A Continuing Journey In The Magic History Of Singapore

This post is to introduce magicians and magic fanatics to the abundant historical past of magic in Singapore. It honours the noteworthy achievements, prominence and significance of neighborhood magicians from the earlier and present.

The beginning of Modern Magic in Singapore

It is the common consensus that contemporary magic in Singapore (submit World War 2) began with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Great Wong. Data on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only details located has been on The Wonderful Wong executing at the New Entire world Amusement Park (then located at Kitchener Street) in the nineteen thirties.

The Excellent Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a metropolis of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only expert magician of his time in Singapore and executed throughout South East Asia. He was known for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings regimen and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an skilled craftsman who created all of his props by hand. He experienced the gift of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.

In 1962, The Great Wong made a substantial contribution to the worldwide magic community by publishing his renowned linking rings regimen with English script written by Tudor Brock. Davenports Magic in London distributes his manuscript to day. In 1982, he was invited by the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) to complete at the fifteenth Globe Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For far more data on The Fantastic Wong refer to ‘The Excellent Wong Story’ in The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring a hundred and fifteen The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Problem)

Another regional magician who was instrumental in increasing modern day magic in Singapore throughout the commencing was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a trainer by career but executed for yearly particular functions, charity displays and non-public events. He was (and nonetheless is) internationally recognized for his magical inventions. His effects and ideas are nevertheless marketed seller items right now and have been revealed in countless publications (of that time) this kind of as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell’s System in Magic. He is the initial Asian magician to get the Spinx Award (1936-37)

Both The Fantastic Wong and Tan Hock Chuan had been important influences to several of the first era of Singapore contemporary-magicians who have paved the way for foreseeable future generations.

fifties

It was only soon after the war and during the British Army Administration that magic in Singapore commenced its increase to in which it is right now. 1950 was the calendar year that the Singapore Magician’s Club was fashioned by a team of beginner magicians, comprising of English-educated professionals.

In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club obtained their constitution from The Global Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in The united states and was from then on was formally known as The Intercontinental Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring a hundred and fifteen. Founding users of the club at that time integrated Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Before long 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 delivery to Singapore’s first generation of modern magicians. Aside from the founding members of the IBM Ring and The Excellent Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent initial generation magicians provided Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his student Michael Lim.

The Wonderful Wong operated the initial magic shop from his house cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar the place he offered his possess handcrafted props as nicely as imported seller objects from Japan. (This house/ shop was wrecked in a hearth in Dec 1988 leading to him to lose most of his guides and props)

1960s

For the duration of this interval, magicians like The Fantastic Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee performed magic courses at the Nationwide Theatre Club and the YMCA. They ended up accountable for creating energetic magicians this kind of as Charles Choo, Wong Fok Choy, Chia Hearn Jiang, Gwee Thiam Hock and the late-Vijeyacone.

The early 60s also noticed the ‘Golden Age’ of magic with magicians doing at distinct venues across the nation. Apart from nearby magicians performing in night golf equipment, overseas magicians this sort of as Socar done a grand illusion demonstrate to a full property at the Capitol Theatre (together Stamford Road) and The Fantastic Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Great Entire world Amusement Park at Kim Seng Road (Now, Fantastic Planet City).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the next magic store in Singapore at a store residence together Robinson Highway. About that time, well-liked 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 presently).

During this decade, Tan Choon Tee was generating a name for himself in the intercontinental magic neighborhood in the subject of Mentalism. He received numerous intercontinental Linking Ring Awards for his 1-Guy Parades and has two publications printed by Micky Hades. He was also a standard contributor to several global magic journals these kinds of as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

Overseas magicians whom passed via Singapore included Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.

nineteen seventies

The seventies saw the start of the 2nd era of Singapore magicians. Some effectively-recognized magicians who got commenced during this time incorporated The Wonderful Wong’s son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Enjoyable, Bob Chua, Eric Leong, Tan Teck Seng, Lawrence Tham, Tan Tuan Seng, Lawrence Khong and Andrew Kong.

The Singapore Affiliation of Magicians was founded on 10 March 1973 in welcoming ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with notable founding members such as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

Magic retailers in Singapore commenced to spring up throughout 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 store in August 1978 on the sixth flooring of Far East Purchasing Centre. (It would shift many occasions to different malls but at some point returned back to Far East). His store would shortly grow to be an establishment exactly where magicians would get a variety of magic items as nicely as fulfill up and understand from each other.

