Magic at War

A double-bill blog post, telling the stories of V.J. Astor and Yrus, two magicians who were captured during World War Two and who managed to escape and make it back home. V. J. Astor Hungarian Victor Jamnitzky (1922-2011) became interested in magic aged 8, but was persuaded to pursue a career in medicine by his father. He began to study medicine in Budapest in 1941, working part-time at a theatre to pay for his studies. But, his passion for magic prevailed and he dropped out of university. He passed a state examination to become a registered artiste and starting working as a magician full-time.  Adopting the stage name 'Nicoletti', Jamnitzky enjoyed early success, touring central Europe, including bookings at Berlin's prestigious Wintergarten and Scala variety theatres.  In 1944, fearing Hungary might conclude a separate peace with the Allies, Hitler's Germany occupied Jamnitzky's home country. At the same time, the Soviets were advancing towards Hungary's borde...

Ming Chow (translated as 'The Light-fingered One') was a fabulous pickpocket-comedy magician. In real-life, he was Bertram Otto, a British performer and one of the most successful and highly paid after-dinner entertainers in London.  With the onset of World War Two, Bertie Otto signed up with the Entertainment National Service Association, known as E.N.S.A. This was a wartime organisation established to provide entertainment to the British armed forces, at home and abroad. He was appointed as the manager of the  Lucky Dip  concert party and put in charge of group of eight or nine fellow performers.  " Bertie was an excellent manager, very responsible and sensitive, despite being in great discomfort due to stomach ulcers. He spoke seven languages which was incredibly useful on our travels, " recalled Joy Tudor, a singer-dancer with the group. Lucky Dip  sailed in a KMF convoy from Liverpool to Algiers in 1942. " We had a naval e...