'the whistling ploughboy', Charles Matthews 'the world's champion jumper', Dora Mackay 'America's chorus comedienne', the Three Clarkes 'club throwers and jugglers', Alf Brookes 'the funny comedian' and Daisy Taylor 'Scotland's foremost comedienne and dancer'. George Formby's name is printed vertically down each side of the handbill, and along the bottom: 'John Willie Come On', referring to the character of his act. A biro note: 'SENIOR' has been added above the name Formby.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Standard Press","id":"A31609"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Letterpress on card","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014HE0627"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES345352"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1912","earliest":"1912-01-01","latest":"1912-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Arthur Astill","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"28.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"22.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising the Variety programme at the Palace Theatre, Blackpool, for the week commencing Monday, 24 June 1912, featuring George Formby (Senior) 'the great comedian \"John Willie\"', the Three Gelins 'premier eccentric acrobats', Baby Arthur 'the bijou star comedienne', Arthur Astill 'the whistling ploughboy'(1887-1962), Charles Matthews 'the world's champion jumper', Dora Mackay 'America's chorus comedienne', the Three Clarkes 'club throwers and jugglers', Alf Brookes 'the funny comedian' and Daisy Taylor 'Scotland's foremost comedienne and dancer'. Letterpress on card printed by the Standard Press.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.5015-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"5015","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2010-03-26","availableToBook":true}}