Joe Miller (actor) facts for kids
Joseph Miller (born 1684, died 1738) was a famous English actor. He is best known today not for his acting, but for a popular joke book published after he died. This book, called Joe Miller's Jests, made his name famous for jokes, even though he didn't write them himself!
Contents
Joseph Miller: The Actor
His Early Career
Joseph Miller began his acting career in 1709. His first known role was as Teague in a play called Committee. He performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, which was a very important theatre in London.
He became well-known for many different parts. Some of his favorite roles included Trinculo in The Tempest and the First Grave-digger in Hamlet. He also played Marplot in The Busybody. People believed he was friends with the famous artist William Hogarth.
Performances and Benefits
In 1715, Joseph Miller appeared in a play called The Constant Couple. He played the character Young Clincher. Two years later, in 1717, he performed in William Congreve's "Old Batchelor".
For this show, the tickets had a special design. William Hogarth created the picture for these tickets. It showed a funny scene from the play. These special tickets were even used again for Joseph Miller's own benefit performance in 1738. A benefit performance was a show where the money earned went to a specific actor.
When the Drury Lane theatre was closed, Joseph Miller still performed. He joined William Pinkethman's acting group during these breaks.
The "Joe Miller" Joke
Joseph Miller often visited a tavern called "Black Jack" in London. This place was popular with actors from Drury Lane. People said that Joseph Miller was very serious when he was at the tavern.
Because he was so serious, his friends started a funny inside joke. They would pretend that any new joke they heard was actually told by Joseph Miller. This is how his name became linked to jokes, even though he wasn't known for telling them himself!
His Final Days
Joseph Miller's last performance on stage was on April 13, 1738. He passed away a few months later, on August 15, 1738. He was buried at St Clement Danes churchyard in London. Sadly, his grave was later covered when King's College Hospital was built.
Joe Miller's Jests: The Famous Joke Book
How the Book Started
After Joseph Miller died, a writer named John Mottley created a book. It was called Joe Miller's Jests, or the Wit's Vade-Mecum. This book came out in 1739 and cost one shilling. Mottley used a fake name, Elijah Jenkins Esq., for the book.
The book was a collection of jokes from that time and even older ones. It had 247 numbered jokes in its first edition. Only three of these jokes were actually about Joseph Miller himself! The book was very popular and had three new printings in its first year.
The Legacy of "Joe Miller"
Because the first book was so popular, many other joke books used Joseph Miller's name. They had titles like "Joe Miller's Joke Book" or "The New Joe Miller". Joke books were common back then. People would learn a few jokes to tell at parties.
Over time, the jokes in Mottley's book were not always the best quality. More jokes were added in later editions. This led to a new saying: if a joke was old or not very funny, people would call it "a Joe Miller". It became a way to describe any old, well-known joke.
Examples of Jokes
Here are two examples of jokes from the original Joe Miller's Jests:
Joke 99:
A Lady's Age happening to be questioned, she affirmed she was but Forty, and called upon a Gentleman that was in Company for his Opinion; Cousin, said she, do you believe I am in the Right, when I say I am but Forty? I ought not to dispute it, Madam, reply'd he, for I have heard you say so these ten Years.
Joke 234:
A famous teacher of Arithmetick, who had long been married without being able to get his Wife with Child. One said to her 'Madam, your Husband is an excellent Arithmetician'. 'Yes, replies she, only he can't multiply.'
