{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1162355"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1162355/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY1605/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY1605/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GY1605","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1162355","accessionNumber":"S.756-1994","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising twice-nightly Variety at the Brixton Empress Theatre, week commencing 19th October 1936","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"By the end of the 19th century Music Hall in Britain had grown into Variety, with a huge demand for this type of entertainment. Each programme featured several short acts or 'turns', the more varied the better, from song and dance to magic, acrobatics to comedy cycling. To accommodate demand each programme changed weekly and was typically repeated in the early and later evening, becoming known as 'twice-nightly'. Its posters listed all the performers, with star acts or 'headliners' commanding the largest typeface on the posters or bills, as well as the largest fees.\n\nThe rise in popularity of Variety led to the building of a great number of sumptuously-decorated Variety Theatres in the country around the turn of the century, with improved amenities and catering facilities. Large syndicates including Moss, Stoll and Thornton vyed with each other for the grandest and most comfortable buildings, with names such as Palace and Empire. The Empress Theatre, Brixton, designed by Wylson and Long and built by T.L. Green for W. H. Burney and W. J. Grimes, opened on Boxing day 1898 with Variety, and continued presenting it for the next 32 years when its new owners, Variety Theatres Consolidated, acquired additional land adjoining the theatre and reconstructed the building, enlarging and remodelling the auditorium in Art Deco style.\r\n\r\nThe Theatre reopened on the 19th of October 1931 with Variety show and went on in the same vein until the mid- 1950s when the popularity of cinema and television n the 50s, affected the Empress just like most Theatres and in 1957 the Theatre was converted for Cinema use and renamed the Granada Cinema.\n\nThis programme starred the American-born pianist Charlie Kunz (1896-1958) who came to the UK in 1922 as pianist for a dance band and made his home in the country, becoming its highest-paid musician earning as much as £1,000 a week, or £35,000 today.","physicalDescription":"Typographic poster with red and blue lettering","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printing ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GY1605"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES345190"},"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":"1936","earliest":"1936-01-01","latest":"1936-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"50.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"31.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The poster also advertises 'Sunday Talkies' at the theatre. Associated Production: Performers: Charlie Kunz ('Radio's wizard of the piano'), Dennis O'Neil and Harry Hudson ( two celebrated radio and film stars together'), Campbell and Wise ('happily married'), Peter Wise ('comedian')', the Moray Sisters ('aces of grace and rhythm'), Campbell and Rogerson ('comedian carnival capers'), Harold Walden ('only me knows why'), 4 Wonder Wheelers (comedy cyclists), Kam Tai Trio ('Chinese contortionists'). New Empress Theatre, Brixton, London. 19.10.1936. Performance category: variety.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising twice-nightly Variety at the Brixton Empress Theatre starring Charlie Kunz, week commencing 19th October 1936","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.756-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"756","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2010-07-23","availableToBook":true}}