Ali Bongo
Ali Bongo (born December 8, 1929 in Bangalore , India as William Oliver Wallace , † March 8, 2009 in London ) was a British magician and comedian . He was President of the Magic Circle in England. He became widely known in his role as Shriek of Araby ("Scream of Arabia").
Bongo was born in 1929 in Bangalore, India, where his father was stationed as an officer. He grew up in Trimulgherry, Secunderabad. At the age of seven he moved to England with his mother . At the age of 16 he left school to work as an entertainer. Stations in his career have included Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Studio and the management of the department for magic items in Hamley's toy store in London.
At an early age he created the figure of Ali Bongo with his characteristic oriental costume (cape, golden spiked shoes, large horn-rimmed glasses and a combination of fez and turban) and his fast-paced, mostly silent appearance. The name comes from a pantomime piece he helped write as a teenager.
In 1960 Bongo became a member of The Magic Circle in London , England's oldest magic association (founded in 1905). Bongo's television debut was an appearance on The Good Old Days in 1965 . He wrote numerous books on magic and was also active as a trick consultant for film, television and the stage. Since around 1983 he has particularly distinguished himself as a consultant to the English TV magician Paul Daniels . In 1972 he was voted "Wizard of the Year". He won numerous other awards. He was vice president of The Magic Circle twice before being elected president in September 2008. In March 2009, at the age of 79, he died of pneumonia in London .
literature
- Ali Bongo: My very secret magic book , Breitschopf, Vienna 1982, ISBN 3-7004-0838-2
- Ali Bongo: Be a Magician , Macdonald Phoebus, 1979, ISBN 0-356-06328-3
- Ali Bongo, Paul Daniels: Ali Bongo's Book of Magic , Black Cat, 1987, ISBN 0-7481-0022-9
Web links
- British Magical Circle website
- Ali Bongo's biography in Lasting Tribute
- Obituary and biography in the Telegraph
- Ali Bongo at the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bongo, Ali |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Wallace, William Oliver (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British magician and comedian |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 8, 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bangalore , India |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 8, 2009 |
| Place of death | London |