Printed Ephemera — 1844
Playbill
In the 19th century theatres competed to attract audiences, vying with each other to offer evermore extravagant and spectacular entertainments. Technical developments in the printing industry brought new typefaces which they seized upon to create bold and eye-catching playbills. The promised attractions were described in great detail and often illustrated with wood-block engravings.
This bill advertises the play 'The Temperance Pledge: or, A True Lesson of Life' at the Royal Victoria Theatre in June 1844. The Royal Victoria was on Barkham Terrace, St George's Road, Lambeth.
Plays often reflected contemporary issues and events. Here the evils of drink and the virtues of abstenence from alcohol which the Temperance Movement preached are central to the play's plot and provide endless opportunities for melodrama.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 2007.1/196
- Object name:
- playbill
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Fairbrother, S.G. and Son
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1844
- Material:
paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 505 mm, W 210 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.