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In Manchester in 1890 a court case was heard in which the singer Peggy Pryde was accused of singing an obscene song at the Folly Theatre of Varieties. The case provides a detailed examination of the arguments about the nature of music hall performance. Local newspapers reported the case in detail and this provides unparalleled evidence about the attitude of the authorities to specific performances, the nature of censorship and definitions of obscenity at this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of British Music Hall was one of continual fights against censorship. A dramatic test case centred around ‘La Milo’, who performed ‘pose plastiques’, where she modelled as living statuary in the mode of classical statues. This was part of a tradition which up to this point had been seen as highly disreputable. ‘La Milo’ was an Australian performer, Pansy Montague, whose act was interspersed with lighting sketches by her partner, ‘Cruickshank’. Despite criticism, she was supported by the famous crusading journalist, W H Stead, and her act was hugely successful, particularly at the London Pavilion in 1907. Having helped to change the portrayal of women’s bodies at the start of the twentieth century La Milo and her many imitators were superseded by more exotic dance acts by 1914. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the appearances as caricatures of William Frederick Cody nicknamed "Buffalo Bill" in the British short-lived satirical magazine "Moonshine" from April to November 1887. Several of the drawings used his image to satirize Gladstone or the G.O.M., the opposition Liberal Party leader or to embody the American influence being opposed. However, it is stated that the May 21 issue reflected the great impact that Cody and his Wild West persona had on Great Britain in 1887.