Editing Le Pétomane

{{short description|French entertainer}}
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| image         = LePetomane.jpeg
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| birth_name    = Joseph Pujol
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1857|6|1}}
| birth_place   = [[Marseille]], France
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1945|8|8|1857|6|1}}
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[[File:Le pétomane du Moulin Rouge (1900).webm|thumb|''Le Pétomane du Moulin Rouge'', 1900 ([[silent film]] clip)]]
'''Joseph Pujol''' (June 1, 1857 – August 8, 1945), better known by his [[stage name]] '''Le Pétomane''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|ɛ|t|ə|m|eɪ|n}},<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nohain |first=Jean |title=Le Petomane, 1857-1945 |last2=Caradec |first2=Francois |publisher=Sherbourne Press |year=1968 |location=Los Angeles |translator-last=Tute |translator-first=Warren}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|ləpetɔman}}), was a French [[flatulist]] (professional fartist) and entertainer. He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to seemingly [[flatulence|fart]] at will.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2021-02-07 |title=Classical gas: Galton & Simpson's Le Pétomane - Comedy Chronicles |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/classical-gas-galton-simpson-le-petomane/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref> His stage name combines the French verb ''péter'', "to fart" with the -''mane'', "-[[mania]]c" suffix, which translates to "fartomaniac".  The profession is referred to as "flatulist", "farteur", or "fartiste".<ref name=retro>{{cite web|url=http://www.ljhelms.com/pet/_pujol/thestory/retro.htm|title=Le Pétomane: The Strange Life of a "Fartiste"|access-date=2012-02-02}}</ref>

It was a common misconception that Pujol passed intestinal gas as part of his stage performance. Rather, he was allegedly able to "inhale" or move air into his rectum and then control the release of that air with his [[external anal sphincter|anal sphincter]] muscles.  Evidence of his ability to control those muscles was seen in the early accounts of demonstrations of his abilities to fellow soldiers.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Alison|last=Moore|title=The Spectacular Anus of Joseph Pujol: Recovering the Pétomane's Unique Historic Context|journal=[[French Cultural Studies]]|volume=24|issue=1|date=February 2013|pages=27–43|doi=10.1177/0957155812466975|s2cid=193095075}}</ref>

==Early life, family and education==

Joseph Pujol was born in [[Marseille]], one of five children of stonemason and sculptor François Pujol and his wife Rose, in a family of [[Catalan people|Catalan]] origin. Soon after Joseph left school, he had a strange experience while swimming in the sea. He put his head under the water and held his breath, whereupon he felt an icy cold penetrating his rear.<ref name="2008 Guardian">{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/23/edinburghfestival.comedy|title=The ace of trumps|last=Kelner|first=Martin|date=23 Jul 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317235233/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/23/edinburghfestival.comedy|archive-date=17 March 2022}}</ref> He ran ashore in fright and was amazed to sense water pouring from his anus.

While serving in the army, he told his fellow soldiers about his special ability, and repeated it for their amusement, sucking up water from a pan into his rectum and then projecting it up to several yards. He found that he could suck in air as well. 

==Career==
Pujol trained as a baker. He would sometimes entertain his customers by imitating musical instruments and claiming to be playing them behind the counter. Pujol decided to try the stage, and debuted in Marseilles in 1887. When his act was well received, he moved to [[Paris]], where he appeared at the [[Moulin Rouge]] in 1892.<ref name=":0" />

Some of the highlights of his stage act involved sound effects of cannon fire and thunderstorms, as well as playing "[['O Sole Mio]]" and "[[La Marseillaise]]" on an [[ocarina]] through a rubber tube in his anus.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/363/did-a-french-vaudeville-star-once-specialize-in-trained-flatulence | title= Did a French vaudeville star once specialize in trained flatulence?| website= straightdope.com | first= Cecil |  last= Adams| publisher =| accessdate= 2008-12-02}}</ref> He could also blow out a candle from several yards away.<ref name=retro /> His audience included [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward, Prince of Wales]], [[Leopold II of Belgium|King Leopold II]] of the [[Belgium|Belgians]], and [[Sigmund Freud]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s364725.htm | title= Begone With the Wind| website= abc.net.au|  accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref>

In 1894, the managers of the Moulin Rouge sued Pujol for an impromptu exhibition he gave to aid a friend struggling with economic difficulties. Pujol was fined 3,000 francs (equivalent to Ff{{Formatnum:{{inflation|FR|30|1894|2022|r=-2}}}} in 2022). The Moulin Rouge lost their star attraction, as the disagreement led him to set up his own travelling show, the Theatre Pompadour.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | last = Moore| first= A. | year= 2013| title= The spectacular anus of Joseph Pujol: Recovering the Pétomane’s unique historic context| journal= [[French Cultural Studies]]| volume= 24| number= 1 |pages= 27–43| doi= 10.1177/0957155812466975}}</ref>

In the following decade Pujol tried to 'refine' and make his acts 'gentler'; one of his favourite numbers became a rhyme about a farm which he himself composed, and which he punctuated with anal renditions of the animals' sounds.<ref name=":0" />

With the outbreak of [[World War I]], Pujol retired from the stage and returned to his bakery in Marseilles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rivierareporter.com/features/833-le-petomane-the-mad-farter-joseph-pujol|title=Le Pétomane, The Mad Farter: Joseph Pujol | website= Riviera Reporter |language=en-gb|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref>  Later, he opened a biscuit factory in [[Toulon]]. 

