Ernest D'Albert

Ernest D'Albert
Born	Ernest Mortimer D'Albert May 8, 1896 Bradford, York, England
Died	1966

Ernest D'Albert M.I.M.C. was a professional magician and ventriloquist who began performing in 1896, specializing in children shows.

He as a founder of the Yorkshire Magical Club and a long time member of the Bradford Magical Society.

For some years he performed on the music hall circuits during the winter and in the summer, assisted by his wife Ethel, presented at Morecambe ventriloquism, conjuring and puppetry show. He made practically every prop used in his show.

For many years he lived at Cottingley, Yorkshire, the legendary home of the Cottingley fairies. While there he produced pieces of apparatus and many ventriloquial figures, some of which are referred to in "The A.B.C. of Ventriloquism" by Douglas Craggs.

D'Albert performed with distinction at an Annual Grand Seance of the Magic Circle in the 1930s, and during the second world war appeared regularly for ENSA at service concerts.

Just as vaudeville was on the decline, he produced a magical act in which he played the part of a racecourse bookmaker laying the odds.