Isaac Fawkes
The first record of Fawkes was an appearance by his son at Southwark Fair in 1722, but an advertisement of April of the same year boasted that he had performed for George II, so it is likely that he was well known in London before this time.
He was one of the earliest magicians to present conjuring as an entertainment outside of the traditional fairground setting and by skilful promotion and management of his act he was able to amass both fame and a considerable fortune.
Fawkes eschewed the stereotypical voluminous cloak and hat of the traditional fair conjurer and instead presented himself in gentrified dress with a powdered wig and smart suit.
His act was squarely presented as entertainment; he emphasised his skills of dexterity and if he did mention the dark forces it was only to mock those of his contemporaries that claimed a connection with the supernatural.
Early in 1723 he was working from the Long Room at the French Theatre next to the Opera House, Haymarket, where he gave a performance to the Prince and his retinue and was "handsomely rewarded".
After the fair season he had a booth at Tower Hill and by December he had moved back to the Haymarket under the same roof as John James Heidegger's masquerades and Handel's operas.
[10] He allowed the operas to take precedence and did not perform on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but by setting up alongside the masquerades he had established himself at the hub of the fashionable London entertainments.
He was not embarrassed by his success; late in 1723 a newspaper advertisement appeared boasting of his fame and wealth: The famous Mr Fawks, as he modestly styles himself, has since Bartholomew and Southwark-Fairs, put seven hundred Pounds into the Bank...
Fawkes made extravagant use of this sort of self-promotion through newspapers, journals, broadsheets and playbills; he kept the public informed not only of his forthcoming shows but also of his performances for the rich and famous, his successes, and his developing career.
[11] He also employed a flexible pricing structure for his entertainments: the entrance fees for his shows varied between sixpence and two shillings depending on the audience and the location.
By the time it appeared he had made enough money to no longer need to rely on the income from performing and in February 1724 had announced in the London Evening Post that he would retire at the end of that year's fair season.
[1] The earliest record of Pinchbeck's work appearing in Fawkes show is from a 1727 advertisement for the "Temple of Arts": ... with two moving pictures, the first being a Consort of Musick performed by several figures playing on various instruments with the greatest Harmoney and truth of time, the other giving a curious prospect of the City and Bay of Gibraltor, with ships of war and transports in their proper motions, as tho' in real action; likewise the Spanish troops marching thro' Old Gibraltor.
[1] Then Ralph upon Dobbin and Joan upon Ball,Jog away to the Fair both the Great and the Small;But be sure don't forget this strange Man to behold,Who turns Cards into Mice, and from nothing makes Gold.
His relation with Pinchbeck did not stop him exploiting opportunities in the market when he got the chance; Mist's Weekly Journal reported on 1 June 1728 that: Some considerable Persons, who are reputed Artists in Legerdemain, are preparing to go into the Country for the Vacation; on the contrary Mr Fawkes is just arrived in Town to play his juggling Tricks in their Absence, expecting to have all the Practice to himself.
His Puppet Show, with the Comical Humours of Punch and his wife Joan: Like-wise a Court of the richest and largest Figures ever shown in England, being as big as Men and Women.
