Not currently on display at the V&A

Illustrated poster advertising the programme at the Bower Theatre, 14-20 December 1872

Playbill
1872 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Bower Theatre in London's Stangate Street, Lambeth, formerly known as the Bower Saloon, was originally attached to the Duke's Tavern and operated as a place of entertainment from 1837 until 1878. During the 1850s when owned by Victor Hazelton, it made its name for the production of melodramas starring dogs. This poster features woodcut images which were particularly good for attracting the attention of passers-by, especially those who couldn't read, when they saw them on the streets. The clientele of the Bower Theatre, which advertised itself in the 1860s as 'the only theatre for the working classes', would have included many of those, attracted by for low ticket prices, action-packed productions including melodrama, farce and nautical drama, and the availability of alcohol, the sale of which was a popular feature of 19th century theatres like the Bower that styled themselves as saloons.

Although this poster advertises forthcoming productions at the Bower Theatre running up to Christmas 1872, the title of the pantomime is not given. This probably indicates the speed at which the pantomime at the Bower was put together, and that its title could not be announced before the license from the Lord Chamberlain to perform it was received.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleIllustrated poster advertising the programme at the Bower Theatre, 14-20 December 1872 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Printing ink on paper; letterpress and woodcut
Brief description
Illustrated poster advertising the programme at the Bower Theatre, 14-20 December 1872. Woodcut and letterpress printed by Williams and Strahan
Physical description
Poster advertising productions at the Bower Theatre from 14th to 20th December 1872 under the ownership of Victor Hazelton. Printed in black ink on yellow paper, illustrated with four woodcut images of scenes from Cartouche! the French Robber. Also advertising Life's Devotion; The Outcast and the Detective, and that 'Great Preparations are being made for the Christmas Pantomime.'
Dimensions
  • Height: 75.6cm
  • Width: 51.0cm
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Summary
The Bower Theatre in London's Stangate Street, Lambeth, formerly known as the Bower Saloon, was originally attached to the Duke's Tavern and operated as a place of entertainment from 1837 until 1878. During the 1850s when owned by Victor Hazelton, it made its name for the production of melodramas starring dogs. This poster features woodcut images which were particularly good for attracting the attention of passers-by, especially those who couldn't read, when they saw them on the streets. The clientele of the Bower Theatre, which advertised itself in the 1860s as 'the only theatre for the working classes', would have included many of those, attracted by for low ticket prices, action-packed productions including melodrama, farce and nautical drama, and the availability of alcohol, the sale of which was a popular feature of 19th century theatres like the Bower that styled themselves as saloons.

Although this poster advertises forthcoming productions at the Bower Theatre running up to Christmas 1872, the title of the pantomime is not given. This probably indicates the speed at which the pantomime at the Bower was put together, and that its title could not be announced before the license from the Lord Chamberlain to perform it was received.

Associated object
S.330-2016 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
S.329-2016

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Record createdJune 30, 2016
Record URL
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