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Chung Ling-Soo

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Magician

The Resume

    (April 2, 1861-March 23, 1918)
    Born in New York City, New York
    Birth name was William Ellsworth Campbell
    Changed his name to William Ellsworth Robinson and performed as 'Robinson, the Man of Mystery'
    Died onstage when his bullet catching trick went wrong and he was actually shot

Why he might be annoying:

    He started as an assistant to two different magicians, poaching each performer's tricks for the other.
    After failing to make much of an impression as Robinson, he went to Europe and claimed to be a Chinese magician.
    His name and act were both ripped off from an actual Chinese magician, Ching Ling-Foo.
    He abandoned his wife and child in America, bigamously married his assistant and had a mistress with yet another family.
    He signed letters 'Mystically Thine.'
    A coroner's inquest concluded his death was essentially an accident waiting to happen, as his repeated disassembly of the guns used for the trick caused a mechanical failure that allowed the bullets to actually fire.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Claiming to be a Chinese magician who could not speak English and thus performed in silence was an inspired solution to his inability to master stage patter for his act.
    His rivalry with Ching Ling-Foo delighted London newspapers, which ran headlines like 'Did Foo Fool Soo?' and 'Can Soo Sue Foo?'
    He was the second highest-paid magician of his day, behind only Harry Houdini.
    After being shot, he spoke English in public for the first time in 19 years: 'My God, something's happened! Lower the curtain!'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 72.22% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 24 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying