Dates
Biography
The Poole family dominated the exhibition of pre-cinema shows including Panoramas, Dioramas and Myrioramas across the UK between 1837 and 1937. By 1900 the family were at the peak of their profession touring seven shows around the UK, Ireland and the Channel Isles.
The Poole family came from Malesbury in Wiltshire, where their base remained over generations.
Brothers Charles (1821-1877) and George Walter Poole (1828-1877) originally were musicians. They first adventured into Panorama shows in 1837 when they met Moses Gompertz (c1812-1893), a showman who owned a travelling Panorama. Pre-moving picture shows presented the audience with large painted narrative scenes on canvas, which often related topical news related to the conquests of the British Empire, famous battles and world travel. The scenes were accompanied by lively narrations, music and a range of variety acts, from humour to music, dancing and ventriloquism to break up the show and maintain the audience’s interest.
Initially, Gompertz employed the brothers to play music to accompany his Panoramas, however overtime Charles and George Poole became Gompertz business partners. It was not long before the brothers were travelling their own shows. Over the hundred years the Poole family operated travelling shows they founded several companies including; Poole & Young, a partnership with another one of Gompertz’s employees, Anthony Young, Wilson & Strange, Messrs Poole & Co, H. & F. Poole Myriorama (run by Henry (Harry) and Fred Poole) and a variety of shows run by Charles William Poole including; Charles W. Poole’s Myriorama, C.W. Poole’s No. 1 Myriorama, Charles W. Poole’s Imperial Myriorama, and Charles W. Poole’s Royal Myriorama. Besides showing their own panoramas, the Pooles performed moving panoramas acquired from a number of sources, such as the Hamiltons, who were the Pooles main rival at the time.
The business was so successful that most of the five sons of Charles and George’s brother John (1817-1889) and his wife Matilda (1824-1899); Joseph (1847-1906), George (1849-1929), Henry (Harry) (1850-1925), Charles William (1858-1918) and Fred (1867-c1907) got involved and eventually took over from their uncles. John and Matilda also had a daughter Ann, who will later become Mrs Bynorth and brought up Charles William's son after the break up of his marriage to Elizabeth Deborah Nott. The new generation of Poole’s took the Myriorama to new heights of popularity introducing sound and visual effects to their shows. Myriorama shows were mostly dramatic presentations of topical events and reflected the socio political spirit of the time. A reflection of this were some of their most successful shows, such as The Bombardment of Alexandria and the Loss of the Titanic.
The first use of the word ‘Myriorama’ by Messrs Poole to mean moving panorama seems to have been in 1883. They presented large painted scenes on canvas, which moved across the stage on rollers. The scenes were painted by the greatest scenic artists of the day at great cost, including Sebastian Estelos and William Telbin. It wasn’t until 1897 that the Poole brothers added actual moving image to their shows with the Cinematographie, a combined film camera, projector and developer.
By 1883 Joseph bought a house where he established a studio for the maintenance of the paraphernalia associated with the shows. In the meantime, successions of generations of the Poole family were taking over the family business and expanding it, purchasing many of the halls and theatres they hired for their shows including in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Stourbridge, Oxford and Ipswich, where they ran the town’s very first cinema in 1905.
The Pooles continued to be a leading company until its folding in 1937 as proven by the presentation of a sound picture show by Charles and George’s grandnephew John R. Poole to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent were in residence at Holyroodhouse in 1935.
Found in 50 Collections and/or Records:
Fonds
Reference code: NFA0172
Scope and Contents
Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.
Dates:
1881 - 2017
Item
Reference code: 178Z64.7
Scope and Contents
Colour illustration of the Union Jack on front cover, inside variety programme listing John R. Poole, George Logan, The Lannons, Sam Kelly, The Tree Avenue Girls, M. Joanny and The Murus Comedy Four, descriptions of sights in england, Vienna, Petrograd, Berlin, Brussells, Paris, scenes of WWI including Kitchener's army, the sinking of Kaise Whilheml der Grosse, mine sweeping, camp and hospital scenes and lyrics to the national anthems of the allies and other popular songs such as It's a Long...
