383:, at Garrick's Head and Town Hotel. The acts, which later became a common form of entertainment in London, featured models reenacting a work of art. Nicholson claimed to have been the first person in London to host such an event. The performances were typically scheduled for the early evening, and after performances in the local theatres concluded. At Nicholson's hotel, the models often stood on a revolving stage that overlooked the audience. The stage was illuminated by blue lights, and the room was covered in mirrors. Nicholson stood near the models as they posed and delivered a lecture on art to the audience, most of whom drank and smoked cigars during the performance. He advertised the events as "representing Pictures from the Manchester Art Galleries and scenes from all the Principal Tragedies, Dramas, Operas". The women were purported to be a musical group known as the "Female American Serenaders". Many of the titles of the acts suggested that nudity would be on display, such as "The Sultan's Favourite returning from the bath" or "
308:
57:, who published a competing paper. Nicholson also published other periodicals and several literary works, including an autobiography. After leaving the newspaper industry, Nicholson began operating a hotel. There Nicholson began his Judge and Jury Society performances, which lasted for two decades. These acts mocked and satirised members of London society and the preoccupations of the popular press. Though his acts were derided by some for their crudeness, they were attended by many aristocrats, politicians, and other prominent citizens. He hosted the performances at other venues in London and around England, producing the Judge and Jury Society for almost two decades.
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of the trials satirised and exaggerated the details of well-known divorce cases, and the actors who portrayed the lawyers often mimicked famous lawyers. The testimonies that were delivered during the performances were generally filled with of innuendos and double entendres. The audiences often included well known citizens and occasionally members of
Parliament. The Garrick's Head and Town Hotel charged visitors a one
230:
415:. There he produced one of his most successful events, an 1858 production of a mock trial satirizing the public attention that was given to prostitution. This was a topic that many newspapers were devoting a significant amount of coverage to at that time, and the address given by Nicholson's primary lawyer was later printed and sold well in London. The trial was accompanied by a
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During the performances, Nicholson wore a judge's wig and robe and was referred to as "my lord" by the cast. He sat at a raised desk next to boxes for the prosecutor, witness, and jury. In many instances, men would play the roles of women. The audience sat directly in front of
Nicholson's desk. Many
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form that it took. A writer visiting from France published a critical account of the show, characterising it as a pretentious form of entertainment. It was also criticised by
English social reformers, who characterized the acts as a form of prostitution. After Nicholson moved his events to the Coal
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that was surrounded by a large dancing platform and housed a large orchestra. The facility was surrounded by gardens. Nicholson added refreshment booths and tables so guests could sit and eat at the gardens. While most of the contemporary pleasure gardens were exclusive venues, Nicholson envisioned
89:
to be raised by his two sisters, who ran a school there. They raised him as though he were a child of their own. The income from the school allowed them to live a comfortable lifestyle. He was taught by Henry Butter, a well-respected author who had written a much-read treatise on teaching spelling.
45:
After being orphaned at a young age, Nicholson was raised by his sisters, and became an apprentice to a pawnbroker. He then opened a series of unsuccessful businesses that often catered to the lower classes of London, selling cigars, wine and jewels. These ventures were frequently unsuccessful, and
264:
The hotel was known for the Judge and Jury
Society performances that it hosted. The performances featured Nicholson posing as "The Chief Lord Baron" and holding mock trials. These trials often focused on well-known scandals or controversial issues and were known for humorous repartee, crude jokes,
407:
Nicholson continued to hold events at
Garrick's Head and Town Hotel until 1851. That year, he became engaged in a dispute with the management, and moved back to the Coal Hole tavern. He soon encountered financial difficulties, which prompted him to begin performing and receiving a regular salary
179:, with a series of scathing attacks on Gregory and his paper. Gregory responded by pressing libel charges against Nicholson. The case was not brought to trial due to Gregory's imprisonment on unrelated blackmail charges. Though the feud with Gregory increased the circulation of
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and the Judge and Jury
Society performances. Because of this association, Cremorne Gardens also came to represent sexual immorality. Even after he sold Cremorne Gardens, it retained its reputation, and in London the name "Cremorne" became a general term for sexual excesses.
