This post is to introduce magicians and magic fans to the rich background of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and importance of local magicians from the earlier and current.

The commencing of Present day Magic in Singapore

It is the general consensus that present day magic in Singapore (post Globe War 2) started with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Wonderful Wong. Details on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only data discovered has been on The Great Wong performing at the New World Amusement Park (then found at Kitchener Street) in the 1930s.

The Fantastic Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a city of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only professional magician of his time in Singapore and executed throughout South East Asia. He was identified for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings program and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an expert craftsman who constructed 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 Excellent Wong created a substantial contribution to the intercontinental magic community by publishing his well-known linking rings program with English script created 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 carry out at the fifteenth Entire world Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For much more info on The Fantastic Wong refer to ‘The Great Wong Story’ in The Global Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring a hundred and fifteen The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Concern)

One more regional magician who was instrumental in developing contemporary magic in Singapore in the course of the starting was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a teacher by career but carried out for once-a-year particular functions, charity demonstrates and personal get-togethers. He was (and nevertheless is) internationally acknowledged for his magical innovations. His consequences and tips are even now marketed dealer things 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 System in Magic. He is the first Asian magician to get the Spinx Award (1936-37)

Each The Excellent Wong and Tan Hock Chuan had been critical influences to a lot of of the very first era of Singapore modern day-magicians who have paved the way for long term generations.

fifties

It was only right after the war and throughout the British Armed forces Administration that magic in Singapore began its increase to the place it is right now. 1950 was the calendar year that the Singapore Magician’s Club was shaped by a group of amateur magicians, comprising of English-educated pros.

In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club received their constitution from The International Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in The usa and was from then on was officially identified as The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring a hundred and fifteen. Founding customers of the club at that time included 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 beginning to Singapore’s initial generation of present day magicians. Aside from the founding associates of the IBM Ring and The Great Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some well known very first technology magicians provided Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his student Michael Lim.

The Excellent Wong operated the first magic shop from his home cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar in which he offered his possess handcrafted props as effectively as imported dealer things from Japan. (This property/ shop was destroyed in a hearth in Dec 1988 leading to him to lose most of his guides and props)

sixties

During this time period, magicians like The Great Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee carried out magic classes at the National Theatre Club and the YMCA. They had been dependable for creating lively magicians these kinds 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 performing at diverse venues across the country. Apart from local magicians doing in night time clubs, foreign magicians this sort of as Socar performed a grand illusion demonstrate to a complete home at the Capitol Theatre (alongside Stamford Road) and The Fantastic Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Excellent World Amusement Park at Kim Seng Road (Now, Wonderful Entire world City).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the 2nd magic store in Singapore at a store residence together Robinson Highway. Close to 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. (the place Carlton Lodge stands at the moment).

Throughout this decade, Tan Choon Tee was generating a title for himself in the global magic group in the subject of Mentalism. He won numerous global Linking Ring Awards for his One-Guy Parades and has two textbooks revealed by Micky Hades. He was also a normal contributor to many international magic magazines such as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

Abroad magicians whom passed by means of Singapore incorporated Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.

nineteen seventies

The nineteen seventies noticed the start of the second era of Singapore magicians. Some well-acknowledged magicians who acquired started in the course of this time integrated The Great Wong’s son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Exciting, 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 ten March 1973 in pleasant ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with well known founding associates these kinds of as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

Magic shops in Singapore started to spring up during 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 6th floor of Significantly East Shopping Centre. (It would shift a number of times to different malls but at some point returned back to Significantly East). His shop would before long turn out to be an establishment in which magicians would acquire numerous magic merchandise as effectively as meet up and learn from every other.

It was a assortment haunt for several magicians in the many years to come until the shop closed in the new millennium.

