May Belfort from Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs (Portraits d'Acteurs & Actrices: Treize Lithographies)

Before cinema, there was Music Hall! 🎭 From pub backrooms to grand palaces of entertainment, it was the heart of London's cultural life. Uncover treasures from the golden age in our new free display, 'Spotlight on Music Hall'. Opens Oct 6! www.thelondonarchives.org/visit-us/exh... #Archives

It was a gorgeous day yesterday for @adrianpgibson.bsky.social ‘s stink pipes & the hidden river Effra lunchtime walking tour. Herne Hill & Brixton looked magnificent & I learnt some fascinating facts and realised I have been walking past & over some interesting landmarks for years.Thank you Adrian!

Two fantastic #BMHS events this October! 🎭 📚 Archive on Show @ Lambeth Archives – Thu 9 Oct, 2pm 🎤 Kirsty Roberts Talk @ The Water Rats – Tue 21 Oct, 7pm (celebrating Black performers in Morecambe’s history) 📖 Book here: britishmusichallsociety.com/events

After the success of our first archive ‘on show’ morning we are running the event again - in the afternoon of Thursday 9 October, 2pm. Booking details here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/16-...

The best kind of street #archives #paris

Edmund Yates checks out the audience at the Alhambra Music Hall, Leicester Square, in 1867

Join us at the Lambeth Heritage Festival @lambetharchives.bsky.social 'Music Hall Tales from the Archive' on Mon, 15 Sept, 6pm. Free entry, booking required via TicketSource. #LambethHeritage #MusicHallTales www.ticketsource.co.uk/britishmusic...

'Gallery of the Old Bedford', Camden Town (c.1895) by Walter Sickert (Walker Art Gallery)

The Great Wheel at Earls Court was opened in 1895, closed in 1906 and famously got stuck in May 1896, stranding passengers for 4 1/2 hours. Here's a little ditty about it by John Read. #SongsheetSaturday

To those who like to track down #MusicHall ephemera on Ebay etc, please bear this mind when posters for the Argyle, Birkenhead (some of the most visually brilliant posters of the day) are offered for sale

Last week I was on the island of Öland in Sweden. It was all moody skies, gentle breezes & appealing wooden structures. NO heat. God, how I would like to be back there today.

Meet Jules Léotard: the daring 19th-century acrobat who flew on the trapeze—and invented the iconic leotard! 🎪✨ ➡️ bit.ly/3U1NjGi

📣 In the Limelight: A Risky Business - Japanese Acrobats in Victorian Britain. A talk by Pernille Rudlin 📅 Tuesday 22 July 2025 🕖 7:00pm start (No interval, ends approx. 8:30pm) 📍 The Water Rats, London 🎟️ Booking here - buff.ly/PViKfD8 #LiveTalk #HistoryEvent #JapaneseAcrobats #VictorianBritain

Great to see this story- a very modern palace of variety (saved by Hollywood) #MusicHall www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Philomena Cunk wades into the debate... @musichallsociety.bsky.social

'Vaudeville Theatre, 1991' by Philip Le Bas (Private collection)

Take a look at our latest blog post, originally featured in our journal The Call Boy in 1971. Dive into the world of the orchestra with one who knew that world intimately - Firmin Shackleton #MusicHall #orchestra Read here: britishmusichallsociety.com/history/orch...

'An Omnibus Ride to Piccadilly Circus, Mr Gladstone Travelling with Ordinary Passengers' (1885) by Alfred Morgan (Private collection)

2nd of Magnificent 7 in one weekend. 1st visit to Kensal Green Cemetery. #circus and #musichall royalty and stunning memorials. Blondin, Ducrow, Cooke and Collins.

We've been working extensively on our archive for the past 18 months. Join us for our first 'Archive on Show' morning on Thursday, 7th August 2025, at our new location in Lambeth Archives. Discover some of our materials—details and booking link here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/britishmusic...

Dramatically lit against the dark background, Everett Shinn's acrobat holds not only the attention of the viewer in such a way that we can almost feel the anticipation. The acrobat's fall was part of a popular vaudeville act touring American theatres in the 1920s.

In November 1932, my grandmother Norah, 24, attended the Grand Order of the Water Rats Ball at the Park Lane Hotel with her Uncle Albert Egbert and Aunt Daisy Dormer. The evening's entertainment, 'Rats in the Attic or Rushonanoffski', was written by Will Hay & Marriott Edgar #MusicHallVarietyDay

Is it too early for a champagne tipple? “Champagne Charlie” (1866) earned George Leybourne his famous nickname. Sadly, Charlie drank more than he sang — Leybourne died at just 42. #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #FoodandDrink

An Oxford Charmer for me, perhaps a Maiden's Blush for you? What's your choice of tipple from the American Buffet at the Oxford Music Hall, 1877? Have we time for supper? #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #FoodAndDrink

Walthamstow Palace Theatre programme, 1909. The Palace opened in Walthamstow High Street in 1903 and was a popular venue on the music hall circuit. From 1952 it was a drama playhouse, but this did not flourish. The Palace closed in 1954 & was demolished in 1960. #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025

