Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

ca.1910 (designed), ca.1910 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The size and expense of this poster indicate that May Moore Duprez was a name to be reckoned with in the music hall and variety world by the time it was printed, about 1910. It is a two-sheet - a poster printed in two parts to be pasted together on the hoardings. Variety performers of any worth at this date were expected to provide managements with their own poster when their act was booked. They would then be displayed locally, over posted with slips to announce the venue.

May Moore Duprez (1885-1946) was born in St Louis, Missouri as May Moore and began her stage career as a child touring the western and southern states of America with her sister and mother as the 'Moore Sisters Comedy Company'. She developed her comedy Dutch routine quite early, billed as Baby Moore and Little May Moore, adding the sometimes-hyphenated 'Duprez' after going solo in 1897. She came to England in 1900 and by 1904 was well enough known to tour to New Zealand where she was billed as 'another brilliant star'. In 1912 she made recordings of some of her best-known songs including 'The jolly Dutch girl', 'Hans across the sea' and 'Leetle Mister Baggy Trousers'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
Poster advertising the music hall performer May Moore Duprez, 'The Jolly Dutch Girl'. Colour lithograph by J.P. Seaborn, printed by David Allen & Sons Ltd.
Physical description
Two-sheet colour lithograph poster showing May Moore Duprez dressed as her stage character 'The Jolly Little Dutch Girl'. She is drawing a windmill and a Dutch girl on a map behind her, and the text reads 'MAY MOORE-DUPREZ THE ORIGINAL DUTCH GIRL ALWAYS "DRAWS" CUTE AND SASSY'.
Dimensions
  • Two sheets mounted together height: 243.8cm
  • Width: 101.7cm
Credit line
Given by Bert Ross
Object history
Most music hall and variety artistes of any stature at the turn of the century were expected by managements to supply their own posters which they could overpost with slips to say they were appearing at their venue. It was therefore up to the performers to bear the costs of design and printing. Theatrical magazines at the time ran advertisements from poster designers and printers offering this service.
Historical context
Between 1900 and 1925 there were several 'Dutch Girls' characters on the music hall stage, but well in the foreground in the field were Happy Fanny Fields and May Moore Duprez.
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
The size and expense of this poster indicate that May Moore Duprez was a name to be reckoned with in the music hall and variety world by the time it was printed, about 1910. It is a two-sheet - a poster printed in two parts to be pasted together on the hoardings. Variety performers of any worth at this date were expected to provide managements with their own poster when their act was booked. They would then be displayed locally, over posted with slips to announce the venue.

May Moore Duprez (1885-1946) was born in St Louis, Missouri as May Moore and began her stage career as a child touring the western and southern states of America with her sister and mother as the 'Moore Sisters Comedy Company'. She developed her comedy Dutch routine quite early, billed as Baby Moore and Little May Moore, adding the sometimes-hyphenated 'Duprez' after going solo in 1897. She came to England in 1900 and by 1904 was well enough known to tour to New Zealand where she was billed as 'another brilliant star'. In 1912 she made recordings of some of her best-known songs including 'The jolly Dutch girl', 'Hans across the sea' and 'Leetle Mister Baggy Trousers'.
Collection
Accession number
S.1016-1986

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Record createdJuly 1, 2005
Record URL
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