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Rival Chinese magicians Chung Ling Soo & Ching Ling Foo
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Rival Chinese magicians Chung Ling Soo & Ching Ling Foo
Rival Chinese magicians, Chung Ling Soo (real name, Billy Robinson) seen top putting his wife Suee Seen (aka Olive or Dot ) into a cannon as part of his act at the London Hippodrome. Bottom picture shows Ching Ling Foo who Billy Robinson copied, much to Ching Ling Foos irritation. Ching Ling Foo is pictured surrounded by his assistants, some of whom were family members, when he was performing his rival act at the Empire Theatre, just a few yards away from the Hippodrome. In 1918, Chung Ling Soo/Billy Robinson, while performing a bullet trick at the Wood Green Empire. Date: 1905
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Media ID 23274966
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Billy Cannon Ching Chung Conjuror Conjurors Hippodrome Ling Magician Magicians Nov19 Rival Rivalry Rivals Robinson Turn Variety Vaudeville
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing photograph captures a moment of intense rivalry between two Chinese magicians, Chung Ling Soo (real name, Billy Robinson) and Ching Ling Foo, who captivated audiences in London's bustling vaudeville and variety scene in the early 1900s. In the top image, Chung Ling Soo is seen putting his wife, Suee Seen (also known as Olive or Dot), into a cannon as part of his act at the prestigious London Hippodrome. The bottom image shows Ching Ling Foo, who was the inspiration for Chung Ling Soo's act, performing surrounded by his assistants, some of whom were family members, at the Empire Theatre, just a few yards away from the Hippodrome. Chung Ling Soo, a master of illusion and deception, gained notoriety by closely imitating Ching Ling Foo's act, much to the latter's irritation. Ching Ling Foo, an accomplished magician in his own right, was known for his bullet-catching tricks and other death-defying feats. The intense competition between these two magicians added an extra layer of excitement to their performances, drawing large crowds to their shows. The date on this photograph is 1905, and the image of Chung Ling Soo performing a bullet trick at the Wood Green Empire in 1918 further illustrates the long-standing rivalry between these two Chinese magicians. The photograph provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of early 20th-century magic and the intense competition that drove these entertainers to push the boundaries of their art.
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