{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O172323"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172323/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY7638/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GY7638/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GY7638","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O172323","accessionNumber":"S.267-2008","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 blue, red and yellow, advertising the programme for the week commencing on Monday 31 March 1958, featuring the show <i>Nite Life Scandals</i> with Dave Gray; the Melfi Kids, Valerie, Vincent & Vivien, stars of Radio Luxembourg; Toni Kaye; Joan Sharratt; Pete Small; Jack Roxy; The Four Bombshells, The Glamour Girls from Piccadilly’s Lido Club. Printed with the name of the Theatre Manager: R. Marks. Upper part decorated with silhouette screen print in blue and yellow ink.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Richard Whewell Ltd.","id":"A23790"},"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":["2014GY7638"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES345211"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Bolton","id":"x39555"},"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":"38.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"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, top 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":"Running order relative to a different performance from that advertised on the poster.","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 ink."},{"content":"'SM 42'.","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 ink, bottom left."},{"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 Monday 31 March 1958, featuring the show <i>Nite Life Scandals</i> with Dave Gray, the Melfi Kids and Toni Kaye.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.267-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"267","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-13","availableToBook":true}}