[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
39
then sacked right away. Webb was brought forward, and the moment he heard Chung speak, he
said:- Oh, then you are not a Chinaman, after all. Chung got cross and threatened to punch Webb
on the nose. He was foolish, had he known it, but we will let that pass. Webb had nothing to apolo-
gise for, and stood his ground. Then Chung called on the Manager to sack Webb. This the Manager
had not the authority to do that right being invested in the Conductor of the Orchestra. The Con-
ductor expressed his willingness to dismiss Webb that very second, provided Ching would replace
him, viz:- get as good an Oboe player to take his place right away, for the Conductor refused to con-
duct the Orchestra minus an Oboe. Everybody was talking at once, and the audience was getting
restless, when the Manager explained to Soo that he was laying himself open to a prosecution for
nonfulfilment of his contract. Webb went back to his seat, and Soo went on with his show. Soo still
pressed for his dismissal, but was not successful. All this happened a year or two before Soo was
shot, and he used to look at me very old fashioned when I chatted to him about his Band parts; for
HE never told the story of the Oboe player. Soo. If there is one instrument you like more than an-
other it is the Oboe. I m not saying I like the Oboe." Oh, you should; for it is lovely to punch Oboe
player s noses. Whatcher mean? I meant nothing. Then he would screw his eyes up Chinaman
fashion, and look steadily at me. He suspected, but hoped I did not know. It was an incident that did
not redound to his credit.
CARLTON. There are quite a number of stories Carlton does not tell in his book, and the following
is rather an exciting one. Late one night, Carlton was crossing Westminster Bridge with the con-
jurer who was doing the three one hour stunts. It would he unfair to mention his name, for he is still
with us, and doing his best. Carlton was minding him, for he was in trouble, and was very dis-
tressed. When they got to St. Thomas s Hospital, the conjurer determined to commit Suicide, and
ran down the double lot of stairs to the water. Carlton was quickly after him, but the nearer Carlton
got the further he went into the water. Now, Carlton had his living to get, and suit of clothes were
not exactly four a penny so he hurried out of the water and found a Policeman. The Policeman did
not seem to care a bit whether a man was drowning or not, for it was not on his beat. Anyhow, Carl-
ton made him come along. The conjurer was just finishing his prayers when they rounded him up,
and got him out.
Then the Policeman wanted to charge him with attempting to commit suicide, but Carlton saved
that by threatening to give evidence in regard to the slowness of his coming to the rescue. Then
Carlton never lost his grip, and saw him home. There others took charge, and all was well.
Carlton was not exactly afflicted with shyness in his early days. In a Midland town he stood in the
road, and when a tram came along he raised his hand. When the Car stopped he struck a match on it,
lit his cigarette, and then signalled the tram to go on.
He put me up to a stunt that caused a terrific lot of merriment. In all seriousness, I would go up to a
Policeman, and ask him if he could direct me to Phrase Street.
They had no book of streets in the old days, so would stop and think it out. To help them I would ex-
plain that I had been told that it was near Crase Road. The repetition of Phrase Street and Crase
Road, and then purposely muddling it by saying Crase Street and Phrase Road, caused no end of
fun; but you must keep quite serious all the time to save trouble.
40
As was my custom, I gathered the forces, and went over to the Canterbury Music Hall to give him a
send off when he first put on his comical card act. I believe his wage was £6 for the week. I wonder
how many times it has been multiplied since then.
By the way; Garland claimed to have started Carlton. Garland once kept a Cigar shop when Carlton
was a telegraph boy. He brought the wires re engagements, and Garland showed him tricks which
got him interested in magic.
SWANK MEMO. I am pleased to write that my Memo: skit on the Can do it all Pro, (and which
was reviewed to the extent of half a column in the Daily Express of 20th. April, 1915) has been cop-
ied by many. I take this opportunity to thank them for the compliment.
HAT COIL STOPS TRAFFIC. Also, many have claimed to be the chief actors in this incident,
but not until the exploit was common knowledge. My partner in that great commotion was a man
named Tommy Linden, (or Tom West) a man whose daring was greater than his cleverness as a
conjurer. I was posting a letter at Charing Cross, when I pulled a hat coil out of my pocket. Tom pre-
tended to start it. Quickly seeing the possible humour, I dared him to pull it across the road.
Yes; if you will hold it. Right; I will. He took the end from the middle of the coil, and walked
straight across the road. The bus drivers pulled their horses up on their haunches, so they should not
run over the measuring tape, (as they thought) and the point policeman signalled like a lunatic to
stop all traffic. Up and down traffic was stopped, and the congestion was great. Then both Tommy
and I had got to the end of our daring when we stood one on each side of the Strand with a twiddly
strip of paper connecting us, and hundreds of people watching to see what we were going to do.
Tom let go, and walked straight on. I broke the coil off, put the wound part into my pocket, and then
jumped into the traffic to join Tommy well up the Strand. The point Policeman was in too great a
mess with the traffic to give chase; so it ended quite all right.
MISS LETTY LIND. When I read in the papers of this lady s death, it recalled to my memory the
day I was sent to the Gaiety Theatre, with strict instructions not to come back to Edison House with-
out her. We returned in a handsom cab.
SIR CHARLES HAWTREY. This gentleman was a frequent visitor to No. 9 Duke Street, but not
from a magical point of view. His friend was above us.
