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. The New Theatre Cardiff, opened in 1906, was sold in 1947 to the Stoll Theatres Corporation who continued the tradition of Variety, pantomime, and touring shows, attracting many of the best known stars of the day. This advertises a typical twice-nightly show at the Cardiff New Theatre, starring the jazz singer Rose Murphy (1913-1989), also known as the 'chee chee girl' and famous for her song 'Busy Line', with the jazz double bass player Major 'Mule' Holley (1924-1990). It included the tall and leggy comedy trick cyclist 'Slim Rhyder', and also The Mumford Puppets.

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.

Prince Littler took over in 1935 and turned the Theatre over to twice nightly Variety with the occasional 'spectacular' thrown in for good measure. Littler, who would later go on to become Chairman and Managing Director of the Stoll Theatre Corporation, also reinstated Christmas pantomimes at the New Theatre in 1935 with a production of Aladdin. Pantomime remains a popular feature there today