Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres in the 19th century would have had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War, however, the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than at any other theatres.

This silk playbill was produced to mark the grand opening night of the London Hippodrome on 15 January 1900. It lists a range of circus and variety acts: James and Amalia Jee, Double Wire Act; Miss Godlewski, Haute Ecole; the Brothers Weldermann 'Continental Grotesques', Mlle. Arniotis 'the Queen of Athletes'; Little Tony, Boy Vaulting Act, The O'Kabes, Acrobats; Lavater Lee and his Bucking Mule; Leonidas' Cats and Digs; Herr Julius Seeth with his 21 Forest Bred Lions; the Jackson Family, Instrumentalists; Lee's Liberty Arabian Steeds and Barrel Act; Bros. Permane - Henri and Charles, 'Continental Grotesques', Miss Lea, Wonderful Equestrienne; Charles H. Jee, Juggling; Mlle Amalia (Amalia Jee), Equestrienne; Auguste, Lavater Lee and Oscar Lee, it featured the 'Amphibious Burletta' Giddy Ostend, or the Absent-Minded Millionaire starring Little Tich, with Elsie Carew, Marie Finney, James Finney, Fritz Rimma, Kenneth Altamont, Mr. M.R. Morand, Miss Blanche Wolseley, Mr. S. Asher, scenery by T.E. Ryan, costumes by Morris Angel from designs by Herbert Norris, and music arranged and composed by Georges Jacobi, who conducted the orchestra of 40 and 50 singers. With the theatre space containing a 100,000 gallon water tank, the Hippodrome became well known for its large scale aquatic acts, such as the opening night's Giddy Ostend.