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[[File: OttokarFischer1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Ottokar Fischer]]]]
[[File: Tampa1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Tampa]]]]
'''Ottokar Fischer''' (1873 - 1940) was was an Austrian magician, who wrote [[J. N. Hofzinser's Card Conjuring]].
 
'''Tampa''' (b.1887-d.1939) was born Raymond Stanley Sugden in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Ottokar Fischer was born in Leschan, a small village in Mähren, Austria (now Lešany, CZ), to Josef Fischer und Christine Fischer (born Večera). In 1891 he was married to Barbara Eiböck (1875-1938), they had a son (Dr. Otto Fischer).
He became a professional magician at the age of 30, performing a Chinese act with magician Ray Hartman in the "Chau Tung Mysteries". When Hartman was drafted, Sugden started performing with his wife and two sons under the name "Sugden the Magician". In 1925, Sugden changed his billing to "Sugden England's Court Magician". He was friends with [[Harry Kellar]], [[Houdini]], and [[Howard Thurston]]. He assisted Thurston in the planning of illusions such as his "Ghost in the Blue Room", "Beauty", and "East Indian Rope Trick". He also built effects for Thurston including a version of the "Spirit Painting" effect.
 
In 1883 his parents moved to Vienna, where he saw [[Charles Arbre]], [[Herman Mellini]], [[Ben Ali Bey]], and other noted performers. He gave his own first public performance at age 18.  


Fischer studied with A. Fredmar, who claimed to be the successor of [[Compars Herrmann]]. In 1895 Fischer met [[George Heubeck]], who was one of the pupils of [[J. N. Hofzinser]]. Heubeck taught Fischer all of Hofzinser's effects he knew.  
Howard Thurston signed Sugden to a ten year contract on November 2, 1925. In 1926, he traveled with a full evening show under Howard Thurston as "Tampa England's Court Magician". In 1929, the stock market crashed and everything came to a halt for the world of entertainment. Thurston was barely keeping his company paid. He couldn't keep the Tampa show booked, so Ray started to find bookings on his own. Thurston only saw that Sugden was taking business away, not helping to keep the "Thurston" name in the public's mind. Sugden suggested that they part company and end the contract. Thurston kept delaying inevitable.  


[[Ottokar Fischer|Read more about Ottokar Fischer…]]
[[Tampa|Read more about Tampa…]]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 25 August 2024

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Tampa (b.1887-d.1939) was born Raymond Stanley Sugden in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.

Biography

He became a professional magician at the age of 30, performing a Chinese act with magician Ray Hartman in the "Chau Tung Mysteries". When Hartman was drafted, Sugden started performing with his wife and two sons under the name "Sugden the Magician". In 1925, Sugden changed his billing to "Sugden England's Court Magician". He was friends with Harry Kellar, Houdini, and Howard Thurston. He assisted Thurston in the planning of illusions such as his "Ghost in the Blue Room", "Beauty", and "East Indian Rope Trick". He also built effects for Thurston including a version of the "Spirit Painting" effect.

Howard Thurston signed Sugden to a ten year contract on November 2, 1925. In 1926, he traveled with a full evening show under Howard Thurston as "Tampa England's Court Magician". In 1929, the stock market crashed and everything came to a halt for the world of entertainment. Thurston was barely keeping his company paid. He couldn't keep the Tampa show booked, so Ray started to find bookings on his own. Thurston only saw that Sugden was taking business away, not helping to keep the "Thurston" name in the public's mind. Sugden suggested that they part company and end the contract. Thurston kept delaying inevitable.

Read more about Tampa…