around the world with mr. punch http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/ The official blog-based journal of The Worldwide Friends of Punch and Judy en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem//nucleus/nucleus2.gif around the world with mr. punch http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/ Playing silly Burghers (Bumbledom continued) http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=233 general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=233 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:12:19 +0000 My site http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=231 my own website since becoming a mac person instead of a PC person. The iWeb templates may constrict true layout creativity - but they are still a zillion miles ahead of what a non-techie, non-designer like me can do thudding around in Dreamweaver and the enormous upside is the ability to stick all kinds of media in the site as easy as breathing. So that's what I've been up to recently. (Santa gave me an iPhone for Xmas which is what sold me on stuff that 'just works'.) Now all I have to do is sort out the other Punch and puppetry sites I look after! ]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=231 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:49:41 +0000 Bumble in Wonderland http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=226
It began in the Spring of 2009 when Worthing Town Council advertised for potential seafront entertainers to step forward as part of an initiative to bring a helping of vibrancy to a quiet promenade. This led to Mr. Punch having a jolly time during the Summer as detailed in previous postings. A parallel attempt to bring Mr. Punch to the seafront at Brighton - a few miles along the coast - ran straight into a bureaucratic jungle. I'd seen my first ever Punch show in Brighton as a child, my parents had been seaside entertainers there in the 1930s, I'd performed there myself in the 1960s and the 1980s and my daughter Katey (Prof. Peanuts) was now a resident. The City of Brighton & Hove (to give it its full title) is officially busker friendly and has a page on its website about the 'do's and don'ts' of busker courtesies. Did the busker friendly policy extend to the beach front as well as the town centre?

We rang to ask and the moment it became clear we were not musicians or jugglers but a Punch & Judy Show we were immediately passed like a hot potato from one department to another. From the Licensing Department to the Seafront Office to the Event Team and back to the Licensing Department for another lap. Eventually no-one could find a reason why we couldn't take Punch & Judy to the seafront zone and were told to get on with it and see how it went. Thus, when Summer came we selected a potential pitch and telephoned the Seafront Office the day before as a courtesy to say we'd be down tomorrow. However, it was back to square one with a vengeance. We explained we had already been sent from Licensing to the Event Team to the Seafront Office and back round the circle some months ago. This time we were told categorically that whoever had told us to go ahead no longer worked there. Vague references to 'health and safety considerations' were raised along with the appalled comment that 'it might attract a crowd' and that "the pitching of tents was prohibited". Finally the official on the phone referred to her superior who sent a message saying "No. It's not the kind of thing we want. A decision has been taken in the past." No further discussion was permitted. The phone call was terminated by a council worker with no interest in hearing further. A red rag to a bull? You bet.

I emailed the Leader of the Council to raise the issue of censorship - no reply. I emailed the Councillor responsible for Culture and the Arts - no reply. I wrote to the Mayor who replied courteously offering to hear my concerns. I thanked her and offered Mr. Punch's services to the Mayor's Charity and duly performed at a fund raising Fish & Chip Supper with the Mayor and other councillors present. By now it was September and the end of the 2009 season. The show went very well and the Mayor's secretary subsequently wrote to say that my concerns had now been forwarded to the Head of Culture and Economy.

It's worth a pause to say that the toxic shadow of a previous Prof still cast a chill in certain quarters. The late Sgnt. Stone (who probably would have relished being considered in the 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' category) had been very publicly banned from the seafront in 2000 - after decades as Brighton's Punch and Judy man - when his self-destructive battle with alcohol made him a liability to the other traders. Mike Stone made out that it was Mr. Punch who was being banned, not him, and gained national publicity. Mike (who went on to drink himself to a relatively early death) was a gifted Prof still revered in certain Brighton circles as a legendary local character: a status conferred by such exploits of his as occasionally performing blind drunk and stark naked in his booth whilst swearing at his puppets, or drunkenly insulting the American ambassador's wife at an arts function where he was working as a temporary waiter. A decade later the fall-out from his stint on the seafront was still in the atmosphere. Meanwhile Brighton's newly conferred status as a city had given rise to new bureaucracies within its workings. It had six Directorates: each Director controlling up to eight Departments each with its own Departmental Head and officers. Above them all sat a Head of Executive Office and a Chief Executive. I was invited in to meet the Arts and Cultural Development Officer.

