Poster for an evening's entertainment at the South London Palace, 1882 (engraving)

A typically full programme of variety entertainment is advertised on this poster from 1882 for the South London Palace. Among the "star artistes" are the "Great Macdermott", or Gilbert Hastings Farrell (1845-1901), famous for such patriotic songs as 'We Don't Want to Fight, but By Jingo! if we do', and George Leybourne (1842-1884), the first music hall star to be called a "lion comique". Also listed is "Jolly John Nash", the "mirthful comedian", sometimes also billed as the "Laughing Comic". John Nash (1828-1901) specialised in comic songs and funny walks. He was one of the first performers to appear in front of royalty. Indeed, as an instrumentalist he often played a solid silver cornet given to him by the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.