Mini Bibliography

[Chris]

Just a few Practical books, does not include history or philosophy.

How to do Punch & Judy
Sidney De Hempsey
Magic Inc., Chicago
A very good primer which includes a script.

Practical Punch & Judy
Sidney De Hempsey
Arcady Press
A valuable expansion of the author’s “How to do Punch & Judy”

The Wonderful Drama of Punch and Judy
Papernose Woodensconce Esq.
DaSilva Puppet Books
In many ways the best script of the play ever written.

Punch and Judy
Peter Fraser
1970
Batsford, London
Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York
Inspirational illustrations.
Characters and their construction, based on the Collier Script.

Professional Punch
Tony Green
Supreme Magic Company
Ideas to expand and enhance your show.

Puppets with Punch
Tony Green
Supreme Magic Company
Novel Punch and Puppet Routines.

Conversations with Punch
Geoff Felix
Privately published
Fascinating and informative interviews with leading Punch performers.

Inside the Booth
Geoff Felix
Privately published
A wealth of practical wisdom from this brilliant Punch professor. Invaluable.

Hallo Mr Punch
Edwin
Supreme Magic Company
Contains a practical script and fit-up plans, this book has probably been the starting point for most magicians who have added Punch to their repertoire during the past 50 years.

Successful Punch & Judy
Prof Glyn Edwards
DaSilva Puppet Books 2000
The most comprehensive book for anyone contemplating becoming a Punch performer.

Eric Sharp’s Specialised Punch & Judy Entertainment
Eric Sharp
Privately published
(Current Copyright held by Quentin Reynolds 2018)
Eric’s brilliantly practical approach to Punch includes a splendid basic script and plans for his super-practical fit-ups.

The Expanded Frame File
John Alexander
The Arcady Press, 2003
(Updating and expanding the earlier, original “The Frame File”)
This dull title conceals the most exciting book for the Punch performer who has any interest in the construction of Punch and glove puppet fit-ups. There is nearly everything here and an absolute treasure trove of ideas, inspiration and information.

[Richard Coombs]

Thank you Chris

As someone lucky enough to own most of those , and who has read the rest , I would concur a very good list of practical books.

I would also champion Glyns 'Successful Punch and Judy' as being the most comprehensive for anyone planning to start a life with Mr Punch.

Although I only have the first edition , I did get to look through the display copy of the second edition in the gift shop at the Western Super Mare Museum a couple of months ago.
The book now has many more illustrations and photographs , including a step by step guide to making and tying a Swazzle.


If you have time to do it , a mini bibliography of books covering the History of Punch would be greatly appreciated

[lesclarke]

Yep, all worth a read, and it’s amazing that a small seed ‘planted’ years before can help when the time is right.

I used to read the Conversations with Punch at the beginning of most summer seasons, quite inspirational, it is a great format that gets across the spirit of Punch and at the same time covers lots of practical things.

Been off the board for quite a while due to unreliable internet and aging old Mac, then almost a year of moving out, house renovation, moving back in, decorating more decorating, and even more decorating, but now made the technology jump into the present.

[Chris]

Welcome back Les. You won't find this message board as active - most people seem to prefer the flippancy of Facebook and Twitter et al. Me - I've still not learned to type with my thumbs.

[lesclarke]

Hi Chris, just typed a piece then lost it!
Anyway the message board in its prime is fondly missed, and covered a huge range of topics and opinions, many worth listening to, but probably fair to say that we sort of ran out of new things to say.
Newer Facebook type sites have their place, but it’s mainly ‘have you seen this?’ type of content, no replacement for the cut and thrust spirit of the message board.
Some ‘interesting’ characters and some ‘interesting’ memories.

I work less than I used to, just doing the regular events I like, and a few new ones each year.
I find Punch goes down as well as ever, and am confident he has a long future.

I imagine many years in the future a TV report will have become a ‘reality’ beamed into our consciousness,
And a reporter will be asking how old the tradion is etc, and how many profs are there still performing.

Future Prof “ I reckon in what we used to call the UK, there are about 150 remaining.”

Reporter “ And are ther any Punch and Judy clubs or organisations?”

Future Prof “ Oh, yes, I reckon about 150!”

best wishes to all, in the spirit of fellowship, and as Bryan Clarke said, “ Just _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ENJOY it!”

