Further WW2-themed magic tricks

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In this post, we discover three further examples of war-themed tricks invented by magicians to keep their acts topical for audiences and capture the national mood during World War Two. 

Cheeri-Boo

‘Cheeri-Boo’ was manufactured and sold by London-based magic dealer Lewis Davenport & Co. The performer shows a set of coloured cards (roughly A4/US Letter size). When cards of leading Nazis Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Goering are shown, the audience is encouraged to “Boo!”. When pictures of HM King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Winston Churchill are shown, the audience cheers. To cause some mischief, the magician makes Hitler’s trademark moustache disappear, before making it reappear and move around the dictator’s face in a comical fashion.

An example of the ‘Cheeri-Boo’ cards hand-painted by Laurie
(Source: Author’s collection) 

Advert (extract) for ‘Cheeri-Boo’ by Lewis Davenport & Co in The Demon Telegraph.
(Source: Courtesy the Davenport family, with permission)  

Gas Mask to Gas Bag


During World War Two, the public in the United Kingdom were strongly recommended to carry a gas-mask, in case German bombs contained poisonous gases. Gas masks were issued to everyone and became a commonplace item. Leveraging their ubiquitous nature, magician ‘Wizardways’ invented the ‘Gas-Mask to Gas-Bag’ trick, which was marketed by magic dealer Lewis Davenport & Co.

An original version of the ‘Gas-Mask to Gas-Bag’ trick
(Source: Author)

Probably designed as the first trick in an act, the magician enters the stage carrying a gas mask. He or she explains that a problem with gas masks is that you can’t talk when wearing one and can’t conjure while holding one. To resolve this problem, with a magical flourish, the magician turns the gas mask into a small bust of German leader, Adolf Hitler.  Hitler’s vitriolic Nazi speeches are parodied by referring to his effigy as a ‘gas bag’ (i.e. someone prone to excessive talking)!


An advert for the ‘Gas Mask to Gas Bag’ trick from The Demon Telegraph

(Source: Courtesy the Davenport family, with permission)  



Newsweek War Bond Poster

 

Several war-themed magic tricks promoted campaigns by national governments to encourage their populations to buy war bonds. People and organisations bought war bonds to help fund the war effort, with the promise that the value of the bond would be repaid after the war ended. 

In the ‘Newsweek War Bond Poster’ trick (actual name unknown), a magician shows their audience a copy of the American weekly new magazine, Newsweek. With a magical flourish, the magazine doubles in size. Another magical flourish doubles the size of the magazine again. Finally, the magazine (which is now poster size) is turned around to reveal a poster extolling the need to “Buy War Bonds”.

 

An example of the ‘Newsweek War Bond Poster’
(Source: Author’s collection) 

To learn more about magicians helping the U.S. and U.K. governments sell war bonds, read Making Money Appear!

Research supported by The Good Magic Award from The Good Thinking Society.



*** AVAILABLE NOW ***



The Colditz Conjurer tells the amazing true story of Flight Lieutenant Vincent ‘Bush’ Parker, Battle of Britain pilot and prisoner-of-war magician.

Written by the Magic at War team, The Colditz Conjurer is a remarkable tale of perseverance, courage and cunning in the face of adversity. It features over 55 original photographs and maps. 129 pages.


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