Clowns -- Great Britain -- Biography; Grimaldi, Joseph, 1779-1837
[34] Pietro Bologna made his first appearance at Sadler's Wells on
Easter Monday, April, 1786, when the bill announced--"New Comic
and Entertaining Performances on the Slack Wire, by Signor Pietro
Bologna; being his first appearance in this kingdom. Rope-dancing by
the Little Devil, Mr. Casamire, and Madame La Romaine, being also her
first appearance in this kingdom. Clown to the Rope, by Signor Pietro
Bologna." Miss Romanzini, afterwards the distinguished ballad vocalist,
Mrs. Bland, appeared also on the same evening. On July 13, 1789, the
bills announced performances on the Tight Rope by the Little Devil,
Master Bologna, and La Belle Espagnole. This was the first public
appearance of John Peter Bologna, professionally distinguished by the
appellation of "Jack Bologna."
In April, 1792, the performances on the opening of Sadler's Wells were
particularized by "Extraordinary Exhibitions of Postures and Feats of
Strength by Signor Bologna and his Children;" these were his sons,
John and Louis. Bologna and his family left the Wells at the close
of the season, 1794; and at Easter, 1795, the whole were employed
at Jones's Royal Circus. In the Pantomime of "The Magic Feast," in
September, Signor Bologna played Pantaloon; his son, John, afterwards
distinguished in the bills as Mr. Bologna, jun., played Harlequin; and
the Signor's wife, Mrs. Bologna, a fishwoman.
Jack Bologna returned to Sadler's Wells, after an absence of eight
years, on Easter Monday, April 19, 1802. He played Satani, in "The
Great Devil; or, The Robber of Genoa;" and for some years was Harlequin
to Joe's Clown, both at Covent Garden Theatre and Sadler's Wells, with
what reputation thousands even now can attest. Subsequently Joe and he
became allied: Bologna having married Louisa Maria Bristow, sister of
Grimaldi's second wife, Mary Bristow.
CHAPTER XI.
1805 to 1806.
Stage Affairs and Stage Quarrels--Mr. Graham, the Bow Street
Magistrate and Drury Lane Manager--Mr. Peake--Grimaldi is
introduced to Mr. Harris by John Kemble--Leaves Drury Lane and
engages at Covent Garden--Mortification of the authorities at
"the other house"--He joins Charles Dibdin's Company and visits
Dublin--The _wet_ Theatre--Ill success of the speculation,
and great success of his own Benefit--Observations on the
comparative strength of Whisky Punch and Rum Punch, with
interesting experiments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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