In the course of this period, The Tropicana Night Club, which was situated at Pacific Plaza, was a location that had typical magic performances. Several famous magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert executed at the Nationwide Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring a hundred and fifteen to give a lecture. In that identical year, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also visited Singapore, lectured and interacted with nearby magicians. Other visiting magicians incorporated Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

nineteen eighties

By the 1980s, the regional magic scene was flourishing with healthy memberships for the two principal magic golf equipment as well as a surge in the number of doing magicians. A lot of of present-day veterans manufactured their name in the 80s. Acquainted names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh had been executing frequently at public and private shows during this 10 years. Well-liked nearby venues for community magic demonstrates by magic golf equipment held on a regular foundation at that time included the Drama Centre and the Nationwide Museum Theatrette.

The reputation of magic outlets also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Song opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Guide Area of Well-liked Guide Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Flooring of Bras Basah Complicated. Gician Tan also opened up his first magic shop at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Sq. and was managed by Richard Ang. In addition to this primary shop, he dispersed magic things and sets through division retailers

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to entire world-class magic via many magic tv demonstrates and sequence that ended up aired on regional Television set such as the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Ideal of Magic.

Overseas magicians who visited Singapore throughout this time included David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.

1990s

The starting of this 10 years observed the introduction of the country’s third generation magicians into the nearby magic scene. Notable budding magicians incorporated 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 nearby chapter of International Magicians Modern society was formed, established by its President, Tan Bah Chee although the club’s presence in Singapore was quick-lived.

The late-nineteen nineties noticed a large surge in magic worldwide popularity owing to David Blaine’s road magic specials. Numerous men and women started out to ‘get into’ magic and had new mediums to discover the craft these kinds of as the introduction of DVDs and the Net.

How much does a magician cost? , Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers shortly became ‘the spot to be’ where new magicians would hang out and fulfill.

In the course of this ten years, Wang Leng’s shop in Peninsula Plaza was sold to Patrick Wan. The store was subsequently bought to Richard Ang and is now effectively identified as Ang Residence of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new store, Magic Wand, which has spawned into a number of retailers in numerous components 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 numerous visits and performances by famous magicians. Aside from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there have been also community theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other going to magicians provided Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.

2000 – Present

Magic has continued to flourish at the nearby degree in this 10 years. New possibilities and talents have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In Might 2000, J C Sum staged the first at any time neighborhood full-evening theatre demonstrate ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a thirty day period later, a lot more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada arrived down to Singapore as element of the Magic Pageant organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians this kind of as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer carried out multiple shows at numerous Centrepoint Malls for more than a week.

In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was developed by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line discussion board drew a new pool of magic lovers jointly. SMC has because developed to over a thousand users and frequently manage gatherings, functions as properly as the latest Principle:Magic Micro MAGIC Conference in January 2007.

Via a massive-scale theatre magic musical ‘Magic of Love’, Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Faith Community Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, unfold the gospel message.

The multi-million dollar generation has been staged a lot of occasions more than the many years across the planet to distribute the word of Christ. Subsequently, the same team structured two Global Competition of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its sort huge magic occasions included competitions, lectures, a dealers’ area and performances. Global performers this sort of as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Ponder were booked to execute at the gala demonstrates and lectures.

In latest many years, J C Sum has turn out to be arguably the most well known Singapore magician of this era. His magic has been observed by thousands and thousands by way of his stay performances throughout Asia as properly as his landmark mass media initiatives on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch eight as well as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.

His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ collection can currently be observed day-to-day on Singapore Push Holdings MediaBoxOffice via 2007. In the global magic local community, 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 much more than 30 international locations to date.

Another gifted award-winning magician, Jeremy Pei, is boosting the profile of Singapore magic inside the regional magic neighborhood with his theatre displays, organized lectures, workshops and energetic participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His unique North-Asian affect fashion of magic efficiency has garnered him a pursuing with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also introduced a number of first magic products which are offered to magicians worldwide.

In another 1st, award-profitable junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a thirteen-episode weekly Road Magic sequence, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min series observed him execute magic for the Indian neighborhood and celebrities across the place.

This decade has observed the introduction of even a lot more magic retailers and dealers operate by youthful magicians to meet the desire of magic enthusiasts and magicians. These incorporate new ‘brick & mortar’ magic stores this kind of as Street Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Difficult Business by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Corridor by Kenneth Peh as nicely as on-line shops like The Minor Magic Shop by Ning.