Chung Ling Soo

Chung Ling Soo ( William Ellsworth Robinson actually ) ( born April 2, 1861 in New York City; † March 23, 1918 in London) was an American artist trick.

In 1880 he gave up his job as a metalworker and started as Robinson - the Man of Mystery travel around.

In 1887, he was the magician Harry Kellar a five-year contract as a construction foreman. Then he ran a magic shop in New York. From 1893 he was foreman and mechanic at the magician Alexander Herrmann. Here he learned the show business. After Hermann's death in 1896, he led the show continues along with his nephew Leon.

After his release, he built up his own Chinese number and pretended to be a Chinese under the name of Chung Ling Soo, in reference to a famous Ching Ling Foo ( 1854-1922 ).

He was married to Suee Lakes ( Olive Robinson).

His troupe toured England, France, Germany, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and India. His most famous trick was the " moving target ". In 1918 he died in London at a screening of the ball catch, because the prepared weapon had been improperly handled. Only after his death became public that he was not Chinese.