Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890)
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 192 Collections and/or Records:
An Evening with Al Jolson and Friends Poster, Week commencing 8 October 1979
Kings Theatre, Edinburgh. Steve King, Reg Dixon. Red and black type on yellow background.
Arcadia Theatre Skegness Poster, Season commencing 27 June c1977
‘Those Good Old Days’ starring Gary Webb, Ken Joy, Barbara Jackson and others. Travelling show from City Varieties Leeds. Neon yellow, orange curtains, black and red type.
Babes in the Wood Poster, c1960 - 1979
Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.
Babes in the Wood Poster, c1960 - 1979
Civic Theatre Scunthorpe. Ray Lester, Steve King. Contains red and blue illustration related to the theme of the pantomime and holly border.
Babes in the Wood Poster, 2 - 5 January 1978
City Varieties, Leeds. Ben Warriss, Bruce Trent, Ken Barnes. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.
Babes in the Wood Poster, Week commencing 10 January 1955
Playhouse Theatre, Bury St. Edmunds. Harry Rowson, Cliff Gay, Dorothy Howe, Noel Baron, Don Clifford and Dickie Bird, Annette Gaye, Norma Joyce, Derek Yielding, Shirley Wood, Ivy Barry, Festine, Vera Valentine’s famous 'Royalty Girls' and Doreen and Ronaine. Contains colour illustration.
Babes in the Wood Poster, Week commencing 27 December 1954
Playhouse Theatre, Colchester. Harry Rowson, Cliff Gay, Dorothy Howe, Noel Baron, Don Clifford and Dickie Bird, Annette Gaye, Norma Joyce, Derek Yielding, Shirley Wood, Ivy Barry, Festine, Vera Valentine’s famous 'Royalty Girls' and Doreen and Ronaine. Contains colour illustration.
Babes in the Wood Poster, Week commencing 3 January 1955
Hippodrome and Queens Theatre, Keighley. Jackson Earle, Rita Page, Vera Blaine, Peggy Naylor, Dorothy Ann Sanders and Barbara Deakin, Bud Wallis, Will Norman, Doreen Davis, Joe Davies, Dawn Bennett, Pat Warren, Jack and Joan’s 10 Sherwood Girls. Contains colour illustration.
Babes in the Wood Poster, 11 - 20 December c1970 - 1979
Theatre Royal, St. Helens. Roy Lester, Steve King, John Warwick, Barbara Jackson, Alan Kent and Johnny Laine. Red and green.
Babes in the Wood Poster, Commencing 22 December 1978
City Varieties, Leeds. Ben Warriss, Bruce Trent, Ken Barnes, Du Marte and Denzar, Jon Junior, Joe Cook, Jean Pearce’s Junior Showtimers. Multicoloured type on white background and illustration on paper.
Babes in the Wood Poster, Commencing 22 December 1978
City Varieties, Leeds. Ben Warriss, Bruce Trent, Ken Barnes, Du Marte and Denzar, Jon Junior, Joe Cook, Jean Pearce’s Junior Showtimers. Multicoloured type on white background and illustration on cardboard.
Babes in the Wood Poster, c1970 - 1979
Artwork for Babes in the Wood pantomime poster.
Big Show Variety '75 Poster, Week commencing 5 May 1975
Hoe Theatre, Plymouth. Ralph Reader, Jack Mozelle, The Keddello’s, Bette Gilmore, Barbara Drew, Calvin Kaye, Carol Gordon, Jack Seaton. Red and grey type on white background.
Birmingham Hippodrome Poster, 28 March 1977
The Al Jolson Minstrel Show featuring Clinton Ford. Red and blue type on yellow background.
Blank Poster Sample, c1960 - 1979
Contains red and blue illustration, round edges with Pierrots, stilt walkers and other characters.
Charles Taylor Collection
The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.
Cinderella in Carriage Poster, c1960 - 1979
Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.
Cinderella in Carriage Poster, 28 January 1978
Royal Theatre, Redruth. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.
Cinderella Poster, c1960 - 1979
Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.
Cinderella Poster, c1960 - 1979
Poster left blank for printers for touring shows. Contains colour illustration related to the theme of the pantomime.