David Bamberg

David Bamberg
As Fu Manchu on the cover of Genii (1966)
Born	February 19, 1904 Derby, England
Died	August 19, 1974 (age 70) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Resting place	Ashes scattered at Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires
Categories	Books by David Bamberg

David Bamberg (b.1904-d.1974) was the son of Theo Bamberg born in Great Britain but raised in the United States. He was the last of the seven generation family of magicians, performing under the name Fu Manchu.

Biography

In May 1916, he automatically became an American when his father become one.

He first began performing professionally with Julius Zancig (replacing Paul Rosini) in 1917 using the stage name of "Syko" (given to him by Houdini). Later, on his own, he changed to "David King".

He toured with the Raymond Show with his wife (as assistant) doing shadowgraphy.

Later, like his father, he performed in Oriental costume under the name Fu Manchu (and as Fu Chan in the U.S because of copyright infringement). He debuted as "Fu Manchu" in Buenos Aires on March 1, 1929.

He was very successful in South America and became one of the best known illusionist there.

Bamberg wrote the chapter "Stage Presentation" in Hilliard's Greater Magic

In collaboration with Edmund Spreer, he invented:

• Isis Illusion (variation of Chung Ling Soo's Mahatma Illusion)
• The Chinese Strangulation Rack, Variation on the Book of Life Illusion
• The "Little Stinkhouse"
• Fu Manchu Cremation
• Modified Triangle Illusion
• Fu Manchu Spirit Cabinet
• Canvas Covered Trunk Substitution
• The Monkey Cage (Gorilla Vanish)
• The Robot
• The Pit and the Pendulum
• The Fan Illusion
• The Chinese Bazaar
• The Geisha Illusion
• Fu Manchu Duck Vanish
• The Lantern Illusion (Atomic Woman).

Books

• Illusion Show - A Life in Magic (1988) (The autobiography of David Bamberg)
• Illusion Builder To Fu Manchu by Edmund Spreer & Robert E. Olson (1986)