This silk programme was printed for the Grand Opening Night of the Empire Palace Theatre of Varieties, Stratford, London, 6 December 1897. This was one of the chain of Moss Empires Variety Theatres that opened around the country between 1890 and 1912 when Moss died. There were 11 items of entertainment on offer for the opening: the overture Raymond by Ambroise Thomas; Sandow, The Leading Authority on Physical Culture; The Borrellis, Musical Comedy and Burlesque Artistes; Mark Melford and his Amusing Company in the Amusing Playlet Between the Turns; Mr Edgar Granville, Singing and Patter Comedian; Miss Ruby Verdi, the Charming Cinderella of the recent Pantomime at the Borough Theatre; The Wee Sisters Webster, Duettists and Dancers; Colby and Way, The New Ventriloquists; Mora and Lola, Continental Musical Artistes; J.S.Thomas, Tenor Vocalist; and finally, The Gotham Quartette, Singing Comedians of a New Type.