Randall Williams

'King of Showmen'

New Innovations on the Fairgrounds

Randall liked to keep one step ahead of his rivals and was quick to adopt the use of the latest technical innovations. Many of the improvements he made to his own business were adopted by other amusements proprietors and played a key role in helping to modernise the faiground industry at the end of the 19th Century.

Transport by rail

Randall was one of the first showmen to transport his show almost exclusively by rail. His main stomping grounds in the early 1870s were the fairs in Liverpool, Rotherham, Bradford and Hull, all venues a short travel distance from his home base in Manchester. However, once he customized his vans for railway transport (c.1873), he travelled much further afield and began exhibiting at such venues as Onion Fair in Birmingham, Glasgow Fair in Scotland, and the World's Fair in London.

Electric Lighting

Randall is also credited as being the first showman to use electricity on the fairgrounds. The first reference to electricity in his advertising was at a fair he organized in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1880. Randall billed the venue as 'Professor Williams American Feta and Gala Combination" and advertised in the local paper that the show ground was "illuminated by electric light." However, it was not until 1894, when bought his first portable electric light engine (#1755) from Thomas Green and Son (Leeds), that he had the means to supply his own show with electricity.

Professor Randall Williams' Electroscope

Randall was likely the first, and perhaps the only showman, to equip his show with a revolving search light. Starting in May 1895, he began advertising his show as the "Randall Williams' Electroscope" and while it was initially thought that the Electroscope was some sort of a cinematographic device,  it now appears that it may have been just a revolving search light.

Electric search lights were a new development in the mid 1890s. The illumination from Randall’s search light was produced by an arc lamp (an arc lamp is a type of lamp that produces light by means of an electric arc) driven by a dynamo-electric machine (dynamos were the first electrical generators capable of producing power). The strong light produced by the arc lamp made it possible to illuminate large areas, while the electricity generated by the dynamo made it possible to sustain the light for indefinite periods.

 Advertisements placed by Randall for Boston May Fair in the Lincolnshire Echo in 1895 provide some insight into the novelty of "electricity" during that period:

“Professor Randall Williams’s Exhibition is here for the first time for Twenty Years. The whole of this Exhibition will be brilliantly illuminated with the Electric Light. The Engine and Plant has been specifically designed by Messrs. Green and Son, Leeds and London. Everybody should see the New Patent Revolving ARC Lamp and Powerful Search Light. . . . The whole of this Magnificent Plant can be seen working on the outside of the building free of charge. . . . ” (advertisement for Boston May Fair,  Lincolnshire Echo, 3 May 1895, p3)

“The Show of the Century. Professor Randall Williams`s Electroscope will visit the Cross Keys Yard, Sleaford, To-Day (Saturday) and Monday, May 18, & 29. Everything worked by Electricity. Everybody should come and see the Arc Lamp and Powerful Search Lamp. The admiration of all beholders. Mr. Williams respectfully invites Engineers and Scientific Men to inspect the same. The whole of this Magnificent Plant can be seen working on the outside of the building free of charge. A Challenge to London for £1000.  To produce a series of Living Pictures equal to those shown at this Exhibition. An entire New Series of Tableaux Vivants has been specially designed and arranged for this tour, and will be produced on a costly scale of Magnitude, with Limelight, Scenic and Phantoscopical Effects, &c.” (advertisement, Lincolnshire Echo, 18 May 1895, p1)

“Strange Explosion in Barnsley Market: An extraordinary explosion, one which, though not clearly explained by the men concerned, seems to be of a character to merit inquiry by electricians, occurred in Beckett Square Market, Barnsley, on Saturday evening. An entertainment known as “Randall Williams’ Electroscope” had been stationed there during the week. Part of the attraction was an electric search-light, produced by a dynamo driven by an eight-horse power steam engine. On Saturday evening an electrician from Leeds, having been making some repairs to the dynamo and electric apparatus, preparations were made as usual for commencing. The power was turned on, the dynamo started, and after working a little while there came a slight explosion, the copper coils forming the battery were broken and thrown amongst the crowd, and the man who was making the repairs was rather badly cut about the head and face. The cause of the explosion is unknown, but the damage to the dynamo, battery, etc. is estimated at £150.” (Sheffield Telegraph, 16 March 1896, p7)

Randall advertised his Electroscope for just over two years, ending in mid 1897.