Having been outside the castle trying to attract attention, the drawbridge was now lowered so I could cross the moat and enter. (Whilst the Civic Centre doesn't actually have a moat and drawbridge it does have a security turnstile for staff access and a series of hand sanitisation points like upon entering a hospital. The parallel is striking if unintentional. Keeping bureaucrats safe and secure from the great unwashed was a revealing corporate message to be sending I thought). Chatting about Punch and Judy, however, to someone with an arts background, as well as interest in street arts, made for a pleasant meeting. The officer was happy to facilitate further progress within the bureaucratic structure. She arranged a joint meeting with colleagues who worked within the very Licensing/Seafront/Event carousel I'd been round a few times already. On the day of the meeting, however, she was off sick so Katey and I sat in what seemed like a small interrogation room whilst a Manager for Sports and Leisure Projects and a Leisure Development Officer With Responsibility for the Seafront grilled us about Punch and Judy and how we would deal with complaints about it. (The underlying assumption being that complaints were only to be expected).

References were made to the councils Multi-Agency Policy and Procedures for Safeguarding the Vulnerable, as well as Health and Safety, Risk Assessments, Public Liability and Criminal Record Bureau checks. We countered by quoting the councils Refreshed Strategy for the Visitor Economy (it's great what you can download from council websites) as well as with Mr. Punch’s debating points well honed over the years. It did feel at times like defending Shakespeare from charges of glamourising knife crime on account of all those swordfights and stabbings - but we all remained friendly. It was, we were told, so that they could argue a case on our behalf to their superiors. I did learn en route, however, that busking was only permitted for one hour in any given spot. A particularly rigid interpretation of a "suggested' guideline on their website. If my booth remained in the same spot on the beach for more than one hour - even if I wasn't performing- it would be deemed to constitute an Event. Events have to be Licensed as they are not Busking. Everything might yet have "to be put out to public tender." These are the folk, remember, who are going to be arguing MY case to THEIR superiors. These superiors are not even in the same Directorate as the Arts and Cultural Development Officer we had first met. That officer was ultimately overseen by the Director of Culture and Enterprise and rubbed shoulders with colleagues in Library Services, Tourism, Museums and the like. The Sports and Leisure officers, however, report up through a chain command headed by a Director of Environment along with colleagues in Trading Standards, Sustainable Transport and a whole host of other departments including those responsible for refuse collection.

We'd been helpfully sent down one rabbit hole by the Mayor but had crossed into a parallel rabbit hole whose Head Bunnies would now pass judgment on what I (and, clearly, the Mayor) consider to be a question belonging elsewhere. There’ll be a Mad Hatter along in a minute, I'm sure, to sort it all out. I've already pointed out that it's not Mr. Punch's fault that he doesn't fit current local authority pigeonholes - and also drawn gleeful attention to the fact that he is older and more famous than the iconic Brighton Pavilion which put the town on the map in Regency times and which is the city’s official logo and cultural shrine.

