We are avid collectors of Chung Ling Soo, aka William Robinson, paraphernalia and we are always interested in expanding our collection and can give general information to the public about this great magician.
Please see the About Us page for more information, or the Contact Us page to get in touch
These images are privately owned by the collector and cannot be used or reproduced without permission
A GIFT FROM THE GODS
TO MORTALS ON EARTH TO AMUSE AND MYSTIFY
ABOUT THE MAGICIAN
Life and Career
The Magician Chung Ling Soo was born in 1861 as William Robinson. He was an American who adopted various stage personas, but that of Chung Ling Soo was to be his most famous. Robinson’s career began at the young age of 14 when he began performing professionally under the stage name ‘Robinson, the Man of Mystery’. 12 years later he developed a new stage persona; Achmed Ben Ali. As Achmed, he performed the first American show of a genre of magic called 'the black art' which originated in Germany. In this genre of magic, the illusionist dresses in white and stands in a dark recess on stage as unseen aids help him perform tricks, usually making things appear, disappear, and move by themselves. He went on to assist the great magicians Kellar, then Herrmann and finally Adelaide in his early career while still in America.
Chung Ling Soo's First Poster
Later in his career, when he moved to England in 1900, he adopted the persona of Chung Ling Soo. He did this after learning that the performance art agent, Ike Rose, was keen to sign a Chinese magician act. Robinson was careful to maintain his act as a Chinese man. He never spoke in English on stage (apart from in broken fragments) and he used an interpreter when speaking to the press.
A photograph from our collection showing William Robinson alongside his stage persona Chung Ling Soo,
see our Photo Gallery for the full image
His wife Suee Seen was also an American who came with him to England and she assisted him in many of his tricks. Her real name was Olive Path, but was also known as 'Dot' due to her tiny stance. Chung Ling Soo quickly became one of the highest-paid magicians and he was much impersonated. He was also close friends with Harry Houdini and there are many letters that survive written between the two friends. The two of them went on to be the key magicians of their day.
A poster from our collection showing the wife of Chung Ling Soo, Suee Seen
see our Poster Gallery for the full image
Tragic Death
On the 23rd March 1918, Chung Ling Soo performed his last act. He was mid-performance at the Wood Green Empire in London when he reached his famed ‘Condemned to Death by the Boxers’ illusion. In the act, one of his assistants would fire a gun at him, but it was carefully modified to stop the bullet actually leaving the barrel, thus keeping the magician safe while he pretended to catch a bullet between his teeth. On the night in question, some of the gunpowder exploded in the chamber of the gun, causing the bullet to shoot out of the gun into Chung Ling Soo’s lung. It is thought to be the first time the magician spoke in English on stage as he cried out “Oh My God, something’s happened. Lower the curtain”. He was taken to Passmore Edwards Cottage Hospital but died due to his injuries. He is buried in East Sheen Cemetery in East Sheen in London. There was a thorough investigation into his death, but it was finally classified as being caused by a tragic 'misadventure'
A poster from our collection showing the trick 'Condemned to Death by the Boxers' which cost Chung Ling Soo his life
See the full poster in our Poster Gallery
After his death, the public were shocked to learn that he was not a Chinese man, although his true identity was known among other professionals. A year before his death, the English magician Will Goldston explained that the people never questioned Chung Ling Soo’s identity
“he has always presented to the public that which they like and not which he might prefer”
AN IMAGE DISPLAYED AT THE ENTRANCE TO HIS SHOWS IN AUSTRALIA WHICH HE TOURED IN 1909
CONTACT US
If you have anything you may want to sell, anything you would like information about, or if you would like any further information about Chung Ling Soo himself, please contact us using this form