Stream Traction Engines  

Randall is also credited as being the first showman to use a steam traction engine for road hauling. Traction engines were expensive and only the more affluent showmen could afford them. Randall bought his first engine from John Fowler and Co. of Leeds in February 1896 at a cost of more than £700.

Cinematograph Shows

Randall claimed that he was the first showman after Monsieur Trewey (of the London Royal Polytechnic) to exhibit films, but rival showman, Tom Norman, apparently beat him to the punch with his “Ghost and Cinematograph Exhibition,” which opened on Deptford fairground in July 1896. Randall's first show with films was likely at Hull Fair that year. Just two months later he was the first showmen to exhibit films at the World’s Fair in London, where he opened his show with a ten-minute exhibition of films which included “Queen of the Antipodes” and a “Fisheries Exhibition.' (Copies of the London County Council inspector's reports of Randall's show at the Royal Agricultural Hall are included in "Wanted, a Few Useful Pople for the Ghost Business.")

Note: Randall did not convert his show over entirely to film exhibition in December 1896.  Like many of his contemporaries, he travelled a “combined show” (living pictures and ghost illusions) for the better part of a year (from October 1896 until October 1897).

There were literally hundreds of entries about Randall's show in contemporary newspapers. Those advertisements and commentaries not only map out the history of Randall's show, but they also provide a fascinating insight into the lives of travelling showmen during the late Victorian Era. The following timeline provides only a small sampling from some of those advertisements. For a full history of Randall's show, his family and associates, etc., see "Wanted, a Few Useful People for the Ghost Business"

1846

Randall was born on St. Martin's Street, Liverpool on July 17, 1846. He was the son of travelling show proprietors, Sarah (nee Glassbrook) and Thomas Williams (of Warrington).]

At the time of the census in April, 1861, Randall (aged 14) and his family were located at St. Helens, Lancashire. His father, Thomas, was the proprietor of a travelling show.

Randall's mother died in the mid 1860s, and his father, Thomas, moved to Salford, where he and Randall founded the Flat Iron Showground. The Flat Iron Showground wasn't a formal fairground, but rather a piece of vacant ground across from the Flat Iron Market (formally Trinity Market) where the showmen set up shows, rides, and other amusements.

August: Bradford, Yorkshire: Randall, married showgirl Mary Ann Hough (Polly), daughter of swing-boat proprietors, Henry and Caroline Hough. Randall was 24 and Polly was 18.

Randall came out with his own “ghost illusion” show in 1873. Ghost illusions were a type of stage show based on the special optical effect known as 'Pepper's Ghost.' It was a technique that was used to create the illusion of a 'ghost' appearing onstage as if out of nowhere. A typical ghost show drama culminated in some sort of transformation scene depicting the final passage from life to death. Ghost illusions became popular in British theatres beginning in 1863, but they did not start to appear on the fairgrounds until the mid 1870s. Other showmen who travelled early ghost illusion shows included George Wall, George Biddall, Harry Hammersley, and William Wallser.

December: London: “Williams’ ghost and illusion show” at the Royal Agricultural Hall Christmas Fair and Bazaar (Era, 11 Jan 1874)

1874

January: World's Fair, London: Williams Ghost Show (Era, Jan 11, 1874)

April: Boston, Lincolnshire (Era, April 26, 1874)

May: Boston: (Era, 26 April 1874)

September: birth of Polly and Randall’s first daughter, Annietta

October: Hull Fair: Williams Ghost Show with a performance of “Crackskull Abbey” and the death of “Little Jim” (Hull Packet & East Riding Times, 16 Oct 1874)

November: Eastwood: christening of Randall and Polly’s daughter, Annietta (International Genealogy Index)

November: Liverpool: “Randall Williams’s Great Hobgoblinscope” at Pembroke Hall (Era, 1 Nov 1874)