Some nine months on from the start of the quest it is still proceeding with all the speed at which I can drive it. Mr. Punch has time on his side, though: centuries of it. So watch this rabbit hole for more reports from Wonderland where Bumble the Beadle can wrap censorship and prejudice in managerial babble-speak and red tape in an attempt to make it all sound a helpful by-product of common sense. Maybe it needs need not only Dickens and Lewis Carroll to do it justice but George Orwell too.
]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=226 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:01:09 +0000 The Big Grin http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=223
This is the title of Mr. Punch's 350th Birthday project being organised by The 350 Committee. It's a network of projects across the UK in 2012 with a very special Big Birthday Bash in Covent Garden in May of that year, including overseas performers, a giant birthday cake, a world record attempt and some Punch & Judy Olympics. It's not an exclusive affair - all Punch enthusiasts anywhere are welcome to run with the ball and get something going during the year on their patch. The 350 Committee hope to get funding for a fun kit of activities and information which can be widely distributed and help bring all events under the one big banner of The Big Grin. A dedicated website will be up and running in due course, but information will be spread through existing networks in the meantime. Check back with this site for any developments. The 350 Committee is an updated version of the 325 Committee which organised the celebrations nearly a quarter of a century ago in Covent Garden. This time round it will have a wider spread. Already nearly a dozen museums across the UK are signed up to join the fun, along with half a dozen local authorities, several puppet festivals and a couple of university departments. 2012 is, of course, London Olympics year and Mr. Punch will have to work hard not to be overwhelmed by festivities other than his own. But lets face it, he's been around longer than the modern Olympics and - if the roots of his family tree roots are as deep as some historians suggest - his spiritual ancestry even predates the original Olympics. Let the fun and the games commence!


The 350 Committee are: Glyn Edwards Councillor of The Punch & Judy College of Professors. Festival Director of the Punch & Judy 325 celebrations. (Project co-ordinator)
Maggie Pinhorn Dir: Alternative Arts. Director Covent Garden Punch & Judy May Fayre.
TBA, Chair: The Punch & Judy Fellowship (Representing PJF performers.)
Clive Chandler (Chair: Puppeteers UK. Artistic Director of Dynamics International Puppetry Festival) (Puppet sector co-ordinator)
Alisa Smith (Museum Services Officer: The Museum of Cannock Chase. (Museums co-ordinator)
Dr. Matthew Isaac Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Drama, Royal Holloway, University of London. (Academic advisor)
Cariad Astles, Lecturer in Performance Arts (Movement and Object Theatre), Central School of Speech & Drama. (Academic advisor)
Martin Reeve Post graduate doctoral student in the field of contemporary Punch & Judy and related traditions. (Academic consultant).

THE BIG GRIN
The national celebrations of Mr. Punch’s 350th birthday in 2012

In 2012 Mr. Punch plans to celebrate from Lands End to John O’ Groats to mark his 350th Birthday. He’ll be joined by top ‘Professors’ skilled in the traditions of this world famous show and will link in to local celebrations en route.

Originally an immigrant to English shores Mr. Punch has since made a unique contribution to British culture and is getting ready to celebrate nationwide in his Big Birthday year.

He’ll be stopping off in his Covent Garden ‘birthplace’ for some Punch & Judy Olympic fun, and he’ll be visiting schools, museums, theatres, galleries, piazzas, beaches, shopping centres, parks, carnivals, fetes, galas, picnics and pubs as he travels the land. Punch has been part of our history of merrymaking since his first arrival in 1662 in time for the wedding of Charles II – the “Merry Monarch’ himself – and he’s ‘as pleased as Punch’ still to be full of the spirit of fun.

Helping organize his tour will be The 350 Committee - a legacy of The 325 Committee that organized his record-breaking celebrations in Covent Garden in 1987. Comprising delegates from The Punch & Judy College of Professors, The Punch & Judy Fellowship, Puppeteers UK and Alternative Arts, the committee will work with its nationwide network of supporters, funding partners, and associates in local authority museums, arts and leisure services and academic institutions to deliver a rich mixture of fun, insight and colourful cultural heritage accessible to all.

