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Frederick Culpitt

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Frederick Culpitt
BornFrederic Willis Culpitt
May 09, 1877
Camberwell, South London
DiedOctober 08, 1944 (age 67)
Balham, Greater London
CategoriesBooks by Frederick Culpitt

Frederick Culpitt (May 9, 1877 - October 8, 1944), born Frederic Willis Culpitt at Camberwell, South London was a British performer and stage manager of the Egyptian Hall. He achieved stage success in the early part of the 20th century with a comedy magic act and is also notable as the first magician to appear on a regularly scheduled television show.

Biography

His interest in magic began at the age of eight and he continued to practice this craft up until he was of an age to take on full time employment. His parents had arranged a job for Fred in the British Govt, but he declined and went the route of conjurer. Culpitt presented an act with was made up card manipulations, scarf tricks and livestock effects. He also presented a comedy turn using chapeaugraphy. He was very successful touring the Music Halls but shifted to becoming a Society Entertainer. He later became stage director at Maskelyne's St. George's Hall theatre as well as a regular performer there.

Appeared on the same bill as Chung Ling Soo in 1909 at the Tivoli in Sydney, Australia. Appearing after Soo's act Culpitt performed "A Chinese Travesty", a comical, parody of Soo's act. Soo and Culpitt became great friends, enjoying each others company in Sydney.[1]

He was a frequent contributor to The Magic Wand Quarterly and also wrote articles for The Linking Ring.

For several years he adopted the stage name Cull Pitt.

He was one of the first magicians to perform on television in 1936 when appearing on October 1st in London on the first BBC daily TV program.[2] Fred Culpitt died of a heart attack on October 8th, 1944. His wife, Jan Glenrose, was his assistant.[3][4]

Contributions to Magic

Books

References

  1. The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" by Jim Steinmeyer (2005) ISBN 0-7867-1512-X.
  2. http://www.apts.org.uk/oct-36.htm
  3. Genii Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 12, October 1997 The Most Popular Illusion in History By David Charvet, page 236
  4. Fred Culpitt - A Brief Biography By Val Andrews (2000)
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  • The Magic Circular, Vol. 39, No. 427, November 1944, Obituary, Fredric Culpitt, page 5
  • The Sphinx, Vol. 43, No. 10, November 1944, Fred Culpitt Dies, page 237
  • The Linking Ring, Vol. 24. No. 9, November 1944, Fred Culpitt Dies, page 90
  • The Magic Circular, Vol. 94, No. 1006, May 2000, A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities, by Edwin A. Dawes - 259. Fred Culpitt: Laughter, Legerdemain And The Magic Circle, page 228
  • The Magic Circular, Vol. 94, No. 1007, June 2000, A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities, by Edwin A. Dawes - 260. Fred Culpitt: Whimsical Wizard And Magic Circle Councilor, page 318
  • The Magic Circular, Vol. 94, No. 1009, August 2000, A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities, by Edwin A. Dawes - 262. Fred Culpitt: The Whimsical Wizard's Final Years, page 408
  • Bio-bibliographisches Lexikon der Zauberkünstler Edition Volker Huber, April 2002, Culpitt, Frederic Willis „Fred“ engl. Zauberkünstler (*09.05.1880 Camberwell; †08.10.1944 Balham), page 86
  • http://magicpostcards.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/frederick-culpitt-cull-pitt/