Dates:
c1920 - 1929
Item
Reference code: 178K53.48
Scope and Contents
Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham, The approach, engagement and destruction of The Spanish Armada, St. Paul'd Cathedral,Buckingham Palace, Newcastle-on-Tyne, The Forth Bridge, Ireland, Mechanical set of shipping, Newhaven, Crossing the Channel, Paris, Italy, Switzerland, St. Gothard Tunnel, Vienna, St. Petersburgh, Adrianople during the war, The Holy Land, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, New Zealand, San Francisco, Trinidad, The West Indies, New York, Egypt, The Soudan, Battle of Kirbekan, Stanley in...
Dates:
27 February 1893
Item
Reference code: 178Z64.8
Scope and Contents
London to Pretoria. Colour illustrations of a bustling city on top section, on bottom section view of military parade and soldiers raising the Union Jack, in the centre black and white photograph of Joseph Poole in a medallion surrounded by flags on the front cover, inside introduction, description of sights in England, Europe and South Africa, descriptions of scenes from the Transvaal war including Colenso, Paardeburg and Elandslaagte, followed by scenes in india, China, Hong Kong, Boston,...
Dates:
c1900 - 1999
Item
Reference code: 178K53.4
Scope and Contents
County Hall, Salisbury, Views of London, Porstmouth, Ireland, a tableau of Bristol, Liverpool, New York, Niagara Falls, the Artic regions, Russia, Bulgaria, Varna, The Suez Canal, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Burmese war, China, Malta, Italy, Holland, Belgium and England, Poole's Acme Combination Company, The Great Alvantee, wire walking act, Mr Harry Stewart, quick costume change and singing act, Miss Jessie Arnelly, singing act, Le Pettite Mdlle. De Lisle, musical act, Professor Le Ray,...
Dates:
10 February 1890
Item
Reference code: 178R53.7
Scope and Contents
Colonial Hall, New Street, Cardiff. Picturesque trips abroad to all parts of the globe, The British Fleet, The Lord Mayor's Show, Falls of Niagara, Poole's excelsior concert company, Mons. Martini's Bicycle Troupe, Lizzie Dent and Jack Seebold, musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelli, musical act, Mr R.H.A. Williams, musical act, Mr Frank Freeland, Grand orchestral band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Black type on green background with chain border. Printed by...
Dates:
c1895
Item
Reference code: 178K53.45
Scope and Contents
Town Hall Hounslow, England, France and Italy, Turkey, Egypt, The Soundan, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Scotland, Ireland, Mr Joseph Poole's Combination Company, Great Ledderites, The Modern Gladiators, Herr Blitz, Miss May Frinch, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Frank Freeland, Orchetral band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Gold type on green background and illustrations of Queen Victoria,...
Dates:
19 January 1891
Item
Reference code: 178K53.46
Scope and Contents
Victoria Hall Suntherland, England, France and Italy, Turkey, Egypt, The Soundan, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Scotland, Ireland, Mr Joseph Poole's Combination Company, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Herr Blitz, equilibrist act, Miss May Frinch, singing act, Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr Felix Somers, George Mayo, Mr Fred Mayer, Group of Ladderites, equilibrist act, Poole's Merry...
Dates:
11 April 1892
Item
Reference code: 178K53.16
Scope and Contents
Victoria Hall, Southsea,London Bridge,Fishmonger's Hall, Thames embarkment, Westminster Abbey, Victoria Station, Portsmouth, Ireland, The Lakes of Killarney, A tableau of Bristol, Liverpool, New York, Niagara Falls, The Artic Regions, Russia, St. Petersburgh, Bulgaria, Tirnova, Sophia, Varna, The Suez Canal, Egypt, India, Calcutta, Delhi, Afghanistan, Burmese war, The Great Wall of China, Holy Land, The Mediterranean sea, Naples, The carnaval at Rome, Holland and Belgium, Mr Harry Stewart,...
Dates:
23 December 1889
Item
Reference code: 178Z64.6
Scope and Contents
Joseph Poole's new eclipse myriorama picturesque trips abroad all over the world, containing an introduction, descriptions of sights including Dover, Calais, Paris, Turin, Rome, Ancona, Constantinople, Gallipoli, Shumla, Cyprus and battles in Egypt and the Soudan, Stanley's expedition to central Africa, the Suez Canal, India, China, Russia, Europe, America and Great Britain, followed by the lyrics to The Mountain Guide, On, Staley On, Toll Gate, Irish Colleen, When the Lights are Low, Ducth...