Building on the successful Heritage Lottery Fund backed Carry On Punch & Judy project currently touring museums in the Midlands (in partnership with the Museum of Cannock Chase) the 2012 tour will deliver opportunities for young people to investigate 350 years of enjoyment - most of it in the dark ages before mobile phones, TV and computer games. It will follow Mr. Punch’s footsteps back in time to see how people lived and what they were doing in the years since he first came to England. It will connect with Mr. Punch’s puppet colleagues whether they are performing today on stage or screen or just ‘resting’ in museums. It will especially look to celebrate links with the popular puppet traditions of nations coming to London for the Olympic Games – from the Pulcinella players of Italy to the shadow puppeteers of Indonesia.

It’s not just about Punch and Judy – for Mr. Punch is a generous host and is throwing open his party to all manner of like-minded merrymakers. He’s spent centuries alongside other puppets and popular outdoor entertainers and enjoys their company. He’s been the entertainer at millions of other people’s birthday parties and celebrations: now he’s having his own year-long one. He hopes you’d like to be a part of it.

]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=223 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:41:03 +0000 Punch In the Circus - Pt. 1 http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=221 Sig Sautelle

I've been delving into circus history lately. I'm finding that, in days past, it was quite common for circuses to have a Punch and Judy Show in their repertoire. Bandwagon, the journal of the Circus Historical Society, has posted profiles of some circus Punchmen on their web site. With their permission, I'll re-post some of these pieces here. We'll start with Sig Sautelle.


Sig Sautelle, A Great Showman

By John C. Kunzog. Hobby Bandwagon, Vol. 3, No. 7 (Aug), 1948, pp. 3-6.

Copyright © 2002-2005
Circus Historical Society, Inc.

Sir Sautelle was born George Satterlee at Luzerne, N. Y., September 22, 1848, and received his early education in the schools of that village. During the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Union Army, being said to be the youngest soldier to voluntarily enlist - an honor of which he was justly proud.

His career as a showman was laid while in the service of his country. He made the acquaintance of a ventriloquist, under whose tutelage he was taught the art of ventriloquism for doing favors and odd chores, such as blacking boots, washing clothes, keeping them in repair, and writing letters. He was the proficient pupil and when he was mustered out he had perfected his knack of voice-throwing.

But he did not put this talent to practical use at first, and learned the wagonmaker's trade, working at Saratoga, Glen Falls and Fort Edward. At the latter place he met Ida Belle Travers, whom he frequently entertained with feats of ventriloquism. She recognized that he evinced much talent in showmanship and encouraged him to capitalize on his ability as an entertainer.

Thus it was that when 24 years old and with $47 capital, Sig Sautelle started a Punch and Judy show. His next step was to marry the girl who encouraged him to be a showman.

Up to this time he was known by his true name - George Satterlee - but with the launching of his Punch and Judy show he planned to adopt the cognoman of Signor. But somehow his face lacked the Latin characteristics to go with the name, and the second syllable of "Signor" was never pronounced, and thus it was that the master showman was known as Sig Sautelle.

He gave his show in halls as well as opera houses and the plaudits of amusement seekers brought him to the attention of A. B. Stowe, who induced him to join the A. B. Stowe's Great American Circus and perform his act in the sideshow. Later he traveled with Barnum and Bailey.

For eight years he trooped around the country. In the summer with the circus, in the winter months he gave his exhibitions indoors, saving his money, and in 1882 he realized his great ambition circus of his own - Sig Sautelle's Big Shows - which opened at Syracuse, N. Y. The show traveled by canal boats and played towns along the Erie, Chemung, Seneca and Champlain Canals. Two boats were used, one accomodating the performers and other employees, fitted with plenty of staterooms, kitchen and large dining hall. The second boat carried the animal cages, horses, wagons, canvas, seats and other equipment.

******

n 1914 D. Thilman headed a group who bought the Sautelle show in August. Two months later the show again changed hands, Col. W. P. Hall buying everything but the baggage stock.

Sautelle began liquidating his real estate holdings in Homer and vicinity. He was nearing the 70 mark, yet he could not keep out of the show business. In 1917 he formed a partnership With Oscar Lowanda to put out a truck circus called Sig Sautelle & Oscar Lowanda Mammoth Motor Truck Circus. But the Midas of the circus world had lost his magic touch and the venture failed.

