Caricature
October 1904 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of The Three Meers when they were performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 17 October 1904. They were billed as ‘An Eccentric Wire Act. Fifteen Minutes of Continuous Laughter’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. This one is signed by Alf Meers, who invented his ‘endless wire trick’ for the act.
The Three Meers were on a bill in 1904 that was topped by Charles T. Aldrich, the quick-change star whom Cooke also drew. When The Three Meers appeared at the Grand previously, in May 1903, they had returned from a tour of the Continent. A reviewer noted that ‘the daring nature of the feats and novel balancing positions caused almost continuous rounds of applause’. Many acts that we now associate with circus were popular on the variety stage in the early 1900s. Comical wire acts still feature in the circus. They require great skill to appear to have none.
The Three Meers were on a bill in 1904 that was topped by Charles T. Aldrich, the quick-change star whom Cooke also drew. When The Three Meers appeared at the Grand previously, in May 1903, they had returned from a tour of the Continent. A reviewer noted that ‘the daring nature of the feats and novel balancing positions caused almost continuous rounds of applause’. Many acts that we now associate with circus were popular on the variety stage in the early 1900s. Comical wire acts still feature in the circus. They require great skill to appear to have none.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of The Three Meers, signed by Alf Meers, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. October 1904. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Alf Meers, full-length, depicted as a split persona, his right half dressed in a black evening suit, white waistcoat and white tie, and his left as a bearded character with a face painted with make-up, wearing a red and blue checked waistcoat, a blue bow tie, and brown trousers. A tightrope performance is taking place in the background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Very good work, Sincerely yours Alf Meers (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature is of the music hall performer Alf Meers, probably performing in 1904. Alf Meers was noted by the artist as a Wire Act, and he is seen performing on a tightrope in the background. This caricature comes from the first of several albums compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke, featuring performers working in the music hall in the early 20th century. It is dated 1903-4-5. |
| Summary | This caricature is of The Three Meers when they were performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 17 October 1904. They were billed as ‘An Eccentric Wire Act. Fifteen Minutes of Continuous Laughter’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. This one is signed by Alf Meers, who invented his ‘endless wire trick’ for the act. The Three Meers were on a bill in 1904 that was topped by Charles T. Aldrich, the quick-change star whom Cooke also drew. When The Three Meers appeared at the Grand previously, in May 1903, they had returned from a tour of the Continent. A reviewer noted that ‘the daring nature of the feats and novel balancing positions caused almost continuous rounds of applause’. Many acts that we now associate with circus were popular on the variety stage in the early 1900s. Comical wire acts still feature in the circus. They require great skill to appear to have none. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.392:21-2002 |
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| Record created | November 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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