Celebrity for the week ending
Saturday, 3 June 2006

The Pinauds (fl. 1880s/1890s)
otherwise known as The Phoite-Pinauds - 'The Funtastic Pinauds'
eccentric comedians, dancers and musical grotesques

The Pinauds

top to bottom: Charles Phoite Pinaud, T. Reed Pinaud and D. Jillson Pinaud

(lithograph printed by Crockett, Glasgow, circa 1890)

According to Michael Kilgarriff, The Three Pinauds was established in 1874 by Charles Phoite-Pinaud (Charles E. Hunt, c. 1846-1906), Robert D. Phoite (later known as Robert D. Girard), and Joseph O. Phoite. Robert left the act 1876 to be replaced by John Welch. In 1880 Charles and an act called Jillson & Reed (D. Jillson; T. Reed who died on 10 February 1925) joined forces to form the Phoites, otherwise known as the Phoite-Pinauds. Like many other variety theatre / music hall acts, the Pinauds appeared internationally; for most of the period from December 1885 to early 1888, for instance, they were in the United Kingdom, with long engagements in London, appearing at the London Pavilion, the Oxford, the Royal Cambridge and other music halls, before leaving for Berlin, and in 1889 and 1890 they were performing with Herrmann's Transatlantique Vaudeville Company in the United States. * * * * * * * * 'One of the funniest of their droll scenes is the mock bull-fight. The entire business is accomplished by the three artists, and nothing could possibly be more laughable. The . . . bull, with his fierce horns, is, of course, represented in pantomimic fashion. The very tail of the bull if funny, and his grotesque dance when he has driven his assailants away, evokes a shriek of delight from the audience. The Pinauds have remarkable musical gifts also, and to hear their version of "The Carnival of Venice" is a real treat. It is eccentric to the last degree.' (The Era, London, Saturday, 3 January 1885) * * * * * * * * London Pavilion music hall, Piccadilly Circus, London, Tuesday, 29 December 1885. 'On Tuesday the building was crammed, but most of the items in the programmer were received with chilling indifference. Mr. Fred Albert, with his topical patter; Mr. G.H. Macdermott, with his Jingo sentiments and his abuse of Mr. Gladstone - this year more offensive than ever; Lieutenant Cole, with his puppets; and Mr. G.W. Hunter, with his stale imitations of other music-hall stars - all these, and others, came and did their turns with very poor encouragement in the shape of applause. On the other hand, the Pindauds, whose entertainment is grotesque even to weirdness, Wainratta on the wire, and the Chiesi Troupe excite some interest. It is a question whether entertainments of a higher class would not give more satisfaction; but so long as the money-taker has plenty to do it can scarcely be expected that the proprietor will see the necessity for a change.' (The Weekly Dispatch, London, Sunday, 3 January 1886, p.6d) * * * * * * * * 'Married, Sunday, March 7 [1886], by the Rev. W. Bevis, at the church of St. Thomas, Westminster Bridge Road, Lambert, Mr. T. Reed Pinaud, of the celebrated Pinauds, and Miss Florrie Robina. Both are well-known artists. Many friends assembled at the wedding. Among these were Miss Fanny Robina [Mrs Frederick Stanislaus], sister of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Jillson Pinaud, Mr. E.J. Lamey, Mr. F. Stanislaus, and Mr. Charles Phoite Pinaud. After the ceremony, the party returned to the house of the bride and bridegroom, where they made merry; Mr. F. Stanislaus, musical director of the Empire Theatre, played "The Wedding March" and other selections. Mrs. Reed will retire from the stage for the present.' (The Entr'acte, London, Saturday, 13 March 1886, p.12b) * * * * * * * * 'The oddities of the Pinauds, their funny instruments, their still funnier antics, their many ingenious devices are all pressed into the service of laughter. They speak not, neither do they sing; their fun is in their faces, [and in their] hands, even in their feet. From head to foot they actively promote mirth, and stand deservedly high in the estimation of a public, who feel that they are quire sure of a hearty laugh whenever these expressive drolls come on the stage. They talk in that universal language - that of the features and human nature all the world over can laugh at their pantomimic and musical whimsicalities.' (The Era, London, Saturday, 26 January 1889) * * * * * * * * 'The marvelous Pinauds, musical pantomimists from the Alhambra, London, England, are with Prof. Herrmann's Transatlantique Vaudevilles, which appear at the Grand Opera House next Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29.' (Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur, Illinois, Thursday, 27 March 1890, p.3b) 'A Great Hall Show. 'The management of the Opera House take pleasure in announcing the appearance of Prof. Herrmann's Transatlantique Vaudeville company, which will begin a short engagement in this city to-night. This organization since its opening in New York city in August has achieved a success that has proved almost fabulous, and a single instance may be quoted in their two weeks' business in Chicago, where the receipts reached nearly $22,000. . . . '. . . last but not least, come the marvellous Pinauds. They make music out of everything, from a train of cars to a German pipe and change their costumes at least eight times during the short duration of their acts. Taking it all and all, Herrmann's Grand European Vaudeville Company ought to be a "feast for the eye and ear." The entertainment is said to be clean and wholesome throughout.' (Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur, Illinois, Friday, 28 March 1890, p.1c) * * * * * * * *

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© John Culme, 2006