‘A four page program published by theatrical agent J. J. Liddy, The Lorgnette was circulated around Melbourne theatres between 1876 and 1898. Each theatre would have its own special edition, with the front page featuring a cast list for its current production. The rest of the playbill comprised a mix of theatrical news and advertisements.’
The Lorgnette ‘initially incorporated the New Idea and Figaro, and from sometime in the 1880s incorporated the Theatrical Courier (Liddy is also known to have published it with free two-page supplement). The playbill, which promoted itself as “The Only Authorised and Correct Programme Circulated in the Theatre Royal, Opera House, Academy of Music, Princess' Theatre, St George's Hall, Town Hall &tc,” was made available at most of the leading theatres in Melbourne. Each venue would have its own special edition, with the front page featuring a cast list for its current production. The rest of the playbill comprised a mix of theatrical news and advertisements...
‘The Lorgnette continued to be published through until 1898, although how long it did so under Liddy's proprietorship is unclear. He is known to have been engaged in Sydney in 1880 as business manager for R. B. Lewis' Georgia Jubilee Singers and by 1890 was living in Brisbane where he ran the Gaiety Theatre.’
Source: ‘The Lorgnette: Journal of Amusements’, Australian Variety Theatre Archive, 2012 (http://ozvta.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/lorgnette-23122012.pdf)
Sighted: 23/09/2013
