Joe Smith And His Waxworks

Episodes

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Broadcast
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01The Living Ghosts2015080720220917 (R4)An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life, in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds, and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode we learn of Uncle Joe's skill in crafting and displaying his waxwork figures to advantage. He becomes known to visitors and show folk alike as ‘The Waxy'un'.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Introducing Uncle Joe's skill in crafting and displaying his waxwork figures to advantage.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.

An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life, in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds, and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode we learn of Uncle Joe's skill in crafting and displaying his waxwork figures to advantage. He becomes known to visitors and show folk alike as ‘The Waxy'un'.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Introducing Uncle Joe's skill in crafting and displaying his waxwork figures to advantage.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.

02Duck, Love And Eloquence2015081420220924 (R4)An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode Uncle Joe recruits an odd-job man he finds working with the donkeys on Yarmouth sands, and woos his wife at a country dance.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

A travelling showman's life. Joe recruits an odd-job man and woos his wife at a dance.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.

An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode Uncle Joe recruits an odd-job man he finds working with the donkeys on Yarmouth sands, and woos his wife at a country dance.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

A travelling showman's life. Joe recruits an odd-job man and woos his wife at a dance.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.

03The Waxy-way2015082120221001 (R4)An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life, in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds, and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode we hear Uncle Joe in action as he describes the execution of King Charles I and the love life of Bluff King Hal in his own inimitable way - with very little regard for historical accuracy.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Joe describes the execution of King Charles I, typically not letting truth inhibit drama.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.

An extraordinary account of a showman's life drawn from his memoirs about touring a rough waxworks show around the southern counties of England in the 1840s. Read by Tony Lidington.

Published in 1896, Bill Smith's memoirs recall his early life working for his Uncle Joe, whose touring waxworks show was well-known at country fairs in the south of England in the middle of the 19th century.

It's an extraordinary story of the hardships of an itinerant performer's life, in an age when the great historical characters from kings to vagabonds, and famous scenes from the Bible, literature and fairy tales were brought to the towns and villages of England by the showmen and storytellers of the travelling fairs.

In today's episode we hear Uncle Joe in action as he describes the execution of King Charles I and the love life of Bluff King Hal in his own inimitable way - with very little regard for historical accuracy.

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Joe describes the execution of King Charles I, typically not letting truth inhibit drama.

Short stories about a travelling showman's life in mid-Victorian England.