Comments on: Pollock’s Toy Theatres In Spitalfields

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:09:44 +0000

This topic NEVER gets old. I have loved paper theaters for ages, and have even made my own versions. One of my favorite museums, The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe has a remarkable array of these, thanks to master collector and design wizard Alexander Girard.
I’ve loved seeing the distinctive differences between the British versions (as shown above) the smaller French variations, the larger ones from Germany, etc. There is even a one-of-a-kind watercolor theater done by Girard, showing his family members as the players. Lovely and inspired.
We visited Pollock’s during our first visit to London, and became inflamed…….my art library is full of every book on the topic. Thanks for feeding my obsession. I am so envious of those who can attend this wonderful event. Curtain up!!!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:28:28 +0000

Childhood illness also kept me away from early years of schooling. My mother, a toy theatre aficionado in her childhood, opened up that magical world. The journey of designing, colouring and cutting out sets and figures was wonderful. And yes, whether a theatre set came ready made, or was newly created, the most absorbing element was in the magical preparations. Robert L Stevenson was a great part of childhood reading and poems too, interesting to learn that he had personal connections with the publishers and visited the toy theatre makers whilst in London. Writers and theatre people must have found those models extremely helpful in their theatre and creative work in those days. What a revelation to learn that William Blake was an occasional designer of characters and figures! (Well worth a study of his drawings above)..
Thank you for this illuminatingly researched article and the marvellous illustrations.
All very best wishes for next weekend at House of Annetta in Spitalfields. (Although a few hundred miles away, be there with Pollock’s in spirit).

By: Sarah Waldock

Sarah Waldock — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:24:52 +0000

I have a Pollock’s theatre, not sure of the date, the front is curved; I suspect 1890s like many other toys I inherited. There were no props or characters with it, so I had to draw and mount my own.
I put on Evita for the other Girl-Guides with the help of my patrol and the two-LP record.

is it me, or is the standard bearer from the set for ‘Bertram’ decidedly camp?

I am surprised the Miller and his Men was still well enough known to make figures for! I’d have thought it was a little broad for the Victorian sensibilities….

By: Milo

Milo — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 09:56:02 +0000

Well that was a load of Pollocks. In a good way i mean…