Colonel Stodare

Colonel Stodare (June 28, 1831 - 1866) born Joseph Stoddart in Liverpool, England, was a ventriloquist and magician who entertained the Royal family at Windsor. He used the title "Colonel" to suggest an adventurer or explorer of foreign mysteries. Some references also list him as being born Jack Inglis in Scotland and Alfred English.

Biography

He went to London in 1865, working in opposition to John Henry Anderson.

He first appeared at the Egyptian Hall under the name Colonel Stodare, on Easter Monday, April 17, 1865.

On October 16, 1865, on Stodare's 200th appearance at the Egyptian Hall, he presented for the first time his Sphinx Illusion, invented by Thomas Tobin.

He died at the height of his success after suffering a fatal hemorrhage of the lungs. His brother, Alfred, continued his show, as well as his widow as "Madame Stodare".

Quotes

"The conjurer demonstrates that things are not always what they seem. Therein lies his philosophy." -- Colonel Stodare

Inventions and featured illusions

• Stodare Egg - a hollow egg used in vanish or production of a silk. Alexander Herrmann called the "Kling Klang" trick.
• The Indian Basket, using the Tip-Over Trunk principle
• Sphinx Illusion

Publications

• Handbook of Magic (1862)
• The New Handy Book of Magic (1865)
• Stodare's Fly Notes (1865)
• The Art of Magic (1865)
• Hindu Basket (1866)
• Routledge's Every Boy's Annual By Edmund Routledge included Stodare's Fly Notes as a chapter (1867)

References

• Stanyon's Magic, September 1901, Vol 1, No. 12. (cover)
• Hiding the Elephant, Steinmeyer
• STODARE, THE ENIGMA VARIATIONS by Edwin Dawes
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10591
• Linking Ring August, 1930 (cover)