{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1597146"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1597146/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW6330/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW6330/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW6330","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1597146","accessionNumber":"S.201-2021","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising the twice-nightly Variety programme at the Astoria, Milford Haven, week commencing Monday 28th March 1949","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  twice-nightly show in Wales at the Astoria, Milford Haven, and included the immensely popular Yorkshire comedian Sandy Powell (1900-1982) who made his name in radio in the 1930s and became associated with his catch phrase 'Can you hear me Mother?'. Another performer on this bill who appeared as a ventriloquist but went on to make his name in television was the genteel apologetic comedian Harry Worth (1917-1987). Worth taught himself ventriloquism which he performed in an RAF Variety show in India, and at the Windmill Theatre in 1948 when he also made his first radio appearance. The bill included the celebrated Austrian juggler Joe Ortnes who began his career in 1922 and who frequently appeared on the British Variety circuit. The evening closed with Frank Mumford's marionette act, known then as 'Puppet Parade'.\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 in Variety theatres and cabaret 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  black on cream paper advertising  the twice-nightly Variety programme at the Astoria, Milford Haven, week commencing Monday 28th March 1949 presented by John and Leslie Scard for Piccadilly Enterprises, starring Sandy Powell ('Can you Hear Me Mother?') and Company; St. Clair ('Debonair Deceiver'); White Aces (4 Feet in a Whirlwind Dance); Adele ('Bringing You Melodies'); Harry Worth ('New Style Ventriloqiuist'); The Menderinos ('Novelty in Music'); Joe Ortnes &amp; Assistant ('Europe's Greatest Juggler');'The Greatest Novelty Act Ever Seen on Stage' Frank Mumford's Puppet Parade (Artistry in Miniature'), and Willy Walters and his Orchestra","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Edwards, Bert","id":"AUTH361331"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x39782"},"note":""}],"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":"Variety","id":"THES269955"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MW6330"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES345183"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Milford Haven","id":"THES275879"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1949","earliest":"1949-01-01","latest":"1949-12-31"},"association":{"text":"produced","id":"x30771"},"note":"This poster is undated but can be dated to 1949 by the day that Monday falls on 28th March and by Harry Worth's ventriloquist act that he dropped by 1952"}],"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 programme at the Astoria, Milford Haven, week commencing Monday 28th March 1949 starring Sandy Powell, and featuring Frank Mumford's <i>Puppet Parade</i>. Printed by Bert Edwards, Milford Haven","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.201-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"201","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2021-03-19","availableToBook":true}}