Dates:
c1880 - 1889
Item
Reference code: 178K53.9
Scope and Contents
Druid's Hall, Redruth, Monday 4 October, until Saturday 16 October, Depicting the most important events during the last three years in the East, also Afghan and Zulu wars, Map of Europe, The journey through India, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Mrs. Hartwell, singing act, Mr. T. Maclangan, impersonation act, Mr. Oscar J. Hartwell, late of the Royal Poytechnic Institution, London, The band conducted by Mr. Carl Webb. Black type on yellow background with line border on front covern inside...
Dates:
c1880
Item
Reference code: 178K53.27
Scope and Contents
Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham, Overland route to India, Mr Davies, lecturer, Mr C. Montgomery, Miss Blandford, Mr Bond, Mr Walters, Mr French. Black print on light pink background with simple black line border on front cover, inside programme, on back cover lising of variety acts and illustration of cherub. Printed by Stafford and Co., Steam Printing Works, Nottingham, 2p.p
Dates:
c1889
Item
Reference code: 178K53.19
Scope and Contents
Grand Concert Hall and Skating Rink, West Street, Brighton, Zulu War, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, India, Afghanistan, Germany, Europe, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Mable de Verne, singing act, Mr Frank Freeland, impresonation act, Professor Alexander, ventriloquist act, The band conducted by Mr Jas. Montague. Blue type on pink background and wavy border on the front cover, inside programme, on back cover Liverpool press reviews and listing of variety acts. Printed by Stafford and...
Dates:
4 August 1879
Item
Reference code: 178K53.2
Scope and Contents
Assambly Rooms, Cheltenham, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol Press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates:
28 March 1881
Item
Reference code: 178K53.3
Scope and Contents
Theatre Royal, Gloucester, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates:
9 May 1881
Item
Reference code: 178K53.1
Scope and Contents
Public Hall, Smethwick, Entry of General Sir Garnet Wolseley into Cairo with British Forces, Alexandria bombarded, on fire and in ruins!, England to Malta, Turkey, Cyprus, The Holy Land, Egypt, Zululand, India, Afghanistan, Russia, Germany, Holland and Belgium, Bombardment of Alexandria, Scenes of Cairo and the Suez Canal, Mr J. Sullivan and Miss Josephine, excelsior black and white duologists and versatile artistes, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Horace Wilton, comic singing. Black type on...
Dates:
25 September 1882
Item
Reference code: 178K53.18
Scope and Contents
Exchange Rooms, New Street, Birmingham, Egypt and the world, Bombardment of Alexandria, Cairo, The Suez Canal, London, South Africa, Afghanistan, India, Assassination of the Szar, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Prince of Wales Minstrels, Mr Charles Ernest, singing act, Mr J. Richards, musical act, Mr Horace Wilton, comedy musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, The orchestra conducted by Mr B. Simpson. Black type on pink background with...
Dates:
14 August 1882
Item
Reference code: 178K53.17
Scope and Contents
Temperance Hall, Tredegar, Afghanistan and South Africa, Capitals of Europe, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Constantinople, Cyprus, Entry of our Troops into Cabul under the command of General Roberts, The Ameer's Palace, General Burrows' disaster or great battle of Khussk-I-Nakhud, The Kojak-pass, City of Candahar, General Roberts great victory, The Kremlin, Viena, Berlin, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Messrs Henri and Pointer, musical act, Mr...
Dates:
17 October 1881
Series
Reference code: 178B44
Scope and Contents
Monographs, articles and research material on early travelling moving picture shows, related to the Poole family , Wilton's Music Hall, Walter Sickert, Bedford Music Hall, Randall Williams and early cinema in Scotland
Dates:
c1900 - 2018
Item
Reference code: 178R53.6
Scope and Contents
Colonial Hall, New Street, Cardiff. Picturesque trips abroad to all parts of the globe, Grand fashionable night, The Mayor David Jones, Esq., Ex-Mayor, Alderman T. Windsor Jacobs, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Mons. Martini's bicycle troupe, The Musical Marvels, Lizzie Dent and Jack Seebold, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelli, musical act, Mr R.H.A. Williams, musical act, Mr Frank Freeland, Poole's orchestra and military band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Red type on...
Dates:
c1880 - 1899
