1890s Manchester’s vibrant cultural life writ large in this album of professional and amateur theatrics and music, which was dominated by a single cultural phenomenon, a local black-face troupe originating from south-Manchester:‘The Louisiana Minstrels’. The album reveals that its creator, Albert Ireland, was also musical director for many of the Minstrels shows that played the Public Hall, Chorlton cum Hardy during this period - with 10 programmes for their vastly popular shows within the album.
A further 50 playbills, programmes and associated ephemera are a mixture of amateur and professional attractions but often featuring performances by Albert Ireland who along with other members of the Ireland family clearly played a dominant role in the musical, theatrical and choral culture of late Victorian Manchester, apparently living at ‘The Green, Chorlton Cum Hardy’.
Other productions in the Chorlton Cum Hardy venues throughout 1895/1896 including ‘Cinderella’, a National School Scholar’s Concert (Conductor Mr J Ireland; Pianoforte Miss ME Ireland), Chorlton Cum Hardy Choral Society’s production of ‘The Messiah’ (Second Violin Mr A Ireland), Chorlton Cum Hardy Orchestral Society Open Meetings programmes (Hon Secretary Mr J E Ireland; Committee Mr A Ireland) and c.10 programmes for the ‘Louisiana Minstrels’ in Chorlton Cum Hardy Public Hall (conducted by Mr A Ireland).
Additional ephemera and programmes in the collection include:
1. Urmston Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of ‘Sweet Lavender’.
2. Sale Amateur Dramatic Society’s Third Performance of ‘Our Boys’, Fourth Season 1894-5.
3. 1st and 2nd Concert Series in St Anne’s Parish Rooms, Sale, March 1896.
4. Chorlton Cum Hardy Band of Hope Tea Meeting October 1896.
5. Urmston Church Central Schools ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.
6. ‘Our Boys’ and ‘My Uncle Bill’ by South Manchester Dramatic Society at the Gentlemen’s Concert Hall.
7. The Follies Music Hall Programme.
8. Presbyterian Church of England Didsbury Choir Concert, March 1897.
9. Gaiety Theatre Manchester programme, The School for Scandal.
10. Prince’s Theatre production of Milton Rosmer’s Company production of ‘The Road to Raebury’.
11. The Manchester Amateur Operatic Society Second Members Concert Season, 1899-1900.
12. c8 copies of programme for the Ryder Boys Old English Comedy Company production of ‘The School for Scandal’ in Hulme Town Hall, December 1899.
13. St. Clement’s Annual Parochial Tea & Entertainment programme, January 1900.
14. 4 x Palace Theatre Manchester programmes for ‘Charles B Cochran’s 1931 Revue’, ‘Blue Roses’, ‘Virginia’ and ‘The Show’s the Thing’ with Gracie Fields.
15. Queen’s Theatre Manchester programme for ‘Romeo and Juliet’, January 1905.
16. The Moody Manners Opera Company production of ‘Tannhauser’.
17. The Victoria Theatre Salford’s production of ‘Olde Tyme Music Hall’.
18. South Manchester Amateur Players production of ‘The Private Secretary’, 1900.
19. Queen’s Theatre Manchester production of ‘Henry VIII’.
20. Queen’s Theatre Manchester production of ‘The Merchant of Venice’.
21. Victorian Amateur Players production of ‘Our Flat’, Season 1903-1904.
22. Queen’s Theatre Manchester production of Carl Rosa Opera Company ‘Faust’, 1903.
23. The Lady Mayoress Garden Party programme, July 5 & 6 1895.
24. c.6 paper cuttings from the Stretford Advertiser and Manchester Evening News dated between 1894 - 1899.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION : Circa half of the contents are pasted into a large ruled ledger in good condition, quarter bound in red calf over marbled boards. The remaining items sit loosely between the leaves throughout. The front pastedown is inscribed ‘Albert Ireland, The Green, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy’. Other than age toning and a few loose leaves to the rear the contents are in very good condition.
