Trooping the Colour, Margaret Calkin James, 1932
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As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is. Is it this one? Let us know by voting now!

Trooping the Colour is an annual event which marks the sovereign’s official birthday. The ceremony is thought to have begun in 1748 and in the twentieth century it has been fixed as a June event. This happens irrespective of the sovereign’s actual birthday in the hope that the weather will be better in June than at other times of the year. Although the Queen’s actual birthday was on 21 April, Trooping the Colour takes place this Saturday 15t^h June at Horse Guards Parade.

The event is a military ceremony, where colours (flags) are carried (or ‘trooped’) down the ranks of assembled soldiers. The idea behind this was originally to ensure that troops would recognise their own battalion’s flag during battle.

The event has traditionally drawn huge crowds and so it features in numerous Underground posters. The colourful spectacle has been an inspiration to several poster designers. In this fine example from our current exhibition, Poster Art 150, artist Margaret Calkin James interprets this historic event in her characteristic style of exaggerated colour with simplified and repeated forms. The arches of Horse Guards Parade can be seen behind the soldiers.

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Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Anna Renton
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Please Stand on the Right of the Escalator, Fougasse (Cyril Kenneth Bird), 1944
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Renowned for his sharp wit and observational humour, Cyril Kenneth Bird (Fougasse) was one of Britain’s most influential illustrators. His formal art training was by way of evening classes, which he attended alongside completing a degree in Engineering. Severely injured by an explosion in the First World War, and unable to walk for three years, he continued his art lessons by correspondence. In 1916, Punch published his first cartoon, entitled ‘War’s brutalising influence’. He adopted the pseudonym ‘Fougasse’, meaning small unpredictable landmine, which he used for all subsequent work.

The Second World War marked an increase in newcomers to London, many of whom were unused to Underground travel and the behaviours that, while familiar to regular users, were strangely confusing to the uninitiated. A code of conduct helped to keep passengers safe and services running smoothly. Fougasse’s wry observations and comic style were a refreshing antidote to the more strident tone of government wartime notices of the period.

Fougasse produced a number of public information posters for London Transport between 1925 and 1945. This poster is one in a series called ‘Rules of conduct’ and instructs passengers to ‘stand on the right of the escalator’ – one of the numerous slogans that were to become part of an emerging Underground etiquette.

See more Underground Etiquette Posters

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Michelle Brown
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Epsom Summer Meeting, Andrew Power, 1933
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Many horse races across the world have adopted the title ’Derby’ but this weekend’s Epsom Derby was the first! Founded in 1780 by its namesake the 12th Earl of Derby, it has become the country’s richest horse race and one of the most prestigious events in the summer sporting calendar.

This week’s poster was designed by the artist Sybil Andrews, an acclaimed modernist printmaker inspired by Cubism, Futurism and Vorticism. From between 1929 and 1937 she worked under the more masculine pseudonym of Andrew Power, in tribute to the artist Cyril Power with whom she shared a studio.  This poster was issued in 1933, to promote the Derby and the race course as a destination. The town of Epsom in Surrey is beyond the reach of the Underground but for Derby day special bus services were operated from the nearest tube station at Morden. In that same year the London Passenger Transport Board was formed to run all bus, tram and Underground railway services in London.  This poster represented the benefits of the newly integrated system and the many exciting events and destinations that could now be promoted.

The poster’s aerial view of the race illustrates the exciting swirl of activity as the horses stream around the course, into Tattenham Corner and out towards the home straight. The rows of open-topped buses that line the route were part of a small fleet of old vehicles still being operated by London Underground. They provided a convenient vantage point for the crowds watching the spectacle.

Derby Day crowds using NS-type open top buses as viewing platforms, Unknown photographer, 1933

The 1933 Derby was particularly memorable, won by the popular thoroughbred Hyperion who was owned by the 17^th Early of Derby. The above photograph from the Museum collection was taken at the 1933 Derby and shows people standing on the open top decks and even sitting on the roofs above the driver’s cabs. This tradition continues today with race-goers arriving in vintage buses to get a bird’s eye view of the finishing post.

