Figure 1.--This Punch and Judy show in England was held on the sand right at the seaside. The image is undated, but we would estimate that it was taken about 1905. Note the variety of caps and hats that the boys are wearing. Tophams photo.

We are most familar with Punch and Judy shows in England and France. Many of the English images we note are seaside photographs. Many French images are from city parks. They were also popular in Germany. We suspect that they were also popular in Italy, but have no unformation to confirm this. We do not know about other countries, but is likely that Punch and Judy shows were common throught out Western Europe until the 1960s. I do not recall seeing Punch and Judy shows in America as a child during the 1940s, but I suspect some may have existed in the larger cities and seaside resorts during the early 20th century. Our information here is still quite limited. Hopefully our European readers will provide more details.

America

We have not yet found any images of American Punch and Judy Shows in the 19th or early-20th century. we suspect some may have existed in the larger cities and seaside resorts during the early-20th century. There is no evidence that they were nearly as common as in England. I do not recall seeing Punch and Judy shows in America as a child during the 1940s, but curiously, "The Howdy Doody Show" in the early 1950s was the first big-time hit show for kids. And it was based around an elaborate Punch and Judy show. We notice that there are in fact several modern Punch and Judy theaters active in America.

Belgium

As in France, Punch and Judy were popular in Belgium.

England

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.

France

Punch and Judy or "Guignol"s as Punch was called was a popular fixture in French parks for years. Many French images are from city parks. All French vhildren know the story of Pinocchio--one of the favorite stories in Punch and Judy theaters. Especially during the summer, Punch and Judy theaters are set up in parks and vacant lots. One of the favorite spots in Paris is the Jardin des Tuileries. (It is one of the French royal palaces. Louix XV, Louis XVI, and Louis XVII lived there.) A permanent little theater of Guignol operates there. The history is almost always the same, it refers to morals: the malicious ones should be overcome, and one should not lie. The principal protagonist is Pinocchio with a nose which grows when it lies. A French reader tells us, "We say to the children who lie that their nose can grow. After World War II I saw Guignol as a child several times. My granson ( born 1997 ) took much pleasure to see this show during he holidays or even in the kindergarden. This little theater is rather for the children 2-7 years old." A Punch at Judy show can be seen at the Arachon beach resort during 1908.

Germany

Punch and Judy also appear to have been popular in Germany. It was called "Kasperletheater". Our only information at this time, however, is a scene from an Elvis Presly film set after World war II in the 1950s. A German reader tells us, "Kasperletheater was and is very popular in Germany. In my youth, 1935 born, - no TV ! - it was always an attraction if a Kasperletheater came to a place. We wanted to go there (like going always to a "Zirkus", with the clown and the animals when it came to the city or village). My son, born in 1968, had a homemade Kasperletheater. It was a u-form paper wrapping, carton, standing, set up 1.50 m (5 feet) broad and 1.80 m (6 feet) high with an open rectangular cut and a curtain to show the figures. He played behind and in front of the "theater" with his playmates. He had some "Handspielpuppen", of course "Kasperle" and a "Hexe" (witch, which we still have; I add a photo of the witch - a side remark, the tooth in her mouth is one of his genuine milk-teeth). The heads of the figures were homemade from "Pappmasche" (paper pulp) with clothes falling down (like cloths for dollies). Especially for a birthday party he prepared a play to perform it for the guests. Other typical figures are a horse with a king or a knight, a policeman, a teacher, other boys, a nice girl, the grandmother, the wolf or a bear, a crocodil."

Greece

We note puppet shows in Greece during the 1960s. I'm not sure to what extent they are in the Punch and Judy tradition.

Italy

Punch and Judy shows are called 'lo spettacolo di burattini' -- meaning puppet perfornamnces. Punch and Judy shows became so poular throughout Europe for so long that people just thought that they were part of the national culture. The origins of Pumch and Judy can, however, be seen in the names of the originl characters. The were the mask performers in the Italian Commedia dell’arte. They created the masked character Punchinella/Punchinello who in England became known as Punch. The name is believed to have developed from the word Pulcino, meaning chicken. This is why the character has a beak-like mask and squeaky voice. Thry always had the same people in the stories--stock characters. The scripts varies, but not the charracters. The beloved Neapolitan rascal, Pulcinella, was especially influential. The character is credited to the Neapolitan actor Silvio Fiorillo combined with characters of traditional carnival. Some authoirs believe that the Campania region’s Greek pre-Roman history and ancient deities, especially Hermes, have had an imopact. In the best Neopolitan tradition, Pulcinella in the lore of Naples he a muti-faceted individual, a trickster to be sure, but also a protector othe common working man. He is such a sharp-yed character thnt he can even trick devil. [Scafoglio] The Comedia exposed the underbelly of Italin society. It was not meant for children, but was a kind of social commentary poking fun at rulers and speaking to the lives of the common peoople. It was a form of satire. As the name suggests, the performances were commedy, relying heavily on boisterous action, such as the throwing pies, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes. The marrionette/puppet shows continued the hilariously violent tradition of the Commedia dell’arte actors. The first such puppet play performed in England (1662) was performed in Covent Garden by the Italian puppet showman Signor Pietro Gimonde from Bologna. Even in the 19th century there were Italians giving Punch nd Judy performances. Originally marionettes (stringed puppets) were used rather than glove puppets. Ridiculous voices were part of the oerformances from an early point. A reed placed at the back of the Punchman's/professor's created the sound effects. It was called a pivetta in italy, a swazzle in England. Over time these shows became increasingly aimed at children with more simple slap stick without the social commentary. An Italian reader tells us that these shows were popular in the sreets of Napleas and other Italian cities. In England they became more assiciated wiuth seaside resorts.

Japan

We notice a number of intersting traditional activities in Jaspan. One such tradition is a children's theater somewhat similar to Punch and Judy in the West. This is called 'kamishibai', kind of theater in a box. Punch and Judy shows were a Western theatrical tradition. They did not appear in Japan. There was, however, a similar tradition in Japan. One such tradition was "kamishibai". Kamishibai is a traditional little theater. It is a wood box. In this box there is some pictures that illustrate a story. A narrator tells the story showing the pictures. I'm not sure when it first appeared. We note it still existed after World War II. A photograph from Mimase, a coatal village shows a 'kamishibai' in process during the 1950s. The children were naked or wearing at the most loincloths. That was common in Japan fisher villages during summer, because children jump in and out of the sea.

(The) Netherlands

No information available yet.

Other Countries

Leon Watson. "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 We do not know about other countries, but is likely that Punch and Judy shows were common throught out Western Europe until the 1960s.

Sources

Scafoglio, Domenico. "Pulcinella: per un’antropologia del comico,' Annali d’Italianistica Vol. 15, Anthropology & Literature (1997), pp. 65-84.

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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Created: March 12, 2003
Last updated: 11:45 AM 7/8/2021