Surprising Gallery

Maskelyne and Cooke's "The Artist's Dream". John Nevil Maskelyne and George Co

Maskelyne and Cooke's "The Artist's Dream". John Nevil Maskelyne and George Cooke, presented for the first time to a West End audience an entertainment they had been giving for several years in the provinces and at the Crystal Palace with considerable success. Maskelyne's invention of the door lock for London toilets required the insertion of a penny coin to operate it, leading to the euphemism to "spend a penny". With John Algernon Clarke, Maskelyne invented "Psycho", the famous whist-playing automaton. At London's Egyptian Hall, Psycho appeared in more than 4000 performances. Date: circa 1880

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Mr Louis Napoleon Parker playing a solo on the Megaphone

Mr Louis Napoleon Parker (1852-1944) "playing a solo" on the Megaphone at the Warwick Pageant of 1906 (the only way he could successfully direct a vast cast). The Warwick Pageant was a huge drama festival, organised by Parker, which took place in the grounds of Warwick Castle, England, in July 1906 and was later described as the biggest thing which ever happened to Warwick. Parker announced in 1911 that more than 15, 000 performers had gone through his hands, and audiences had reached a quarter of a million!! Date: 1906

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Maskelyne and Cookes Mysteries - The Artists Dream

Promotional postcard for Maskelyne and Cooke's The Artists Dream. John Nevil Maskelyne and George Cooke, presented for the first time to a West End audience an entertainment they had been giving for several years in the province and at the Crystal Palace with considerable success. Maskelyne's invention of the door lock for London toilets required the insertion of a penny coin to operate it, leading to the euphemism to "spend a penny". With John Algernon Clarke, Maskelyne invented "Psycho", the famous whist-playing automaton. At London's Egyptian Hall, Psycho appeared in more than 4000 performances Date: circa 1880

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library