{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O171537"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O171537/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE0656/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE0656/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HE0656","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O171537","accessionNumber":"S.240-2008","objectType":"Poster","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Typographical posters such as this were typical of the advertisements for variety theatres in Great Britain in the first half of the 20th century. Variety developed out of music hall and, like its predecessor, provided a number of entertainers on one programme. As small music halls gave way to the large variety theatres built by profitable concerns such as Moss Empires, the type of entertainment on offer became more ambitious. Variety shows typically took place twice-nightly, and the star performer whose spot was the culmination of the show, had their name at the top of the poster, literally 'topping the bill'. \r\n\r\nBefore the days of television and radio, Variety was tremendously popular. Every town in Britain would have boasted a variety theatre and its stars could command fabulous salaries. As cinema and television became the mass means of entertainment, a host of variety theatres were converted to cinemas or were closed. Seaside Variety shows fared better than most and kept their patrons in the 1950s and 1960s by engaging stars who made their name on the radio, in the burgeoning rock and pop industry, or in television.","physicalDescription":"Typographic hanging card for the Queen's Theatre, Cleveleys, printed in red and blue, pierced at the top for suspension, advertising the revue <i>Happiness Ahead</i> commencing on Saturday 21 June as part of the 1958 season, featuring Phil Strickland; Horace Mashford; Carter and Doray; Jack Whiteley's Zio Angels; Tommy Trafford; Rosa Macari; Raymond Bennett; Sheila Beardsworth; Ronnie Parnell and Marie Ashton; Doris Standring; Anthony Scott; Mildred Crossley. Show produced by Mildred Crossley. The poster also advertised <i>Sunday Melody Time</i> running every Sunday evening. Printed with the name of the Theatre Manager: E. Schofield.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Taylors","id":"A23724"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Printed","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed card","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014HE0656"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES345352"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Wombwell","id":"x43218"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1958","earliest":"1958-01-01","latest":"1958-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Gwendoline Playle","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Hanging card for the Queen's Theatre, Cleveleys, advertising the revue <i>Happiness Ahead</i>, commencing on Saturday 21 June as part of the 1958 season, featuring Phil Strickland and Horace Mashford.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.240-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"240","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-04","availableToBook":true}}