A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern.

  • Iwan Bloch
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    657/700 (page 627)
    ' the Italian ' Punchinello It was an Italian who first ttablished a Punch and Judy show in Charing Cross, 'hat was in the years 1666 and 1667. He paid a yearly ntal to St. Martin's Church. In the year 1668 a Mr. 'evon started a small theatre on the same site. An ironical ;>ng of the time concerning the delay in re-erecting the ,atue of Charles I, also refers to Punch: What can the mistry be, why Charing Cross These five months continues still blinded with board? Dear Wheeler, inspart—we are all at a loss, Unless Punchinello is to be restored. Another early Punch and Judy show was at Covent larden. It even attracted worshippers from St. Paul's Cathedral, as reported in No. 14 of the Spectator. In the 'ears 1711 and 1712 attendances at the Opera were affected ,y the widespread popularity of the sometimes coarse, ometimes obscene Punch and Judy shows. In 1870 there vere still eight big Punch and Judy < theatres' in open paces in London. The best of these were in Leicester Square, Regent Street, Oxford Market and Belgrave Square. The best Punch and Judy season was the spring, but good business was also done at Christmas and midsummer. The audiences of these shows were mostly recruited from the permanent or temporary idlers of London's streets, and pickpockets reaped a good harvest from people whose hilarious attention was riveted on Mr. Punch and the bellicose Mrs. Punch. But the Punch and Judy shows were also watched with pleasure by distinguished Englishmen. Wyndham, the Secre- tary of State, never missed an opportunity to pause in front of a Punch and Judy booth on his way from Downing Street to the House of Commons. The world of art and literature also made use of Punch as the embodiment of all the human weaknesses and follies. [627]