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Caroline MacVay
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The swiftest way to pleasure; Whitsun joy wheel – Charles Sharland, 1913
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It’s a bank holiday weekend again and hopefully you’ve got some fun plans. But if you haven’t decided what you’re up to yet then why not take a look at our events calendar for some exciting ideas, including some fantastic steam runs!

For this week’s Poster of the Week we wanted to share with you one of the older posters in our Poster Art 150 exhibition - The Swiftest Way to Pleasure (1913) by Charles Sharland. He was one of the in-house designers at Waterlow and Sons, one of the main printers of Underground posters, from the 1900s to the 1920′s. Although little is known about Sharland’s family background or artistic training he designed over 122 posters for London Transport. You can view most of these posters on our online collections site.

Bank holidays were a great focus for promoting off-peak travel and in this poster Sharland is advertising the diverse leisure destinations accessible by Underground. The Underground ‘bull’s-eye’ symbol in the centre was part of the Underground’s corporate identity and it was not until 1916 that the calligrapher Edward Johnston was asked to adapt his typeface to fit in a new roundel logo; the logo we know today.

© National Fairground Archive Collections

Sharland has shown the ‘bull’s-eye’ as a ‘Joy Wheel’ – a popular fairground contraption from 1910 until the late 1920’s consisting of a slightly conical polished disc that spun riders around and around until they fell off. The Joy Wheel rides were more commonly found at seaside resorts and accounts suggest that they were just as much fun for the spectators as they were for the participants! In the poster, Sharland’s characters are falling towards the different out-of-town destinations served by the Underground.

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is…

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Anna Renton
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Brightest London and home by Underground, Horace Taylor, 1924
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This weekend is Museums at Night and it’s a great opportunity to get out and enjoy your favourite museums after hours. Tonight at London Transport Museum we’re hosting a ‘Brightest London’ Friday Late filled with art, animations, dressing up, drinks, tours, readings and a fantastic quiz!

To celebrate our Brightest London night, we’ve chosen another gem from our Poster Art 150 exhibition – Brightest London and home by Underground (1924) by Horace Taylor. This poster was issued in November 1924 in the run up to Christmas, hence the bright lights, party hats and streamers!

The festive atmosphere shows London’s most stylish residents enjoying a modern and sophisticated night out; the Champagne bottles and coupe glasses on the tables, along with the men’s ‘white’ tie’ dress (the most formal evening dress code in Western fashion), subtle indicators that this is a very special occasion! Such associations between luxury, affluence and Underground travel helped to reinforce the idea that the smart set always used the Tube. Indeed, Underground posters often depicted a fashionable crowd as this made Underground travel seem stylish and aspirational – an important part of encouraging passengers to make use of off-peak services.

Earlier this year we also blogged about the counterpart to this poster, ‘Brightest London is best reached by Underground’. This poster showed sophisticated Londoners heading down the Tube escalators on their way to a night out on the town. Can you spot any of the same passengers from that escalator poster in this party poster?

During our Friday Late tonight you’ll have the opportunity to dress up in bright clothes and hats for photo-shoots based on this poster! We’re looking forward to seeing you at Brightest London!

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Anna Renton
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Cup final Wembley Saturday April 24th, Eric George Fraser, 1928
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The FA Cup Final this weekend is one of the country’s great sporting events; watched by football fans all over the world. The competition began in 1871, at a time when the rules of the game were still evolving, the centre circle and half way line weren’t marked and there were no free kicks or penalties. The first final was held at the Oval in Kennington and saw Wanderers play the Royal Engineers in front of a crowd of just 2000 fans, with Wanderers scoring the winning goal. This weekend it’s underdogs Wigan Athletic taking on the might of Manchester City at Wembley stadium, in front of a crowd of 90,000!

