In January1878, the Journal Amusant could not resist having a little fun at the expense of Brighton. Our town was, after all, a serious rival to Le Touquet (or Paris-Plage as the French know it).
First to draw the attention of Mars, the illustrator, was the entertainment on the West Pier.
THE PERFORMING FLEAS ON THE WEST PIER – The caption reads: My poor performing fleas have disappeared! Everyone here! Search yourselves!
All images are from Le Journal Amusant, 3 January 1878. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France
Courtesy of Signor Ubini, performing fleas appeared for many a summer season of the 1870s on the West Pier.
French Brighton 