This write-up is to introduce magicians and magic lovers to the wealthy background of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and significance of local magicians from the previous and current.
The starting of Modern Magic in Singapore
It is the common consensus that present day magic in Singapore (publish Globe War two) started with the late-Ng Bo
Oen AKA The Great Wong. Information on neighborhood magic pre-war is very scarce. The only data identified has been on The Wonderful Wong performing at the New Globe Amusement Park (then found at Kitchener Street) in the 1930s.
The Wonderful Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a city of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only skilled magician of his time in Singapore and done throughout South East Asia. He was acknowledged for his sharp phase magic, Linking Rings regimen and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an professional craftsman who developed all of his props by hand. He had the present of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.
In 1962, The Fantastic Wong created a important contribution to the worldwide magic community by publishing his famous linking rings program with English script composed by Tudor Brock. Davenports Magic in London distributes his manuscript to date. In 1982, he was invited by the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) to execute at the fifteenth Entire world Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.
(For much more data on The Great Wong refer to ‘The Great Wong Story’ in The Worldwide Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring a hundred and fifteen The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Problem)
Another nearby magician who was instrumental in expanding present day magic in Singapore in the course of the commencing was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a instructor by profession but executed for yearly special events, charity exhibits and private events. He was (and nonetheless is) internationally known for his magical inventions. His consequences and suggestions are nevertheless promoted seller products today and have been revealed in countless publications (of that time) these kinds of as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell’s Course in Magic. He is the very first Asian magician to obtain the Spinx Award (1936-37)
Each The Great Wong and Tan Hock Chuan were critical influences to many of the initial generation of Singapore present day-magicians who have paved the way for foreseeable future generations.
1950s
It was only right after the war and during the British Navy Administration that magic in Singapore commenced its rise to in which it is right now. 1950 was the yr that the Singapore Magician’s Club was fashioned by a team of amateur magicians, comprising of English-educated experts.
In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club gained their constitution from The Global Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in The usa and was from then on was officially identified as The Global Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring one hundred fifteen. Founding members of the club at that time included Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Quickly Kian, Lim Kim Tian, Lim Hap Hin, J.H Stafford, L.A Joseph, J.W Jackson (Vice-President) and Tan Hock Chuan (Secretary).
The 50’s gave start to Singapore’s 1st technology of modern magicians. In addition to the founding customers of the IBM Ring and The Fantastic Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent 1st era magicians provided Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his scholar Michael Lim.
The Great Wong operated the very first magic store from his house cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar exactly where he offered his possess handcrafted props as properly as imported seller objects from Japan. (This property/ store was destroyed in a hearth in Dec 1988 triggering him to drop most of his books and props)
nineteen sixties
For the duration of this period, magicians like The Wonderful Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee executed magic programs at the Nationwide Theatre Club and the YMCA. They ended up liable for generating active magicians these kinds of as Charles Choo, Wong Fok Choy, Chia Hearn Jiang, Gwee Thiam Hock and the late-Vijeyacone.
The early 60s also saw the ‘Golden Age’ of magic with magicians carrying out at different venues across the place. Aside from nearby magicians executing in night clubs, overseas magicians these kinds of as Socar performed a grand illusion display to a entire property at the Capitol Theatre (along Stamford Road) and The Excellent Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Great Entire world Amusement Park at Kim Seng Street (Now, Excellent Globe Metropolis).
In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the second magic shop in Singapore at a shop residence along Robinson Highway. Around that time, popular entertainer Victor Khoo’s father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic store at Bras Basah. (exactly where Carlton Hotel stands at the moment).
Throughout this 10 years, Tan Choon Tee was producing a identify for himself in the worldwide magic neighborhood in the subject of Mentalism. He won a number of global Linking Ring Awards for his One particular-Gentleman Parades and has two books revealed by Micky Hades. He was also a standard contributor to many international magic journals such as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.
Overseas magicians whom passed via Singapore provided Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.
1970s
The nineteen seventies noticed the start of the next technology of Singapore magicians. Some well-recognized magicians who got began for the duration of this time included The Wonderful Wong’s son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Fun, Bob Chua, Eric Leong, Tan Teck Seng, Lawrence Tham, Tan Tuan Seng, Lawrence Khong and Andrew Kong.
The Singapore Association of Magicians was launched on ten March 1973 in pleasant ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with distinguished founding customers these kinds of as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.
Magic stores in Singapore started to spring up for the duration of the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee established up a magic stall at Yaohan in Plaza Singapura and Wang Leng opened his shop in Peninsula Plaza. Charles Choo opened his shop in August 1978 on the 6th floor of Significantly East Purchasing Centre. (It would go numerous instances to a variety of malls but ultimately returned back again to Far East). His shop would quickly turn into an establishment where magicians would purchase different magic items as well as meet up with up and learn from every other.
