The Old Showmen and the Old London FairsFrost, Thomas
History
The Old Showmen and the Old London Fairs
Frost, Thomas
Fairs -- England -- London; London (England) -- Social life and customs
In the following year, Hallam appeared at Bartholomew Fair without a
partner, setting up his show over against the gate of the hospital, and
presenting a medley entertainment, comprising, as set forth in the bills,
"the surprising performances of M. Jano, M. Raynard, M. Baudouin, and
Mynheer Vander Huff. Also a variety of rope-dancers, tumblers,
posture-masters, balance-masters, and comic dancers; being a set of the
very best performers that way in Europe. The comic dances to be performed
by M. Jano, M. Baudouin, M. Peters, and Mr. Thompson; Madlle. De Frano,
Madlle. Le Roy, Mrs. Dancey, and Miss Dancey. To which will be added, the
Italian Shadows, performed by the best masters from Italy, which have not
been seen these twenty years. The whole to conclude with a grand ballet
dance, called _Le Badinage Champêtre_. With a complete band of music of
hautboys, violins, trumpets, and kettle-drums. All the decorations
entirely new. To begin every day at one o'clock, and continue till eleven
at night." Close to this booth was Yeates's, in which _The Lover his own
Rival_ was performed by wax figures, nearly as large as life, after which
Yeates's son performed some juggling feats, and a youth whose name does
not appear in the bills gave an acrobatic performance.
In 1738, Hallam's booth occupied the former site of Fielding's, in George
Yard, the entertainment consisted of the operatic burlesque, _The Dragon
of Wantley_, performed by the Lilliputian company from Drury Lane. During
the filling of the booth a posturing performance was given by M.
Rapinese. "The passage to the booth," says the advertisements, "is
commodiously illuminated by several large moons and lanthorns, for the
conveniency of the company, and that persons of quality's coaches may
drive up the yard." Penkethman had this year a booth, where Hallam's had
stood the preceding year, and presented _The Man's Bewitched_ and _The
Country Wedding_.
Hallam's booth attended Tottenham Court Fair this year, standing near the
turnpike, and presenting a new entertainment called _The Mad Lovers_. At
Southwark Fair Lee's theatrical booth stood on the bowling-green, and
presented _Merlin, the British Enchanter_, and _The Country Farmer_,
concluding with a mimic pageant representing the Lord Mayor's procession
in the old times.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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