Paul Vandy

Paul Vandy
Born	Charles Edward Maynard
Nationality	English
Flourished	1894 - 1950

Paul Vandy, the juggling magician, was a prolific performer from around 1894 to 1950.

Often billed as "The Jocular Juggler", he was primarily a juggler but gained notoriety as a magician as well. He was the highest paid specialist act on record when he agreed to tour South Africa at the turn of the century.

When he started out he was represented by Tom Coleno of Nottingham. His performances branched from the music hall circuits of the UK to Europe, America and South Africa.

Vandy was one of the owners of the Accrington Hippodrome (prior to it burning down circa 1908), the Valentines Agency, the Magical Pastimes Co and Vandy's Magic Saloon (West Pier, Brighton).

Reading the "English Notes" column within The Sphinx, you can tracked his progress as a performer. In August 1904, we see that he was appearing at "the Grand" as "a very smart Juggler" and had started "introducing a little conjuring in his act." In April 1909, we find Vandy starring on the same bill as Annie Abbott at the Hippodrome Accrington and by May 1909, Vandy's act was declared "a clever sleight-of-hand and juggling show, fully merits the hearty applause bestowed upon him by the patrons of the Hippodrome, Huddersfield.".

Vandy's novelty act at the The Tivoli, Manchester on July 7, 1913 was fully described in Magical World, New Series (July 1913) and ended with "An excellent act and brilliant showmanship".

Paul Vandy appeared at Maskelyne's Theatre of Mystery (1923) and owned a magical depot at 156 Western road, Brighton. His dealer's house organ of general interest was Conjuring was published in in 1914 for at least one issue.