It was a range haunt for several magicians in the several years to arrive till the shop closed in the new millennium.

During this period of time, The Tropicana Evening Club, which was located at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that experienced regular magic performances. Several well-known magicians also frequented Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert executed at the Countrywide Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring a hundred and fifteen to give a lecture. In that exact same year, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also visited Singapore, lectured and interacted with regional magicians. Other visiting magicians included Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

nineteen eighties

By the eighties, the regional magic scene was flourishing with healthful memberships for the two principal magic golf equipment as effectively as a surge in the quantity of performing magicians. Numerous of modern veterans produced their title in the 80s. Common names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh ended up carrying out regularly at public and personal shows for the duration of this ten years. Well-known regional venues for public magic exhibits by magic golf equipment held on a standard foundation at that time provided the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.

The reputation of magic stores also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Tune opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Section of Well-known Book Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Flooring of Bras Basah Intricate. Gician Tan also opened up his initial magic store at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Sq. and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this major shop, he distributed magic objects and sets through department retailers

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to planet-class magic by means of a number of magic tv exhibits and collection that have been aired on regional Television set such as the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Greatest of Magic.

International magicians who frequented Singapore in the course of this time provided David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.

nineties

The commencing of this 10 years noticed the introduction of the country’s 3rd era magicians into the nearby magic scene. Well known budding magicians provided 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 formed, launched by its President, Tan Bah Chee despite the fact that the club’s presence in Singapore was quick-lived.

manifestation magic reviews -1990s observed a enormous surge in magic international reputation owing to David Blaine’s street magic specials. Several people started out to ‘get into’ magic and experienced new mediums to learn the craft this sort of as the introduction of DVDs and the World wide web.

A new magic shop, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers soon turned ‘the place to be’ exactly where new magicians would hold out and satisfy.

In the course of this ten years, Wang Leng’s shop in Peninsula Plaza was offered to Patrick Wan. The shop was subsequently offered to Richard Ang and is now nicely acknowledged as Ang Residence of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new shop, Magic Wand, which has spawned into several outlets in different components of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Mall.

The 90s was an interesting decade with several visits and performances by famous magicians. Aside from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there have been also public theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other visiting magicians integrated Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.

2000 – Current

Magic has ongoing to flourish at the regional degree in this ten years. New chances and abilities have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In Could 2000, J C Sum staged the very first ever local entire-night theatre demonstrate ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a thirty day period later, more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada arrived down to Singapore as portion of the Magic Pageant arranged by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians this sort of as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer carried out numerous displays at various Centrepoint Malls for in excess of a 7 days.

In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was designed by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line discussion board drew a new pool of magic fans jointly. SMC has since grown to more than a thousand associates and routinely arrange gatherings, functions as well as the recent Notion:Magic Micro MAGIC Convention in January 2007.

By way of a big-scale theatre magic musical ‘Magic of Love’, Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Faith Local community Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, unfold the gospel concept.

The multi-million dollar production has been staged numerous instances above the many years across the planet to spread the word of Christ. Subsequently, the very same team structured two Worldwide Pageant of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its sort big magic functions provided competitions, lectures, a dealers’ room and performances. Global performers this kind of as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Surprise had been booked to complete at the gala shows and lectures.

In modern many years, J C Sum has turn into arguably the most well known Singapore magician of this technology. His magic has been witnessed by tens of millions via his reside performances throughout Asia as nicely as his landmark mass media tasks on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch eight as properly as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.

His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ collection can at present be seen every day on Singapore Push Holdings MediaBoxOffice through 2007. In the worldwide magic group, J C has also established himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his 3 critically acclaimed illusion textbooks that have been sold in a lot more than 30 nations around the world to day.

Another proficient award-successful magician, Jeremy Pei, is boosting the profile of Singapore magic inside the regional magic group with his theatre displays, organized lectures, workshops and lively participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His exclusive North-Asian influence fashion of magic functionality has garnered him a subsequent with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also released several authentic magic items which are accessible to magicians globally.

In an additional initial, award-successful junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a thirteen-episode weekly Street Magic sequence, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min collection observed him carry out magic for the Indian local community and celebs across the place.

This ten years has observed the introduction of even more magic retailers and dealers run by young magicians to meet up with the desire of magic fanatics and magicians. These incorporate new ‘brick & mortar’ magic shops such as Avenue Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Tough Enterprise by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Corridor by Kenneth Peh as well as on-line stores like The Little Magic Shop by Ning.