This fantastic poster was created by the artist Eric Fraser to promote the 1928 FA Cup Final. It was posted inside underground trains, in the panels above the windows and the glass partitions by the doors. Designed to increase passenger numbers and boost leisure travel, panel posters were printed in large numbers and only displayed for a few weeks ahead of an event. Fraser has skilfully included an amazing amount of information in this remarkably simple design. Set behind the goal, the low viewpoint allows for a panoramic view of the stadium. As the players bear down on the goalkeeper and the ball hurtles towards the back of the net, Fraser’s illustration captures the suspense and excitement of a cup final match. Even the iconic twin towers of Wembley’s original stadium are visible on either side of the goal posts.

Wembley stadium was built in1923 for the British Empire Exhibition, which took place the following year and as the popularity of spectator sports increased, people flocked there to see there favourite teams and activities.  Eric Fraser designed murals for the British Empire Exhibition and established a successful career as one of the country’s leading illustrative artists. He created many illustrations for the Radio Times, inspired by the sounds and ideas expressed over the airwaves, during a golden age for Radio. He also designed posters for Shell, the General Post Office and the Ministry of information and was well know for inventing a character called Mr Therm for the Gas, Light and Coke Company in 1932.

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Caroline MacVay
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Gardening by Underground, Stanislaus S Longley, 1933
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The May Bank Holiday has arrived!  What a great opportunity for some rest and relaxation, and also to enjoy the outdoors, maybe in the garden or local park.

This week’s poster is ‘Gardening by Underground’ by Stanislaus Longley from 1933. Posters like this were used to entice city-dwellers to move to the relative peace and tranquillity of the suburbs.

Longley’s poster shows us how suburban living can be the best of both worlds. With one foot in the bustling, hectic city and another in his beautiful private garden, the man in the poster is living the suburban dream.

London’s suburbs grew around the ever-expanding Underground network. Golders Green became the first Tube suburb when development began in 1907 and was based around the rural terminus of the Hampstead Tube. Extensions to the Piccadilly line in 1932 and 1933 prompted the further expansion of suburbia.

The architect Charles Holden’s futuristic-looking stations sprung up in north and west London to carry passengers into town on the sleek and modern Underground, surrounded by brand new, but traditionally styled, suburban housing. The new suburbs offered spacious homes and private gardens, and proximity to the countryside was also a huge draw.

Arnos Grove Underground station, designed by Charles Holden (1933)

London’s countryside looks great at this time of year. If you need any inspiration about where to go this bank holiday, why not come and have a look at some of the posters in our exhibition, Poster Art 150? We’re open all weekend! Wherever you decide to spend it, have a great time!

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Anna Renton
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For the Zoo, book to Regent’s Park or Camden Town, Charles Paine, 1921
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Along with our Poster Art 150 exhibition, and as part of the Underground’s 150^th anniversary, we’re displaying and interpreting our poster collection in all kinds of interesting ways.

This morning we installed our latest Poster Parade display, which this time brings Underground posters to life. Second Year MA Character Animation students from Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design worked in groups to draw inspiration from the Museum’s collection of Underground posters. They’ve created a series of amazing animations that celebrate the theme of ‘London characters’.  From contemporary Tube etiquette to travelling penguins, exploring the humorous through to the poetic, the films are as diverse as the posters on show.

One of the fantastic posters to have inspired students is Charles Paine’s ‘For the Zoo’, commissioned by the Underground Electric Railway Company in 1921. It was included in the first major exhibition of Underground posters, held at Burlington House, Piccadilly in 1928, which celebrated the first 20 years of Underground graphic design. This bold design, typical of Charles Paine’s style, was extremely well-received when first displayed and reproductions continue to be popular. The poster’s theme, London Zoo, features on more Underground posters than any other subject – at least two per year were produced throughout the 1920s.

Do drop in and check out the wonderful animations and Underground posters featured in the ‘London characters’ Poster Parade. Students’ animations will also be shown on the big screen in the Museum’s theatre during our upcoming Friday Late ‘Brightest London’ on 17^th May. There’ll be a huge range of activities happening on the night, including an introductory talk by Central Saint Martins staff.

