a newspaper advertisement fawkes show 1724 in boasts of success of performances king , prince george. sketch @ top taken broadside image drawn sutton nichols.
fawkes not first fair conjurer , neither particularly innovative in routines (though did make copious use of invented egg bag), consciously rejecting association of conjuring black magic , mysterious forces , making clear show not designed defraud audience, among first market act fashionable society outside fairs. fawkes eschewed stereotypical voluminous cloak , hat of traditional fair conjurer , instead presented himself in gentrified dress powdered wig , smart suit. act squarely presented entertainment; emphasised skills of dexterity , if did mention dark forces mock of contemporaries claimed connection supernatural. anonymous author of round our coal fire or, christmas entertainments identified key fawkes success:
... mr fawkes, 1 of our modern conjurers, having anointed himself sense of people, became great conjurer amassed several thousand pounds himself.
not convinced of honesty though; in portraits, memoirs, , characters, of remarkable persons of 1819 author , publisher james caulfield sketched fawkes fraudster:
fawkes christian name (if ever had any) has not been handed down posterity, made distinguished figure in reign of george first, and, slight (sic) of hand, , other ingenious devices, contrived ease many fools find, or make, of pence.
fawkes regular @ southwark , bartholomew fairs, gave 6 shows day, rising popularity allowed him establish himself in london outside fair season. in 1723 working long room @ french theatre next opera house, haymarket, gave performance prince , retinue , handsomely rewarded . april 1723 had moved premises in upper moorfields, held performances large booth 3 times day (at three, 5 , 7 o clock). after fair season had booth @ tower hill , december had moved haymarket under same roof john james heidegger s masquerades , handel s operas. allowed operas take precedence , did not perform on tuesdays , saturdays, setting alongside masquerades had established himself @ hub of fashionable london entertainments.
he not embarrassed success; late in 1723 newspaper advertisement appeared boasting of fame , wealth:
the famous mr fawks, modestly styles himself, has since bartholomew , southwark-fairs, put 7 hundred pounds bank...
he challenged of competitors prove deposit similar amount. fawkes made extravagant use of sort of self-promotion through newspapers, journals, broadsheets , playbills; kept public informed not of forthcoming shows of performances rich , famous, successes, , developing career. employed flexible pricing structure entertainments: entrance fees shows varied between sixpence , 2 shillings depending on audience , location.
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