December: Liverpool: “Williams Ghost Show at Pembroke Hall (over Christmas)” (Era, 26 Dec 1874)

1875

April: Lincoln April Fair: “Williams Ghost Show” (Lincolnshire Chronicle, 23 April 1875)

September: Leeds (Era, 5 Sept 1875)

October: Birmingham Pleasure Fair, Aston Road (Sept 30 - Oct 2): "Applications for ground to Randall Williams" (Era, 5 Sept 1875; also Birmingham Gazette)

1876

April: Manchester: "send applications for Onion Fair (Birmingham) to Randall Williams" (Era, 9 Apr 1876)

March: Bury March Fair

September: Birmingham Pleasure Fair (Era, 3 Sept 1876)

November: Darlington Market Place: Birth of daughter Sara (birth certificate)

December: Sheffield: christening of daughter, Sarah (International Genealogy Index)

Annetha Daughter of Randal and Mary Ann Williams Who died, March 13th 1876, aged 1 year and 5 months.     We had a little daughter dear,     She was our grateful pride,     We love her, ah! perhaps to well,     For soon she slept and died. Also ALICE, their daughter Who died August 11th 1879 Aged 1 year & 8 months. Also SARAH, their daughter Who died December 4th 1881, aged 7 years. Also MARY ANN, wife of Randal Williams Who died January 4th 1884, aged 32 years. Photo by Helen Walmsley

1877

The year saw the start of Randall's dispute with the railway companies over rates that lasted two decades.

February: Manchester: "Knott Mill Fair will be held at the Pomona Palace and Grounds" (contact Randall Williams) (Era, 14 Feb 1877)

Brierley Hill (nearly Dudley) Staffordshire: Randall Williams letting out grounds for Brierley-hill Fair Ground (Era, 23 Sept 1877)

October: “Wanted, to inform all Fellow-Travellers, and those interested in Railway Travelling, that they should at once write to Mr. Needham, Superintendent of the Line, Derby, saying how many Carriages they have, likewise how many Passengers, and that you cannot afford to pay Ninepence per Mile, but are willing to pay the Sixpence as heretofore. Randall Williams. (Era, 21 Oct 1877)

1878

January: Stretford:  Birth of daughter, Alice (birth certificate)

September: Birmingham Pleasure Fair: Randall’s “Grand Palace of Entertainment” (Birmingham Onion Fair, p.14)

1879

April: Hulme, Lancashire: birth of daughter, Annie (birth certificate)

August: Hulme: death of daughter, Alice (18 months) (death certificate)

November: Manchester: “Randall Williams’s Professional Home at 66 Quay-street” (apartments to let) (Era, 16 Nov 1879; 30 Nov 1879)

1880

February: Manchester: Randall was renting apartments to show people at several locations including 66 Quay-street; 40 Grosvenor-street; 47 Grosvenor-street; and 157 Bury New-road (Stage, 1 Feb 1880)

July: Greenock, Scotland: birth of daughter, Caroline, on Ladyburn Showground during Greenock Fair (birth certificate)

July: Greenock: Randall’s “Pepper’s Ghost” was one of the more notable shows at Greenock Fair (Greenock Telegraph & Clyde Shipping Gazette, 1 July 1880)

July: Glasgow Fair (where the son of Randall’s leading actor and advance man, George King, was born) (birth certificate)

August: Barrhead, Scotland (Era, 8 Aug 1880)

September: Aberdeen: “Professor Williams' American Fete & Gala Combination” (Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 20-22 Sept 1880)

October: Aberdeen: “Professor Williams’s Ghost Show.” (Era, 3 Oct 1880)

November: York Martinmas Fair: “Every person visiting York Martinmas Fair should not miss paying a visit to Randall Williams’ Great Hobgoblinscope, which is situated between Jubbergate and Market-Street. This Exhibition can be easily recognised by its splendid carved front. The entertainment provided for the public cannot fail to please all denominations. This Day, Faust and Marguerite, Or the Devil and the Doctor. Followed by a Laughable Farce. Beware spurious imitations." (York Herald, 24 Nov 1880)

