Sad to report that long-time Sheffield Circle member Stan Leslie (Stan Whomersley) died on 6 January. His funeral service on 25 January was well attended by his many friends, fellow entertainers and SCM members. Stan had been a member of the Circle since 1957.
His daughter, who many members will remember performing a two-person mind-reading act at SCM events some years ago, read a version of an appropriate poem by David Whalen (Stan was a keen ballroom dancer as well as a magician):
When the music stops
When the music stops, the dance is done So listen and dance with all your mind and your heart. Always dance as if it were the last one Live life to the fullest, make the most of your part.
When the magic is gone, it’s gone forever So leave room for mystery in all of your days. Keep a bit of excitement in every endeavour Once the magic is gone, it’s gone always.
When the music has stopped, and the magic has gone We can smile and look back at a life that’s well done.
Actually, the magic does live on, in the memories of Stan’s friends, fellow magicians, and those who saw him perform his well-known drunk act over the years. Earlier today I found a VHS videotape recorded at the Regal Theatre, Worksop, in 1991. The picture and sound quality aren’t great, and I had to cut a small section part-way through due to an unfortunate glitch on the tape. But it’s good to have this reminder of one of Sheffield’s magical characters, and a classic act!
The Magic Worlds exhibition at the Weston Museum closed on 6 January. But fear not, another magic-flavoured exhibition opens a few hundred yards away at the University of Sheffield’s Western Bank Library from 7 February to 6 May. Again, Magick has been involved behind the scenes with information and the loan of various rare artefacts.
To quote from the official flyer…
The National Fairground Archive invites you to discover the entertainment heritage of the City of Sheffield.
Drawing on the NFA’s extensive collections and with material kindly loaned from Museums Sheffield and the Local Studies Collection, this exhibition covers the world of illegitimate entertainment; the growth of the music hall and variety in the 20th century; the world of magic; early cinematograph shows and the travelling funfairs that are part of the history of the City.
“Illegitimate entertainment”? Hmm… although I do know a couple of magicians whose parentage has been called to doubt on occasions.
WHERE EVERYBODY GOES!
During the nineteenth century, as leisure time increased, entertainment in Sheffield rapidly developed to cope with the demand. Shows, fairs and circuses opened in the city centre. In the early 1800s, one popular venue, The Angel Inn, welcomed the original French Giant, and a second French Giant appeared at The Haymarket in 1865. Travelling theatre companies such as Sheffield locals the Hodgson Family provided portable entertainment for melodramas, recitals and popular sensational stories such as The Life of Charles Peace.
Throughout the nineteenth century larger sites were needed for the purveying of entertainment and a range of new venues were utilised alongside the more traditional theatres such as the Theatre Royal. The Sheffield Institute, a three-storey building constructed in 1847 at a cost of £7,000 was the setting for the visit of General Tom Thumb, aka Charles Stratton who, in November 1857 gave three shows daily for one shilling.
Later years, of course, saw the opening of a number of theatres and music halls, such as The Lyceum (built in 1897), The Sheffield Empire (1895-1963), and The Attercliffe Palace (originally The Alhambra, 1896-1961). The poster shown here is from a 1950 show at The Palace. Note the appearance of Hamilton Kaye ‘The Amazing Deceptionist’, who many readers will remember as a popular local magician, dealer and purveyor of flash paper.
Sheffield Entertained is curated by Professor Vanessa Toulmin and Amanda Bernstein. The audio-visual curator is Andrew Moore. Opening times are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Exceptions: Thursday 28 March and Monday 6 May 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April.)
Sad to report that long-time Sheffield Circle member Stan Leslie (Stan Whomersley) died on 6 January. His funeral service on 25 January was well attended by his many friends, fellow entertainers and SCM members. Stan had been a member of the Circle since 1957.
Magick Words 