In this episode, we explore the life of the man who changed the face of clowning forever - Joseph Grimaldi.
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Sadlers Wells Theatre
,
Roseberry Avenue
,
Clerkenwell
,
London
He Swung Joseph with the Utmost Velocity
Written by
James
Rampton
Performed by
Dame
Joanna
Lumley
Delve Deeper
The Victoria and Albert Museum has many depictions of Grimaldi, including one by Cruickshank and one by Cooper. Project Gutenberg has Charles Dicken’s Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi.
Cruickshank’s illustration of Joseph’s flight into the orchestra pit can be found in the Memoirs (Chapter 1).
About this story
Joseph Grimaldi began his stage career as a child, a sidekick to his father, resident buffoon at the Sadlers Wells Theatre. He came to fame in 1781 when a trick went spectacularly wrong
Theatre Royal
,
Drury Lane
,
London
Make ‘Em Laugh
Written by
James
Rampton
Performed by
Dame
Joanna
Lumley
Delve Deeper
Wikipedia has an article with several pictures of Grimaldi, including him NOT in clown make-up.
About this story
Joseph Grimaldi’s famous tearful clown make-up is the result of his father Giuseppe’s brutal beating during a performance in 1782.
Theatre Royal
,
Drury Lane
,
London
"I make you laugh at night, but I’m Grim-all-day"
Written by
James
Rampton
Performed by
Dame
Joanna
Lumley
Delve Deeper
The Londonist has an article about Holy Trinity Church, Dalston, Hackney, which includes photos of the church’s Grimaldi glass window, and the clown museum there, including a picture of some of its collection of clown eggs (you’ll have to read it).
Joseph was buried in a St James’s Chapel churchyard, Pentonville, London. The chapel no longer exists, but the burial ground has been made into a park, The Joseph Grimaldi Park. Here you can see his actual grave, and also ‘dance on his (not actual) grave’ – a coffin shaped object with musical tiles tuned so that you can recreate Grimaldi’s famous song: ‘Hot Coddlins.’
Andrew Whitehead’s blog has photos of the site, and a short video of the ‘grave’ playing notes.
YouTube has several versions of the song Hot Codlins, including this one by The Grimaldi Band, which has the lyrics on screen (a snippet is featured in the episode).
About this story
The sad, painful ending in 1837 of the life of Joseph Grimaldi, creator of the ‘modern’ clown.
