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	This is the second gallery of our look at the Pleasurelands exhibition which toured in the UK from October 2003 until January 2005 - taking in Sheffield, Croydon and Edinburgh. The exhibition followed the history and culture of 200 years of Fun at the Fair, and was roughly broken into four themed areas: Spectacle, Experience, Illusion and Reality. Each had it's own story to tell, and each was profusely illustrated with images and artifacts relevant to the topic. .
Moving on to the next part of the show, we come to Experience. This looks at attitudes to and memories of fairs, as well as the whole fairgoing experience. This is illustrated by some examples of traditional fairground games and rides, and images - both static and moving - of travelling fairs and amusement parks. There is an opportunity to play on some old penny slot machines, from the collections of John Hayward and York Museums, test your skill with the Laughing Clowns from Russell Cook's collection, and leave your fairgoing memories on a card clipped to a duck on the hook-a-duck stall. Also in the photo (right) are the Orton & Spooner motorcyclists painted in 1936 for John Powell's Super Speedway, from Fairground Art at Dingles Steam Village, and an upright and trellis from R Edwards' Skid (FHT Collection, courtesy of Roger Austin).
	Here, a section of Linsay's big Lakin square stall from the Michael Smith collection at Dingles has been used to display a variety of swag - traditional fairground prizes - together with other relevant artifacts. To the left of the stall is one of the screens showing film of fairgoing experiences. These include some wonderful scenes, which will bring back many happy memories, particularly to older visitors. The highlight is probably the Blackburn Camera Club film of the 1960 Pot Fair, including amazing scenes of Shaws' Moonrocket.
A close up of the inside of the stall showing the period swag - including fairings from York Museums, and 1940's pottery and glassware from the Humphries' Shooter (FHT collection/Dingles Steam Village). The Beat the Clock gag cards are from the Michael Smith collection at Dingles, and the nut dispenser and Askeys' advertising model from the J H Rundle collection.
	Here are examples of Dodgem rounding boards from two different periods. The upper row show a section of the boards painted by Edwin Hall at Lakins in 1938 for Sam Crow. The lower row show the boards from John Holland's 1952 Lakin Dodgem track - also painted by Edwin Hall! These are from the Geoff Weedon collection at Dingles.
A further close-up of the ex-Sam Crow Dodgem boards. These have undergone sympathetic conservation work by Tate Decor prior to coming to Pleasurelands, and are a magnificient example of Edwin Hall's artistry. The boards are from the Michael Smith collection at Dingles.
	Complementing the Dodgem boards is this fine Supercar Victory car. Originally used by Teddy Andrews, it was part of a set later sold to Tricketts, who have loaned the car for Pleasurelands.
Bridging the gap between Experience and Illusion, the photograph also gives an impression of the wonderful space of the Millenium Galleries. In the foreground some panels from Hatwells' Gallopers dating from around 1890 are surmounted by top centre panels from R Edwards & Sons Skid. The Hatwell panels feature the only known surviving decor by H Whiting of Norwich, and form part of the FHT collection at Dingles Steam Village. Considered of National Importance, they were purchased with assistance from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the NACF. The Edwards' panels are from the FHT collection, courtesy of Roger Austin, and were purchased with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and PRISM. The Skid was built by R J Lakin around 1938 for Hill Bros, passing to Edwards in 1942. The decor is 1950's Hall & Fowle. To the right of the Hatwell panels is an original Houdini poster, showing the Water Torture Cell Illusion performed from 1912 until his death in 1926.
	Continuing the Illusion theme is this display showing early material relating to showmanship and illusion. The great showman Tom Norman watches over the proceedings, which include some early posters, and a showing of a copy of the original film of the life of Charles Peace - the first "feature" film ever made in this country. Also in the Illusion section is a Peppers' Ghost reconstruction, and displays of ephemera relating to Freak Shows, Menageries and other Shows. Visitors can also entertain themselves with a set of distorting mirrors from Stephen Smith's collection at Dingles.

Seen right is an early fairground banner, believed to depict Lionel the Lion Faced Boy, one of the human freaks made famous in the 19th Centruy by the great American Showman P T Barnum. The banner was painted by A E & A V Smith of Camberwell, and is now owned by Geoff Weedon & Richard Ward. It is usually displayed at Dingles.
To the right of the banner is an early Mutoscope or "What the Butler Saw" machine. For an old penny you can see risque Victorian moving pictures. The machine is from John Hayward's collection.

Below left is Anthony Harris's superb newly-restored Indian Motorcycle, used by his father Elias for trick riding in his Wall of Death Show, as seen below right. This Jack Leeson photograph was taken at Rugby in 1959, and features on one of the postcards produced especially for Pleasurelands by Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust in conjunction with the National Fairground Archive.


	Concluding our look at Illusion, and taking us neatly into the final section of Reality, is this wonderful image of Florence Shufflebottom (now Campbell), Showlady and Snake Charmer, with her python at Nottingham Goose Fair, c. 1954. This is another of the postcards produced especially for Pleasurelands by Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust in conjunction with the National Fairground Archive.
The fourth and final section of Pleasurelands deals with Reality - Beyond the Illusion. This takes a look behind the scenes at the families and the way of life. In the reality booth - pictured right - you can see an interview with Yorkshire showlady Sandra Wright (nee Marshall). There are also photographs of showland families, and information about fairs, building up and pulling down, and the Showman's Guild of Great Britain.
	Left: information about travelling fairs and building up is framed by a section from Edwards' Skid. Below: a model set of gallopers from Roger Austin's collection is shown part built up to reveal the method of construction.

Pleasurelands was a Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust and Croydon Clocktower Exhibition supported by the National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield.

There was a catalogue to accompany the exhibition, written by Vanessa Toulmin, Research Director of the National Fairground Archive, price £10. E-mail if you would like to order a copy (limited stock available).

Picture courtesy of SMT/Richard Hanson

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