Poster; Theatreland map, by MacDonald Gill, 1915

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Main details

Main details for this item.

Reference number	1983/4/685
Description	This poster was the first of seven decorative maps that MacDonald Gill designed for London Transport. Pictorial poster maps were extremely popular and a number of artists adopted the format for subsequent campaigns.Gill's map accurately depicted London's Theatreland at night. In the bottom right corner the map is being lifted like a curtain to reveal an orchestra and conductor. The conductor is Gerard Maynell, the director of Westminster Press that printed the poster. The references are historic as well as topical. In the top right corner, a Zeppelin airship flies above Lincoln's Inn. It has the words 'NB a real bomb' beneath it.
Artist	Macdonald Gill
Dates	1915
Collection	Posters
Object type	Poster
Location	Acton Depot
Topics	Decorative Theatres Theatre & cinema
Completeness	100% 100% ?

• Physical description

  Dimensions

  Attribute	Value
  Height	1016mm
  Width	1270mm
  Descriptive size	Quad royal

  Colour

  Attribute	Value
  Colour	Green

  Item content

  Attribute	Value
  Object title	Theatreland map
  Text	The Westminster Press have exploited me for the Underground Railway Company who bid you now come to theatre-land. To one of the theatres - drawn by the hand of Macdonald Gill 1915

  Design

  Attribute	Value
  Stylistic influence	Decorative map

• People involved

  Role	Person(s) involved
  Artist	MacDonald Gill, 1915
  Printer	The Westminster Press, 1915
  Publisher	Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd, 1915

• Associated companies, people and places

  Places

  Place	Leicester Square, 1915 Piccadilly Circus, 1915 Covent Garden, 1915 Tottenham court Road, 1915 Charing Cross, 1915

  People

  Attribute	Value
  People	Gerard Maynell - 1915 Frank Pick - 1915 MacDonald Gill - 1915