Souvenir silk-covered programme produced for the wartime charity performance promoted by Sarah Bernhardt in aid of the French Hospital in London and the Charing Cross Hospital, London Coliseum Theatre, 11 October 1913, in the presence of King George and Queen Mary.

Silk programme in book form covered in watered cream silk with gold typography and crest. The pages are held in place by a twisted white silk cord, ending in tassels. Elaborate gold foliate borders on each of the 46 pages featuring photographs of Lord and Countess Lonsdale, King George V and Queen Mary, Sarah Bernhardt, Ellen Terry, Owen Seaman, Oswald Stoll (chairman and managing director), Arthur Croxton (manager), Walter Battle, Doctor Broad, Mr.H.J. Thomas, Fred Wyndham (directors of the Coliseum syndicate), Mr. S.G. Michie (secretary of the Coliseum syndicate), Mrs E. Miriam Croxton (designer of the decorations of the interior of the Coliseum), Mr. A.C. Fotheringham Lyson, Frank Matcham (architect to the Coliseum syndicate), Madame Kirkby Lunn, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Henry J. Wood, Mr. Landon Ronald, Yvette Guilbert, Fred Emney, Will Evans, George Formby, George Graves, Neil Kenyon, Alfred Lester, George Robey, Arthur Roberts. Mark Sheridan, Renée Mayer, Lydia Kyasht, Harry Fragson, W.C. Fields, Harry Tate, Herbert Haines, Mr. R. Joubé, Gerald Kirby, Robert Hale, Madame B. Rasimi and members of her company, Mr. G.P. Huntley, Harry Grattan, Max Pemberton, James Watts, Yvonne Arnaud, Constance Drever, Florence Smithson, Gina Féraud, Madge Melbourne, George Grossmith, C.H. Workman, Ivor Foster, Messrs. Green & Wood, Billy Merson, Gus Sohlke, Henry Crocker (stage manager), Alfred Dove (musical advisor and director), Henry T. Mawbey (advertising manager), Miss A. Grossman (box office manager), Harry Pryme (acting manager), William Ward (press manager), and the interior of the theatre. Tassel holding pages in place in cream twisted silk rope. Produced for The Good Samaritan, a variety programme with Ellen Terry and W.C. Fields, promoted by Madame Sarah Bernhardt in aid of the French Hospital in London and Lord Lonsdale's Appeal for Funds for the Charing Cross Hospital, London Coliseum, 11th October 1913.

Silk and satin playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Towards the end of the 19th century, when illustrated souvenir booklets were produced by some of the wealthier managements, some extended the practice to silk or satin-covered souvenir booklets such as this, containing many pages and photographs.

This was issued for a grand charity performance during the First World War, on October 1913 at the London Coliseum, the variety theatre designed by Frank Matcham which opened in 1904. The great French actress Sarah Bernhardt, performing at the Coliseum that autumn in a season of plays, was the patron of the event. It was in aid of funds for the French Hospital in London where Bernhardt herself had been a patient in 1879. The evening featured some of the greatest stars of the day from all walks of entertainment including Ellen Terry, George Robey, Cicely Courtneidge, Lydia Kyasht, Sir Edward Elgar and Sir Henry J. Wood, as well as Bernhardt herself. The flower-garlanded royal box was full for the occasion, with Prince Arthur of Connaught, the Duchess of Fife, Princess Victoria, King George, the Princess Royal and Queen Mary all in attendance.

S.414-2006