Magic at War

Will Ayling was known as The Genie. This was apt, for he was both a magician and rather short in stature. He discovered magic in his late teens, learned his craft as war clouds loomed across Europe, and deployed his organisational skills to produce entertainments for war-weary troops throughout India and Burma. Post-war, he made a significant contribution to the advancement of the art, as a performer, author, collector and leading member of the magic community.     Promotional image for Will Ayling - The Genie (1954) (Source:Will Ayling) Learning magic   William Richard Ayling was born on 2 March 1914 in the port city of Portsmouth on England’s south coast.    As a youngster, Will was both ‘arty’ and a Christian. These two interests combined when he joined the drama group of a local church. He got involved in acting, writing and producing a range of entertainments. When the group put on a variety show, Ayling volunteered to find a magician to join the cast....

Mark Raffles, celebrated British magician, pioneering pickpocket entertainer and World War Two veteran, sadly passed away on 18 September 2022, aged an  incredible  100 years old. In his honour, this special blog recounts Raffles ’  life and wartime service. Becoming a professional Mark Raffles (Albert Taylor Jnr.) was born in M anchester in January 1922.* His first professional performance, aged 16, was in 1938 at the Queen's Park Hippodrome in Manchester. He adopted the stage name Ray St. Clair, much later changing this to Mark Raffles. Because of a debilitating stammer, he performed a silent magic act.  Ray St. Clair / Mark Raffles (1940s) (Source: Mark Raffles) War work in the Blitz He was only in the second year of his performing career when Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. Initially Raffles was too young for military service, but when he turned 18 years old in early 1940, the law required him to register to be called-up.  The a...

In Part Two of this blog about magician Danny Varney and the Hackney Empire, read about air-raids at the Empire and Varney’s encounters with Hitler’s V-weapons.  Danny Varney (Source: www.arthurlloyd.co.uk) Air-raids   Living in London, Danny Varney faced the dangers of German air-raids, even after the major period of bombings, known as the Blitz, ended. In 1943, he was watching a tightrope act on stage at the Hackney Empire. “The alert had sounded, but I didn't see anybody pay it any attention. Nobody left their seat. Ack Ack  [anti-aircraft]  guns were heard cracking away in the distance, but nobody bothered, we all took the chance somebody else would cop it. The performer was doing a difficult part of his routine and nearly fallen a couple of times - but always recovered - of course to build up tension. Then literally all hell broke loose! It seemed as if every gun in London had opened up on the Jerry  [German]  plane right overhead. It was a deafen...