The Silence of Chung Ling Soo Edited by Todd Karr Published 2001 488 pages Over 125 illustrations 8-page color section featuring 40 Soo posters Cover design by Katlyn Breene Introductory essay by Jim Steinmeyer Through this collection, we can fully appreciate Robinson’s creativity and insights into the world of magic, making his legacy clearer for all. — Jim SteinmeyerThis captivating compilation delves into the life of the iconic Chung Ling Soo, the stage persona of William E. Robinson from New York. It showcases over fifty remarkable close-up and stage effects, forty stunning color posters, and more than fifty letters exchanged between Robinson and Houdini. Additionally, it includes Robinson’s insightful writings, a complete reprint of his rare work, Spirit Slate Writing and Kindred Phenomena, along with programs, reviews, biographical sketches, rare photographs, and memorabilia.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION by Todd Karr SKETCHING ROBINSON’S CRYSTAL LANTERN by Jim Steinmeyer WORDS BY WILLIAM E. ROBINSON The Art of Magic Wrinkles on Magic Alexander Herrmann Indian Jugglery How It Happened Can Such Things Be? MAN OF MYSTERY Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Robinson Billy Robinson Walter B. Gibson Marvellous Chinese Conjurer Ellis Stanyon Australia The Silent Performance The Wizard Thurston Howard Thurston Bamboo Blossom THE CHALLENGE DEAR FRIEND HOUDINI An Impression of Chung Ling Soo Houdini Ching Ling Foo and Chung Ling Soo Houdini Conjurers’ Monthly Magazine MYSTERIES Aerial Fishing Animated Cork Astarte Birth of the Pearl Black Art Chinese Magic The Coin, Handkerchief and Ring Trick The Rice Bowls and Mystic Coin The Magic Coin Box Gold or Silver? The Floating Coin The Chinese “Miser’s Dream” Chung Ling Soo Coin and String Crystal Casket Defying the Bullets Disappearing Demon Dream of Wealth Drum Production A Few Card Tricks A Few Coin Tricks Fire Balloon Flying Handkerchiefs Goddess of Wine Gone Linking Rings The Chinese Rings A Chung Ling Soo Method Magic Cauldron Mysteries of the Mind, or Mental Magic Mysterious Sum New? Old? Card Trick New Thought Card Sleights Odds and Ends Old Tricks Rice Bowls The “Best of All” Rice Bowls The New Rice Bowls Rising Cards Sugar Stick Trick Target Illusion Vanish in Mid-Air Varied Mysteries The Orange Tree New Method of Getting Flowers into Cone Improved Finger Through Penny The Best Watch-box MARVELLOUS CHINESE CONJURER July 7, 1900 November 1903 May 14, 1906 Ca. 1906 January 1908 1908 April 10, 1909 July 17, 1909 February 25, 1911 April 8, 1911 February 21, 1914 January 23, 1915 July 31, 1915 1915 March 18, 1918 SILENCE Silence Chung Ling Soo by One Who Knew Him A FEW OF ROBINSON’S NEW IDEAS EXTRAORDINARY MYSTICAL NOVELTIES SPIRIT SLATE WRITING AND KINDRED PHENOMENA Preface 1. The Single Slate 2. The Double Slate 3. Miscellaneous Slate Tests 4. Mind Reading and Kindred Phenomena 5. Table Lifting and Spirit Rapping 6. Spiritualistic Ties 7. Post tests, Handcuffs, Spirit Collars, etc. 8. Séances and Miscellaneous Spirit Tricks 9. Miscellaneous Tricks Index to Spirit Slate Writing

REVIEWS

The Miracle Factory has delivered yet another exquisite, engaging, and practical book. The Silence of Chung Ling Soo boasts exceptional production quality and intriguing content. I highly recommend it. — Michael Close, Magic