{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O172307"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172307/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY7639/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY7639/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GY7639","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O172307","accessionNumber":"S.266-2008","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 and pictorial hanging card for the Metropolitan, Edgware Road, printed in red, yellow and blue, double-pierced at the top for suspension, advertising the programme for the week commencing on 9 July, n.y., featuring the show <i>Thanks for the Memory</i> presented by Don Ross; with G.H. Elliott; Hetty King; Randolph Sutton; Renee Houston; Johnson Clark; Manley and Austin; Jill Jayes; Ena & Alma Gerard; Marie Kendall; Ida Barr; Gertie Gitana; Clarice Mayne; Ella Retford. Printed with the name of the Theatre Manager: A.B. Vasco. The show title and performers names are framed by curtains printed in red and yellow with blue borders.","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"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GY7639"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES345211"},"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":"1956","earliest":"1956-01-01","latest":"1956-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Gwendoline Playle","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"38.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'1956'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed recto in blue ink, top centre."},{"content":"Stamp with the words 'Ellis Ashton Collection'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed recto in red ink, centre left."},{"content":"Sticker with the words 'Ellis Ashton'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Appended recto, bottom right."},{"content":"Stamp with the words 'Ellis Ashton [...]'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed verso in red ink, top centre."},{"content":"Stamp with the words 'Ellis Ashton Collection'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed verso in red ink, bottom centre."},{"content":"'SM 52'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed verso in blue pencil, bottom right."},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Possibly evidence of previous framing, verso."},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"From the Ellis Ashton collection. Given to Dick Playle who amassed this collection.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Hanging card for the Metropolitan, Edgware Road, advertising the programme for the week commencing on 9 July 1956, featuring the show <i>Thanks for the Memory</i> presented by Don Ross, with Hetty King.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.266-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"266","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-13","availableToBook":true}}