This report is to introduce magicians and magic enthusiasts to the wealthy background of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and importance of nearby magicians from the earlier and current.

The starting of Contemporary Magic in Singapore

It is the general consensus that present day magic in Singapore (put up World War two) started with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Wonderful Wong. Information on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only info identified has been on The Wonderful Wong carrying out at the New Planet Amusement Park (then situated at Kitchener Road) in the thirties.

The Excellent 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 performed throughout South East Asia. He was identified for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings routine and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an expert craftsman who built 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 global magic neighborhood by publishing his well-known linking rings regimen with English script composed 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 perform at the 15th World Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For much more details on The Fantastic Wong refer to ‘The Excellent Wong Story’ in The Intercontinental Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring one hundred fifteen The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Problem)

An additional regional magician who was instrumental in developing present day magic in Singapore in the course of the commencing was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a instructor by job but done for yearly specific events, charity demonstrates and non-public get-togethers. He was (and still is) internationally known for his magical inventions. His consequences and concepts are still marketed dealer items nowadays and have been released in numerous 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 initial Asian magician to get the Spinx Award (1936-37)

Both The Fantastic Wong and Tan Hock Chuan were essential influences to a lot of of the first generation of Singapore contemporary-magicians who have paved the way for potential generations.

nineteen fifties

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

In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club acquired their constitution from The Intercontinental Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in America and was from then on was formally recognized as The Worldwide Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115. Founding members of the club at that time incorporated Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Shortly 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 very first technology of present day magicians. Besides the founding customers of the IBM Ring and The Fantastic Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some distinguished 1st era magicians provided Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Quickly Kian and his pupil Michael Lim.

The Great Wong operated the 1st magic store from his home cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar the place he marketed his own handcrafted props as nicely as imported seller products from Japan. (This residence/ store was destroyed in a fireplace in Dec 1988 causing him to drop most of his books and props)

nineteen sixties

During this period, magicians like The Excellent Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee carried out magic courses at the Countrywide Theatre Club and the YMCA. They ended up liable for making 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 observed the ‘Golden Age’ of magic with magicians performing at various venues throughout the region. Besides nearby magicians performing in night time golf equipment, overseas magicians this kind of as Socar performed a grand illusion demonstrate to a total home at the Capitol Theatre (alongside Stamford Road) and The Great Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Wonderful World Amusement Park at Kim Seng Highway (Now, Great Planet Town).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the next magic store in Singapore at a store house alongside Robinson Road. Around that time, well-known entertainer Victor Khoo’s father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic shop at Bras Basah. (exactly where Carlton Resort stands currently).

Throughout this decade, Tan Choon Tee was producing a identify for himself in the international magic local community in the field of Mentalism. He received several worldwide Linking Ring Awards for his One particular-Male Parades and has two books printed by Micky Hades. He was also a standard contributor to many global magic publications this sort of as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

Abroad magicians whom passed via Singapore integrated Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.

1970s

The seventies saw the beginning of the next era of Singapore magicians. Some properly-recognized magicians who obtained started throughout this time provided 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 started on ten March 1973 in pleasant ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with well known founding users such as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

manifestation magic download in Singapore started to spring up during the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee set up a magic stall at Yaohan in Plaza Singapura and Wang Leng opened his store in Peninsula Plaza. Charles Choo opened his store in August 1978 on the 6th floor of Much East Buying Centre. (It would go many times to various malls but sooner or later returned again to Considerably East). His store would quickly turn out to be an establishment the place magicians would acquire various magic items as nicely as meet up and find out from every single other.

It was a selection haunt for a lot of magicians in the a long time to arrive till the store closed in the new millennium.

