Mechanical Memories Magazine

Wanted, A Few Useful People
for the Ghost Business:
The Story of Victorian Showman Randall Williams
by Pauline Gashinski
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, lmre 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) .
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