He removed to Fort Edward to make his home with Frank Stowell, but the yearning of the trouper could not be stilled. He made one more venture - "Humpty Dumpty Circus," a return to his first love, the Punch and Judy show, which he gave in schools and clubs, ending his career just as he started it.

*******

In a previous paragraph mention was made of Sautelle's dislike for dogs. This hatred was an amazing antithesis to his love for cat. Any cat that strayed on the lot would be petted and fed by Sig. One of the most pleasing acts was Sig's cat orchestra. Miniature band instruments were fastened to the paws of the cats, and with invisible threads, manipulated by Sautelle, the feline orchestra gave forth musical strains. It was, of course, Punch and Judy perspective, using felines for puppets. It was such acts as this, appealing to children and grownups alike, that made the show popular with the "common people."

*********

Sig Sautelle died at Glen Falls, N. Y., June 21, 1928. He was buried beside his wife at Fort Edwards, It seems fitting that he and his wife are laid to rest just across the street from the lot where they had exhibited many times. He had little to leave, but he granted to Frank Stowell, with whom he made his home in his last years, the right to use the Sautelle title forever.

Gone are the days when the pulses of Homer's population thrilled to the tempo of doublequick time of circus music; gone too are the days when elephants grazing on the hillside was a familiar sight.

There are those who still remember the veteran showman; recall with nostalgic memories the prevailing excitement when the gaudily painted wagons rolled through the streets of Homer to the loading runways. They recall the dim and shadowy vistas of the past and in retrospection again see the proud figure of Sig Sautelle, who was once the idol of Homer.

There are those who aver that the spirit of Sig Sautelle still haunts the scenes of his former winter quarters, and that In the sombre hushes of the night, between midnight and dawn, on the Friday morning nearest the 13th of April, there can be seen a ghostly caravan approaching a vision of tents. There is a shrill blast of a ringmaster's whistle, then a ruffle of drums, followed by a stirring march from an unseen band. A few fleeting clouds hold the scene in focus, a sudden breeze and then the first pink finger of dawn dissipates the spectral picture, revealing a barren hillside.

But the chosen few who have seen the phantom circus know it is a ghostly tribute to the master showman who is opening another season in the spirit world.
]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=221 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:52:38 +0000 Positively English http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=219

Bombadier beer has got a cracking new 'Positively English' ad campaign based on the official icons of Englishness promoted via the government's Icons Online initiative. They've got sponsorship from English Heritage (a normally aloof and snooty mob so far as this blogger can tell) to be their 'official beer' and have worked up various icons into fake coats of arms. If you're outside the UK they'll not all be familiar - but they resonate a lot with Brits. On this version (there are three in all) you can spot Punch and Judy - and they look even better on the large street posters. So what's stopping you? Buy a beer and drink to Mr. Punch's health.]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=219 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:31:21 +0100 Season's end http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=217



The trippers have gone now and the beach is pretty empty. In fact it's often empty when we set up and the leisurely process of putting the booth up is all part of the warm-up: alerting people to the fact that Mr. Punch will be here today. It only takes one person to start an audience. The trick is to keep them amused and attract more. It's a bit like lighting a fire with one match. Our final day coincided with Pier Day - when the local voluntary arts groups showcase their skills and celebrate the Pier. It was an event formerly run by the Council but now handed over to volunteers. From Mr. Punch's perspective it brought a few more people to the seafront than the late September weather would have done by itself. The crowds were big enough to block the walkway on several occasions - so Mr. Punch ended his season on a high note. Not a show stopper - but a Prom stopper. The council have sent their official feedback questionnaire to all beach concessions now. Paperwork is everywhere. We'll see what they make of Mr. Punch's comments.]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=217 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:17:36 +0100 Postcards and views http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=215


