Advertisment for the Ibrox Picture Palace
Pickard's Papers project. Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust / University of Glasgow / Heritage Lottery Fund
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Advertisment for Pickard's establishments
Waverly F.C.'s invite to the palace and what they saw
Voice of the People. Both Sides of the Question.
A letter to the Editor of the Glasgow News protesting the plan to sell off the animals comprising The Scottish Zoo. The author suggests that some of the most well-loved animals be relocated to an area named the Rouken Glen which would be converted into a Zoological Garden where visitors could continue to enjoy the attractions offered by the zoo.
Newspaper cutting/Letter to newspaper Editor
Under the Hammer - The Last of Glasgows Zoo.
Article from the The Evening Times describing the events which took place at the auction of the animals comprising the Scottish Zoo. According to the author, the excitable atmosphere of the occasion seemed to register with the animals as well as the buyers; the collections snakes, for example exhibited a greater degree of animation than the visitor of the zoo was apt to witness in this section on ordinary occasions. A list of the animal dealers and circus proprietors present at the auction is given, as are many of the prices for which various animals were eventually sold.
Photograph of a zookeeper holding a small alligator. The text which accompanies the photograph asserts that the alligator is one of nine which the zookeeper has been able to train over a period of three months.
Town Council Jottings is a very interesting piece of writing from the Evening Times. The piece consists of a narrator explaining the daily activities of a council official, recounted using very poetic, decorated language. It is unclear whether the piece is meant as a satire of the inner goings-on of the city council or as a genuine account of adays work. The obvious disdain towardsthe unemployed worm and apparent fear of a communist revolution seem too controversial to suggest the latter. Moreover, the piece begins with a reference tolast week which might indicate thatTown Council Jottings is part of a satirical serial.
Short article explaining how Pickard agreed to help raise money for the Relief Fund by kicking off a charity football match between the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society and the Co-operative Drapery and Furnishing Department at Ibrox Park. The article also describes how Pickard decided to wear a kilt for the occasion, displaying the tartan of hisforefathers, the Clan Gordon.
Ticket admitting the owner entry to the auction of the animals comprising The Scottish Zoo. The ticket states that a refund of the ticket price (2/6) will be given to those who purchase animals, perhaps an incentive designed to encourage bidding.
Ticket for The Scottish Zoo designed to give the Children of Glasgow a chance to see the attraction before it FINALLY closes. By encouraging specifically the children of the city to see the zoo before its closure, the ticket reinforces the idea that the attraction was seen as a place of great social and educational benefit to Glasgows younger citizens.
Cartoon of two baboons reading newspapers and an accompanying caption. The piece is entitled The Rights of the Worker and is presumably a satirical comment on the rights of the working classes to a fair share of the profits they help turn over for companies. The text at the very bottom of the cartoon comments on the supposedly overheard dialogue between the two newspaper-reading baboons, stating that the discovery of potentially lucrative work for baboons has caused considerable excitement in Simian circles.
A drawing of several distinguished-looking men and women who, according to the drawings caption, represent the types at yesterdays sale (of the Scottish Zoo animals). Printed below the drawing is a charming poem written from the perspective of the zoos many animals. In the poem they express their regret that they will not see each other again after the auction, however, the rhyme culminates with a message of hope from the wallaby Kangaroo who tells the other animals, we shall meet again, I know, In some bright celestial Zoo!.
A letter addressed to the editor of the Glasgow News describing how a pet parrot, who has been in the readers family for 30 years, marked the occasion of its birthday by laying a nice white egg. The sender of the letter believes that this may be some sort of world record (presumably for the oldest parrot to lay an egg) and ends the letter by soliciting the help of the newspapers readers to establish whether it is or not.
The Palace Theatre of Varieties Complimentary Ticket
Pink Complimentary Ticket stub admitting entry to The Palace Theatre of Varieties on the Main Street in Gorbals, Glasgow. According to the ticket, the establishment was then under new management.
Article from the Daily Record and Mail detailing the acquisition of a new female chimpanzee for The Scottish Zoo. The article describes how the chimpanzee is intended to fill the shoes of the late Wee Macgreegor, a beloved creature who the writer laments as perhaps one of the most interesting of all the exhibits in the collection. The article culminates with its writer celebrating the the new monkeys apparent intelligence, referring to it as unquestionably one of the best illustrations of the Darwinian theory ever exhibited in this country.
The Millionaires Gratitude: A Tale In One Spasm.
Short story entitledThe Millionaires Gratitude which seems to be a somewhat autobiographical account of Pickards life. In the story, an affluent, well-dressed man approaches a poor old lady and explains how the generosity she showed him many years earlier resulted in his prosperous future. The story culminates in the millionaire repaying her kindness by giving her two free passes to the Panopticon.
The Man, The Show, The Company: A.E. Pickard'.
Newspaper advert proclaiming the successes of Pickards five Glasgow attractions: the Casino, the Panopticon, the Ibrox Palace, the Clydebank Theatre, and the Waxwork at the Trongate. The venues are listed and each is given a brief, bombastic account of its successes, with the Waxwork in particular noted as beingacknowledged by all to be THE BIG SHOW of the city withover one million novelties and sights.
Newspaper advert for agreat picture exclusive at the Townhead Casino cinema: a four-reel film entitledThe Jockey of Death. According to the advert, the film was being shown on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only of the week commencing November 15th, 1915.