1881         

“Randall Williams, showman, 256 Chester Road, Hulme” (Salford Directory, 1881)

“Randall Williams, traveller, 66 Quay St, Deansgate, Manchester” (Salford Directory, 1881)

April: Manchester: Randall and family were residing at 66 Quay St. (census)

April: Randall's foreman, George King, and several other employees were in Stamford at the end of the Mid Lent Fair (census)

May: Liverpool (Era, 14 May 1881)

June: Milton, Cumberland (Era, 14 Sept 1881)

September: Peterhead, Scotland: “Professor Randall Williams’ Great Ghost Show of The World”, on Broad Street" (East Aberdeenshire Observer, 23 Sept 1881)       

October; Hull Fair (Hull Packet & East Riding Times, 14 Oct 1881)

December: Bacup, Lancashire: death of daughter, Sarah (5 years) at the Ghost-Caravan, Market Ground, Bacup (death certificate)

November: York Martinmas Fair: “Professor Randall Williams’ Great Ghost Show” (York Herald, 24 Nov 1881, p1)

December: Manchester: “Randall Williams’s Hobgoblinscope” at the 1st Annual St. James’s Grand Christmas and New Year’s Fair (Manchester Evening News, 22 Dec 1881, p1)

1882

September: Preston Guild Festival (20 year celebration, Sept 4–9)

September: Soothill, Dewsbury: “Yesterday morning a shocking accident took place at Batley, by which a travelling showman named George King, 35 years, lost his life. The deceased was the foreman for Mr. Randall Williams, proprietor of a ghost and hobgoblin show, which was coming to Batley Feast.” (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 14 Sept 1882, p2)

November: Rotherham Statute Fair: “Robbery from a Ghost Show” (Sheffield Independent, 9 Nov 1882, p7)

Showmen at Preston Guild Festival, 1882.  Back row (left to right): Harry Cunningham, John Cooper, unknown. Front row: Randall Williams, John McIndoe,  John Whiting,  John  Symonds. Photographed by Henry J. Wallis. [Ann Cadman, Poole, Dorset]

1883

“Randall Williams, traveller, 12 Lower Byrom St, Quay St” (Slater’s Directory of Manchester & Salford, 1883)

January: Sheffield Quarter Sessions: “Elizabeth Hough, 23, spinster, and John Gaven, 32, baker, were indicted, the woman for stealing the sum of £16. 15s. 2d., the property of Randall Williams, the proprietor of a “ghost show” located at Rotherham during the Statutes Fair . . .” (Sheffield Independent, 6 Jan1883, p2)

July: Bradford Pleasure Fair, Yorkshire: Showmen’s meeting held in Randall’s show during the fair (Era, 7 July, 1883)

September: Armley, Yorkshire (Era, 1 Sept 1883)

1884

January: Manchester: death of Randall’s wife, Mary Ann Williams, age 33 (death certificate)

March: Manchester: (Era, 29 March 1884)

August: Tallucruty nr Balagh: Scotland: (Era, 16 Aug 1884)

December: Chesterfield Market Place: Randall Williams Great Ghost Show . . . “The Mistletoe Bough”; “Faust, or The Devil and The Doctor”; “Little Jim, The Collier`s Dying Child” (advertisement, Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 6 Dec 1884, p4)

December: World’s Fair, London: Randall Williams’s “Great Ghost Show” (Era, 27 Dec 1884)

	Mary Ann Hough Randall's wife Polly was born in Wigan on November 1, 1851. She died in Manchester on January 4, 1885 and was buried in Bury Cemetery alongside her three daughters - Annietta, Alice and Sarah. Her two surviving daughters, Annie and Caroline, were only five and four years of age. This photo of Polly was taken in the early 1890s. From the late Caroline Monte Tindale collection.