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Michelle Brown
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Brighter London for theatreland, Harold Sandys Williamson, 1924
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The West End is the home of London’s entertainment scene, filled with theatres, cinemas, clubs and restaurants. A number of posters were created London Underground to encourage people to visit the area at the weekend and after work to help cut congestion during the rush hour. London Transport Museum is based in Covent Garden in the heart of London’s West End, specifically in the area known as Theatreland which is indicated on street signs by featuring a comedy tragedy mask – a classic representation of stage and theatre. This week’s poster of the week is Brighter London for Theatreland by Harold Sandys Williamson in 1924 designed to bring the crowds in to London’s theatres, aided by the Tube of course.

Many of Williamson’s designs feature vibrant and intense colours used to draw the viewer’s attention. The West End has been particularly popular since the early 19^th century when it was favoured by the rich because it was located upwind of smoke drifting from the City. This part of the city remains so exciting that it is officially the most expensive place in the world to rent commercial property.

Along with Broadway in New York, the West End is well known for presenting some of the highest quality theatre productions in the world, with many famous film actors treading the boards in recent years to enhance their thespian image!

The first theatre in London was constructed in 1576 and was known to have been used by William Shakespeare’s company. The first theatre to be built in the West End however opened in 1663 on the site of what is now known as the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, designed by highly celebrated architect Christopher Wren.

The longest running show in the world to date is The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie which has been running since 1952. The second longest runner is the musical Les Misérables which has been showing since 1985.

There are various awards for West End theatre performers but the most coveted is the Laurence Olivier Award which is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre.

Williamson designed posters for the London Underground from 1922-1939. Not all his work was as bright and uplifting as Brighter London for Theatreland. His early works featured scenes based on his experiences in the trenches during World War I where he sustained injury. These works have been displayed at the Royal Academy of Art where he was trained. While producing his more commercial works he became Headmaster of the Chelsea School of Art, employing Henry Moore to run his new sculpture department.

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As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Holly Peel
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The London Transport Collection, Tom Eckersley, 1975
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The bold simplicity and timeless quality of this week’s poster perfectly describes the appeal of steam locomotion. Created in 1975 by the highly acclaimed graphic artist Tom Eckersley, this poster promoted the London Transport collection of historic vehicles, posters, signs and tickets before it was moved to its current location at Covent Garden. The collage on which the design was based is now part of the Museum’s collection of over 700 original poster artworks.

Eckersley frequently used a limited range of strong colours to create designs that were simple to read, appealing directly and effectively to a wide audience. Eckersley developed this technique over a long and successful career as a practitioner and teacher. He graduated from Salford School of Art in 1934 and received his first commission from London Transport in 1935. During WWII he worked as a cartographer for the RAF and also created posters for the Ministry of Information. He was awarded an OBE in 1949 for services to British poster design and went on to create many wonderful posters, not only for London Transport but other significant patrons such as Shell and the BBC.

His skill in translating complex ideas and images into bold graphic elements is manifest in much of his early work as well as his deceptively simple collage-based designs of the seventies and eighties. He died just two years after creating his last poster for London Transport in 1995, having worked with the organisation for nearly 60 years.

What are you doing this weekend?

If this poster has inspired you to see steam in action, then why not join us for our annual spring Open Weekend at the Museum Depot in Acton. The weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday is looking good and the recently renovated Metropolitan Steam locomotive No.1 will be on show and in steam to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of London Underground.

Model displays will feature miniatures of the Met No.1, and a Lego representation of Baker Street in 1863. With steam rides on the Acton Miniature Railway, film screenings, hands on workshops, talks, and book signings as well there’s plenty going on down the depot. Come and join the fun!

As part of the exhibition, the Siemens Poster Vote seeks to find out what your favourite poster is.

Filed under: Exhibitions, Posters written by Caroline MacVay
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