It was a variety haunt for many magicians in the years to arrive until the shop shut in the new millennium.
For the duration of this period of time, The Tropicana Night Club, which was located at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that had regular magic performances. A number of renowned magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert executed at the National Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman frequented Ring 115 to give a lecture. In that exact same year, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also frequented Singapore, lectured and interacted with neighborhood magicians. Other checking out magicians integrated Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.
1980s
By the 1980s, the regional magic scene was flourishing with healthier memberships for the two primary magic golf equipment as effectively as a surge in the number of performing magicians. Numerous of modern veterans created their identify in the 80s. Familiar names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh had been carrying out regularly at community and personal exhibits for the duration of this decade. Well-liked neighborhood venues for community magic exhibits by magic clubs held on a regular foundation at that time included the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.
The recognition of magic stores also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Music opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Guide Segment of Common Guide Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complex. skymagician.com opened up his initial magic store at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Square and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this principal store, he dispersed magic objects and sets by way of section retailers
in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to globe-class magic by means of numerous magic tv demonstrates and series that had been aired on regional Tv set such as the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Ideal of Magic.
Overseas magicians who frequented Singapore in the course of this time provided David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.
1990s
The starting of this decade observed the introduction of the country’s 3rd era magicians into the regional magic scene. Distinguished budding magicians included Enrico Varella, Sherman Tjiong, J C Sum, Joe Yu (Chan Ee Kang), Nique Tan Li Keong, Prakash Puru, Kiki Tay, Alex Tan and Jeremy Pei.
The local chapter of Global Magicians Modern society was shaped, started by its President, Tan Bah Chee although the club’s existence in Singapore was quick-lived.
The late-nineties noticed a large surge in magic world-wide popularity owing to David Blaine’s avenue magic specials. Several folks started out to ‘get into’ magic and had new mediums to understand the craft these kinds of as the introduction of DVDs and the Internet.
A new magic store, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers shortly grew to become ‘the place to be’ in which new magicians would hang out and satisfy.
For the duration of this 10 years, Wang Leng’s shop in Peninsula Plaza was bought to Patrick Wan. The shop was subsequently sold to Richard Ang and is now properly recognized as Ang Property of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new store, Magic Wand, which has spawned into many outlets in various areas of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Shopping mall.
The 90s was an thrilling decade with a lot of visits and performances by popular magicians. Aside from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there were also community theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other going to magicians integrated Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.
2000 – Present
Magic has continued to prosper at the nearby level in this 10 years. New chances and abilities have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In May 2000, J C Sum staged the initial at any time nearby total-evening theatre present ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a month later, much more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada arrived down to Singapore as portion of the Magic Festival organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians this sort of as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer executed numerous demonstrates at different Centrepoint Malls for above a 7 days.
In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was created by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line forum drew a new pool of magic lovers with each other. SMC has considering that developed to more than one thousand members and often manage gatherings, activities as nicely as the recent Principle:Magic Micro MAGIC Conference in January 2007.
Via a big-scale theatre magic musical ‘Magic of Love’, Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Religion Local community Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, distribute the gospel information.
The multi-million dollar manufacturing has been staged several times above the a long time throughout the world to spread the term of Christ. Subsequently, the same group structured two International Pageant of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The 1st of its type big magic events included competitions, lectures, a dealers’ space and performances. Global performers these kinds of as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Question ended up booked to carry out at the gala demonstrates and lectures.
In recent a long time, J C Sum has grow to be arguably the most well known Singapore magician of this era. His magic has been noticed by tens of millions via his reside performances throughout Asia as well as his landmark mass media projects on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch eight as well as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.
His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ series can currently be witnessed everyday on Singapore Push Holdings MediaBoxOffice by means of 2007. In the worldwide magic community, J C has also proven himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his 3 critically acclaimed illusion textbooks that have been marketed in far more than thirty international locations to date.
Yet another gifted award-winning magician, Jeremy Pei, is boosting the profile of Singapore magic in the regional magic neighborhood with his theatre demonstrates, organized lectures, workshops and active participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His distinct North-Asian impact fashion of magic overall performance has garnered him a adhering to with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also launched a number of original magic goods which are available to magicians around the world.
In another 1st, award-profitable junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a thirteen-episode weekly Avenue Magic sequence, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min series observed him complete magic for the Indian community and superstars throughout the place.
This ten years has witnessed the introduction of even more magic stores and dealers run by youthful magicians to satisfy the demand from customers of magic fans and magicians. These consist of new ‘brick & mortar’ magic shops this sort of as Street Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Tough Organization by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Corridor by Kenneth Peh as well as on-line outlets like The Minor Magic Shop by Ning.