135:. He frequently gambled at suburban racecourses in the summer. In 1836 he married, and soon became a cigar merchant. The cigar shop featured a back room where patrons could drink liquor and gamble. He soon abandoned this venture to begin selling wine at a new location in
69:. The changes that he made to the pleasure gardens there had a lasting influence on the park's reputation. Though he often encountered financial difficulties, by the time of his death he was known for his frequent acts of generosity to the poor.
64:
performances at his establishments. These acts consisted of barely clothed women posing in imitation of well-known works of art. Nicholson catered beverages to a number of racecourses outside of London. He was briefly the owner of
151:, a new weekly paper in London. First published in June 1837, it featured sensationalism and semi-pornographic content. It frequently covered the scandals of members of London's high society, but also advocated
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district of London. The hotel eventually became a popular location frequented by many London residents, including city clerks and gamblers. It also attracted many tourists who visited London for its nightlife.
299:. At this location, Nicholson began to hold mock parliamentary debates. He also held events in towns outside of London. During the summers, Nicholson served beverages and set up dancing booths at racecourses.
431:. The book covered a variety of events in his life, describing debtors' prisons as well as the Judge and Jury Society. It initially garnered positive reviews from some critics, and was republished in 1965 by
387:". One of the few existing depictions of an event shows two women onstage, unclothed except for a loose skirt below the waist of one, and a sash wrapped between the legs and over the shoulder of the other.
446:. Though he often struggled to stay solvent, Nicholson frequently gave charitably to many poor residents of London. Nicholson died in 1861 while staying at his daughters' house in London. He was buried in
120:
Nicholson soon incurred significant debts. As a result, he was sent to debtors' prison several times. He later claimed to know the city's debtors' prisons better than anyone else. He was sometimes
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Hole tavern, the management officially stopped allowing women into the audience in order to fight this perception. However, some women were still able to gain entry to the events.
411:
Nicholson remained at the Coal Hole tavern until 1858, when he moved to the Cider Cellar on Maiden Lane. At the Cider Cellar, he continued staging the Judge and Jury
Society and
101:. There he continued working as a pawnbroker until 1830. This occupation exposed him to many lower-class residents of London. In the early 1830s he opened a jewellery store on
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to paint large portraits on the side of the building, hoping that they would lure curious pedestrians inside. These portraits depicted showed well-known people, such as
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Nicholson's financial situation soon deteriorated, and he was forced to sell the gardens. By this time
Nicholson was well known for the licentiousness of
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While serving as the editor of the two papers, Nicholson published two books on boxing. Nicholson began publishing a magazine known as
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36:, businessman, actor, and writer. He is best known for his Judge and Jury Society performances and for his ownership of the newspaper
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and the River Thames. Originally an unremarkable location, Nicholson made drastic changes soon after his purchase, including a large
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newspaper. It typically covered scandals in London high society. A public feud later erupted between
Nicholson and another editor,
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183:, the paper's sales diminished after the case was dismissed. The paper soon encountered financial difficulties and closed.
171:. Gregory was notorious for publishing reports of scandals or blackmailing people. He published several articles attacking
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rather than owning and managing a venue. He often gave three performances per night at the Coal Hole tavern.
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202:. Its first issue carried an editorial written by Nicholson under the pseudonym of "Censor", which attacked
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155:. It was often criticised, because it openly discussed subjects that its competitors considered obscene.
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As a child, Nicholson was fascinated by clowns, and often spent time watching them. Nicholson moved to
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were never considered a serious form of art, Nicholson's version has been described as the most
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and biting satire. Frequent subjects featured in the trials included divorces and seductions.
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caused them to frequently patronise jewellers. His business soon failed and he went bankrupt.
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Fantasies of Empire: The Empire
Theatre of Varieties and the Licensing Controversy of 1894
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Late in his life he curtailed some of his activities because of ailments such as
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Nicholson then began spending much of his time gambling in London. He preferred
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In 1843 Nicholson purchased a 12-acre (0.049 km) rural sporting arena in
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33:
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Glances back through seventy years: autobiographical and other reminiscences
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In 1838 Nicholson and Last began publishing a more expensive paper known as
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After a stint in the gambling industry, he began serving as the editor of
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for its immorality. This caused some to believe that the serious tone of
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Paddison, Ronan; Philo, Chris; Routledge, Paul; Sharp, Joanne (2000),
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as a young man, and began working as an apprentice to a pawnbroker.
