John Baillie's Art Gallery becomes the ticket office for Housman's first play, Bethlehem

In the summer of 1902, Laurence Housman's first play, "Bethlehem,." was refused a licence by the Lord Chamberlain, because the Virgin Mary spoke on stage. To creatively circumvent the censor, Housman formed  the "Bethlehem Society" and set up a ticket office for the enrolment of members at John Baillie's Art Gallery on Princes Terrace, Hereford Road, Bayswater. Baillie, who was to launch his annual, The Venture, the following year, took in subscriptions on Housman's behalf. Produced at the end of 1902, the play was directed and designed by E. Gordon Craig. A year later, Baillie published one of Craig's wood-engraved costume designs for Bethelehem in The Venture under the title "The Trumpter."