In the course of this period of time, The Tropicana Night Club, which was positioned at Pacific Plaza, was a location that experienced normal magic performances. Numerous popular magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert performed at the National Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring a hundred and fifteen to give a lecture. In that same yr, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also frequented Singapore, lectured and interacted with nearby magicians. Other browsing magicians provided Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

nineteen eighties

By the nineteen eighties, the local magic scene was flourishing with healthier memberships for the two major magic golf equipment as effectively as a surge in the variety of executing magicians. Many of present-day veterans manufactured their title 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 were carrying out frequently at general public and private exhibits during this 10 years. Well-known neighborhood venues for general public magic exhibits by magic clubs held on a typical basis at that time incorporated the Drama Centre and the Nationwide Museum Theatrette.

The popularity of magic outlets also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Music opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Area of Popular E-book Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complex. Gician Tan also opened up his first magic shop at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Square and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this main store, he distributed magic items and sets through section stores

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore viewers was also uncovered to entire world-course magic through many magic tv exhibits and series that ended up aired on neighborhood Tv including the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Ideal of Magic.

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

1990s

The commencing of this ten years noticed the introduction of the country’s third generation magicians into the neighborhood magic scene. Prominent 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 nearby chapter of Global Magicians Society was formed, founded by its President, Tan Bah Chee even though the club’s existence in Singapore was short-lived.

The late-nineties noticed a enormous surge in magic international recognition thanks to David Blaine’s street magic specials. Many individuals started to ‘get into’ magic and experienced new mediums to learn the craft this sort of as the introduction of DVDs and the Web.

A new magic store, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers shortly grew to become ‘the spot to be’ exactly where new magicians would cling out and fulfill.

In the course of this ten years, Wang Leng’s shop in Peninsula Plaza was marketed to Patrick Wan. The shop was subsequently sold to Richard Ang and is now nicely acknowledged as Ang Property of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new shop, Magic Wand, which has spawned into numerous retailers in numerous areas of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Shopping mall.

The 90s was an exciting 10 years with numerous visits and performances by popular magicians. Apart from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there ended up also community theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other checking out magicians provided Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.

2000 – Current

Magic has ongoing to flourish at the local degree in this 10 years. New possibilities and skills have emerged to elevate the artwork in Singapore. In Might 2000, J C Sum staged the initial ever local total-evening theatre show ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a month afterwards, more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada came down to Singapore as element of the Magic Competition organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians this sort of as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer done a number of exhibits at various Centrepoint Malls for more than a week.

In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was created by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line discussion board drew a new pool of magic fans with each other. SMC has since grown to above a thousand customers and routinely organize gatherings, occasions as nicely as the modern Notion:Magic Micro MAGIC Conference in January 2007.

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

The multi-million dollar manufacturing has been staged numerous times in excess of the years across the planet to spread the term of Christ. Subsequently, the very same crew structured two Global Pageant of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its kind big magic functions incorporated competitions, lectures, a dealers’ place and performances. Global performers these kinds of as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Surprise ended up booked to complete at the gala exhibits and lectures.

In recent a long time, J C Sum has turn into arguably the most distinguished Singapore magician of this era. His magic has been seen by tens of millions by means of his stay performances across Asia as well as his landmark mass media tasks on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch eight as well as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.

His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ series can presently be observed everyday on Singapore Push Holdings MediaBoxOffice through 2007. In the worldwide magic group, J C has also set up himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his three critically acclaimed illusion books that have been sold in more than thirty nations around the world to date.

Yet another talented award-profitable magician, Jeremy Pei, is elevating the profile of Singapore magic inside of the regional magic local community with his theatre shows, organized lectures, workshops and active participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His unique North-Asian influence type of magic performance has garnered him a following with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also released a number of first magic merchandise which are offered to magicians around the world.

In yet another 1st, award-profitable junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a 13-episode weekly Street Magic series, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min sequence noticed him carry out magic for the Indian local community and celebs across the nation.

This ten years has seen the introduction of even much more magic outlets and sellers run by young magicians to meet up with the desire of magic enthusiasts and magicians. These contain new ‘brick & mortar’ magic stores such as Avenue Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Tricky Organization by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Corridor by Kenneth Peh as properly as on-line shops like The Little Magic Store by Ning.