{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1592610"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1592610/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3735/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3735/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW3735","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1592610","accessionNumber":"S.60-2019","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising twice-nightly Variety at the New Theatre, Maesteg, 18th April 1955 ","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Variety was an extremely popular form of entertainment in the first half of the 20th century, following on from the success of Music Hall and the building of palatial Theatres of Variety throughout the country. This advertises a typical twice-nightly show at the New Theatre Maesteg, starring the Scottish accordian player Edward Middleton known as Eddie 'the tash' Mendoza, sometimes billed as Eddie Mendoza and his Crazy Loonies, and also featuring The Mumford Puppets.\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 <i>Stars in Battledress</i>, 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 marionette act, with Frank creating all the puppets. They 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":"Typographical poster printed in red and blue with a yellow border advertising a Variety evening at the New Theatre Maesteg, 18 April 1955, featuring Eddie ‘Tash’ Mendoza and his famous Spivs, introducing ‘Tish’ ‘Sebastian’ ‘Slasher’ and ‘Shorthouse’ with Betty ‘Drone’ Carole (from Variety Bandbox, Music Hall, Showtime and Television; Billy West and his Eight Harmony Boys; Bill and Bill; Jack Hayden; Songs, Stories and Dance; Renee Dymott the Unusual Girl; Chris King the World’s Greatest Disillusionist, and Frank Mumford Presents <i>Puppet Parade Artistry in Miniature</i>","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"George Allen Printers Ltd.","id":"A32399"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x38483"},"note":""}],"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":"Variety","id":"THES269955"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MW3735"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES345183"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Blackpool","id":"x33281"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1955","earliest":"1955-01-01","latest":"1955-12-31"},"association":{"text":"produced","id":"x30771"},"note":""}],"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":"Poster advertising the twice-nightly Variety progamme at New Theatre Maesteg, week commencing Monday 18th April 1955, starring Eddie 'Tash' Mendoza and his famous Spivs' with Betty 'Drone' Carole, and featuring Mumford's Puppet Parade,  Printed by Geo. Allen, Brimington, Chesterfield","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.60-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"60","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2021-03-11","availableToBook":true}}