Billy Purvis (1853)

Not to be confused with William Purvis (Blind Willie).

Billy Purvis (1784–1853) was a British entertainer and showman.

Early life

Purvis was born in Auchindinny, Scotland on 13 January 1784, with his family moving to The Close in Newcastle in 1786. He was apprenticed to a joiner, and there impressed his coworkers with feats of dexterity, before becoming a drummer for the Newcastle Theatre and later the Newcastle Volunteers.[1]

Stage career

Purvis then became an assistant carpenter for the theatre, as well as an amateur company actor. He also appeared at public events as a dancingmaster, conjuror, piper, play-actor, and showman.

On one occasion, during the Whitsuntide holidays, when the South Shieds magistrates gave him license to erect his theatre "if he would not annoy the residents in the market place with his din," he assured them, with his ready wit, that "the only noise that was made was caused by the audience applauding him—which they could not help."[1]

References

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