Guignol

Guignol is the comic hero of the French puppet. It corresponds to the German Kasper. His name was on the demonstration locations of the corresponding spectacles on (Le Guignol ), which are sometimes misleadingly referred to as a puppet theater.

The hand puppet Guignol was created 1810-1812 by unemployed workers Laurent Mourguet in Lyon and shall bear his own facial features. Guignols faithful friend is Gnafron (named after Laurent's friend), his adversary the gendarme flageolet.

Lyon was by him to the French capital of the puppet theater.

Quickly found the "phenomenon " Guignol recording in Paris. From 1836 he celebrated in the oldest existing Parisian Guignol theater in the gardens of the Champs- Elysées his first big success. More puppet theater developed also in the Parc des Buttes -Chaumont ( Guignol Anatole since 1892 ) and the Parc Montsouris, in the Jardin du Luxembourg, on the Champ -de- Mars at the Eiffel Tower and in the " Jardin d' Acclimatation " ( Bois de Boulogne ) and in " Parc Floral " ( Bois de Vincennes ). With annually up to 150,000 visitors ( Guignol du Jardin d' Acclimatation ) they are among the most popular destinations of the Paris children and their families.

Guignol and Les Guignols de l' info

Especially abroad, the traditional Guignol is confused with the satirical television program Les Guignols de l' info of the French pay channel Canal . Here is a French pun that translates into German " Political Puppet Theatre " ( political satire ).