Two English Theatre Advertising Posters, circa 1900

Pair of vintage fashion advertisements, La Presse Montreal, 1928. Wonderful images of dresses from the "Flapper" era. Titled 'L'Heure Ele...

Set of two vintage wood pull toys, 20th Century. Charming folk art circus wagon and pair of ducks. Circus wagon has applied lithograph of performing ch...

This was an estate find and part of a beautiful collection of rare excellent turn of the century posters. They were hidden away for over 100 years. This is a rare and impressive 3 sheet poster that is 7 foot tall. It make quite a statement. About the poster: You'd think that a play called "The New Baby" might feature said child in its promotional material. But here's the thing - there really isn't a baby at the centre of the comedy, and that's the crux of this entertainment. The plot concerns a husband who is so bored with country life that he dreams up the idea of having an illegitimate son in London as a way to get into town for an occasional 'night off'. When his wife decides that the child should be adopted, the expected comic tissue of falsehoods and misunderstandings frays and hilarity ensues. Adapted from German by A. Bourchier, the farce opened in London in 1896 to what a local critic termed 'much mirth'. Several years later, when the play had crossed the Atlantic and entered the repertory of David de Wolf cleverly called the Baby's chaperone on the poster and his troupe of traveling players, that understated review was translated into the more American howling success. The cast and director would've been totally unfamiliar with the British hinterlands, so this splendid design concentrates on the hi-jinks of the characters and their situation. At the start of the 20th century, America was in the full glory of its cultural adolescence, bursting with energy and optimism. In 1900 in New York there were 33 legitimate Broadway theaters...

Very rare late 19th Century, "The Original Holden's Mannikins", original vintage theatrical Vaudeville play linen backed one-sheet movie poster (one sheet; measures 28" x 42", actual poster size 27" x 41". Early Vaudeville Marionette, Automata and Mannequin poster with vibrant colors, another one can't be found. The playbill poster features vibrant illustrations of Clowns, Skeletons, Royalty, Cowboys, Mimes, Nurses, Fairies... This poster has an address for a theatre in St. Martin Paris, France. From the book; The Holdens: Monarchs of the Marionette Theatre by John McCormick The Holden family were the most celebrated English marionette performers of the nineteenth century. The trajectory of the Holdens provides a vivid example of developments in entertainment across the century. Having begun on the fairgrounds, they moved on to large halls, theatres and music halls. At the height of their popularity, when they had two main companies in operation, the Holdens were even better known abroad than at home. Their name was almost synonymous with puppetry, and they were credited with every innovation in marionette theatre. Then, with the advent of cinema, their business suffered a rapid decline. Based on extensive archival research and lavishly illustrated with photographs, sketches, diagrams, playbills and posters, The Holdens: Monarchs of the Marionette Theatre explains why the Holden shows had such impact and were so frequently imitated. Below are two newspaper reviews from 1903 and 1907. Holdin’s Mannkins Location: New York City Theater: New York Date: 1903 Type: Marionette, Automata and Manikin This is another of Mr. Keith’s acts and it is safe to say that we have never seen marionettes in this country before. The general fitting up of the act is great—had a fine stage with a full set of scenery, and everything is first class order—strongly, and it is hardly possible to conceive how people can produce the effects that they do by the manipulation of strings. Every move made by these little figures is absolutely natural and life-like, and the audience were quick to appreciate this fact and were most hearty in their applause. The act is closed with a transformation feature which was very pretty and attractive. It is an exceptionally strong turn throughout. 24 minutes, full stage. Source: University of Iowa, Keith-Albee Vaudeville Collection, Manager Reports, 2 September 1902-3 September 1903. Holden’s Manikins Location: Philadelphia Theater: Keith's Date: 1907 Type: Marionette, Automata and Manikin 22 min, F.S., 2 shows. On at 8:04. This is a children’s feature. I doubt whether it would be so well received at any other than about Christmas time, but it quite won the house. The manikins performs various simple stunts, such as dancing, Punch and Judy comedy, etc. The finish of the act was a spectacular feature without moving figures, which did not run as smoothly as it should have done. However, the act will certainly please the little folks and it cannot be conceived how the wooden manikins can be manipulated so life-like. Holden got a good hand on his appearance after the act...