Chung Ling Soo
20x30, AKA William Ellsworth Robinson, Chung Ling Soo
was the stage name of William Ellsworth Robinson (1861–1918), an American magician who gained fame by impersonating a Chinese magician. The poster is a reproduction of an original from circa 1908. Robinson adopted the persona of a Chinese man in 1900 after an authentic Chinese magician named Ching Ling Foo achieved success in Europe and America.
Some key facts about Chung Ling Soo and his career include:
The Persona As Chung Ling Soo, Robinson never spoke on stage and used an interpreter in interviews, carefully maintaining the illusion that he was a Chinese man who did not speak English. His wife and assistant, "Suee Seen," was also an American woman.
Feud A rivalry developed between Chung Ling Soo and the real Chinese magician, Ching Ling Foo, who called Robinson an impostor. A proposed public challenge to expose Robinson as a fraud fell apart when the public and press showed more interest in Robinson's persona than his true identity.
Tragic Death Chung Ling Soo's most famous act was a bullet-catching trick called "Condemned to Death by the Boxers". In 1918, during a performance in London, the trick went wrong due to a malfunction in the musket, and he was fatally shot. The final words he spoke on stage, breaking his persona for the first and last time, were "Oh my God. Something's happened. Lower the curtain"
was the stage name of William Ellsworth Robinson (1861–1918), an American magician who gained fame by impersonating a Chinese magician. The poster is a reproduction of an original from circa 1908. Robinson adopted the persona of a Chinese man in 1900 after an authentic Chinese magician named Ching Ling Foo achieved success in Europe and America.
Some key facts about Chung Ling Soo and his career include:
The Persona As Chung Ling Soo, Robinson never spoke on stage and used an interpreter in interviews, carefully maintaining the illusion that he was a Chinese man who did not speak English. His wife and assistant, "Suee Seen," was also an American woman.
Feud A rivalry developed between Chung Ling Soo and the real Chinese magician, Ching Ling Foo, who called Robinson an impostor. A proposed public challenge to expose Robinson as a fraud fell apart when the public and press showed more interest in Robinson's persona than his true identity.
Tragic Death Chung Ling Soo's most famous act was a bullet-catching trick called "Condemned to Death by the Boxers". In 1918, during a performance in London, the trick went wrong due to a malfunction in the musket, and he was fatally shot. The final words he spoke on stage, breaking his persona for the first and last time, were "Oh my God. Something's happened. Lower the curtain"
After Restoration
Demounted/Remounted
Before
Procedures
Poster was washed with water and Orvus, and then mounted to linen and masa with water soluble adhesive. Restoration was performed using airbrush, watercolor, and colored pencil.Disclaimer
The object and/or subject of this report is private property. This page is for informational purposes only. Unless clearly stated otherwise, all conservation and restoration has been performed by Poster Mountain (PM) or Los Angeles Paper Group (LAPG)I) PM-LAPG has not knowingly withheld any significant information from its evaluation report and to the best of its knowledge all statements and evaluations in this report are true and correct.
II) PM-LAPG stated in the Evaluation Report its own personal, unbiased and professional analysis, opinions and conclusions, which are subject to the assumptions and limited conditions in this evaluation report as set forth hereinabove.
III) PM-LAPG has no present or prospective interests in the property which is the subject matter of this report and it has no present or prospective personal interests or bias with respect to the participants in this matter.
IV) PM-LAPG and its employment and/or compensation for performing this evaluation or any future anticipated evaluation was not conditioned on any agreement or understanding, written or otherwise, that it would report (or present analysis in support) as predetermined specific authenticity, a predetermined evaluation that favors the cause of any party or the attainment of any specific result or occurrence of a specific subsequent event, such as value or marketability.
V) PM-LAPG prepared all opinions and conclusions about the subject property that were set forth in this Evaluation Report. If it has relied on significant evaluation assistance from any individual or individuals in the performance of this evaluation or the appropriation of this evaluation report, PM-LAPG has named such individuals and disclosed the specific task performed in this evaluation report. PM-LAPG certifies that any individual so named is qualified to the same extent as PM to perform the task. PM-LAPG has not authorized anyone to make a change to any item in this evaluation report, therefore, any change made to this evaluation is unauthorized and PM-LAPG will not take responsibility for it.
VI) The Client may not disclose or distribute this Evaluation Report to any potential purchasers of the subject property without first obtaining PM-LAPG's prior written consent. This consent must be obtained before this evaluation report may be disclosed or distributed to any other party, including, but not limited to, the public through advertising, public relations, news, sales, or other media.