Chung Ling Soo

Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918), born William Ellsworth Robinson, died on the stage of London’s Wood Green Empire when his bullet catch routine went wrong.

During his early career, William Ellsworth Robinson called himself “Robinson, the Man of Mystery”. To increase his allure with a touch of exoticism, he changed his name to Chung Ling Soo and took his show to Europe. He took the name as a variation of a real Chinese stage magician, Ching Ling Foo, and performed many of the tricks that Foo had made famous.

Chung Ling Soo maintained his role as a Chinese man scrupulously. He never spoke onstage and always used an interpreter when he spoke to journalists. Only his friends and other stage magicians knew the truth.

See more about Chung Ling Soo on MagicPedia.

Clarke “The Senator” Crandall

Clarke “The Senator” Crandall (1907-1975) was an American comedy magician and magic dealer. He developed funny routines for such effects as the Card Duck and the Cups and Balls.

He was the original grumpy old man, but his witty sarcasm was accepted and expected by all.

Crandall was a host at the Hollywood Magic Castle for many years, introducing the acts and fending off people who were improperly attired (there is a strict dress code).

See more about Clarke “The Senator” Crandall on MagicPedia.

 

 

John & Loretta Cooper

George Cook

George Cook (1903-2002) served as National Secretary for the SAM and as president of Parent Assembly #1 in New York City for many years starting in then 1960s.

He traveled the world doing magic performances and did shows on cruise ships for 15 consecutive years with his wife Dot (d. 1981). Cook billed himself Whitestone the Magician as a gag when he lived in Whitestone, New York.

Cook worked owned a radio station, WEVD, in New York City as a young man and took up ham radio, helping British sailors make contact with their families during World War II.

Cook invented “On Target” which later became known as “Sidekick”.

See more about George Cook on MagicPedia.

Don Connelly

Don Connelly (1912-2004) was a founding member and served as president of Utica-Rome IBM Ring No. 101, which would become known as the “Don Connelly Ring.”

Connelly served four years as a combat medic in World War II and awarded two Bronze Stars. While recovering from the severe wounds received in the war, he discovered that magic manipulation helped and threw himself into the study of magic. Upon recovery he toured with the USO for many years. In the late 1940′s and early 1950′s he played in the remnants of vaudeville and worked nightclubs. His wife Mildred “Molly” Steele (d. 2000) developed her own act as “Molly Rembrant”, that complimented his magic, drawing pictures with colored sand. 

He eventually settled in Central New York and helped start an I.B.M. ring there. Connelly would serve for nine years on the Board of Trustees of the I.B.M. and as the Chairman of the Sick and Convalescent Committee for 26 years. 

See more about Don Connelly on MagicPedia. 

Don Connelly

Don Connelly (1912-2004) was a founding member and served as president of Utica-Rome IBM Ring No. 101, which would become known as the “Don Connelly Ring.”

Connelly served four years as a combat medic in World War II and awarded two Bronze Stars. While recovering from the severe wounds received in the war, he discovered that magic manipulation helped and threw himself into the study of magic. Upon recovery he toured with the USO for many years. In the late 1940′s and early 1950′s he played in the remnants of vaudeville and worked nightclubs. His wife Mildred “Molly” Steele (d. 2000) developed her own act as “Molly Rembrant”, that complimented his magic, drawing pictures with colored sand.

He eventually settled in Central New York and helped start an I.B.M. ring there. Connelly would serve for nine years on the Board of Trustees of the I.B.M. and as the Chairman of the Sick and Convalescent Committee for 26 years.

See more about Don Connelly on MagicPedia.

The Conjurer

Charles Carter – Century of Progress

Charles Carter (1874–1936), who began his career as a journalist and lawyer, was an American stage magician who performed as “Carter the Great.”

His first theatrical experience occurred at the Herzog’s museum and Pat Harris’ Masonic Temple in Baltimore at the age of 10, where he appeared as “Master Charles Carter the Original Boy Magician”

Due to stiff competition from the number of magic acts on the American stages at the time, Carter opted to pursue his career abroad, where he achieved his greatest fame.

Among the highlights of Carter’s stage performances were the classic “sawing a woman in half” illusion (an elaborate surgical-themed version with “nurses” in attendance), making a live elephant disappear and “cheating the gallows”, where a shrouded Carter would vanish, just as he dropped at the end of a hangman’s noose.

A fictionalized account of his life can be found in Carter Beats the Devil  by Glen David Gold (2001).

See more about Charles Carter on MagicPedia.

Card Players – Old Masters

Card Players – Dogs

Card Players

Ross Conyears

Ross Canyears aka “Alexander Ross”
1856 – 1901
Scottish drawing room conjurer.
For more detail:  Stanyon’s Magic Vol. 1, No. 11 August 1901

Thank you to Chris Brinson for identifying and
providing additional information for this card.

Ross Conyears (1856-1901),Wizard of the Drawing-room, was Alexander Ross

Taking up magic in 1889, his first teacher was Ellis Stanyon. His favorite effect was the Linking Rings.

In 1901, he was prominent in the formation of a new society of magicians in London.

Ross died from pneumonia, after a few days illness.

 

See more about Ross Conyears on MagicPedia.

Frederick Culpitt (Cull-Pitt)

Thank you to Mark Damon for identifying this card.

Frederick Culpitt (May 9, 1877 – October 8, 1944), born Frederic Willis Culpitt at Camberwell, South London was a British performer and stage manager of the Egyptian Hall. He achieved stage success in the early part of the 20th century with a comedy magic act and is also notable as the first magician to appear on a regularly scheduled television show.

See more about Frederick Culpitt on MagicPedia.

The Little Conjurors

Vincent Dalban

Frederick Culpitt

aka “Cull-Pitt”

Crochet

Professor Nemo (Stuart Cramer)

Stuart Cramer

Conely

Herbert Collins: Cariacture

Thank you to Chris Brinson for providing additional
information to identify this card.