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| Chung Ling Soo George Cooke, 1905 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
Yes, here’s another caricature by George Cooke whose clever drawings helped record the brightest stars of the Edwardian Music Halls. Without Cooke, we’d not have been given such an intimate look behind the scenes of Britain’s early Twentieth-Century stage revues and acts. Furthermore, I just like Cooke’s work. It’s bright and fun.
This one, also included in the many volumes of Cooke’s original sketches, is a caricature of Chung Ling Soo, who was known as “The Original Chinese Conjurer” or “The Marvellous Chinese Conjurer.” Cooke sketched this while Soo was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of March 17, 1905.
There was nothing remotely Chinese about the man who called himself “Chung Ling Soo.” He was, in fact, an American of Scottish descent who was really named William Elsworth Robinson—born in New York in 1861.
Robinson made a name for himself with his magic tricks and quickly adopted a “mystical” stage persona, styling himself as an Asian man originally billed “Hop Ling Soo.” Many of Robinson’s routines and tricks were “inspired” by a real Chinese conjurer called “Ching Ling Foo.” Foo worked in America, but preferred London as a home.
During this period, Asian-themed novelties were quite popular and Robinson found much success. The climax of his show involved a trick wherein Robinson, as Chung Ling Soo, caught a bullet, fired from a gun, in his teeth. It’s the sort of trick which you only need to screw up once. And, he did. After sixteen years of performing the act, one evening he missed and the bullet blew through his skull.
I wonder if the audience got a refund.
Cooke depicts Robinson in full “Chung Ling Soo” regalia. Behind him, a seascape hints at his supposedly “oriental” origins. Robinson has signed the piece in mock Asian writing. This was part of his shtick. He even used a “translator” when giving interviews.
Ah, the theatre…
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