Mr. Jacobs, `Royal Ventriloquist and Modern Magician, and Wizard of All Wizards'; `The Great Mysteriarchist of the Nineteenth Century', at the New Strand Theatre, Feb 21st 1842
A new divertisement in
VENTRILOQUISM,
Entitled--- ALDERMAN GOBBLE AND HIS CURIOUS FAMILY
In which Mr JACOBS will imitate the extraordinary number of TWELVE PERSONS

This singular gift, since the days of Mons. Alexandre, has not been heard to the same perfection, until Mr. JACOBS made his appearance; so correct are his delineations of the various characters that many find it extremely difficult to believe that one person can be capable of performing the whole of the voices heard in the different dialogues. By the Press and the Public at large his powers of Ventriloquism have been the theme of great praise, and the opportunity of witnessing this extraordinary gift, should not be lost sight of.
 
 

ALDERMAN GOBBLE, a sleepy old gentleman, troubled with a cough, and consequently can't sing to amuse the company............ ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
Mrs. ALDERMAN GOBBLE, an interesting lady, but rather anti-loquacious........................................................................... ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
Master PEEVISH GOBBLE Jun., son of the Alderman, an aspiring young man in the garret, and likely to remain in consequence of the stairs undergoing repair.................................. ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
Master MISCELLANEOUS, a promiscuous character, capable of changing his position at pleasure, first cousin to Will-o-the-Wisp... ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
Mr. BOUNCEABOUT, an insolent fellow, who persists in being admitted to the entertainment, but refused in consequence of having no ticket........................................................................... ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
PETER MIXEM, butler to Alderman Gobble, rather fond of mixing wine with his ideas............................................................ ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
Master LILIPUT, still a child, not to be seen because hidden under the table............................................................................. ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
CHIMNEY-POT TOM, an elevated character, not to be seen by the audience, in consequence of being intercepted by bricks and mortar......................................................................................... ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
DICK DIRTY-FACE, his man, who makes a long journey to inform the company that his master is above descending at that time of night................................................................................ ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
JIM CROW, a very popular character, just arrived from America, and very fond of hearing himself sing......................................... ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
BILL BOTHERALL, an omnibus driver, also troubled with a cold, caught through sleeping on his box with one eye open, that he might the better look out for passengers, and on a visit to Durham for the sake of his health................................................. ............................Mr. JACOBS! 
 

BL: Carr-Glyn Collection of Playbills, Playbills 362, no. 116
 

Compiled by Steven Connor as part of The Dumbstruck Archive, a continuing, online supplement to Dumbstruck: A Cultural History of Ventriloquism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000).