Egyptian Hall (1812 - 1905)
Dates
- Existence: 1812 - 1905
Biography
The Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, was an exhibition hall built in 1812 in the ancient Egyptian style. The Hall became very successful offering exhibitions of artwork and especially watercolours with William Turner exhibiting there on several occasions over the years. Equally acclaimed were the lectures and popular entertainment shows, especially the magic acts.
The Egyptian Hall was first commissioned by William Bullock as a museum to house his ethnographic and natural history collections, some of which had been brought back to the UK by Captain Cook. By 1819 he sold his collections and turned the museum into an exhibition hall. Bullock managed the Hall until 1825 when he sold it to George Lackington who added panoramas and entertainment productions to the art exhibitions and continued achieving great success.
By the turn of the nineteenth century, the Egyptian Hall had become strongly associated with magic and spiritualism and was hosting magic shows regularly. In 1873, Maskelyne and Cooke’s mentor William Morton took over the management of the Hall, which provided a venue for the duo for the next thirty-one years. During this period the Hall became known as England's Home of Mystery, until in 1905 it was demolished to build flats and offices.
Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:
Biophulax Handbill, c1850-1859
Life and Property Protector at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. See the operation of the biophulax. 'This sensitive and Mechanical Instrument announces the approach of fire'. A smoke detector. Printed by City Press, 1 Long Lane, Aldersgate Street, D.A. Doudney.
Chang The Great Chinese Giant Handbill, 6 October 1865
Chang The Great Chinese Giant, Lady Chang King Foo, Chung Mow the Tartar Rebel Dwarf, Ah Ying, Woo Kwan Toon, and Sing Ah Look at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Multi act bill, Chinese nationals, mostly apparently dwarfs. Printed by Arliss and Co., 15, Great Queen St., W.C.
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Dreams of Assyria Handbill, 1879
Dreams of Assyria at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. 'Tableaux imbued with the associations of Asiatic splendour. Situations portrayed and narratives recited while vocal and musical accompaniments assist the effect of the pictorial realisations'. Illustrated. Printed by J.B. Lambe and Co., 199 Upper Thames Street, E.C., 4pp.
Egyptian Hall Handbills, c1821 - 1883
Handbills for travelling shows, exhibitions and performances at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London.
Egyptian Hall Poster, c1990 - 1999
Piccadilly. Herrmann The Great Prestidigitateur. Black and white illustration.
Egyptian Hall Poster, c1990 - 1999
Piccadilly. Herrmann The Great Prestidigitateur. Black and white illustration
Farewell Levees of Gen Tom Thumb Handbill, 1845
Tom Thumb, Previous to his final departure for America at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Previous to his final departure for America. The General is apparently four times the length of this handbill. Illustration. Printed by T. Brettell, Rupert Street, Haymarket.
Fine Arts Handbill, c1835
Fine Arts at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Exhibition 'representing the principal views and costumes of the French Metropolis'.
Frank Lincoln Handbill, c1882
The American Humourist and Entertainer at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. 'Unique musical and imitative sketches, which form a new departure in amusements' Programme features newspaper reviews, 4pp.
General Tom Thumb Handbill, March 1844
General Tom Thumb, and Native American performer Joc-O-Sot, at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. The Man in Miniature, In Catlin's Indian Collection, Adelaide Gallery-E.H.The General is 13 years old, 25' high and weighs only 15 pounds. Support act-Joc-o-Sot, Sauk Indian tribe chief, in unique tribal costume. Illustrated.
Great Moving Diorama of the Holy Land Handbill, 1852
Diorama featuring Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Mount Sinai, and Nazareth at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Moving Diorama. Spectator is 'Conveyed on the route of the Israelites' taking in views from Mount Sinai, to Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem to site of Solomon's temple. Printed by John K. Chapman, 5 Shoe Lane and Peterborough Court, Fleet Street.
Handbills, c1900 - 1999
Hanbills for variety, magic and illusion shows mainly in locations in Blackpool in cluding the North Pier, the Hippodrome and various theatres.
John Bramwell Taylor Collection
Living Ourang Outans! Handbill, c1830 - 1839
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Male and female Orangutans, One from Borneo - other from River Gambia. 'Connecting link between man and the brute creation'.
Maskelyne and Cooke’s Entertainment Bureau Handbill, c1900 - 1999
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Handbill for agents. Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Eccles. 2p.p.
Miss Minnie Bell's Entertainment Handbill, 1 December 1882
Miss Minnie Bell, Miss Marie North, Miss Anna Vogt, Mr. Matthews-Monck, Mr. A. Graeme, Mr. Gordon Scott, Mr. James Broadbent, and Mr. Arthur Fagge at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Costume Recitals, Pianoforte Solos, Sketches in Chararcter, Ballads, Songs, etc. Scenes from 'As You Like It, also Musical Comedietta - 'The Bonnie Fish Wife' Illustrated. Printed by Burnett & Sons, Steam Printers, Silver Street, Golden Square, W.
Mr Day's Ancient Pictures and Casts Handbill, c1822
Mr Day's Ancient Pictures and Casts at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Paintings and casts - The Apotheosis of St Paul by Geurcino, Sir Joshua Reynolds by himself and Moses by Michael Angelo.
Mr Frank Lincoln Handbill, 15 November 1882
Frank Lincoln in his Unique Imitations, assisted by Paganini the greatest violinist in the world and other popular artistes. Redivivus at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works, 11 Maiden Lane, Strand.
Posters, c1887 - 2010
Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.