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Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890)

 Organisation

Biography

Taylor's of Wombwell began as a small local jobbing printer in the 1890s in the then small mining town of Wombwell in Southern Yorkshire. The founder, Albert Taylor, supplied the printing needs of this small community and surrounding area. Taylor's two eldest sons were responsible for catapulting the family business into the world of showbusiness.

Returning home from the battlefields of World War I, Taylor's two eldest sons had a lucky break when they managed, at short notice, to print the publicity for a London theatrical agent whose touring show was just about to open in Barnsley. In order to fulfil the order, the brothers had to saw up the kitchen table in the shape of a gigantic "W" for the posters. Their effort so impressed the agent that he promised the brothers the bulk of his future business. He was true to his word and this proved to be the foundation on which the successful business was built.

By the mid-1920s they were one of the leading printers of entertainment industry advertising in the United Kingdom with music hall, fairground and circus showmen among their national client base. The firm became a limited company in the 1920's; and in the 1950s, Taylor's (Theatrical) Printers Ltd. was established to separate the commercial from the theatrical side of the business.

The chromolithographic pantomime posters the company produced provide a fascinating visual record of how travelling entertainment forms were marketed throughout the twentieth century.

Found in 493 Collections and/or Records:

2nd Annual Christmas Spectacular Poster, 19 December - 6 January c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.76
Scope and Contents

Bolton. Featuring Mary Chipperfield’s Animal Extravaganza. Red and green type on white background.

Dates: 19 December - 6 January c1970 - 1979

2nd Annual Christmas Spectacular Poster, 19 December - 6 January c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.77
Scope and Contents

Bolton. Featuring Mary Chipperfield’s Animal Extravaganza. Red and green type on yellow background.

Dates: 19 December - 6 January c1970 - 1979

ABC Theatre Blackpool Poster, 14 September 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.179
Scope and Contents

Midnight Matinee. Blackpool 1977 Stars all together, Les Dawson, Danny La Rue, Eric Sykes and others. Red and black.

Dates: 14 September 1977

Adam Smith Centre Kirkcaldy, Fife Poster, 18 February 1980

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.162
Scope and Contents

‘An Evening with Al Jolson and Friends’ portrayed by Steve King, Special guest, Charlie Williams. Red and black type on yellow background.

Dates: 18 February 1980

Adam Smith Centre Kirkcaldy Poster, 15 March 1976

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.170
Scope and Contents

The Dixie Minstrel Show featuring John Boulter with Reg Lester and David Lee. Red and black with border.

Dates: 15 March 1976

Adam Smith Centre Kirkcaldy Poster, 11 April 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.187
Scope and Contents

The Al Jolson Minstrel Show featuring Clinton Ford. Red and blue type on yellow background.

Dates: 11 April 1977

Adam Smith Centre Kirkcaldy Poster, Week commencing Monday 11 October c1982

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.195
Scope and Contents

Nat Jackley ‘The original Rubber necked Comedian with his Happy Gang’ with Penny Nicholls, Tom Howard, Mike Onions, Chris Corbally, Barbara Jackson, John Warwick, The Calders. Red and blue type with border on yellow background.

Dates: Week commencing Monday 11 October c1982

Adam Smith Centre Poster, Season commencing 10 June c1977

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.213
Scope and Contents

Kirkcaldy, Fife. ‘Those Good Old Days’ with Ken Joy and others. Travelling show from City Varieties Leeds. Neon yellow, orange curtains, black and red type.

Dates: Season commencing 10 June c1977

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 17 January 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.306
Scope and Contents

Middlesbrough Empire. Ken Dodd, Jimmy Couton, Bill Young, Joan Price, Erik Leifson, Philip Becker, Bill Owen, Keith Lee, Wanda Alpar, Lemarr Brothers and Suzette, Marilyn Girls, Merseyside Mites, Marie Joy, Benson Dulay and Company and Pan Yue Yen Troupe. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 17 January 1955

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 27 December 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.332
Scope and Contents

Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone. Albert Grant, Renee Beck, Larry Gordon Girls, Homer and Hal, Reginald Vincent, Norman Yeomans and Felovis. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 27 December 1954

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 24 January c1950 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.307
Scope and Contents

Empire Theatre, Swindon. Albert Grant, Renee Beck, Larry Gordon Girls, Homer and Hal, Reginald Vincent, Norman Yeomans and Felovis. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 24 January c1950 - 1959

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 10 January 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.324
Scope and Contents

Empire, West Hartlepool. Bobby Thompson, Edna Dean, George Chicane, Michael Hibbert, Terry Moore, Lynn Harwood, Zaro and Zarita, Michael Hill, The Lombards, Freda Compton’s Dancing Juveniles, Peggy Patterson, Ida Robson, Gene Patton and the Lovely Lotus Blossoms. Contains colour illustration.

Dates: Week commencing 10 January 1955

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Poster, Week commencing 27 December 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.334
Scope and Contents

Pavilion Theatre, Liverpool. Ken Dodd, Jimmy Couton, Bill Young, Joan Price, Erik Leifson, Philip Becker, Bill Owen, Keith Lee, Wanda Alpar, Lemarr Brothers and Suzette, Marilyn Girls, Merseyside Mites, Marie Joy, Benson Dulay and Company and Pan Yue Yen Troupe. Red and blue.

Dates: Week commencing 27 December 1954

Aladdin Poster, 26 December 1858 - 1 February 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.1(i)
Scope and Contents

Pavilion, Torquay. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomine.

Dates: 26 December 1858 - 1 February 1959

Aladdin Poster, c1960 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.1(ii)
Scope and Contents

Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.

Dates: c1960 - 1979

Aladdin Poster, c1960 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.16
Scope and Contents

Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.

Dates: c1960 - 1979

Aladdin Poster, c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.700
Scope and Contents

Artwork for Aladdin pantomime poster.

Dates: c1970 - 1979

Aladdin Poster, c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.704
Scope and Contents

Artwork for Aladdin pantomime poster.

Dates: c1970 - 1979

Aladdin Poster, 24 December - 11 January c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.341
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Aldershot. George Williams, Julie Michaels, Joan Hurley, Kathryn Sadler, Elissa Raye, The Corps de Ballet. Poster left blank for overprinting. Red and blue illustration.

Dates: 24 December - 11 January c1970 - 1979

Aladdin Poster, 24 December – 31 January c1950 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.325
Scope and Contents

New Cross Empire. Wally Wood, Eva Kane, Jenny Hayes, Phil Lester, Jill Hawley, John Stewart, Norma Elliott, Maureen and Sylvia O’Neill, Slip and Slop, Leslie Richards, Johnny Clayton, Sammy Bayes, Billy Sinclair, Francesca’s Dancing Debutantes, The Four Yongs. Contains colour illustration.

Dates: 24 December – 31 January c1950 - 1959