NOW AVAILABLE - A NEW BOOK ABOUT RANDALL WILLIAMS
Includes the history
of how the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain came to
be founded.
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"Wanted, a Few Useful People for the Ghost Business"A year by
year history of legendary showman, Randall
Williams, who toured Britain with a
Pepper's Ghost illusion show during
Victorian times.
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Randall Williams was born in
Liverpool in 1846. His career as a showman began with
a small magic act, but he was soon doing well enough
that in 1873 (when he was just 27) he was able to
start his own ghost illusion show. That was a type of
stage show that combined theatrical representations
with the optical effect known as 'Pepper's
Ghost.'
Randall toured with his 'Great Ghost Show' for more than 25 years. It was part ghost illusion theatre, part variety show, and was just the type of light entertainment that appealed to working class audiences. Randall was also one of the first travelling showmen to exhibit films in his show. The highlight of his career, however, was when he was invited by the famous showman-entrepreneur, Imre Kiralfy, to exhibit his show at the Victorian Era Exhibition at Earl's Court in London in the summer of 1897. Randall's "original Pepper's Ghost" thrilled audiences the entire summer and led to him becoming known as 'The King of Showmen.'
Randall spent his entire life 'on the road' and was one of the travelling show community's most outspoken activists. He was one of a small group of showmen who met in Salford in late 1890 to organize a protest against the Moveable Dwellings Bill. The bill was introduced by child welfare reformer, George Smith, and was aimed at regulating and controlling the gypsy population. However, had it passed, it would have had dire consequences for all those whose livelihoods depended on a travelling lifestyle. The story of the showmen's fight with Smith over the bill, and how it led to the founding of the Van Dwellers Protection Association (the present day Showmen's Guild of Great Britain) at a meeting in George's Sanger's Amphitheatre in London in 1891 has never been told before.
Randall's story is told against a backdrop of hundreds of contemporary newspaper articles and advertisements spanning the period from the early 1870s to the late 1890s. The various news sources provided a unique glimpse at the culture of the travelling show community during the late Victorian period. Anyone with an interest in the history of travelling shows, ghost illusion shows, early film exhibitions, working class entertainment, and 'life on the road' during Victorian times will find this book appealing. It will also be of interest to anyone whose ancestors made a living in the fairground and travelling amusement trade in Britain (includes sections on the Monte and Williams showmen).
Randall toured with his 'Great Ghost Show' for more than 25 years. It was part ghost illusion theatre, part variety show, and was just the type of light entertainment that appealed to working class audiences. Randall was also one of the first travelling showmen to exhibit films in his show. The highlight of his career, however, was when he was invited by the famous showman-entrepreneur, Imre Kiralfy, to exhibit his show at the Victorian Era Exhibition at Earl's Court in London in the summer of 1897. Randall's "original Pepper's Ghost" thrilled audiences the entire summer and led to him becoming known as 'The King of Showmen.'
Randall spent his entire life 'on the road' and was one of the travelling show community's most outspoken activists. He was one of a small group of showmen who met in Salford in late 1890 to organize a protest against the Moveable Dwellings Bill. The bill was introduced by child welfare reformer, George Smith, and was aimed at regulating and controlling the gypsy population. However, had it passed, it would have had dire consequences for all those whose livelihoods depended on a travelling lifestyle. The story of the showmen's fight with Smith over the bill, and how it led to the founding of the Van Dwellers Protection Association (the present day Showmen's Guild of Great Britain) at a meeting in George's Sanger's Amphitheatre in London in 1891 has never been told before.
Randall's story is told against a backdrop of hundreds of contemporary newspaper articles and advertisements spanning the period from the early 1870s to the late 1890s. The various news sources provided a unique glimpse at the culture of the travelling show community during the late Victorian period. Anyone with an interest in the history of travelling shows, ghost illusion shows, early film exhibitions, working class entertainment, and 'life on the road' during Victorian times will find this book appealing. It will also be of interest to anyone whose ancestors made a living in the fairground and travelling amusement trade in Britain (includes sections on the Monte and Williams showmen).