Fandom and the early years of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society (1924–45)

Abstract

London's Gilbert and Sullivan Society (founded 1924 and documented in the Gilbert and Sullivan Journal) is a remarkable example of a collection of fan practices flourishing in the decades leading up to World War II. Despite many differences between Gilbert and Sullivan fandom and many subsequent movements, much that would become familiar in more recent fandom, is already manifest even in the society's earliest years, including costume fandom, fan fiction, text analysis, member quizzes and competitions, critical and adoring reviews of new productions, and star meet-and-greets, all shared by an ever-growing community of enthusiasts seeking reenchantment.