BARCLAY GAMMON. On several occasions I had the pleasure of working with this gentleman, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
39
then sacked right away. Webb was brought forward, and the moment he heard Chung speak, he
said:- Oh, then you are not a Chinaman, after all. Chung got cross and threatened to punch Webb
on the nose. He was foolish, had he known it, but we will let that pass. Webb had nothing to apolo-
gise for, and stood his ground. Then Chung called on the Manager to sack Webb. This the Manager
had not the authority to do that right being invested in the Conductor of the Orchestra. The Con-
ductor expressed his willingness to dismiss Webb that very second, provided Ching would replace
him, viz:- get as good an Oboe player to take his place right away, for the Conductor refused to con-
duct the Orchestra minus an Oboe. Everybody was talking at once, and the audience was getting
restless, when the Manager explained to Soo that he was laying himself open to a prosecution for
nonfulfilment of his contract. Webb went back to his seat, and Soo went on with his show. Soo still
pressed for his dismissal, but was not successful. All this happened a year or two before Soo was
shot, and he used to look at me very old fashioned when I chatted to him about his Band parts; for
HE never told the story of the Oboe player. Soo. If there is one instrument you like more than an-
other it is the Oboe. I m not saying I like the Oboe." Oh, you should; for it is lovely to punch Oboe
player s noses. Whatcher mean? I meant nothing. Then he would screw his eyes up Chinaman
fashion, and look steadily at me. He suspected, but hoped I did not know. It was an incident that did
not redound to his credit.
CARLTON. There are quite a number of stories Carlton does not tell in his book, and the following
is rather an exciting one. Late one night, Carlton was crossing Westminster Bridge with the con-
jurer who was doing the three one hour stunts. It would he unfair to mention his name, for he is still
with us, and doing his best. Carlton was minding him, for he was in trouble, and was very dis-
tressed. When they got to St. Thomas s Hospital, the conjurer determined to commit Suicide, and
ran down the double lot of stairs to the water. Carlton was quickly after him, but the nearer Carlton
got the further he went into the water. Now, Carlton had his living to get, and suit of clothes were
not exactly four a penny so he hurried out of the water and found a Policeman. The Policeman did
not seem to care a bit whether a man was drowning or not, for it was not on his beat. Anyhow, Carl-
ton made him come along. The conjurer was just finishing his prayers when they rounded him up,
and got him out.
Then the Policeman wanted to charge him with attempting to commit suicide, but Carlton saved
that by threatening to give evidence in regard to the slowness of his coming to the rescue. Then
Carlton never lost his grip, and saw him home. There others took charge, and all was well.
Carlton was not exactly afflicted with shyness in his early days. In a Midland town he stood in the
road, and when a tram came along he raised his hand. When the Car stopped he struck a match on it,
lit his cigarette, and then signalled the tram to go on.
He put me up to a stunt that caused a terrific lot of merriment. In all seriousness, I would go up to a
Policeman, and ask him if he could direct me to Phrase Street.
They had no book of streets in the old days, so would stop and think it out. To help them I would ex-
plain that I had been told that it was near Crase Road. The repetition of Phrase Street and Crase
Road, and then purposely muddling it by saying Crase Street and Phrase Road, caused no end of
fun; but you must keep quite serious all the time to save trouble.
40
As was my custom, I gathered the forces, and went over to the Canterbury Music Hall to give him a
send off when he first put on his comical card act. I believe his wage was £6 for the week. I wonder
how many times it has been multiplied since then.
By the way; Garland claimed to have started Carlton. Garland once kept a Cigar shop when Carlton
was a telegraph boy. He brought the wires re engagements, and Garland showed him tricks which
got him interested in magic.
SWANK MEMO. I am pleased to write that my Memo: skit on the Can do it all Pro, (and which
was reviewed to the extent of half a column in the Daily Express of 20th. April, 1915) has been cop-
ied by many. I take this opportunity to thank them for the compliment.
HAT COIL STOPS TRAFFIC. Also, many have claimed to be the chief actors in this incident,
but not until the exploit was common knowledge. My partner in that great commotion was a man
named Tommy Linden, (or Tom West) a man whose daring was greater than his cleverness as a
conjurer. I was posting a letter at Charing Cross, when I pulled a hat coil out of my pocket. Tom pre-
tended to start it. Quickly seeing the possible humour, I dared him to pull it across the road.
Yes; if you will hold it. Right; I will. He took the end from the middle of the coil, and walked
straight across the road. The bus drivers pulled their horses up on their haunches, so they should not
run over the measuring tape, (as they thought) and the point policeman signalled like a lunatic to
stop all traffic. Up and down traffic was stopped, and the congestion was great. Then both Tommy
and I had got to the end of our daring when we stood one on each side of the Strand with a twiddly
strip of paper connecting us, and hundreds of people watching to see what we were going to do.
Tom let go, and walked straight on. I broke the coil off, put the wound part into my pocket, and then
jumped into the traffic to join Tommy well up the Strand. The point Policeman was in too great a
mess with the traffic to give chase; so it ended quite all right.
MISS LETTY LIND. When I read in the papers of this lady s death, it recalled to my memory the
day I was sent to the Gaiety Theatre, with strict instructions not to come back to Edison House with-
out her. We returned in a handsom cab.
SIR CHARLES HAWTREY. This gentleman was a frequent visitor to No. 9 Duke Street, but not
from a magical point of view. His friend was above us.
BARCLAY GAMMON. On several occasions I had the pleasure of working with this gentleman, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]