{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1277590"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1277590/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5718/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5718/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GX5718","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1277590/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1277590","accessionNumber":"S.3499-2013","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Photograph of Molly Sheldrake, taken to advertise the opening of the 13th Exhibition of the British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild, 1938","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This press agency photograph shows the fourteen-year old Punch and Judy puppeteer Molly Sheldrake. It was used to advertise the opening of the 13th Exhibition of the British Puppet and  Model Theatre Guild at Victory House, Leicester Square. London, in 1938. The exhibition was opened by Molly Sheldrake, who was billed as Britain's youngest Punch and Judy performer. It ran from the 24th to the 30th October 1938 and drew large crowds. Almost 250 puppets were featured and 25 different troupes gave about 70 demonstrations. There was a lot of publicity, and in his article on the exhibition in the periodical, the <i>World's Fair</i>, 5 November 1938, Gerald Morice noted that, with the exception of the <i>Daily Mirror</i>, all the national newspapers carried stories about the exhibition, mostly with photographs, and that Molly as 'the youngest Punch and Judy performer in the country' really caught the press's imagination.\n\n","physicalDescription":"Black and white press agency photograph of the fourteen-year old Punch & Judy puppeteer Molly Sheldrake. She is sitting on the back of a chair with her feet on the seat, in front of a display of glove puppets at the British Puppet and Model Theatre exhibition, held at Victory House, Leicester Square, October 1938. Her head is turned towards the Judy puppet on her left hand. On her right hand is a Mr Punch puppet.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Keystone Press Agency Ltd.","id":"AUTH328923"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photograph","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Puppetry","id":"THES266219"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GX5718"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES356623"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1938","earliest":"1938-01-01","latest":"1938-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.3495-2013","id":"O1277554"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.3496-2013","id":"O1277555"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.3497-2013","id":"O1277564"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.3498-2013","id":"O1277587"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by Gerald Morice","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Copyright Keystone Press Agency Ltd. Phones:- Central 9634-5-7 12/13 Wine Office Ct., Fleet Street, EC4. ","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 blue ink verso"},{"content":"J4903","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"pencilled reference number, verso"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Press agency photograph of the fourteen-year old puppeteer Molly Sheldrake with a Punch and Judy puppet on each hand, taken to advertise the opening of the 13th Exhibition of the British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild exhibition by Molly Sheldrake, Victory House, Leicester Square, London, 24 October 1938. Black and white photograph by the Keystone Press Agency Ltd. Gerald Morice Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},{"text":"Leicester Square","id":"x43496"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild","id":"C3936"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.3499-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"3499","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-14","recordCreationDate":"2014-01-02","availableToBook":true}}