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Rogue's Progress: The Autobiography of 'Lord Chief Baron' Nicholson
326:, that had opened eleven years earlier. It featured entrances from
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In 1844 the Judge and Jury Society moved to a new location at the
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fee for admittance. Once inside, each guest was given a glass of
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After working in Shadwell for several years, Nicholson moved to
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In 1842 Nicholson opened the Garrick's Head and Town Hotel on
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Entanglements of Power: Geographies of Domination/Resistance
648:
631:
789:; K. D. Reynolds (2004), "Nicholson, Renton (1809–1861)",
85:
as a child. He was orphaned at a young age, and moved to
892:, vol. 1, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,
32:(4 April 1809 – 18 May 1861) was an English
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once described Nicholson's role in the event as a "
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221:in 1843. It released 25 issues before it folded.
147:In 1837 Nicholson began working as the editor of
865:The Victorian nude: sexuality, morality, and art
427:In 1860 Nicholson wrote an autobiography titled
311:’'The Dancing Platform at Cremorne Gardens'’ by
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775:; Bates, William (1871), "'Baron' Nicholson",
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249:After purchasing the hotel, Nicholson hired
22:Portrait of Renton Nicholson as a judge, by
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853:The Drama of Yesterday & To-Day
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261:, attending events at the hotel.
373:In 1846 Nicholson began showing
781:, 4, vol. 7, William Smith
77:Nicholson was born in suburban
335:Cremorne Gardens as a popular
113:customers, whose penchant for
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225:Garrick's Head and Town Hotel
214:ceased publication in 1840.
869:Manchester University Press
46:he often faced insolvency.
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756:Blanchard & Bates 1871
591:Blanchard & Bates 1871
210:was not entirely sincere.
175:. Nicholson retaliated in
73:Childhood and early career
931:English newspaper editors
512:Boase & Reynolds 2004
936:English male journalists
813:University of Iowa Press
803:Donohue, Joseph (2005),
851:Scott, Clement (1899),
797:Oxford University Press
219:Illustrated London Life
115:conspicuous consumption
863:Smith, Alison (1997),
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322:, on the banks of the
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255:The Duke of Wellington
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161:was later targeted by
124:after being released.
60:Nicholson also staged
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946:English sportswriters
423:Later life and family
360:
310:
232:
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649:Paddison et al. 2000
632:Paddison et al. 2000
941:British impresarios
339:for common people.
165:, the publisher of
758:, pp. 286–287
742:The New York Times
739:"A Rogue's Tale".
403:Later performances
371:
316:
235:
153:universal suffrage
27:
899:978-0-415-18434-2
878:978-0-7190-4403-8
844:978-0-415-18434-2
822:978-0-87745-960-6
778:Notes and Queries
773:Blanchard, Edward
452:South West London
448:Brompton Cemetery
251:Archibald Henning
200:Church of England
198:politics and the
24:Archibald Henning
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417:poses plastiques
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385:Cupid and Psyche
375:poses plastiques
363:poses plastiques
352:Poses plastiques
303:Cremorne Gardens
293:Coal Hole Tavern
137:Leicester Square
107:Leicester Square
67:Cremorne Gardens
62:poses plastiques
30:Renton Nicholson
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365:act at the
328:King's Road
79:East London
910:Categories
712:Smith 1997
688:Smith 1997
603:Scott 1899
545:Scott 1899
530:Scott 1899
458:References
239:Bow Street
99:Kensington
34:impresario
857:Macmillan
835:Routledge
367:Coal Hole
212:The Crown
208:The Crown
188:The Crown
133:billiards
111:Demimonde
87:Islington
888:(1893),
396:low brow
344:The Town
282:shilling
274:Falstaff
271:plebeian
204:The Town
192:The Town
181:The Town
177:The Town
173:The Town
159:The Town
149:The Town
129:roulette
122:homeless
92:Shadwell
51:The Town
39:The Town
241:in the
143:Writing
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369:, 1854
332:pagoda
297:Strand
105:near
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442:and
286:grog
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196:Whig
131:and
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