I can’t find a food connection but here’s a postcard sent to my great-grandfather in 1915. He was Baggage Man and my great-grandmother was a dresser at the Palace, Salisbury. #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #MusicHall

1861 and Léotard is flying at the Alhambra. A chop and some wine whilst we await his turn? #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #FoodAndDrink

More neighbourhood #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #FoodandDrink links. White Horse pub, where #musichall people met, drank, shared news, was rebuilt, in part, by money from music hall fundraising. 1/3

Smoking and Drinking in the English music hall in 1872 - I wonder what the ladies are drinking? #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #FoodAndDrink

On Music Hall Variety Day here's an 1893 programme for the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties, one of Lambeth's famous music halls. Also Dan Leno performer & celebrated comedian who lived in Clapham shown here as 'Mother Goose' in 1902. @youngalison.bsky.social #musichallvarietyday #danleno #lambeth

Another entry from Larry's autograph book (my g-grandfather) for #MusicHallVarietyDay on a Food & Drink theme - The Boganny Troupe of acrobats and their highly successful LUNATIC BAKERS sketch. This dates from an appearance at the Leeds Empire (now Leeds Grand Theatre) in March 1916 #MHVD2025

A happy group of #MusicHall performers enjoying beers in Germany during their 1923 'Rhine Army Amusements' tour. Far left is my g-grandfather Larry Lewis/Levy; 2nd & 3rd from right are my g-grandmother Violet & her friend Marie Kendall (actor Kay Kendall's grandmother) #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025

'Nibble on the corn you say?' My great-grandmother Violet looks suspiciously at the photographer & wonders what she is doing in Cardiff surrounded by corn bundles pretending she's enjoying herself #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 #MusicHall

For #MusicHallVarietyDay I have been raiding the family 'archive' for items on the Food&Drink theme. Here's an entry in my g-grandfather's autograph book by performer, Griff: "A belly full of wind is better than an empty stomach". Never a truer word spoken! (Circus of Varieties, Bury, 14 June 1906)

#musichallvarietyday #MHVD2025 theme food & drink. Ella Zuila on the high wire at Crystal Palace Oct. 1899 having a glass of wine. The Sketch from @bna. Eating and drinking became a popular part of the act on the #musichall stage and elsewhere 1/2

'Papa' Cragg of the Marvellous Craggs, greatest music hall acrobats in the world, tells us what they eat, drink and smoke (in 1885) to kick off #FoodandDrink, this year's #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 theme.

Welcome to the SIXTH annual #MusicHallVarietyDay! Today, we celebrate Music Hall and Variety with songs, 'turns,' posters, postcards, blogs, curiosities and stories. This year’s theme is #FoodandDrink — get creative! . Let’s share and like : #MHVD2025.

Us again! We were just wondering what you got up to yesterday? There's no deadline to take part in our annual diary day, so if you fancy writing, drawing or collaging your day yesterday we'd love to have it! You can submit your diary here: universityofsussex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Celebrate #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025 this Friday (16 May) with @musichallsociety.bsky.social This year's theme is Food and Drink, but do share anything music hall and variety related to mark the occasion recognising this important part of our theatrical heritage

I am very sad to hear about the death of Roger Foss. A lovely man, I last saw him @musichallsociety.bsky.social conference in Oct 2024 where he spoke about the song ‘Till the Boys Come Home’ - also the title of his excellent book about theatre and WW1. RIP Roger. www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...

If you are in Dundee - come mark #MusicHallAndVarietyDay on Friday 16 May 2025 with a special 'Laurel and Hardy' screening and Dundee music hall walking tour! To book follow this link: linktr.ee/dundeemusich... #MHVD2025 #MusicHall #Dundee #Film #Walk

Insightful & engaging conversation between @hallierubenhold.bsky.social & @maddypelling.bsky.social last night at Coram on Hallie’s ‘Story of a Murder’. Great Q&A too. Am delighted those Ladies of the #MusicHall Guild get their time in the spotlight @musichallsociety.bsky.social

For #MusicHallMonday here's an article from a past edition of The Call Boy (our quarterly journal) about Dressing Rooms by Valantyne Napier britishmusichallsociety.com/history/dres...

We have our first entry up on Archives Hub 🎉🥳 archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb3861-...

We wondered what happened to this search from last year for the 1st female Magic Circle member - now we know www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

That’s breakfast sorted 🐣

The curtain rises once again… Music Hall & Variety Day is back for the 6th year - Friday 16th May 2025. The theme this year is Food & Drink - interpret in any way you wish. We look forward to seeing those posts #MHVD2025 #musichallvarietyday

Come along to our April 'In the Limelight' talk by Peter Charlton (accompanied by Laurence Payne), Tues 22nd April at the Water Rats. Peter will be talking about little-known #MusicHall performer Frank Lynne, better known as the grandfather to Clive Dunn & Gretchen Frankin bit.ly/4ls1Jw5

‘Many photographers in the 1860s had other jobs and worked out of existing premises: they were tobacconists, confectioners, booksellers, hairdressers, organists, vestry clerks, shoemakers and plumbers.’ Tom Crewe on the 19th-century ‘carte de visite’ craze: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...