This report is to introduce magicians and magic fans to the prosperous history of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and importance of nearby magicians from the previous and existing.
The beginning of Modern Magic in Singapore
It is the common consensus that present day magic in Singapore (publish World War two) commenced with the late-Ng Bo
Oen AKA The Great Wong. Details on neighborhood magic pre-war is extremely scarce. The only data identified has been on The Great Wong carrying out at the New Entire world Amusement Park (then situated at Kitchener Highway) in the nineteen thirties.
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 specialist magician of his time in Singapore and performed 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 created all of his props by hand. He had the gift of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.
In 1962, The Wonderful Wong created a important contribution to the global magic group by publishing his well-known linking rings program with English script written 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 World Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.
(For a lot more information on The Excellent Wong refer to ‘The Excellent Wong Story’ in The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring one hundred fifteen The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Concern)
Another neighborhood magician who was instrumental in developing present day magic in Singapore for the duration of the starting was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a instructor by career but done for once-a-year specific events, charity shows and personal functions. He was (and nevertheless is) internationally known for his magical inventions. His effects and ideas are nonetheless promoted dealer products today and have been published in countless publications (of that time) this kind of as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell’s Course in Magic. He is the first Asian magician to obtain the Spinx Award (1936-37)
The two The Wonderful Wong and Tan Hock Chuan had been crucial influences to several of the first generation of Singapore modern-magicians who have paved the way for potential generations.
fifties
It was only after the war and throughout the British Armed forces Administration that magic in Singapore started its rise to in which it is these days. 1950 was the calendar year that the Singapore Magician’s Club was formed by a team of beginner magicians, comprising of English-educated pros.
In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club gained their constitution from The Worldwide Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in The usa and was from then on was formally known as The Intercontinental Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring one hundred fifteen. Founding members of the club at that time integrated 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 beginning to Singapore’s 1st era of contemporary magicians. Aside from the founding associates of the IBM Ring and The Excellent Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent initial technology magicians provided Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his college student Michael Lim.
The Excellent Wong operated the very first magic shop from his house cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar the place he sold his personal handcrafted props as well as imported vendor things from Japan. (This house/ store was destroyed in a hearth in Dec 1988 causing him to get rid of most of his textbooks and props)
1960s
In the course of this period, magicians like The Great Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee carried out magic classes at the Nationwide Theatre Club and the YMCA. They have been liable for producing active magicians such 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 different venues throughout the nation. Aside from neighborhood magicians carrying out in evening golf equipment, foreign magicians this kind of as Socar performed a grand illusion present to a full property at the Capitol Theatre (together Stamford Street) and The Wonderful Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Wonderful Globe Amusement Park at Kim Seng Highway (Now, Great Globe City).
In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the next magic store in Singapore at a store residence along Robinson Highway. Around that time, common entertainer Victor Khoo’s father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic store at Bras Basah. (where Carlton Lodge stands currently).
In the course of this decade, Tan Choon Tee was creating a identify for himself in the intercontinental magic local community in the field of Mentalism. He gained many international Linking Ring Awards for his A single-Male Parades and has two guides published by Micky Hades. He was also a regular contributor to numerous international magic publications these kinds of as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.
Overseas magicians whom handed by way of Singapore included Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.
nineteen seventies
The 1970s saw the birth of the second technology of Singapore magicians. Some properly-recognized magicians who obtained started throughout this time provided The Fantastic 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 founded on 10 March 1973 in helpful ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with notable founding users this kind of as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.
Magic outlets in Singapore commenced to spring up throughout the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee set 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 6th ground of Considerably East Purchasing Centre. (It would transfer a number of moments to different malls but at some point returned back again to Far East). His store would quickly turn out to be an establishment in which magicians would purchase a variety of magic merchandise as properly as satisfy up and learn from each and every other.
It was a selection haunt for several magicians in the a long time to arrive till the shop shut in the new millennium.
