A History of the Punch and Judy Show by Judith Lile. Photos by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed The character of “ Punch” made his earliest appearance in the 14 th century in Italy, in the Commedia del’Arte dramas, when he was Pulcinella. Later, in France in the 16 th century, he became Polichinelle, the “hunchbacked fool of French farce, ” and, in 17 th century diaries and …