Madam...bring me my cap!

Another day visiting several more 'hidden in plain sight' treasures courtesy of Glasgow's Doors Open weekend.

Today's whistle stop tour took us to the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre, The Trades Hall of Glasgow, Glasgow Police Museum and the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. This display of Gentlemen's Smoking (or lounging) Caps from the Victorian era are on show at the Panopticon along with many other theatre costumes and memorabilia.

The Panopticon is the world's oldest surviving music hall having opened its doors in 1857. It soon became a very popular place of amusement for the growing population of Glasgow. In 1906 A.E.Picard, inspired by the American showman P.T. Barnum, took over the management of the ageing music hall. Picard converted the disused attic into a roof-top carnival, added a tableau in wax and a freak show. This was followed by the opening of a public zoo, dubbed Noah's Ark, in the basement of the building. Many well known performers of the time trod the boards of the Panopticon, most notably Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy fame, who made his stage debut at the theatre.

The Doors Open Day event is a wonderful idea and a great way of getting to know a bit more about Glasgow - looking forward to next year already!