This is the view of our pitch from the side road opposite which leads to the Town Square where we had to pitch on Birdman Day (see posting of Sept 1st). The fact that we are clearly visible (and audible) to the shoppers and pedestrians there was a key factor in choosing our pitch. There aren't many people about at this end of the season and the Prom is chilly even though sunny. The 'bottle' contains only a tiny percentage of copper coins compared to the silver and upwards, however, so that's good. The last holiday makers are in a good mood and the shows are a pleasure to perform to them. The Pavillion Theatre on the pier hosted a Craft Market today where there was a nostalgia postcard stall. I bought a black and white one showing the audience of Prof Manley in the 1930s and also a colour card dated (I guess) somewhere between the 1950s and 1970s. Next weekend is official Pier Day and I think that will be our final seafront date of the season.]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=215 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:13:04 +0100 The Seafront Flyer http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=212

In theory my beach booth is on wheels so it can promenade to a better spot if required. This was useful when we were on the flat surface of the prom itself as you could shift the booth to favour the prevailing wind and angle of the sun as the day progressed and also shift to a better location if one presented itself. The wheeled base is also heavy enough to guy-rope the booth directly to it. The ropes tie straight down just inside the canvas cover and loop through holes in the base. This is hugely practical on a stony beach where ordinary tent pegs would be useless. It is also invaluable on the paved surface of the promenade where there is nothing to tie onto otherwise. Having proved its value I shall have the wheeled base appropriately decorated and will launch The Seafront Flyer with a bottle of bubbly over the prow in due course. As a straightforward trolley it also ferries the gear from the van to the beach site in one trip. I carry a bit of a load as you can see - but I always have done. For outdoor work I like to have as much gear as I might need in various circumstances. I've never been a fan of the 'set-'em-up-quick' stages even for indoor work. I like a bit of stability and room for all my gizmos. And since you ask, I can set it all up in about 45 mins if I have to. Though with an ice-cream or a cappuccino to keep me company I'm not fussed about the speed. We're nearly at the end of the season and have had quite a few regulars coming time and time again because they like to see Mr. Punch on the beach. He's had a very affectionate welcome. Meanwhile the splendid image of some people in 'The stalls' (I think of the steps of the Millennium Beacon as being The Dress Circle and The Gallery) was taken by Julie Edwards (no relation) a professional photographer who came along to see what was on the beach. Julie's own website is here.]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=212 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:05:06 +0100 Busking and Birdmen http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=210



Never a dull moment on the beach. Our concession wasn't valid for last weekend as it was the annual Worthing Birdman event which (apart from an actual major cash prize on offer to serious self-powered flying machine contenders) mostly comprises people in fancy dress and exotic devices 'flying' off the launch pad fixed to the end of the pier. Mainly they plummet - but it's a big tourism event and great fun. (The middle picture shows a day tripper of the old school. Not dressed ironically so far as Mr. Punch could tell when he played at papparazzi to snap the shot) The Birdman is an event acquired from nearby Bognor Regis where Tony Hancock's Punch & Judy Man movie was shot. Bognor lost the end of its Pier in a fire a few years ago and had to abandon the event because the water below was too shallow for landing from a shortened Pier. Now they want the event back - so there'll be seaside town rivalry worthy of a movie in its own right. Anyway, Mr. Punch had to relocate to the Town Centre for the day as his beach pitch was full of spectators. The trampoline proprietor had a similar problem and invited Mr. Punch to share his town pitch. It's only across the main road from the Prom but despite turning in five shows to appreciative crowds the 'bottle' was not as good as on the beach. Town Centres are often full of buskers or council-sponsored free entertainment and people are less likely to part with their cash. The beach and Prom work a special magic of their own. You expect to pay for a deckchair and an ice-cream and - by extension - for Punch & Judy.]]> general http://punchandjudyworld.org/wwfbloggem/index.php?itemid=210 Tue, 1 Sep 2009 17:22:43 +0100