Fun (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Fun was a Victorian
weekly magazine
, first published on 21 September 1861. The magazine was founded by the actor and playwright H. J. Byron in competition with Punch
magazine.
Fun was sold for a penny and was sometimes characterised as a 'poor man's Punch. Thackeray
called it "Funch". Fun silenced its critics by publishing lively fare, whereas Punch was criticised as dull and tired. One area in which Fun clearly bested its rival was in its close connection to popular theatre.
Byron and his successor as editor, Tom Hood
, the son of the first Punch contributor, assembled a vivacious, bohemian and progressive staff. Notable contributors included playwrights Tom Robertson
, Hood, Clement Scott
, F. C. Burnand (who defected to Punch in 1862), satirist Ambrose Bierce
, G. R. Sims and especially W. S. Gilbert
, whose Bab Ballads
were almost all published in its pages, among other articles, poems, illustrations and drama criticism over a ten-year period. Cartoonists included Arthur Boyd Houghton
, Matt Morgan
and James Francis Sullivan (1852–1936). The Fun gang frequented the Arundel Club, the Savage Club
, and especially Evans's café, where they had a table in competition with the Punch 'Round table'. Even though Fun was seen as liberal in comparison with the increasingly conservative Punch, it could cast satirical scorn or praise on either side of the political spectrum. For instance, Disraeli, whose unorthodox character and ethnic lineage made him a popular focus of attack, was praised in the magazine, including for his Reform Bill of 1867.
in 1870, who had previously engraved drawings for Punch. Two years later they transferred it to their nephew Gilbert Dalziel (1853–1930). After the death of Hood and the end of contributions from Gilbert by 1874, the quality of the content began a slow decline. During the 1870s, the circulation of Fun is estimated at 20,000, compared to Punchs 40,000. Hood was succeeded as editor by Henry Sampson until 1878, and then the editorship devolved to Charles Dalziel. In 1893, the Dalziels withdrew from the journal.
Fun ceased publication in 1901, when it was absorbed into Sketchy Bits.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
weekly magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, first published on 21 September 1861. The magazine was founded by the actor and playwright H. J. Byron in competition with Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
magazine.
Description
Like Punch, the journal published satiric verse and parodies, as well as political and literary criticism, sports and travel information. These were often illustrated or accompanied by topical cartoons (often of a political nature). The Punch mascot, Mr. Punch and his dog Toby were lampooned by Fun's jester, Mr. Fun, and his cat. The magazine was aimed at a well educated readership interested in politics, literature, and theatre.William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
called it "Funch". Fun silenced its critics by publishing lively fare, whereas Punch was criticised as dull and tired. One area in which Fun clearly bested its rival was in its close connection to popular theatre.
Byron and his successor as editor, Tom Hood
Tom Hood
Tom Hood , was an English humorist and playwright, son of the poet and author Thomas Hood. A prolific author, he was appointed, in 1865, editor of the magazine Fun. He also founded Tom Hood's Comic Annual in 1867....
, the son of the first Punch contributor, assembled a vivacious, bohemian and progressive staff. Notable contributors included playwrights Tom Robertson
Thomas William Robertson
Thomas William Robertson , usually known professionally as T. W. Robertson, was an Anglo-Irish dramatist and innovative stage director best known for a series of realistic or naturalistic plays produced in London in the 1860s that broke new ground and inspired playwrights such as W.S...
, Hood, Clement Scott
Clement Scott
Clement Scott was an influential English theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph, and a playwright and travel writer, in the final decades of the 19th century...
, F. C. Burnand (who defected to Punch in 1862), satirist Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...
, G. R. Sims and especially W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
, whose Bab Ballads
Bab Ballads
The Bab Ballads are a collection of light verse by W. S. Gilbert, illustrated with his own comic drawings. Gilbert wrote the Ballads before he became famous for his comic opera librettos with Arthur Sullivan...
were almost all published in its pages, among other articles, poems, illustrations and drama criticism over a ten-year period. Cartoonists included Arthur Boyd Houghton
Arthur Boyd Houghton
Arthur Boyd Houghton , who usually signed his name A. B. Houghton, was a British painter and illustrator.Born in Kotagiri, Madras, India on 13 March 1836 and died in London on 25 Nov 1875....
, Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan (cartoonist)
Matthew Somerville Morgan 27 April 1839 London - 2 June 1890 New York City was an artist known mainly for his cartoons in various publications.-England:His father was an actor and music teacher; his mother, Mary Somerville, an actress and singer...
and James Francis Sullivan (1852–1936). The Fun gang frequented the Arundel Club, the Savage Club
Savage Club
The Savage Club, founded in 1857 is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:Many and varied are the stories that have been told about the first meeting of the Savage Club, of the precise purposes for which it was formed, and of its christening...
, and especially Evans's café, where they had a table in competition with the Punch 'Round table'. Even though Fun was seen as liberal in comparison with the increasingly conservative Punch, it could cast satirical scorn or praise on either side of the political spectrum. For instance, Disraeli, whose unorthodox character and ethnic lineage made him a popular focus of attack, was praised in the magazine, including for his Reform Bill of 1867.
History
Byron ceded the editorship of the paper to Hood in 1865 and sold Fun to engravers and publishers George and Edward DalzielDalziel Brothers
The Brothers Dalziel were a highly productive firm of Victorian engravers founded in 1839 by George Dalziel and his brother Edward Dalziel . They were later joined by John Dalziel and Thomas Dalziel . All were sons of the artist, Alexander Dalziel of Wooler in Northumberland...
in 1870, who had previously engraved drawings for Punch. Two years later they transferred it to their nephew Gilbert Dalziel (1853–1930). After the death of Hood and the end of contributions from Gilbert by 1874, the quality of the content began a slow decline. During the 1870s, the circulation of Fun is estimated at 20,000, compared to Punchs 40,000. Hood was succeeded as editor by Henry Sampson until 1878, and then the editorship devolved to Charles Dalziel. In 1893, the Dalziels withdrew from the journal.
Fun ceased publication in 1901, when it was absorbed into Sketchy Bits.
External links
- Waterloo Directory
- Fun is online with zoomable page images and searchable text at University of Florida's Comics Digital Collections