The Davenport Collection
- a growing resource on magic and entertainment history

Chung Ling Soo

Davenport Collection website e-news #4, November 2019

Davenport Collection website e-news #4, November 2019

Click on Details if you would like to download a PDF of this e-news.
E-newsletters like this one are sent out four times a year, highlighting recent additions to the website. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the curator.

The November 2019 issue included:
– Peter Waring.
– A Chung Ling Soo poster.
– Ephemera other than posters and programmes.
– What entertainments are on in London in 1886.

To see all the other e-news, click on Website e-news.

Davenport Collection website e-news #1, September 2018

Davenport Collection website e-news #1, September 2018

Click on Details if you would like to download a PDF of this e-news.

E-newsletters like this one are sent out four times a year, highlighting recent additions to the website. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the curator.

The September 2018 issue included:
Chevalier Ernest Thorn – “King of Illusionists”, a talk by Paul Freeman.
– 19th century Egyptian Hall programmes.
– Chung Ling Soo’s dove pan.
– Magic apparatus.

To see all the other e-news, click on Website e-news.

Noms de Theatre – stage names for magicians

Noms de Theatre – stage names for magicians

We are grateful to Paul Freeman who has given us permission to include this PDF version of his talk, which he has given in England and Austria between 2008 and 2011. Paul relates the interesting and often surprising ways in which magicians have ended up with a well-known stage name.

Magicians’ programmes

Magicians’ programmes

Peter’s talk traces the development of magicians’ programmes from the 19th century into the 20th century. He illustrates this with a wide range of Maskelyne programmes, as well as those of numerous other performers, from Signor Blitz to Carmo – around 50 programmes in all. On the way Peter highlights intriguing facts that can be discovered about the performers by careful study of the programmes.

Chung Ling Soo poster overprinted The Magical Production

Chung Ling Soo poster overprinted The Magical Production

A half sheet lithographic poster printed by Horrocks & Co. Ltd., Ashton-under-Lyne. The original poster has been overprinted THE MAGICAL PRODUCTION. The Chung Ling Soo Magical Production was the first attempt to tour Soo’s show soon after his death. Soo’s place was taken by Ching Wu (Alfred Banks). For further details see Dean Arnold’s excellent book ‘The Fairground Soo’ published by Mike Caveney’s Magic Words. The poster, without any overprinting, may be found under Ref. no. N615.

The Chung Ling Soo Mysteries. Peacock feather poster

The Chung Ling Soo Mysteries. Peacock feather poster

A half sheet poster printed by J. Weiner, London. The original black writing on the poster has been overprinted in black to read ‘The Chung Ling Soo Mysteries’. The performer was Li Sing Foo (Arthur Hortopp) who toured this show for a brief period following Soo’s death. For more information see ‘The Fairground Soo’ by Dean Arnold published by Mike Caveney’s Magic Words in 2015.

Chung Ling Soo Mysteries, The Birth of the Pearl

Chung Ling Soo Mysteries, The Birth of the Pearl

A half sheet poster printed by Weiners of Acton, London. The poster includes the name Val. Prince, presumably the artist. The half sheet poster has been overprinted with the word ‘Mysteries’. The performer was Li Sing Foo (Arthur Hortopp) who toured this show for a brief period following Soo’s death. For more information see ‘The Fairground Soo’ by Dean Arnold published by Mike Caveney’s Magic Words in 2015.