{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1167158"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1167158/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JR7447/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JR7447/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JR7447","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1167158","accessionNumber":"S.2164-1995","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising Sunday Lunchtime Variety performances presented by Jack Seaton, Theatre Museum, Covent Garden, July 1989","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Typographical posters such as this were typical of the advertisements for Variety theatres in Great Britain in the first half of the 20th century. Variety developed out of music hall and, like its predecessor, presented several entertainers on one programme. As small music halls gave way to the large variety theatres built by profitable concerns such as Moss Empires, the type of entertainment on offer became more ambitious. Variety shows typically took place twice-nightly, and the star performer whose spot was the culmination of the show, had their name at the top of the poster, literally 'topping the bill'. \n\r\nBefore the days of television and radio, Variety was tremendously popular. Every town in Britain would have boasted a Variety theatre and its stars could command fabulous salaries. As cinema and television became the mass means of entertainment, a host of Variety theatres were converted to cinemas or were closed. Seaside Variety shows fared better than most and kept their patrons in the 1950s and 1960s by engaging stars who made their name on the radio, in the burgeoning rock and pop industry, or in television.\n\r\nThis show was presented by Jack Seaton and the British Music Hall Association - an institution dedicated to keeping the memory and practice of Music Hall and Variety alive.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Letterpress poster printed in red and blue on white paper","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"G. & M. Organ Ltd.","id":"A23784"},"association":{"text":"printers (people)","id":"AAT25732"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Variety","id":"THES269955"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2017JR7447"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES345167"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Bristol (city)","id":"x28767"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1989","earliest":"1989-01-01","latest":"1989-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.2163-1995","id":"O1167157"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.264-2008","id":"O172271"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"76.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"50.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"poster","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Associated Production: Lunchtime Variety. Performers: Chubby Oates (comedian), Kathie Dene (‘from the old school’), Brian Miller and Audrey (international magic), Mark Stead (vocalist), 2.7.1989; Victor Seaforth (impressionist), Bettina Raymond (singer), Percy Press (ventriloquist), Roy Davenport (magic) 9.7.1989; Panache (‘perfected harmony’), Micky Driver (‘music hall personality’), Brian Newman (‘study in motion’), Maudie Blake (musical saw), 16.7.1989; Margery Manners (singer), Scratch and Scrape (‘classics to country’), Chris Smith (‘ventriloquist’), Jackie Lesley (singer), 23.7.1989; George Williams (‘I’m not well’), Lisa Hull (vocalist), Aubrey Phillips (‘boy of the old brigade), Julian Trent (‘heart throb’), 30.7.1989. For all five Sunday performances in the Paintings Gallery at the V&A Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, Jack Seaton was the Compere, Chris Edwards played the piano, and Steve Hamper the drums. Performance category: Variety.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising five Sunday Lunchtime Variety performances compered by Jack Seaton and presented by the Theatre Museum in association with the British Music Hall Society, Theatre Museum, Covent Garden, July 1989. Letterpress, printed by G. & M. Organ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Wrington, Bristol","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2164-1995"],"accessionNumberNum":"2164","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1995,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2010-07-29","availableToBook":true}}