{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1592367"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1592367/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3568/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3568/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW3568","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1592367","accessionNumber":"S.57-2019","objectType":"Hanging card","titles":[{"title":"Hanging card advertising <i>Cinderella</i> at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin starring Maureen Potter and Danny Cummins, and featuring Mlle. Zizi and The Mumford Puppets, ca.1960","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This hanging card advertises the pantomime <i>Cinderella</i>at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin, starring Maureen Potter (1925-2004), known as 'the pocket mimic' and Ireland's queen of comedy, and her comedy partner Danny Cummins. It is undated but probably dates from the 1960s when Eamonn Andrews founded the production company that presented the show, directed by Fred O'Donovan, one of the Directors of Eamonn Andrews Studios. The Mumford Puppets appeared in the pantomime as a Speciality Act.\r\n\nFrank Mumford (1918-2014) had an extraordinary career as a puppeteer, from his schooldays and throughout his  long life. He appeared at Wood Green Empire aged just 14, billed as Master Mumford and His Marionettes. In 1938 Maisie Tierney joined the troupe which they disbanded in 1939 on the outbreak of war. They married in July 1944 and that September Frank was taken prisoner at Arnheim. He joined the Central Pool of Artists on his release and created the two-hour show <i>Stars on Strings</i> that he performed with his puppets in Army Entertainment. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain.\n\nAfter his demob in 1946 he and Maisie created a more practical two-handed act, with Frank creating all the puppets.\nThey presented The Mumford Puppets for royalty and in top nightspots including the London Palladium and the Moulin Rouge. They played cabarets around the world, meeting celebrities such as Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Charlie Chaplin. They performed for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco, at private parties for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris, and for stars including Laurel and Hardy and Ingrid Bergman. Frank also carved the early versions of the TV puppet Andy Pandy.\n\n","physicalDescription":"Pictorial and photographic hanging card printed in red black and yellow on white card advertising <i>Cinderella</i> by Warren O'Connell at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin, 26th December starring Maureen Potter (1925-2004), Danny Cummins, David Kelly, Jean Swift, Barbara Brennan, Jim Bartley, Vernon Hayden, the Billy Barry Children, the Gaiety Dancers with guest stars Mlle. Zizi &amp; Co, Frank &amp; Maisie Mumford Puppets. Directed by Ursula Doyle, Musical Director Thelma Ramsey, Choreographer Mavis Ascott, produced by Fred O’Donovan and presented by the Eamonn Andrews Studios.\n","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Puppetry","id":"THES266219"},{"text":"Children's entertainment","id":"THES274363"},{"text":"Pantomime","id":"THES266218"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MW3568"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES345361"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"hanging card","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1960","earliest":"1955-01-01","latest":"1964-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":"Probably"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Jennifer Allen","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The poster was kept by Frank Mumford, along with his marionettes, other posters, programmes, cuttings and photographs, as souvenirs of his career. They were inherited on his death by his great-niece who presented them to the museum","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pictorial and photographic hanging card printed in red black and yellow on white card advertising <i>Cinderella</i> by Warren O'Connell at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin, 26th December starring Maureen Potter and Danny Cummins. Undated but probably circa 1960","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.57-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"57","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2021-03-10","availableToBook":true}}