-40%

RIDDLE OF CHUNG LING SOO CHINESE CONJUROR BOOK Magic Stage Magician Bio History

$ 7.33

Availability: 38 in stock
  • Genre: Magic
  • Condition: New

    Description

    NEW The Riddle Of Chung Ling Soo
    By Will Dexter
    A fascinating account of the of the life of Chung Ling Soo (William E. Robertson). You'll learn about his meager beginnings all the way to his larger-than-life presence in the entertainment world.
    This book contains all of the detailed highlights. A fun and fascinating read!
    The Riddle of Chung Ling Soo
    -Will Dexter
    Chung Ling Soo (April 2, 1861 - March 24, 1918), born William Ellsworth Robinson, died on the stage of London's Wood Green Empire when his bullet catching 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. He then became the idol of the English Music Halls & associated with the likes of Harry Houdini,
    Karry
    Kellar, Horace Goldin, and other Magicians of the day. His mysterious death during his performance of the Bullet Catching Trick, may have been an accident, suicide, or murder as it is a mystery that has never been fully explained!
    Will Dexter was born in 1909, always interested in Magic and one of the officers of The Magic Circle. For this biography Dexter has gathered material from all over the world. He tells of Robinson's early experiences in the United States, of his appearance and calamitous failure at the
    Folies
    Bergeres
    as "Hop Sing Soo" - and his great success the following night as "Chung Ling Soo". He tells of the battle with
    Ching
    Ling
    Foo
    , a genuine Chinese magician. The truth behind the greasepaint and the Oriental mask, and yet retains all the glamour and
    colour
    of a great illusionist and a great personality.
    Chapter Listing
    Introduction
    Acknowledgment
    Who Was Chung Ling Soo?
    Misadventure
    The Man of Mystery
    Exit
    Loo
    Enter
    Soo
    Foo
    versus
    Soo
    The Conquering Hero
    "House Full" in Australia
    A Change of Mind That Was Fatal
    Close of an Era
    The Man Who Wrote "Sensational Tales"
    Fulton's Fantasy
    The Trick That Scared Houdini
    Front Row, Orchestra Stalls
    Guardians of the Secrets
    Secrets for Sale
    Appendix One
    Appendix Two
    Index
    BEST PRICE ON EBAY Or Anywhere Else!
    222 pages - 8" x 5.5" - with black and white photos
    - Soft Cover
    A Supreme Magic Publication
    WOW FREE SHIPPING!
    USPS Media Mail
    Need it faster?  Please choose the priority mail option when checking out.
    NOW ON SALE!