{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1162414"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1162414/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY0564/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY0564/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GY0564","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1162414","accessionNumber":"S.815-1994","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising a variety programme at the Empress Theatre, Brixton, 13 December 1937","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Carroll Richard Levis (1910-1968) was a Canadian talent scout, impresario and radio and  television broadcaster, mainly working in Britain. He had radio talent shows in Vancouver and  Montreal before moving to England in 1935 where he and radio producer Eric Maschwitz  developed popular touring stage shows to attract new talent. His touring stage shows  attracted thousands of applicants from potential performers, and his first radio shows, Carroll  Levis and his Discoveries were broadcast in 1936. The Radio Times  reported the following year that  ‘in the last two years [he] has heard thirty thousand people.’ During World War II he presented other  programmes on BBC radio, including Carroll Levis Carries On , and toured military outposts in Europe and  the Middle East. In 1945, he featured in a concert show entertaining troops of the first Canadian Army. After  the end of the war, Levis continued with stage shows and radio broadcasts, including the Light Programme’s  The Caroll Levis Show ,1946, and Caroll Levis Discoveries ,1948. Among the performers  discovered by Levis were comedian and actor Jim Dale, comedian Barry Took, and actress  Anne Heywood. \r\n\r\n\tIn 1953 The Carroll Levis Discovery Show  moved to television, showcasing the talents of young people,  with the catchphrase: ‘Truly, the discoveries of today are the stars of tomorrow’. ","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":["2014GY0564"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES345191"},"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":"1937","earliest":"1937-01-01","latest":"1937-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"50.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"31.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The poster advertises 'Sunday Talkies' at the theatre and lists the performers Carroll Levis and his BBC Discoveries - Ken Bonner (comic), Vera Lowe, The Singing Bricklayer (Sensational young tenor), Leslie Farr, Berinice Hicks, The White Brothers (Yodellers but not Swiss), Bertie Kendrick Boy Wonder Soprano), Betty Newmarsh (The Girl from the Haunted House), The Hillbilly Three (Devon's Musical Farmers), George McTear (Scotland's Wonder Whistler), Donovan Ubsdell (Impersonator Extraordinary), and The Singing Tailors ('Clothe's Harmony at its Best). Also Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam Anglo-Australian singing duo), Reading & Grant (trampoline acrobats), Earl & Virginia Le Roy, Byron & Byron, D'Arcs Marionettes. New Empress Theatre, Brixton, London. 13.12.1937. Performance category: variety, marionettes.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising a variety programme starring Carroll Levis and his Latest BBC Discoveries, Empress Theatre, Brixton, 1937","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.815-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"815","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2010-07-23","availableToBook":true}}