Maldino: A master illusionist uses magic to bridge between foes
The story of a German illusionist who performed for both the Germans and the British during World War Two. And whose magic helped him avoid combat and earn freedom from captivity.
Born in Germany in 1911, Friedrich Mahlo became interested in card tricks at twelve years old. His hobby helped him overcome shyness in front of his classmates.
When he was 15, his father took Friedrich to receive magic lessons from Berlin-based Friedrich Conradi, a magician and magic dealer. Conradi sped up the teenager’s learning. As he turned to adulthood, Mahlo also turned to magic full-time, becoming a professional magician in 1930. He performed as Maldino, a stage name he kept throughout his career.
Germany’s Weimar Republic suffered a deep depression following the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Mahlo took what bookings he could to make ends meet. He favoured those in other European countries where the economic crisis was not as severe as that in his home nation.
Mahlo started his career with a parlour / small stage act, which he performed silently, with musical accompaniment. The act was fast-paced, in the style of his idol Horace Goldin, an East European performer who achieved fame in the USA and UK (and popularised the sawing a woman in half illusion).
An early poster for Maldino (Friedrich Mahlo), 1931
(The Magic Circular)
After developing his craft in hotels and smaller venues, Mahlo built up an illusion act and performed in larger theatres. He originated several illusions, including one themed around an Egyptian sarcophagus (playing on the prominence of Egyptology in the 1920s and 30s).
In 1933, when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the economic crisis eased and the entertainment industry boomed.
By the mid-1930s, “the agents were clamouring for Mahlo's act, which comprised stage drops, illusions and small tricks, a nice blend and he was doing well,” said magic historian Peter Blanchard.
Another early Maldino poster
(The Magic Circular)
But Hitler’s rise to power did not benefit all Germans. The Nazis promoted boycotts of Jewish doctors, lawyers and shops from 1933, and introduced the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. These further increased marginalisation and persecution of the Jews.
Years later, in a letter to Hannes Holler (author, European Jewish Magicians 1933-1945), Mahlo wrote about the changing situation facing German Jews in the 1930s:
“It is odd: I was befriended with almost all of the Jewish magicians. They were mostly amateur then, and we met often. We never discussed politics. We performed magic. All of a sudden, they all vanished, and I didn't know why. Was I so naïve? I never realised.”
When World War Two came in 1939, the German authorities forbid Mahlo from leaving the country to perform. And, as the German war machine ramped up, they conscripted him into military service, putting a damper on his promising theatrical career. His tricks and illusions went into storage.
According to Peter Blanchard, “The magic returned when his commanding officer said… ‘I see from your records you are a magician. Can you do it in our Officers’ Club tonight?’ Mahlo replied, ‘I can do it anywhere and everywhere.’”
He put together an impromptu show and so impressed his audience, his military bosses encouraged him to fetch his props and put on a full evening show for the entire garrison. From that garrison show, Mahlo entered a new era, performing magic for Axis troops and the German public for most of the war.
Details of Mahlo’s war service are limited. It seems he remained in the Berlin area, where he lived, through to the end of the war.
In early 1945, Allied troops launched the last major offensive of the European theatre, the Battle of Berlin. Hitler committed suicide on 30 April and the city fell to Soviet troops on 2 May. The end of war in Europe was declared on 8 May (9 May in the Soviet Union).
Berlin, Germany in 1945
(Source: Creative Commons)
Mahlo survived the last months of the war but became a prisoner of war. It’s likely he was captured outside of the city, as evidence suggests he was held by the British, who didn’t occupy Berlin until July 1945. Unfortunately, in the melee, most of his props were lost.
As a POW, Mahlo sought to maintain morale by performing small displays of magic for his fellow prisoners.
Luckily, he didn’t remain a POW for long. The British Army’s welfare organisation spotted Mahlo’s magical talents and hired him to entertain German POWs who were still held in camps.
Like illusionist Horace Goldin, who started up his career again after he lost his props and money when a ship carrying them sank in Hawaii, so Mahlo worked to rebuild his career after his release from captivity.
Mahlo travelled throughout northeast Germany, the British Zone of Occupation, performing magic for his fellow countrymen. Once again, he was entertaining the German military; but this time he was working for his former foe, the British military.
In time, the British transferred his contract to the Combined Services Entertainment, a British organisation set-up to be responsible for post-war forces’ entertainment. His work transitioned from entertaining German POWs to entertaining British soldiers awaiting demobilisation or posted to remain in Germany.
This steady employment allowed Mahlo to get fresh equipment, improve his routines (and learn to perform them in English) and build more illusions.
“Mahlo described it as one of the happiest periods of his magical life,” said Blanchard.
Maldino (Friedrich Mahlo), c1950s
(The Magic Circular)
Following two years working for the British, Mahlo left to continue his magic career in Germany, Scandinavia, and other European countries.
Post-war, he was a member of both the Magischer Zirkel von Deutschland (German: Magic Circle of Germany) and the British Magic Circle. He appeared in The Magic Circle’s ‘Festival of Magic’ at London’s Scala Theatre in December 1961.
Maldino performing at The Magic Circle’s ‘Festival of Magic’, 1961
(The Magic Circular)
He married and his charming wife Mara performed as his stage assistant.
By the mid-1960s, as he entered his fifties, Mahlo performed less often but worked as a magic consultant in film and television.
After retiring from the stage, he published many papers on the history of magic and famous magicians. The Magischer Zirkel von Deutschland awarded him writer of the year in 1991.
Friedrich Mahlo, famous German illusionist and an elder in the world of magic, died in 2003, aged 91. His life in magic spanned eight decades and bridged two sides of a world at war.
Flyer billing Maldino at The Magic Circle’s ‘Festival of Magic’, 1961
(Author's collection)
If anyone has further information on Mahlo’s military service, his time as a POW, or his transition to working for the British military, please comment below or get in touch via the contact form.
Related article: ‘Kindertransport magic.’ Jewish magician and pickpocket Giovanni entertains Jewish children escaping Germany for a new life in England. Blog link
Related article: ‘Hungarian magician, Dr. Laszlo Rothbart survives Nazi concentration camp.’ Blog link.
Related article: ‘Dutch magician deported to extermination camp,’ tells the wartime story of Jewish-Dutch card magician Louis Lam. Blog link.
Research supported by The Good Magic Award from The Good Thinking Society
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