{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86691"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86691/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9568/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9568/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9568","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86691","accessionNumber":"S.132:43-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Tony Hancock in <i>The Talk of the Town</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Tony Hancock (1924-1968) performing the sketch <i>A Dickens of a Reading</i> in <i>The Talk of the Town</i>, a revue with comedy sketches by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, at the Oxford New Theatre in November 1954. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn’t needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.\r\n\r\nTony Hancock is best remembered as the star of the radio (and later television) programme <i>Hancock’s Half Hour</i> which began in 1956 and in which he appeared, notably with Sid James and Hattie Jacques, as the down-trodden inhabitant of Railway Cuttings, East Cheam.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Tony Hancock in <i>The Talk of the Town</i>, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 9 November 1954. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"},{"text":"wash technique","id":"AAT182748"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9568"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356598"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Oxford","id":"x31203"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"9 November 1954","earliest":"1954-11-09","latest":"1954-11-09"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"22.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre.","historicalContext":"Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature of Tony Hancock in <i>The Talk of the Town</i>, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 9 November 1954.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Hancock, Tony","id":"N3190"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.132:43-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"132","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-03","availableToBook":true}}