{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1462352"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1462352/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH7021/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH7021/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LH7021","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1462352","accessionNumber":"S.510-2018","objectType":"Playbill","titles":[{"title":"Howes & Cushing's Great United States Circus","type":"published title"}],"summaryDescription":"This playbill is undated but advertises one of many performances by Howes and Cushing's Great United States Circus at the Alhambra Palace in London's Leicester Square in 1858. Seth Howes (1815-1901) and Joseph Cushing (1818-1884) went into partnership in the United States in 1856 and sailed to Liverpool where they landed on 25 March 1857 with 72 horses, and 50 performers and assistants. The circus travelled throughout the country before opening at the Alhambra Palace where they gave a private performance to Queen Victoria and the royal family.\n\nIn her journal Queen Victoria recorded going to 'the  Panoptican' (the Alhambra's former name) with her brother Leiningen, her daughter Alice and the five children and seeing 'a very varied and wonderful  performance' with 'excellent riding - absurd mules', a  man who lept over seven horses, 'a very clever black  horse which did all sorts of things (at a command, not  ridden)' and 'some very amusing Bedouin Arabs, who jumped about like so many monkeys, &amp; as if they had no bones'","physicalDescription":"Landscape format playbill featuring a woodcut image on the left hand side and a list of acts and performers on the right","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Horner","id":"AUTH350317"},"association":{"text":"wood engraver","id":"AAT25167"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"J. W. Peel","id":"A19482"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":"The printing details are given as 'printed by J.W.  Peel's Steam Machine, 74 New Cut, Lambeth'. John Websdaile Peele operated his printing buisiness from 1823 to 1839 in the New Cut, Lambeth. When John  Peel took over the business in 1839 he dropped the final 'e' from his and the firm's name."}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"Paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"letterpress","id":"AAT178926"},{"text":"woodcut","id":"AAT53296"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodcut and letterpress on paper","categories":[{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"},{"text":"Woodcuts","id":"THES267451"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019LH7021"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CAGE","id":"THES49689"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Playbill","id":"AAT27216"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1858","earliest":"1858-01-01","latest":"1858-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.509-2018","id":"O1462318"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"49.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The acts presented were a <i>Star & Waltz Quadrille</i> by ten ladies and gentlemen; a <i>Great Juvenile Act of Horsemanship!</i> by Master James Madigan; Messrs. Murray and Holland as <i>The Roman Brothers</i>, an acrobatic and gymnastic act; <i>The Two Olympians</i> Bachellor and Richards; <i>The Educated Comic Mules Pete and Barney</i> introduced by Murray and Pentland; James Robinson as <i>The Wild Camanchi on his Prairie Steed</i>; a <i>Grand Trial of Skill</i> by the Company;<i> Equestrianism (Classic Poses)</i> by Rose Madigan; <i>The American-Bred Horse Black Eagle</i> introduced by John L. Murray; Mr. James Robinson in his <i>Great Act on a Naked Horse</i>; Murray and Holland in their <i>Globe La Perche</i>; Davis Richards in a <i>Daring Act of Horsemanship Over Hurdles etc</i>; <i>A Troupe of Bedouin Arabs </i><i>in their Wonderful Performances</i> ending with the Finale: <i>The Village Lovers</i>, Miss Rose Madigan and James Robinson","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Illustrated playbill featuring a woodcut image of female warriors on horseback advertising The Great United States Circus at the Alhambra Palace, Leicester Square, 1858. Letterpress and woodcut. Printed by J.W. Peel.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.510-2018"],"accessionNumberNum":"510","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2018,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-02","recordCreationDate":"2018-10-09","availableToBook":false}}