Charles Taylor Collection
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates
- Creation: c1937 - 1989
Creator
- Taylor, Charles, Born c1940 (Person)
- Taylor, Heather, Born c1945 (Person)
- Taylor's Printers, Wombwell, Yorks (Established c1890) (Organisation)
Conditions Governing Access
Items are available to view by appointment in the NFCA reading room
Conditions Governing Use
Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of National Fairground and Cirucs Archive, subject to copyright law and condition of the material
Biographical / Historical
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 beautifully-drawn chromolithographic pantomime posters in the collection provide a fascinating visual record of how travelling entertainment forms were marketed throughout the twentieth century.
Extent
7 Box(es)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Catalogued according to type
Subject
- Chipperfield, Mary, 1938 - 2014 (Person)
- King, Steve, Born 1933 (Person)
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Established 1896) (Organisation)
- Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009) (Organisation)
- Askey, Arthur Bowden, 1900 - 1982 (Person)
- Gandey's Circus (Established c1918) (Organisation)
- Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879) (Organisation)
- Circus Pinder (Established 1854) (Organisation)
- Weights Circus and Zoo (c1945 - 1999) (Organisation)
- Jolson, Al, c1886 - 1950 (Person)
- Ford, Clifton, 1931 - 2009 (Person)
- Dodd, Ken, 1927 - 2018 (Person)
- The Nolan Sisters (Established 1980) (Organisation)
- Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980 (Person)
- The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Established 1889) (Organisation)
- Farrar's Fun Fairs (Established 1876) (Organisation)
- Ling's Family Amusements (Initiated c1850 - 1859) (Organisation)
- Holland Amusements (Initiated c1870) (Organisation)
- C. Doubtfire (Amusements) Limited (Active c1950 - 1999) (Organisation)
- G.R. Tucker and Sons Funfairs (Established 1976) (Organisation)
- J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889) (Organisation)
- North's Funfairs (Established 1861) (Organisation)
- Waddington's Funfairs (Initiated c1860 - 1899) (Organisation)
- Corrigan, Albert, c1920 - 2008 (Person)
- Rosaire's Circus & Zoo (Established 1904) (Organisation)
Cultural context
- Chairoplanes
- Circus
- Dodgems
- Dwarfs (Persons)
- Fun house
- Ghost train
- Meteorite
- Minstrel shows
- Music-halls
- Octopus
- Pantomime
- Puppets
- Roller coasters
- Satellite
- Twist
- Waltzer
- Wild west
Occupation
- Clowning
- Comedians
- Contortionists
- Diving
- Equestrians
- Fakirs
- Fire eating
- Jugglers
- Knife throwing
- Musicians
- Performers
- Showman
- Showwoman
- Singing
- Strong men
Topical
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Created by Jane Donaldson, updated by Arantza Barrutia on Finding Aid Date field date
- Date
- 21 February 2014
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Fairground and Circus Archive Repository
The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
0114 222 7231
lib-special@sheffield.ac.uk