1885         

January: Hull Borough Sessions: Charges against four young men for stealing £10 from Randall . . . . (Leeds Mercury, 9 Jan 1885)

May: Manchester: “Wanted, all Travellers to know that it is the intention of Randall Williams to try and reduce the present Railway Rates with the aid of his fellow travellers. . . .” (Era, 23 May 1885)

May: Aston Fair: “Randall Williams' Great Hobgoblinscope"– “This ‘Prince of showmen’ is now at the fair, exhibiting a gorgeous illusionary spectacle (sic), representing the "Fall of Khartoum" and the death of General Gordon. . .” (Aston Chronicle, 30 May 1885)

September: Leeds: “Wanted, at once, for Randall Williams’s Great Ghost Show. Useful People, in all Lines; also Twenty First-class Ballet Girls to parade outside. Must be good looking. Address for the above, Post-office Leeds.” (Era, 26 Sept 1885)

October: Hull Fair

October: Portsmouth, Hampshire:  Randall 's show van collided with a tramcar (Hampshire Telegraph & Sussex Chronicle, 30 Jan 1886)

December: London World’s Fair: “Randall Williams’s Great Ghost Show” (Era, 27 Dec 1885) (Reynold’s Newspaper, 20 Dec 1885)

1886         

January: Portsmouth County Court: A Collision – Randall Williams v. Tramway Company (Hampshire Telegraph & Sussex Chronicle, 30 Jan 1886)

February: Fulham Fairground: "Randall Williams Ghost Exhibition” (Era, 27 Feb 1886)

June: Normanton, Yorkshire (Era, 5 June 1886)

June: Wolverhampton (Era, 5 June 1886)

August: Drypool Feast Ground, Hull (Era, 7 Aug 1886)

September: Sowerby Rushbearing Festival: "Williams" Phantoscope, or Ghost Show" (Hebden Bridge Times & Calder Vale Gazette, 1886)

September: Bradford (Era, 25 Sept 1886)

1887

January: Birmingham (Era, 22 Jan 1887)

February: Birmingham (Era, 12 Feb 1887)

March: Batley: (Era, 5 Mar 1887)

April: Aston Fair: (Era, 2 Apr 1887)

May: Knighton, Radnorshire (Era, 14 May 1887)

May: Mountain Ash (Era, 28 May 1887)

May: Bryn Mawr, Breconshire (Era, 28 May 1887)

June: South Wales: “Treorky Fair, Commencing on 4th and 6th June. TREALAW, Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 and 9. PORTH, commencing on Saturday June 11 and following days. FERNDALE, June 18 and following days. Studt’s Great World’s Fair this Jubilee Year . . . . Professor Randall Williams’s Great Ghost Show (first visit to South Wales). Everybody should see this Grand Exhibition, the front alone having cost over £2000.” (Western Mail, 27 May 1887, p1)

June: Newport, Monmouthshire (Era, 25 June 1887) 

August: Pontypridd (Era, 13 Aug 1887)

September: Port Talbot: (Era, 3 Sept 1887)

October: Swansea: (Era, 1 Oct 1887; 8 Oct 1887; 22 Oct 1887)

1888

March: Mountain Ash (Era, 24 Mar 1888)

April: Aberdare (Era, 14 Apr 1888)

May: Kington (Era, 12 May 1888)

June: Stockport (Era, 23 June 1888)

July: Haworth near Keighley (Era, 28 July 1888)

August: Birstal, Yorkshire (Era, 18 Aug 1888)

September: Holbeck Feast, Leeds: (Era, 8 Sept 1888)

October: Wibsey near Bradford (Era, 6 Oct 1888)

October: Hull Fair Ground: “Williams Ghost Show” (Era, 20 Oct 1888)

December: Stockport, Cheshire: Randall was proprietor of a Christmas Carnival commencing December 22 at the Borough Fairground, Portwood, Stockport. An incident during the show on its opening night lead to a stabbing after the show was over. (Stabbing Affray on the Fairground: A Sequel to a Ghost Show, County News & Chronicle, 24 Dec 1888; A Ghost Show Story: Incident at the Christmas Fair, Stockport Advertiser, 28 Dec 1888).

