Poster advertising the twice daily Variety programme at the Hansa Theatre Hamburg, April 1979
Poster
1979 (produced)
1979 (produced)
| Place of origin |
The Hansa Theatre was opened by the brewery owner Paul Wilhelm Grell on 5th March 1894, and became Hamburg's oldest Variety theatre. Despite being completely destroyed during the second world war when owned by Kurt Grell, the second generation of the Grell family, he rebuilt is on the same site and from 1967 it was run by his wife Telse Mayer-Grell and later by her son in law Peter Baldermann. It specialised in international performers presenting a wide range of acts including acrobatics, magic, comedy and puppetry. Frank Mumford's marionettes Mlle Zizi and her accompanist Feyodor Lethetinsky made regular appearances at the Hansa.
Frank Mumford (1918-2014) had an extraordinary career as a puppeteer, from his schooldays and throughout his long life. He appeared at Wood Green Empire aged just 14, billed as Master Mumford and His Marionettes. In 1938 Maisie Tierney joined the troupe which they disbanded in 1939, on the outbreak of war. They married in July 1944 and that September Frank was taken prisoner at Arnheim. He joined the Central Pool of Artists on his release and created the two-hour show Stars on Strings that he performed with his puppets in Army Entertainment. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain.
After his demob in 1946 he and Maisie created a more practical two-handed marionette act, with Frank creating all the puppets. They presented The Mumford Puppets for royalty and in top nightspots including the London Palladium and the Moulin Rouge. They played cabarets around the world, meeting celebrities such as Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Charlie Chaplin. They performed for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco, at private parties for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris, and for stars including Laurel and Hardy and Ingrid Bergman. Frank also carved the early versions of the TV puppet Andy Pandy.
Frank Mumford (1918-2014) had an extraordinary career as a puppeteer, from his schooldays and throughout his long life. He appeared at Wood Green Empire aged just 14, billed as Master Mumford and His Marionettes. In 1938 Maisie Tierney joined the troupe which they disbanded in 1939, on the outbreak of war. They married in July 1944 and that September Frank was taken prisoner at Arnheim. He joined the Central Pool of Artists on his release and created the two-hour show Stars on Strings that he performed with his puppets in Army Entertainment. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain.
After his demob in 1946 he and Maisie created a more practical two-handed marionette act, with Frank creating all the puppets. They presented The Mumford Puppets for royalty and in top nightspots including the London Palladium and the Moulin Rouge. They played cabarets around the world, meeting celebrities such as Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Charlie Chaplin. They performed for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco, at private parties for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris, and for stars including Laurel and Hardy and Ingrid Bergman. Frank also carved the early versions of the TV puppet Andy Pandy.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Poster advertising the twice daily Variety programme at the Hansa Theatre Hamburg, April 1979 (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed paper |
| Brief description | Poster advertising the twice daily Variety programme at the Hansa Theatre Hamburg, featuring Frank Mumford's puppets, April 1979 |
| Physical description | Poster printed in black and white, headed 'Hansa-Theater, featuring photographs and descriptions of the artists appearing twice daily at the Hansa Theatre Hamburg in April 1979 – Frediani Jrs.; the Carlos Twins; Adrians Chimps; Francis van Dyke; Frank and Maisie Mumfords’ Marionettes; Ed Ronloo; The Degards; Ballet Illa Schaberg; Mr. Leg; The Skating Perlas; Tonny van Dommelens, and the Two Astoris. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Jennifer Allen |
| Object history | This poster was kept by Frank Mumford, along with his marionettes, other posters, programmes, cuttings and photographs, as souvenirs of his career. They were inherited on his death by his great-niece who presented them to the museum |
| Summary | The Hansa Theatre was opened by the brewery owner Paul Wilhelm Grell on 5th March 1894, and became Hamburg's oldest Variety theatre. Despite being completely destroyed during the second world war when owned by Kurt Grell, the second generation of the Grell family, he rebuilt is on the same site and from 1967 it was run by his wife Telse Mayer-Grell and later by her son in law Peter Baldermann. It specialised in international performers presenting a wide range of acts including acrobatics, magic, comedy and puppetry. Frank Mumford's marionettes Mlle Zizi and her accompanist Feyodor Lethetinsky made regular appearances at the Hansa. Frank Mumford (1918-2014) had an extraordinary career as a puppeteer, from his schooldays and throughout his long life. He appeared at Wood Green Empire aged just 14, billed as Master Mumford and His Marionettes. In 1938 Maisie Tierney joined the troupe which they disbanded in 1939, on the outbreak of war. They married in July 1944 and that September Frank was taken prisoner at Arnheim. He joined the Central Pool of Artists on his release and created the two-hour show Stars on Strings that he performed with his puppets in Army Entertainment. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain. After his demob in 1946 he and Maisie created a more practical two-handed marionette act, with Frank creating all the puppets. They presented The Mumford Puppets for royalty and in top nightspots including the London Palladium and the Moulin Rouge. They played cabarets around the world, meeting celebrities such as Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Charlie Chaplin. They performed for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in Monaco, at private parties for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris, and for stars including Laurel and Hardy and Ingrid Bergman. Frank also carved the early versions of the TV puppet Andy Pandy. |
| Associated object | S.608-2016 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.65-2019 |
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| Record created | March 11, 2021 |
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