{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1254507"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1254507/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5084/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5084/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GX5084","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1254507","accessionNumber":"S.964-2012","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This cartoon probably refers to Emile Littler's production of a pantomime and his desire to get everything perfect, even the audience reaction. Emile Littler (1903-1985) was one of the country’s most influential 20th century theatrical impresarios who also wrote and directed over fifteen productions on his own account. He was born in Ramsgate, Kent, to Jules and Agnes Richeux, one of their six children, of whom one died in infancy. Jules Richeux became the lessee of the Artillery Theatre, Woolwich, in 1909, but following his death in 1911 at the age of 48, his wife took over the running of the theatre. In 1914 she married Frank Littler who adopted the five remaining children, including the eldest Blanche (b.1899), Prince (b.1901) and Emile, all of whom took their stepfather’s name.\n\nThe artist Osbert Lancaster (1908-1896) was an author, critic, illustrator and stage designer, as well as one of Britain's most distinguished 20th century cartoonists, best known for his legendary 'pocket cartoons' first published in <i>The Daily Express</i> in 1939. He was fondly summarised in his <i>Times</i> obituary as: 'The most polite and unsplenetic of cartoonists, he was never a crusader, remaining always a witty, civilized critic with a profound understanding of the vagaries of human nature.'\n\n","physicalDescription":"Drawing of the front row of an applauding audience in a theatre gallery being watched by Emile Littler with binoculars, and a man speaking into a microphone telling them that Mr. Littler wants them to be more spontaneous. Pen, ink and crayon. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Lancaster, Osbert","id":"A13684"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"crayon","id":"x30605"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and crayon on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GX5084"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356678"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}],[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1953","earliest":"1953-01-01","latest":"1953-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Judy Littler Manners","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"39.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'\"Mr. Littler says to tell / No.11, Row B, to make / it more spontaneous.\"'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in pencil to the right of the image"},{"content":"'STOCK / 19 DEC 1953'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped in purple ink to the left of the image"}],"objectHistory":"This cartoon was originally owned by Emile Littler and was presented to the Museum by his daughter Judy Littler Manners as part of the archive relating to Cora Goffin and Emile Littler, THM/408.\r\n\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cartoon by Osbert Lancaster (1908-1986) relating to the theatrical producer Emile Littler (1903-1985). Depicting the front row of an applauding audience in a theatre gallery being watched by Emile Littler with binoculars, and another man speaking into a microphone telling the audience that Mr. Littler wants them to be more spontaneous. Pen, ink and crayon, 1953","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Littler. Emile","id":"N7512"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.964-2012"],"accessionNumberNum":"964","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2012,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Archive number","id":"THES54576"},"number":"THM/408"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2012-09-11","availableToBook":true}}