Friday, August 5, 2011

The Okito Family -- August 5, 2011

This 1907 bill at San Francisco's Orpheum featured "A Wonderful Bill." It included Zélie de Lussan, an American opera singer, actress Edna Aug and the Okito Family "Chinese Magical Act." Dutch Theo Bamberg, member of an old family of magicians, created the Japanese character Okito. He later switched the character from Japanese to Chinese, but kept the name. Theo was an excellent magician and the creator of many illusions.

Theo's son David grew up and created a character called Fu Manchu.

Two years after this show, Theo sold the Okito act and character to a plumber who wanted to go into magic.

From the 08-December-1907 San Francisco Call.

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