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We are especially familar with Punch and Judy shows in England. While the origins lay in Italy, the Mr. Punch charater as far as we know was invented in EnglandThee are written referenes (1662), but that the actuall appearance was earlier. [Watson] Punch and Judy began to become popular during the Restoration Period after the Civil War (1660s). This was an era in which both art and theater thrived, but venues were more common for the well-to-do than the common people. King Charles II obtained the throne, restoring the Stuarts to power (1660). This was possible after the death of the puritanical Oliver Cromwell. It meant among other matters, a radical cultural change. One of these was a revival of the theater which in Tudor and Stuart times had been an important part of Enlish cultural life. Cromwell took his Puritan ideals very seriously. He believed that theater was immoral and sought to ban it. King Charles II's ascension ended the Interregnum (literally 'between royal rule'). Crles in contrast to Cromwell loved art and theater. It meant not only a more tolerant period of art and culture, but royal patronage promoting the arts. It was diarist Samuel Pepys observed a marionette show featuring an early version of the Punch character in London's Covent during 1662. It was a performmance by Italian puppeteer Pietro Gimonde, -- 'Signor Bologna'. Pepys wrote 'an Italian puppet play, that is within the rails there, which is very pretty.' As the format spread in Engkand, certain convenions developed. Punch always spoke in a distinctive squawking voice. This was aided by a device known as a swazzle or swatchel which the pupateer known as the professor holds in his mouth, roducing a gleeful cackle. It sounded rather like Punch was speaking through a kazoo. The female cahactr was originally Joan. This was changed to Judy because 'Judy' was easier to enunciate with the swazzle than 'Joan'. This was a vital part of a Punch and Judy show. So important was Punch's voice that it became a controversy within the Punch and Judy community as to whether a 'non-swazzled' was a real Punch and Judy Show. Only Punch had the swazzle voice. So the pupateer had to switch back and forth while still holding the device in his mouth, a rather tricky operation. Punch and Judy shows set up in city streets. They became commom at British seaside resorts throughut the late-19th and 20th century. For many Englidsh children, a trip to the beach was not complete without seeing a Punch and Judy show. We note a Punch and Judy show at Swanage in the 1960s. The are less common today, but have not disappeaed. Many of the English images we note are seaside photographs. British Punch and Judy shows were commonly held on the sand right at the beach front. Punch in Britain is often called "Old Red Nose". Today in Britain it is possible to book a Punch amd Judy show. The British hold a Punch and Judy festival annually at Covent Garden.
Watson, Leon. "That's the way to do it! Mr Punch celebrate 350 years since being recorded for the first time in the diary of Samuel Pepys", The Daily Mail (May 8, 2012).
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Figure 1.--This 1899 photograph shows children watching a Punch and Judy puppet show some place in London. We think that these were mobil shows which the operator moved to different sites, we think after every show. Notice how most of the boys are dressed similarly. We see school or flat caps, Eton collars, suits. knee pants and knickers, and black long stockings.