==Personal life and demise==
Pujol died in 1945,<ref>One source says his death occurred "shortly after the Allied landing", presumably a reference to [[D-Day]], 6 June, but that was in 1944.</ref> aged 88. He was buried in the cemetery of [[La Valette-du-Var]], where his grave can still be seen.

==Legacy==

Le Pétomane left an enduring legacy and has inspired a number of artistic works. These include several musicals based on his life, such as ''The Fartiste'' (awarded Best Musical at the 2006 [[New York International Fringe Festival]]) and Seth Rozin's ''A Passing Wind'' which was premiered at the [[Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts|Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts]] in 2011. In addition, Le Pétomane was added to David Lee's 2007 reworked revival of the 1953 Broadway play ''[[Can-Can (musical)|Can-Can]]'', which had originally been written by Abe Burroughs and [[Cole Porter]]. The updated play, staged at the [[Pasadena Playhouse]], featured musical theatre actor Robert Yacko as the fartiste, with sound effects provided by the band's trombone and piccolo players.{{citation needed|date = October 2014}}

[[File:Joseph Pujol (Le Petomane) at concert.jpeg|left|thumb|Le Pétomane ''ca.'' 1890]]

The character has been portrayed several times in film. In 1979 [[Ian MacNaughton]] made ''[[Le Pétomane (film)|Le Pétomane]]'', a short humorous film. Written by [[Galton and Simpson]], it was based on Joseph Pujol's story and stars veteran comic actor [[Leonard Rossiter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/Le-Petomane_1979/| title=Le Petomane (1979)| work=Britmovie.co.uk|publisher= |access-date= 2009-01-05|url-status= dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203014504/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/Le-Petomane_1979| archive-date= 2010-12-03}}</ref> The 1983 Italian movie ''[[Petomaniac|Il Petomane]]'', directed by [[Pasquale Festa Campanile]] and starring [[Ugo Tognazzi]], gives a poetic rendition of the character, contrasting his deep longing for normality with the condition of 'freak' to which his act relegated him. The 1998 documentary ''Le Pétomane'' by [[Igor Vamos]] examines Pujol's place in history through archival films (none of which actually include him), historical documents, photographs, recreations and fake or tongue-in-cheek interviews.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_13/13_lepetomaine.asp?IshNum=13&Headline=Le%20Petomane|title=Le Petomane: Fin de Siècle Fartiste (Igor Vamos, 2000)|last=White|first= Mike |publisher= Cahiers du Cinémart |website= impossiblefunky.com |access-date= 2009-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716052020/http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_13/13_lepetomaine.asp?IshNum=13&Headline=Le%20Petomane|archive-date=2011-07-16| url-status= dead}}</ref>

Le Pétomane is referenced in ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'', a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by [[Mel Brooks]].  Brooks appears in multiple supporting roles, including the dim-witted Governor William J. Le Petomane, whose name suggests he is full of hot air.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brain-sharper.com/entertainment/blazing-saddles-tb/34/|title = 'Blazing Saddles' Producers Hid These Facts from the Public| date = 16 September 2019| website = brain-sharper.com| publisher = | accessdate = }}</ref>

''Le Petoman'' (without the {{em|e}}, because English-speaking audiences will pronounce {{nowrap|{{ndash}}mane}} differently from {{nowrap|{{ndash}}man}}) was adapted for the theatre in 2001 by Tony Stowers, from the book ''Le Petomane 1857–1945'' by J. Nohain & F. Caradec. It was declined by [[Hull Truck Theatre|Hull Truck]], [[Salisbury Playhouse]] and the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] in the UK on the grounds that they felt their audiences would be 'too sophisticated' for the subject matter. It was read in English in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] in 2005, in Paris in 2010, and in [[Nantes]] (in French); in June 2023 he finally made it to the stage with amateur actors.

==See also==
* [[Flatulence humor]]
* [[Mr. Methane]]
* [[Roland the Farter]]
* [[Toilet humour]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Moore, Alison (February 2013) "The Spectacular Anus of Joseph Pujol: Recovering the Pétomane's Unique Historic Context" ''French Cultural Studies'' v.24, n.1, pp.&nbsp;27–43.
* Nohain, Jean and Caradec, F. (1993) [1967] ''Le Pétomane 1857–1945: A  Tribute to the Unique Act Which Shook and Shattered the Moulin Rouge''. Translated by Warren Tute. New York: Dorset Press {{ISBN|9781566193740}}; originally published by Sherbourne Press.

==External links==
* {{YouTube|tixKopGjn5s|1903 recording by "Mr Lefires", a Pujol imitator }}
* {{IMDb name|700254|Joseph Pujol}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petomane, Le}}
[[Category:1857 births]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century French people]]
[[Category:20th-century French people]]
[[Category:French male entertainers]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Marseille]]
[[Category:Flatulists]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]