Poster advertising the twice-nightly Variety programme at the Grand Theatre Bolton, week commencing Monday 4th August 1952
Poster
1952 (produced)
1952 (produced)
Variety was an extremely popular form of entertainment in the first half of the 20th century, following on from the success of Music Hall and the building of palatial Theatres of Variety throughout the country. This advertises a typical twice-nightly show at the Bolton Grand Theatre on Bolton's Churchgate. It was designed as a circus by the great theatre architect Frank Matcham and originally opened on 27th August 1894 as The New Grand Circus of Varieties Theatre. Variety overtook the popularity of circus however and the theatre specialised in Variety until 1960 when a short phase as a 'cabaret dining theatre' and a bingo hall preceded its demolition in 1963.
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 in Variety theatres and cabaret 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 in Variety theatres and cabaret 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-nightly Variety programme at the Grand Theatre Bolton, week commencing Monday 4th August 1952 (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed paper |
| Brief description | Poster advertising the twice-nightly Variety programme at the Grand Theatre Bolton, week commencing Monday 4th August 1952, featuring Maisie and Frank Mumford's Puppet Parade |
| Physical description | Typographical poster printed in blue on white paper advertising the twice-nightly Variety programme at the Grand Theatre Bolton, week commencing Monday 4th August 1952, featuring Maisie and Frank Mumford's Puppet Parade 'Life on Strings'; The Two Kellys ('Swedish Sensational Perch Act'); Leslie Lewis ('All the Personalities in One'); 'Bolton's Own' Douglas Maynard ('Note-Ability'); Mark Mansfield ('A Fugutive from Variety Fanfare'); Bob Kerns and Mary Lou ('He's Got Wit - She's got Everything'); Robbie and Platt ('New Style Entertainers at the Piano') Seaton and O'Dell ('the Tumbling Tomboys'); Burt Brooks and Harvey ('the Television Comedy Conjuror') |
| Credit line | Given by Jennifer Allen |
| Object history | The 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 | Variety was an extremely popular form of entertainment in the first half of the 20th century, following on from the success of Music Hall and the building of palatial Theatres of Variety throughout the country. This advertises a typical twice-nightly show at the Bolton Grand Theatre on Bolton's Churchgate. It was designed as a circus by the great theatre architect Frank Matcham and originally opened on 27th August 1894 as The New Grand Circus of Varieties Theatre. Variety overtook the popularity of circus however and the theatre specialised in Variety until 1960 when a short phase as a 'cabaret dining theatre' and a bingo hall preceded its demolition in 1963. 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 in Variety theatres and cabaret 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.202-2021 |
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| Record created | March 19, 2021 |
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