Tampa

Tampa (November 7, 1888 - July 20, 1939) was born Raymond Stanley Sugden in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. By the age of six he was doing a mental act in his backyard for the neighborhood. During the 1907-08 season he was a pitcher for the Carnegie Tech baseball team. After seeing his first real magician, Harry Kellar, he would follow the lure of magic for the rest of his life.

Early Career

He became a professional magician at the age of 30, performing a Chinese act as "Sugden, the Magician" with his wife and two sons. He had become friends with Harry Kellar, Houdini, and Howard Thurston. He even assisted Thurston in the planning of illusions such as his "Ghost in the Blue Room."

Tampa

In 1926, he traveled with a full evening show under Howard Thurston as "Tampa England's Court Magician".

When the 1930s arrived, vaudeville was on the way out and Tampa started a tent show. By then end of that year, Tampa entered into a contract with the Hankey Baking Company to present a radio program, "Tampa, England's Court Magician and the Musical Hankey Farm Bakers." Tampa exposed bunco games, spoke on palmestry and astrology, writing the script himself.

Later Career

In 1934, he became associated with The Pittsburgh Press as their "Ambassador of good will," working in the circulation department. He continued his association with the Press until he succumbed, after a long illness, of coronary heart disease.

Honors and Awards

• The IBM Ring 13 in Pittsburgh is now known as the Tampa Ring, which Raymond was a member.

Books

• Tampa - England's Court Magician by Gary R. Frank (2002)
• Sugden The Magician by Gary R. Frank (2008)

References

• http://www.miraclefactory.net/mpt/view.php?id=86&type=articles