Source: Diaries of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, MG26-J13, Library and Archives Canada, entry for 22 January 1900
Text: Monday, 22 January 1900
Tonight Frank Lay came here to dinner & took me to a performance at Egyptian Hall. It was one of the best variety shows I have ever seen, good conjuring, splendid cinematograph views, with scenes from Africa, of Seaforth Highlanders on train, [two words illegible] armoured train, Kruger etc. The “box” trick is the most wonderful trick I have ever seen, people put into a box & disappear, & one box put into another with persons inside & he appears outside of both. After performance took Lay to Colonial Club where we had tea [?].
Comments: William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874-1950) was three times Prime Minister of Canada. His handwritten diaries have been transcribed by Library and Archives Canada. The Egyptian Hall was an exhibition hall in Piccadilly, London, at this period specialising in magic shows. The films mentioned depicted scenes from the Anglo-Boer War. Mackenzie was in London studying at the London School of Economics.
