Other Ephemera

This interesting letter from William Minns to Herbert J. Collings details arrangements for The Magic Circle show that King George V had requested at Windsor Castle on 25 April 1928. As a result of the decisions the Circle made about who should perform in the show, some professional members of The Magic Circle resigned. They believed that the Circle should have included more professionals in the show, rather than amateur magicians, however good the amateurs might be. Lewis Davenport was one of the professionals who resigned.

Owen Clark was a prolific inventor. However. it is not always clear when he claimed an invention whether he was referring to a basic principle, or a new presentation, or improvement to an existing principle.

After a successful stage career performing in many parts of the world, Clark developed a new act with gigantic illusions using the name Owen. This brochure shows drawings of many of these illusions and it is well worth looking at it in detail. The brochure says the act required ten assistants and six tons of apparatus. Although this may be somewhat exaggerated, there is no doubt that it was an expensive act to tour and the financial state of variety theatres meant that the act was too expensive to book. It was a bold experiment but a financial failure.

The letter is undated but has to be circa 1910 or later, following his return from Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand with the Maskelyne and Devant Mysteries tour. The letter is to arrange a meeting with a man to discuss a bird cage. Clark’s letterhead features the medal that he received from Maskelyne and Devant for Special Services associated with the tour.

This is a reprint from the Music Hall & Showman, 21 February 1902. The article is worth reading because it gives some insight into Clark’s interests and style. The drawing of him on the front hints at his versatility. Both sides of the reprint are illustrated here.

The impressive cover of this brochure highlights the medal that Clark received from Makelyne and Devant following his return from the Maskelyne and Devant Mysteries tour of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. The press notices comment on Clark’s excellent presentation and humour as well as his magic.

Owen Clark (1876-1929) was a successful magician who performed his own original tricks. The photograph is by Charles & Russell, Belfast.

Clark first broke a china plate into pieces. He then picked up a piece and threw it towards a hanging frame, onto which the piece landed. Piece by piece, the plate was restored on the frame.

Owen Clark was well known for his original magic stage act. This advertisement from The Encore, page 12, does a good job of capturing his originality and inventiveness.

The Davenport Family would like to record our grateful thanks for the honour of being selected by the Magic Castle Board of Trustees as the recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award recognises the family’s contribution to keeping magic alive in England and beyond over parts of three centuries. Lewis Davenport started it all, with help from his mother in the early days of growing his magic business. So, it’s probably fair to say that five generations of the family have done their best to keep magic alive. We greatly appreciate the award.

The design of this brochure is unusual in that it folds open to reveal 8 pages. The brochure tells us that this is ‘The Most Perfect Entertainment for Children ever devised’. The brochure has no date, but it mentions Chandler performing Devant’s Revue at St. George’s Hall. The date for this was in 1922, so the brochure cannot be earlier than 1922. All 8 pages may be viewed in the PDF.