Group of four official programmes for Grand Open-Air Concerts at the M.C.G. organised by the Melbourne Cricket Club, 1903-04.

A$180 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Melbourne : Syd. Day [for the Melbourne Cricket Club], 1903-04. Four individual programmes for Monday-evening concerts on 16 November 7 December 1903, and 11 January and 1 February 1904. Narrow quarto (290 x 150 mm), single-sheet flyers printed on both sides ( versos with advertisements for Robert Hurst shoes); each example has some marginal loss, but nonetheless this a rare and desirable group of survivors. The summer public concerts at the MCG organised by the MCC were a feature of Melbourne entertainment and social life in the early Federation era. These 1903-04 concerts all featured the MCC Military Band under the baton of Lieut. T. Riley, as well as Alex. Gunn Sons display of Royal Bioscope Pictures. The Melbourne Cricket Club Annual Report for 1901-02 noted that “The Open-air Concerts have been carried out with marked success. Twenty-four Concerts were given, the average attendance of members at each Concert being 1641, the attendance of the general public also being of a very satisfactory character. During the season the Committee introduced a new feature viz., the Edisonia pictures which proved such a success .. As the Concerts have now become an established institution, the Committee hope during next season to make them still more attractive.”

• Binding: Hardcover

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