Not currently on display at the V&A

'Royal American Midgets'

Poster
1882 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

When the American showman Frank Uffner was in England with his troupe he also exhibited them at London's Piccadilly Hall and took the entire company to Buckingham Palace. According to his publicity on other posters and in the press, this consisted of the Mexican performer Lucia Zarate, General Mite, Jennie Quigley, Commadore Foot, E.F. Flyn, father of General Mite, Signor Zrate, father of Luica Zarate, Joseph Bullion, Interpreter, J.W. Buxton and E.H. Harvey.

Another poster notes that the troupe had a Command Performance at Marlborough House on 15th December 1880 for The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Their 'Midgets' Farewell to London' performances took place on or after 31st January 1881. He also exhibited Chang the Chinese Giant at Picadilly Hall.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title'Royal American Midgets' (published title)
Materials and techniques
Printing ink on paper
Brief description
Poster advertising Royal American Midgets featuring General Mite at the Imperial Theatre, adjoining the Royal Aquarium, 1882. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works.
Physical description
Pictorial and typographic.
Dimensions
  • Poster height: 75.9cm
  • Poster width: 50.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
Stamped with Theatre Museum, V.A.M. stamp.
Object history
Associated Production: Royal American Midgets featuring General Mite. Imperial Theatre, Westminster, London. Performance category: freak show.
Production
11 Maiden Lane, Strand, London
Summary
When the American showman Frank Uffner was in England with his troupe he also exhibited them at London's Piccadilly Hall and took the entire company to Buckingham Palace. According to his publicity on other posters and in the press, this consisted of the Mexican performer Lucia Zarate, General Mite, Jennie Quigley, Commadore Foot, E.F. Flyn, father of General Mite, Signor Zrate, father of Luica Zarate, Joseph Bullion, Interpreter, J.W. Buxton and E.H. Harvey.

Another poster notes that the troupe had a Command Performance at Marlborough House on 15th December 1880 for The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Their 'Midgets' Farewell to London' performances took place on or after 31st January 1881. He also exhibited Chang the Chinese Giant at Picadilly Hall.
Collection
Accession number
S.1163-1983

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 23, 2010
Record URL
Download as: JSON