LEGERDEMAIN, NECROMANCY & VENTRILOQUISM IN CONNECTICUT
Brilliant combination of attraction! Astounding novelties!: Mr. albert walker the world renowned magician and ventriloquist! Respectfully announces to the ladies and gentlemen of this place that he will give one of his grand exhibitions of varieties, at [blank] Hall, on [blank] ev'g, [blank] 18[blank] : consisting of legerdemain, necromancy, ventroloquism. Wonderful developments of natural magic, and the great mechanical theatre Illustrated with a superb and tasteful Dress, brilliantly illuminated.
Hartford [Connecticut].
Calhoun Printing Company, 66 State St., [1858].
Dimensions 230 x 585 mm.
Large single leaf playbill, printed within elaborate woodcut border. A fine copy.
A finely preserved - and remarkably detailed - blank playbill for the elaborate combination of 'astounding novelties' performed by the showman, magician and ventriloquist Albert Walker (1831-1899).
Designed - as evidenced by the blank spaces - to be used in multiple locations, with the time, date and location to be completed in manuscript, this broadside nevertheless is not short on detail of the programme, involving several card tricks, sleight of hand, fire- eating, Punch and Judy, and ventriloquism, to be performed:
'The following programme is merely intended as a foundation of Feats to be varied at each entertainment, many of which are his own invention and have never before been attempted in America. The Wonderful fear of Santa Claus, or the Juvenile Toy Shop. The Spanish Pin and Traveling Philosopher. The Changeable Cash or the Gambler outwitted. The Restored Card...The Flying Grain, in which the assistant is frightend out of his mother wit. Suprising dexterity with Cards. The Flight of Rice...Prince Alladin's Glass, or Chant of Electric Silver. This is a beautiful fear. -In this glass a piece of silver will dance, and keep time with any tune played by the Orchester, even when held by one of the audience'.
The quotes reprinting 'opinions of the press' to the foot of this playbill, provide the date. In 1858, at Worcester, a reporter from the Munroe Democrat noted that 'On last saturday and Monday A. Walker favored our citizens with several entertainments, consisting of magic, ventriloquism, music and fun of various sorts'.
Rare; OCLC locates copies at just two locations worldwide (Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, and Michigan).
£ 500.00
Antiquates Ref: 34883
Designed - as evidenced by the blank spaces - to be used in multiple locations, with the time, date and location to be completed in manuscript, this broadside nevertheless is not short on detail of the programme, involving several card tricks, sleight of hand, fire- eating, Punch and Judy, and ventriloquism, to be performed:
'The following programme is merely intended as a foundation of Feats to be varied at each entertainment, many of which are his own invention and have never before been attempted in America. The Wonderful fear of Santa Claus, or the Juvenile Toy Shop. The Spanish Pin and Traveling Philosopher. The Changeable Cash or the Gambler outwitted. The Restored Card...The Flying Grain, in which the assistant is frightend out of his mother wit. Suprising dexterity with Cards. The Flight of Rice...Prince Alladin's Glass, or Chant of Electric Silver. This is a beautiful fear. -In this glass a piece of silver will dance, and keep time with any tune played by the Orchester, even when held by one of the audience'.
The quotes reprinting 'opinions of the press' to the foot of this playbill, provide the date. In 1858, at Worcester, a reporter from the Munroe Democrat noted that 'On last saturday and Monday A. Walker favored our citizens with several entertainments, consisting of magic, ventriloquism, music and fun of various sorts'.
Rare; OCLC locates copies at just two locations worldwide (Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, and Michigan).
