Skip to main content

Optical illusions

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: NFCA use for optical illusion shows including ghost shows and phantasmagoria

Found in 158 Collections and/or Records:

Messrs. Poole, The World Programme, 25 September 1882

 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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Programmes

Messrs. Poole's Gigantic Pictorial Enterprise Programme, 14 August 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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Programmes

Messrs. Poole's New Dioramic Excursions Programme, 17 October 1881

 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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Programmes

Messrs Strange and Wilson Aetherscope, Spectroscope and Phantoscope Booklet, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.11
Scope and Contents Great Ghost Exhibition. Book of the words, songs and choruses of A Christmas Carol by Chales Dickens. Black type on bright orange background with ribbon and flower border on the front page, inside press reviews, outline of the story and lyrics, followed by ghost shows Muddlehead in a Fix or the Phantom Swindler, The Haunted House and Poor Poet's Plagues, on back cover black and orange illustration of a ghost scene with angels. Printed by James Upton Printer, Great Charles Street, Birmingham,...
Dates: c1880 - 1889
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Various Items of Ephemera

Mohawk Minstrels Poster, 21 October 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.15
Scope and Contents

Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. Annual Benefit, 20 Songs for the Occasion, Principal London Variety Artistes. Black type on white background. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works, Maiden Lane, Strand.

Dates: 21 October 1885
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1900 - 2018

 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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection

Monte-Williams and Haydon and Urry, Ltd. Research Material, 1816 - 1938

 Item
Reference code: 178U6.3
Scope and Contents

Digital copies of 178B36.1, 178B36.8, 178B36.9 and 178B36.10, comprising 4 documents.

Dates: 1816 - 1938
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Monte-Williams Collection / Digital Media

Monte-Williams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0161
Scope and Contents

Research material by Pauline Tindale and a small amount of original archive related to Randall Williams and his descendants, including birth, death and marriage certificates and photographs.

Dates: 1797 - 1998; 2018 - 2021
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Mr Harry Poole's New Trips Abroad Programme, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.23
Scope and Contents

Red type and illustrations of Egypt and battles, portraits of Wolseley, Gordon and Burnaby on green background on the front cover. Blank programme of overprinting location and programme, 2p.p

Dates: c1880 - 1889
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Programmes

Mr Josep Poole's Myriorama Poster, 7 July 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.29
Scope and Contents Black type on blue background. Large Assambly Rooms, Eyre Arms, St. John's Woods, meeting of H.M. Stanley and Emin Pacha, Mr Joseph Poole's Myriorama, Pictoresque Trips Abroad to all Parts of the Globe, The Emin Pacha Relief Expedition, Events in Egypt and the Soudan, Scenic Surprises and Eclipse Variety Amalgamation, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Herr Blitz, Miss May Finch, Paul de Lara, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Frank Freeland. Printed by Stafford & Co., Printers, Netherfield near...
Dates: 7 July 1890
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

Mr Joseph Poole's Grand New Myriorama Poster, c1880 - 1899

 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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

Mr Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Pictoresque Trips Abroad to all Parts of the Globe Poster, Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.1
Scope and Contents New Corn Exchange, Rochester. The Nile Expedition, Stanley in Africa, The falls of Niagara, The Goodwin Sands, London by day and night, The Queen's visit to Westminster Abbey, Ireland, Lakes of Killarney, Scenes of Liverpool, Poole's Acme Combination Company of talented artistes, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Mr Harry Stewart, fast outfit change and musical act, Professor Le Ray, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelly, musical act, La Petite Mdlle. De Lisle, musical act, Mr R.H.A....
Dates: Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

Mr Joseph Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.3
Scope and Contents New Assambly Hall, Fawcett Street, Sunderland. The Nile Expedition,Battle of Abu Klea, Battle of Gubat, Bird's eye view of Khartoum, The Soudan war, The war in Egypt, The Burmese war, Bulgaria, Miss Keturah Evans, musical act, Mr Harry Stewart, Mr Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr C.W. Wilmott, comedy act. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of male portraits around the right and left edges, cote of arms on top centre and view of Suakim on bottom edge. Printed by Fry...
Dates: c1880 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

National Fairground and Circus Archive Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0092
Scope and Contents

Contains thousands of posters, programmes, photographs, handbills, original documents, specialist journals, newspapers and a library containing publications on all the areas of collecting

Dates: c1700 - 2020
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

New Corn Exchange Poster, Monday 31 March 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.22
Scope and Contents Rochester. Mr Joseph Poole's Myriorama, Picturesque Trips Abroad to All Parts of the Globe, The Nile Expedition, Staley in Africa, The Falls of Niagara, The Goodwin Sands, London by Day and Night, The Queen's Visit to Westminster Abbey, Ireland, Lakes of Killarney, Scenes of Liverpool, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Alvantee, Mr Harry Stewart, Professor le Ray, Miss Jessie Arnelli, Le Petite Madlle. De Lisle, Mr R.H.A. Williams, Mr Bob Desmond, Mr C.W. Wilmott. Blue type on white...
Dates: Monday 31 March 1890
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Posters

Newspaper Cutting About Messrs. Poole's Diorama, 30 November 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178G56.2
Scope and Contents

Diorama and Variety Entertainment at the Town Hall. Holbein's Visitors' List and Court Directory. Article about Messrs. Poole's diorama and variety show,

Dates: 30 November 1885
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbook

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbook, 1880 - 1901

 Series
Reference code: 178G56
Scope and Contents

Newspaper cuttings and scrapbook related to Poole's Myriorama collated by William Barnes

Dates: 1880 - 1901
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection

Parody, c1870 - 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.15
Scope and Contents

Poem entitled parody written on Poole's New Popular Trips Abroad letter headed paper with illustration of people from around the world behing two banners and the top of the globe behind them. Manuscript.

Dates: c1870 - 1900
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Various Items of Ephemera

Photographs and Postcards, c1900 - 1929

 Series
Reference code: 178C129
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs and postcards

Dates: c1900 - 1929
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection

Photographs and Postcards Related to Pre-Cinema Shows and Early Cinema, Showpeople and Performers, c1900 - 1929

 File
Reference code: 178C129.1-33
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs and postcards of performers including dwarves, blackface performer, a white face pierrot and Du'calion, the interior of a theatre, a photograph of the Parade at Newport, Isle of Wight, photographs of Poole's myriorama, employess and brass band and a small family photo album.

Dates: c1900 - 1929
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Bill Barnes Collection / Photographs and Postcards

Public only; | Accessibility statement | v3.5.0