1889

January: Bolton: New Year’s Fair: (Era, 8 Dec 1888) 

March: Liverpool (Era, 2 Mar 1889)

May: Bootle (Stage, 3 May 1889)

July: Warrington Pleasure Fair: “Randall Williams’ Ghost Show” (Era, 27 July 1889)

September: Batley (Stage, 20 Sept 1889)

October: Wibsey, near Bradford (Era, 5 Oct 1889)

December: London World’s Fair: “Randall Williams’s Ghost Show” (Era, 28 Dec 1889)(The Times, 25 Dec 1889, p 7)

 1890                  

April: Bedford (Stage, 18 Apr 1890)

May: Coventry (Stage, 23 May 1890)

June: Halifax Fairground (Stage, 27 Jun 1890)

July: Bramley, Yorkshire (Era, 19 Jul 1890)

August: Birstal, Yorkshire (Stage, 22 Aug 1890)

September: London: birth of son, Randall (Randall’s first son with common-law wife, Annie Radford) (birth certificate)

October: Hull Fair: “Randall Williams’ Greatest Ghost Show In the World” (Hull Daily Mail, 11 Oct 1890)

November: Loughborough Fair: “Randall Williams’ Ghost Show” (Merry Go Round).

Randall and Annie Radford’s three eldest sons; Thomas, Albert Edward, and Randall, 1898.   [Randall Williams, Chellaston, Derbyshire]

1891

February: Free Trade Hall, Manchester: Randall spoke at a meeting of the Van Dwellers’ Defence League (Manchester Section):

“Speaking as a showman, he said that he at one time took a permanent residence in Manchester and lived there eight years. During that period he buried all his children but two, his father, and his wife. The two surviving children he had since reared in a caravan. So much for the sanitary conditions of van dwellings as compared with fixed residences in large cities. As regarded education, he might say that he, like others of his class, took great pains to have his children properly educated. The difficulty lay not so much in the disinclination of van-dwellers to educate their children as in the unwillingness of schoolmasters to receive these temporarily . . .” (Era, 28 Feb 1891)

March: Black Lion Hotel, Salford (Stage, 12 March 1891)

April: Salford: “Randall Williams, 42, Illusionist (Ghost Show)” (census)

May: Kendal (Stage, 14 May, 1891)

May: Barrow-in-Furness (Stage, 21 May 1891)

July: Annfield Plain, Co. Durham (Stage, 9 July 1891)

August: Sheldon, Co. Durham (Stage, 13 Aug 1891)

August: Spennymoor, Co. Durham (Era, 22 Aug 1891)

October: Hull Fair: Randall attended a meeting of the Van Dwellers in Scott’s circus booth during Hull Fair (Era, 17 Oct 1891)

November: Malton (Stage, 19 Nov 1891)

December: Whitby, Yorkshire: Robbing a Ghost Show Proprietor (Northern Echo, 4 Jan 1892) (Shield’s Daily Gazette, 4 Jan 1892)

1892

January: Whitby, North Yorkshire (Northern Echo, 4 Jan 1892)

March: West Hartlepool: death of Randall’s son, Randall, 16 months (death certificate)

May: Northallerton Town Hall: “Randall Williams Ghost and Spectral Co.” (Stage, 5 May 1892, p15)

June: Sheffield: "Ghost Show! Randall Williams will visit Sheffield Whit Fair with his Great Ghost Show . . .” (Sheffield Independent, 3 June 1892, p1)

July: London: birth, of son, Thomas Randall (birth certificate)

October: Hull Fair: “Randall William’s Greatest Ghost Show” with Great Little Titch, Indian Basket Trick, etc. (Critic, 8 Oct 1892)

November: Rotherham: “The Showmen’s Guild  –  On Sunday evening last, the Rev. Thomas Horne, Curate of Whiston, who is the son of a well-known showman, conducted a service in Mr. Randall Williams ghost show on the Rotherham Statute Fair Ground . . ." (Era, 12 Nov 1892)

November: Rotherham: “Meeting of Showmen at Rotherham, Educational Proposals. Speeches by the Vicar of Rotherham and the Rev. T. Horne. On Tuesday morning, a meeting of the showmen and others attending the Rotherham Statute Fair was held in Mr. Randall Williams’ ghost show, under the auspices of the Van Dweller’s Protection Society. The Rev. W. Law, M.A., Vicar of Rotherham, presided, and there were also present the Rev. T. Horne, curate of Whiston, and Mr. A.H. Foers. The convenors were Messrs. Randall Williams, J. Whiting, Thomas Horne, and Robert Williams . . .)” (Rotherham Advertiser, 12 Nov 1892, p2) (Copy provided by Archives & Local Studies, Environment & Development Services, Central Library, Walker Place, Rotherham).

