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Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

1929 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This hanging card was designed to advertise the appearance of 'The Jainczik Skating Ballet' as part of the Great Carmo Circus. An unusual performance for a travelling circus, this kind of spectacle was the secret to Carmo's success.

An Australian-born magician and juggler, whose real name was Henry Cameron, Carmo began his career as a strong man before moving to England and entering the world of magic. He began his own circus in the 1920s, where he presented spectacular illusions to complement the main show of animal and circus acts. The circus was destroyed by fire shortly before World War II.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour lithography on card
Brief description
Hanging card advertising the Jainczik Skating Ballet at Carmo's Circus, Margate, 22 July 1929.
Physical description
Yellow hanging card advertising 'The Great Carmo Circus and Menagerie' with colour illustration of two ice dancers: a man leaning backwards with a woman hanging from his neck, spinning outwards. Three small grey silhouettes of ice dancers appear in the background in different poses. Information on the performance is at the bottom of the card.

Two punched holes and string tied through.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Width: 23.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • THE GREAT CARMO CIRCUS / AND MENAGERIE
  • Never before seen in England / THE JAINCZIK SKATING / BALLET ON REAL ICE
  • 1929 (written on by hand)
  • MARGATE, JULY 22ND. / FOOTBALL GROUND, NORTHDOWN / FOR A SHORT SUMMER SEASON / OPENING PERFORMANCE AT 8-0 P.M. / AFTERWARDS TWICE DAILY AT 3-0 & 8-0
Gallery label
Hanging card for The Great Carmo Circus and Menagerie 1929 In common with many other forms of circus advertising, this hanging card uses bright colours and dynamic images to sell its attractions. Ice dancing is unusual in circus, as the claim ‘Never before seen in England’ suggests, but from May to November 1929 The Jaincziks toured with Great Carmo’s Circus in association with Bertram Mills. Colour lithograph Designed by Leon Crossley Given by John Bates Museum no. S.728-1984
Credit line
Given by the Norfolk Rural Life Museum
Object history
This poster was part of a collection of circus and theatre posters and ephemera collected by John Bates and given to the Norfolk Rural Life Museum by his widow. As the collection fell outside its collecting remit, the Rural Life Museum gave it to the V&A Theatre Museum.
Summary
This hanging card was designed to advertise the appearance of 'The Jainczik Skating Ballet' as part of the Great Carmo Circus. An unusual performance for a travelling circus, this kind of spectacle was the secret to Carmo's success.

An Australian-born magician and juggler, whose real name was Henry Cameron, Carmo began his career as a strong man before moving to England and entering the world of magic. He began his own circus in the 1920s, where he presented spectacular illusions to complement the main show of animal and circus acts. The circus was destroyed by fire shortly before World War II.
Collection
Accession number
S.728-1984

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Record createdJune 30, 2008
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