Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837) was an English actor, comedian, dancer,
and the Regency era's most successful entertainer. He popularised and
expanded the role of "Clown" in the harlequinade that formed a part of
British pantomimes during the 1800s, and became a key pantomime
performer at the Drury Lane, Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden theatres.
While a boy, he appeared on stage at Drury Lane as "Little Clown" in the
pantomime The Triumph of Mirth; or, Harlequin's Wedding. Other
successful roles at the theatre followed, but he left in 1806 to take up
theatrical residencies at the Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells theatres.
As he matured, he began performing as Clown, for which character he
created the whiteface make-up design still used in pantomime and by many
other clowns today. The numerous injuries he received as a result of his
energetic performances eventually led to a decline in his health and to
his semi-retirement in 1823. Living in obscurity during his final years,
he became an impoverished alcoholic. Grimaldi died at home in Islington,
aged 59, having outlived his wife and his actor son Joseph Samuel.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Grimaldi>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1892:
The first performance of the fairy tale-ballet The Nutcracker
was held at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker>
1916:
The French defeated German forces around the city of Verdun-
sur-Meuse in northeast France, ending the longest battle and one of the
bloodiest in World War I.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun>
1958:
The United States launched SCORE, the world's first
communications satellite.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_(satellite)>
1966:
Epimetheus, one of the moons of Saturn, was discovered, but was
mistaken as Janus. It took twelve years to determine that they are two
distinct objects sharing the same orbit.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimetheus_(moon)>
2010:
The Tunisian Revolution began, and what was initially a series
of protests with a set of demands evolved into nationwide demonstrations
that eventually toppled the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after
nearly 23 years of rule.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_Revolution>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
pergola:
A framework in the form of a passageway of columns that supports a
trelliswork roof; used to support and train climbing plants.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pergola>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The main thing now is not to paint precociously but to be, or at
least become, an individual. The art of mastering life is the
prerequisite for all further forms of expression, whether they are
paintings, sculptures, tragedies, or musical compositions.
--Paul Klee
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Klee>