November: Leeds: “On Thursday a complimentary dinner was given by Mr. Ernest Gambart to his old friend Mr. Randall Williams, and a select number of gentlemen at the Turk’s Head, Briggate, when an exceedingly pleasant evening was spent. Both gentlemen are well known public entertainers.” (Leeds Times, 19 Nov 1892, p5)

1893                  

January: London: Meeting of the Van Dwellers Protection Association at the Royal Agricultural Hall (Showmen in Conference, Birmingham Daily Post, 26 Jan 1893)

April: Trafford-road Fair Ground, Salford (Era, 1 April 1893)

May: Higher Cambridge-street, Manchester (Stage, 25 May 1893)

June: Normanton (Stage, 1 June 1893, p 17)

June: Barnsley (Stage, 15 June 1893)

June: Barnsley, Yorkshire: “An Incident of the Lion’s Escape. Yesterday evening during the scare caused by the escape of a young lion at Day’s Menagerie, now performing in Church Field, Barnsley, Mrs. Williams, wife of the proprietor of a ghost show, was badly burnt on the left side of her face by the explosion of a small lamp which was filled with methylated spirits. The poor woman was in the act of lighting the lamp when the cry as to the escape of the lion arose and frightened her.” (Yorkshire Evening Post, 17 June 1893, p3)

July: London: birth of son, Thomas Henry (birth certificate)

August: Feast Ground, Brighouse (Stage, 10 Aug 1893)

August: Armley (Stage, 31 Aug 1893)

November: Rotherham Statute Fair: The Movable Dwellings Bill:

“On Sunday afternoon last, the van-dwellers and other travellers who had assembled at the Rotherham Statute Fair held a meeting in Mr. Randall Williams Ghost Show. The large booth was filled to overflowing. Mr. B.T. Burnett, ex-president of the Association presided. He was supported by the Rev. T. Horne, chaplain of the Showmen’s Guild and Messrs. J. Dean, Randall Williams, Robert Williams, William Sedgwick, John Whiting, P. Collins, H. Hughes, J. Burton, Inshaw, Livesey, Murphy, Newsome and Hancock." (Era, 11 Nov 1893)

1894

During the year an electric light engine (#1755) was delivered new to Randall in Manchester by Thomas Green & Son.

January: King’s Yard, Stretford-road, Manchester (Stage, 4 Jan 1894)

April: Lincoln Pleasure Fair (Lincolnshire Chronicle, 26 April 1895, p8)

May: Boston May Fair: “Professor Randall Williams` Electroscope” (Lincolnshire Echo, 9 May 1895, p1)

May: Sleaford (Lincolnshire): “Professor Randall Williams` Electroscope”(Lincolnshire Echo, 18 May 1895, p1)

May: Dalton-in-Furness (Stage, 10 May 1894)

June: Whitehaven: “Randall Williams Ghost Pavilion” (Stage, 14 June 1894)

June: Ayr, Scotland: “Randall Williams, Ghost Pavilion” (Stage, 28 June 1894)

August: Hetton-le-Hole (Stage, 9 Aug 1894)

September: Holbeck Feast (Leeds Mercury, 12 Sept 1894)

October: Hull Fair: “Randall Williams’ No. 2 Show. . . Man in a Trance and Sleeping Beauty . . . “ (Hull Daily Mail, 9 Oct 1895)

October: Hull Fair: Randall Williams No. 2 Show . . . . “Last night a couple of hearses, containing, each, a coffin, paraded Anlaby-road, and were drawn through the Fair. . . .” (Hull Daily Mail, 11 Oct 1895, p4)

November: Rotherham Fair Ground: “Randall Williams Ghost Theatre” (Stage, 1 Nov 1894) (Stage, 15 Nov 1894)