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| Click image to enlarge Punch and Judy at the Seaside, Llandudno R. Barnes for the "Graphic" Britain, 1886 The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild Collection at The Victoria & Albert Museum |
This 1886 print by R. Barned depicts a seaside crowd watching a Punch & Judy show. By the Nineteenth Century, Mr. Punch and friends were one of the most popular forms of seaside entertainment. This print is housed in the V&A’s British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild Collection and was originally published in the “Graphic Magazine,” on September 10, 1886.The show seen here takes place at Llandudno and the “Professor” depicted is Richard Codman.
Richard Codman began performing his famous Punch & Judy Show in 1850 and quickly became a main attraction at the seafront at Llandudno. Richard was the first “Professor” in the celebrated Codman Family, passing the tradition on to his son. Now, the sixth generation of Codmans is still performing regularly in the same spot in Llandudno.
Check back later for a “Friday Fun” video of the current generation of the Codman family performing with Mr. Punch and his puppet kin.
