Difference between revisions of "Oswald Williams"

Revision as of 10:10, 13 January 2011

Travelled and performed throughout America and Europe from 1907 until the outbreak of W.W.I with an illusion show which had about one ton of equipment, three male assistants and one female.

Designed and built his own illusions such as The Merry Widow Hat, The Vanishing Lady, Noah's Ark, The Box of Tricks, The Homing Bells (used by David Devant at the First Grand Seance of the Magic Circle) and The Dizzy Limit to name but a few.

Also noted for smaller effects such as the Torn and Restored Strip of Paper.

His performance was described in Holden's Programmes of Famous Magicians.

Oswald Williams billed himself as "England's Foremost Illusionist". He preformed the following stage act in London during 1918. The Vanishing Bowl of Water, the homing Bells, lady of the Bath Novelty, Torn and restored Paper Strips, and ended with the Diamond Girl.

See also: Charles Oswald Williams or Cardiff, who performed as "Charles Oswald". .

Note: Oswald Williams wrote a letter to the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine (Oct 30, 1906) explaining, "I am not Oswald Williams of Cardiff. This gentleman's name is Charles Oswald Williams; he is a very clever amateur conjurer, but I believe has never been on the Music Halls.I met him some years back and we were so struck at the strange coincidence in the similarity of our names and craft that we were photographed together."

Books

• Hints to Young Conjurers (1919)

References

• The Magic Circular, Vol. 88, no. 947, July 1994, page 115, Nineteenth Collectors' Day
• Stanyon's Magic, Vol. 10, no. 5, February 1910, page 36, Explanatory Programmes.