[Chris]

Hi Les,
I too work less than I used to, but that's not from choice but because shows are harder to come by. Birthday party work has taken a nosedive over last two years - and it's not just me in North Wales, Profs in the Midlands are experiencing the same thing, as are many London area performers.
Yes, I'm afraid Facebook intercourse is much more trivial than we enjoyed on the message board, but then there's limit to how much you can type, or how deep yo can think, whilst simultaneously photgraphing yourself, eating breakfast, checking how many people liked your last post, driving to work while keeping an eye open for the police.
We do still have the occasional interesting flurry of activity, and the Board is still a soure of information. A good friend of mine in Florida was seeking information on Joe Parsonage. He found it by searching the message board and found that Tony James had posted just the information he was looking for.
Ah, Tony James. I do miss having him to tease.
Oh, do you remember Trev? He turned up at my theatre during the Summer Season - a lightening visit to North Wales. I think he is still based in Poland. He only stayed for half the show since the group he was travelling with were moving on. It was nice to meet him and find him much less irritating in the flesh. I wish he could have stayed longer, I would have loved to chat.
Heve just come back from KidologyUK - a convention held in the Midlands - where I was doing a lecture on Making A Start with Punch & Judy which was very well received. Now its back to preparations fot the October Half Term Holiday season at The Harlequin.
All the Best.

[Chris]

Richard suggested I might extend the mini bibliography with some history:-
Mini Bibliography of History of Punch & Judy

“The Heroes of the Puppet Stage”.* Madge Anderson * Jonathan Cape * 1924
My favourite non constructional puppet book and a quite wonderful introduction for understanding Punch.

“The History of the English Puppet Theatre” * George Speaight * George G. Harrap * 1955
The essential history of puppetry in Britain, with very good coverage on Punch.

“The Puppet Theatre in America” * Paul McPharlin * Harper & Brothers * 1949
This, together with the Speaight book are the essential puppet histories in the English language.
This also has an extensive coverage of Punch. Another great book.

"Punch and Judy Its Origin and Evolution" * Michael Byrom * Shiva Publications * 1972
Byrom has quite a different view of Punch’s history than that of Speaight. Michael believes that the Punch show is almost entirely of Italian origin, whereas George thought though the character came from Italy it must have absorbed a great deal from English tradition, and earlier folk drama such as the Miracle Plays. The Speaight view is attractive, but not well supported historically.

“Punch in the Italian Puppet Theatre” * Michael Byrom * Centaur Press * 1983

“Punch and Judy: A History” * George Speaight * Published by Studio Vista * 1970
Plays inc. * 1970 (USA)
(This is virtually the relevant chapters from Speaight’s “The History of the English Puppet Theatre” but with sufficient additional material to make it worth including in your library..

Those above I consider my essentials. There are others some would include. I’ll mention two:

“Mr Punch” * Philip John Stead * Evans Brothers Ltd. * 1950

“Punch Polichinelle and Pulcinella” * Michael Byrom * Milbrook Press * 2007

[Chris Richard]

Thanks for those lists. Chris.

I just ordered "The Puppet Theatre in America" by McPharlin.

I already own"Punch and Judy" by Fraser, "Successful Punch & Judy" by Edwards, "Hallo Mr. Punch" by Edwin.

[Chris]

You won't regret getting it Chris, it is a splendid book, well researched and well written. He starts in the 1500s and brings it up to date - well up to the 1940s.
Paul Mcpharlin was husband to Margorie Batchelder, a great force in US puppetry. Paul actually died (Sept 1948) as his book was being prepared for publication and his wife completed the work and prepared the Index. She is author of "The Puppet Theatre Handbook" which is a splendid book on general puppetry and all things practical. A lot of it is compiled from material published in the early Puppeteers of America Journal.
My copy of "The Puppet Theatre in America" came to me from my late partner and it is inscribed inside "To Eric with all good wishes Ellen and Prock. June 1955". The Proctors were a prominent American puppet company in the 1940-1950s.

[Chris Richard]

Growing up, I borrowed Marjorie Batchelder's "The Puppet Theatre Handbook" from the library over and over. I thought that later in adulthood I had located a used copy and bought it, but I can't find it anywhere. Maybe I imagined that. Or maybe it's with my Bil Baird "The Art of the Puppet," which I know I own, but cannot find.

The McPharlin book should be here in a few days. I'm looking forward to it.

[Richard Coombs]

A belated Thank You Chris for the Historical bibliography


Crazy busy at the moment, have been wanting to post more stuff , but no time.

Finished Heights of Abraham a few weeks back on a Sunday and was straight into five weeks filming at Pinewood Studios on the Monday.

I only got to dismantle the Heights booth last week.
Monday and Tuesday dismantling , and carting the pieces down the hill and shipping them home in two van journeys - Wednesday I got my first lie in since June and a badly needed rest - then spent most of Thursday putting the booth pieces away into long term storage in their dedicated shed.

Hope all is well at the Harlequin , and that the upcoming half term will be busy.

Cheers
Richard