During this time period, The Tropicana Night time Club, which was located at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that experienced standard magic performances. A number of popular magicians also frequented Singapore in the 70s. In psilocybe cubensis , John Calvert carried out at the Countrywide Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman frequented Ring a hundred and fifteen to give a lecture. In that same yr, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also frequented Singapore, lectured and interacted with regional magicians. Other visiting magicians integrated Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.
eighties
By the nineteen eighties, the nearby magic scene was flourishing with wholesome memberships for the two primary magic golf equipment as effectively as a surge in the number of carrying out magicians. Many of modern veterans manufactured their identify 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 were executing often at general public and private shows in the course of this ten years. Well-liked regional venues for general public magic shows by magic clubs held on a regular basis at that time included the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.
The acceptance of magic stores also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Tune opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Section of Well-known Guide Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complicated. Gician Tan also opened up his initial magic store at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Sq. and was managed by Richard Ang. Apart from this primary shop, he distributed magic products and sets via section shops
in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore viewers was also uncovered to planet-class magic through several magic tv demonstrates and collection that were aired on local Television like the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Ideal of Magic.
International magicians who frequented Singapore for the duration of this time provided David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.
nineteen nineties
The commencing of this 10 years noticed the introduction of the country’s third technology magicians into the local magic scene. Prominent budding magicians integrated 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 Society was fashioned, launched by its President, Tan Bah Chee though the club’s existence in Singapore was limited-lived.
The late-1990s observed a huge surge in magic global recognition owing to David Blaine’s street magic specials. A lot of people began to ‘get into’ magic and had new mediums to discover the craft this sort of as the introduction of DVDs and the Internet.
A new magic shop, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers quickly became ‘the spot to be’ in which new magicians would dangle out and meet.
For the duration of this 10 years, Wang Leng’s store in Peninsula Plaza was sold to Patrick Wan. The store was subsequently sold to Richard Ang and is now properly acknowledged as Ang Residence of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new shop, Magic Wand, which has spawned into many outlets in a variety of elements of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Mall.
The 90s was an thrilling ten years with many visits and performances by well-known magicians. Aside from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there have been also general public 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 local degree in this decade. New options and abilities have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In May possibly 2000, J C Sum staged the initial at any time regional complete-evening theatre show ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a thirty day period afterwards, a lot more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada arrived down to Singapore as element of the Magic Festival organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians such as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer executed numerous shows at numerous Centrepoint Malls for above a 7 days.
In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was developed by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line forum drew a new pool of magic fans together. SMC has given that developed to above one thousand customers and regularly organize gatherings, activities as effectively as the modern Notion:Magic Micro MAGIC Conference in January 2007.
Via a large-scale theatre magic musical ‘Magic of Love’, Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Faith Neighborhood Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, unfold the gospel concept.
The multi-million greenback generation has been staged a lot of moments over the a long time throughout the globe to distribute the word of Christ. Subsequently, the exact same group organized two Worldwide Festival of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its kind large magic activities integrated competitions, lectures, a dealers’ room and performances. Worldwide performers these kinds of as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Wonder were booked to carry out at the gala shows and lectures.
In current a long time, J C Sum has turn out to be arguably the most distinguished Singapore magician of this technology. His magic has been witnessed by millions through his dwell performances throughout Asia as properly as his landmark mass media projects on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch 8 as effectively as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.
His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ collection can at the moment be observed every day on Singapore Push Holdings MediaBoxOffice through 2007. In the worldwide magic community, J C has also recognized himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his 3 critically acclaimed illusion publications that have been offered in more than thirty international locations to date.
Yet another gifted award-successful magician, Jeremy Pei, is raising the profile of Singapore magic inside the regional magic community with his theatre demonstrates, organized lectures, workshops and lively participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His unique North-Asian influence design of magic efficiency has garnered him a subsequent with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also unveiled a number of first magic merchandise which are offered to magicians throughout the world.
In yet another 1st, award-profitable junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a thirteen-episode weekly Avenue Magic series, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min collection observed him perform magic for the Indian community and superstars across the place.
This decade has witnessed the introduction of even far more magic stores and sellers run by youthful magicians to meet the demand from customers of magic lovers and magicians. These contain new ‘brick & mortar’ magic outlets these kinds of as Avenue Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Challenging Organization by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Hall by Kenneth Peh as well as on-line shops like The Little Magic Store by Ning.