Article from The Eagle detailing the Glasgow Corporations promotion of Superintendent William Waddell to the position of Chief of the City Fire Brigade. The article celebrates the illustrious career of Waddell, proposing that his promotion was very well deserved on account of his long tenure with the service and his varied list of professional achievements. It is also noted that this promotion of a local figure signifies a redemptive decision by the Glasgow Corporation who, according to the author, often ignore theunquestioned abilities of men in their own service and promotesome highly-recommended subordinate from another city.
Evening Times weekly review of the Casino cinemas programme. Notable is the mention of a screening of Charlie Chaplins Charlie at Work, described by the journalist asa screamer from beginning to end.
Short article detailing the weekly programme of The Casino. Most interesting is the mention of an attraction entitled Dalmeres Table Circus, which is said to feature performingcats, dogs, doves and monkeys. Also mentioned is the screening of a film namedThe Suicide. Though the grim title suggests a film of a sombre nature, the screening is said to haveprovided much laughter, suggesting it is a dark comedy.
Short article describing the weekly programme of Pickards Casino cinema. Most notable is the mention of a film being screened, entitledOrders Under Seal, an epic drama whose film spans over 6000 feet in length and has a 90 minute running time. Described asovershadowing the other attractions on the programme that week, the author of the article claims that the filmshould be seen by everybody who appreciates a good drama.
Short account of the weekly programme of Pickards Casino cinema. Most notable is a reference to the popularity of the song and dance group Wilsons Eight Jolly Juveniles, who, according to the journalist, aremeeting with great success for their performances.
Short newspaper cutting from the Observer describing the weekly programme of the Casino. Mentioned are the performances of Will Starr,the chocolate-coloured comedian and dancer and Cissie Norton,the popular male impersonator. Though an appraisal of his talents,the description of the formers skin colour is indicative of the often problematic racial attitudes inherent within journalism of this period.
The Argyle Electric Theatre, Limited. Form of Application for Preference Shares.
Application form for Preference Shares in The Argyle Electric Theatre, Limited. The form dictates that applicants must be willing to accept less than the amount of shares they originally applied for, perhaps suggesting the demand for shares of this kind.
The Memorandum of Association of The Argyle Electric Theatre, Limited. offers a meticulous account of the terms and conditions regarding share ownership of the company. Interesting to note is the handwritten arithmetic on the far-right of the document, perhaps indicating that the owner of the prospectus was calculating the value of his/her own shares within the company.
Prospectus for Shares - Memorandum of Association.
Advert for the Britannia Panopticon promising "living, singing and talking pictures"
Free entertainment for the children of Summertown's Cripple School
Short article detailing the peculiar case of an elephant who consumed vast quantities of stones, precisely 168 stones, weighing altogether 7lb. 13oz. The case was presented to the Zoological Society by Dr. A. Smith Woodward and the stones were found to be mostly quartzite. The article ends by stating that, while cases of this type are common with crocodiles, this seems to be the first recorded case of their occurrence in an elephant.
St. James Hall Picture Palace Privilege Ticket
Privilege Ticket stub admitting entry to the balcony area of the St. James Hall Picture Palace on Stirling Road, Glasgow.
St. James Hall Picture Palace Entry Ticket.
Green ticket stub admitting one persons entry upon payment of one penny to the audience area or balcony of St. James Hall Picture Palace on Stirling Road, Glasgow. Ticket states that children under the age of 14 are unable to use this ticket, indicating that another ticket, perhaps of a different colour or design was available for concessions.
Collection of five photographs depicting the auction of the animals comprising The Scottish Zoo. The text below the photographs details the gentleman in the third photo from the top as Mr Wallace, the auctioneer, who is seen to be in the process of selling camels and dromedaries to a busy crowd of bidders. According to the text, the animals in the other photographs, including a tiger and an elephant, were sold for the highest prices owing to their status as principal animals within the collection.
Justice Cheated and public interest harmed by the sign of the right angle
Photo of one of the Pickard scrapbooks, open in the cardboard box in which they were acquired.
Drawing of 8 sailors presenting the rare oar-fish they caught, referring to the real-life capture of the fish which was caught near Dunbar. According to the pictures caption the fish measured 13 feet 10 inches in length. Judging from the drawing, the fish derives its name from its uncanny resemblance to a long rowing oar.
Savoy Variety and Pictures Complimentary Ticket
Complimentary Ticket stub admitting half-price entry to the Savoy Variety and Pictures establishment on the corner of Renfrew Street and Hope Street, Glasgow.
Newspaper advert for a film showing at the Townhead Casino cinema entitledQuo Vadis?. The advert goes into detail in conveying the high production value of the film and the critical acclaim it has received. For example, according to the author of the advert the film features2000 players and675 scenes, and is apparentlyrecognised as a masterpiece of film production. This level of descriptive detail is a common tactic of cinematic advertising of this period, where impressive statistics are used as a means of generating excitement for the film amongst audiences.
Prospectus for Preference Shares in The Argyle Electric Theatre Limited, dated 27th June, 1910. This document describes, in detail, the proposed plan to acquire the halls behind Nos. 49 - 55 Argyle Street andconvert them into an Electric Picture Theatre, or Amusement Hall. The prospectus provides a wealth of architectural information about the property including a letter from a Property Valuator who describes the buildings materials and floor-area measurements, as well as a list of terms and conditions regarding the purchasing/owning of shares in the business.
Election flyer for council candidate Moir, in the form of a tram ticket
A countdown of Glasgow's picture theaters with the most interesting programmes
Account pf the popularity of picture palaces and list of cinemas
Pickard intends to fly a monoplane across Glasgow Green to rise awareness about aviation