$300
Houdini, Harry. Full Length Photograph of Houdini and Ching Ling Foo. [Brighton Beach], 1913. Reportedly taken by Theo Bamberg (Okito) in Brighton Beach, in front of the theatre where Foo was performing. Evidence of scrapbook mounting on verso, not affecting image. 5 x 7”. Very good. Ching Ling Foo, court conjurer to the Empress of China, was born in Peking in 1854 and died about 1922. He performed with great success in the United States, South Africa, and Europe. So-called “Oriental” magic became so popular as a result of Ching’s success in the West that various western conjurors adopted Chinese identities for their performing personas, including William Ellsworth Robinson, who achieved fame as Chung Ling Soo.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2016-04-09
