Charles Bertram | |
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Born | 26 April 1853 |
Died | 28 February 1907 | (aged 53)
Occupation | Magician |
Charles Bertram (26 April 1853 – 28 February 1907) was a British magician known as "The Royal Conjurer" as he performed for royalty. [1] [2]
Bertram was born James Bassett in Woolwich, it is suspected that he adopted the name of Charles Bertram (1723-1765). [3] [4] He was a favourite of King Edward VII who he performed for 22 times. [1]
He also performed many times at Maskelyne and Cooke's entertainment shows at the Egyptian Hall. [1] [5]
Bertram travelled to Australia, Canada, China, India and many other countries. His experiences were recorded in his book A Magician in Many Lands. [1]
Magician P. C. Sorcar has noted that Bertram "was a very accomplished English magician. He coined the famous magical catch-phrase, "Isn't it Wonderful?". [6]
According to L. H. Branson whilst growing up, Bertram had taught him conjuring tricks. Branson wrote that he went to his "house one afternoon a week, and I was duly initiated into the double-handed pass, single-handed pass, palming cards, billiard balls — in short, the gamut of which a conjurer should know." [7]
Bertram wrote about the history of magic in his book Isn't it Wonderful? A History of Magic and Mystery (1896). The book was criticized by Harry Houdini who wrote it was "marred by mis-statements which even the humblest of magicians could refute." [8]
He died of cancer at Streatham in 1907. [9]
Charles Bertram | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 26 April 1853 |
Died | 28 February 1907 | (aged 53)
Occupation | Magician |
Charles Bertram (26 April 1853 – 28 February 1907) was a British magician known as "The Royal Conjurer" as he performed for royalty. [1] [2]
Bertram was born James Bassett in Woolwich, it is suspected that he adopted the name of Charles Bertram (1723-1765). [3] [4] He was a favourite of King Edward VII who he performed for 22 times. [1]
He also performed many times at Maskelyne and Cooke's entertainment shows at the Egyptian Hall. [1] [5]
Bertram travelled to Australia, Canada, China, India and many other countries. His experiences were recorded in his book A Magician in Many Lands. [1]
Magician P. C. Sorcar has noted that Bertram "was a very accomplished English magician. He coined the famous magical catch-phrase, "Isn't it Wonderful?". [6]
According to L. H. Branson whilst growing up, Bertram had taught him conjuring tricks. Branson wrote that he went to his "house one afternoon a week, and I was duly initiated into the double-handed pass, single-handed pass, palming cards, billiard balls — in short, the gamut of which a conjurer should know." [7]
Bertram wrote about the history of magic in his book Isn't it Wonderful? A History of Magic and Mystery (1896). The book was criticized by Harry Houdini who wrote it was "marred by mis-statements which even the humblest of magicians could refute." [8]
He died of cancer at Streatham in 1907. [9]