Over a decade ago when I published A Timber Idol: Mr Punch in Scotland, one of the performers I was interested in was David Prince Miller. Miller was a 19th-centur y showman, who performed at fairs, races, halls, theatres and private houses. He toured throughout the UK, but spent a great deal of time in Scotland. He is particularly connected to the glory days of Glasgow Fair, when it was located at the foot of Saltmarket.
Miller’s many skills included conjuring, theatrical management, marionettes and Punch and Judy. He also had an ability with the written word, which helped when he provided material for Henry Mayhew, who incorporated it within London Labour and the London Poor. In 1842, John Henry Alexander, holder of the theatrical patent for Glasgow, took legal action against several showmen who he accused of infringing his patent. The other showmen paid costs to Alexander, but Miller contested the case. This resulted in Miller spending thirteen weeks in jail, and declaring bankruptcy. While in jail, Miller wrote his memoir, Life of Miller the Showman, which was published in twelve weekly parts. Later, in 1849, and c.1856, revised versions were published in book form. These have been out of print for over 150 years, and rarely turn up in the antiquarian book market. When a copy becomes available, it tends to be expensive, sometimes fetching £1,000 or more.
Miller’s writings should appeal to anyone with an interest in 19th-centur y theatricals, fairgrounds and social history. I felt it was the right time for Miller’s writings to be made available to a wider audience. With this in mind, I have lightly edited the second edition of Miller’s book, and added an extensive essay, Walk up, only a penny, which considers aspects of Miller’s life and career not fully covered in his own writings. This essay extends to some 100 pages, and covers a range of topics, including his early family life, travelling between fairs as a showman, the birth of his children, first appearance in Glasgow, legal action against him, imprisonment, bankruptcies and the building and running of wooden theatres in Glasgow, Coatbridge and Dumbarton. Consideration is given to his skills as a conjurer and puppet showman, and to his writings.