Chung Ling Soo, the stage name of American magician William Ellsworth Robinson (1861–1918). He was known for impersonating a Chinese magician and maintaining the persona of a silent, mysterious man who spoke little English....
Chung Ling Soo, the stage name of William Ellsworth Robinson, was an American magician who built his fame by impersonating a Chinese magician. Robinson adopted the persona in early 1900s, dressing in traditional Chinese garments, performing in silence or through interpreters, and presenting himself as a mystic from the East. He never broke character in public, even maintaining the illusion in interviews by using a translator despite being fluent in English.
Chung Ling Soo became one of the most celebrated illusionists of his time, rivaling Harry Houdini in popularity. His most famous act was catching projectiles fired from a musket.
On March 23, 1918, while performing at the Wood Green Empire Theatre in London, the trick went tragically wrong when one of the musket malfunctioned, and he was struck in the chest.
Breaking character for the first and last time, he exclaimed in English, “Oh my God. Something’s happened. Lower the curtain.” He passed away shortly afterward, and only then was his true identity revealed to the public.
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Will Stein says Ben Arbuckle texted him after the game with a laughing emoji after Stein was caught talking trash after UK stopped the reverse flea flicker. Calls the Oklahoma OC one of his best friends in coaching.
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