Mr W. D. Ford begs to announce to the the Ladies, Gentlemen, and the Inhabitants generally of East and West Maitland and surrounding neighbourhood, that he intends opening the building lately known as the THEATRE, in the rear of Mr. I Gorrick's "Fitz Roy Hotel", West Maitland, as a "TEMPLE OF MAGIC" for the purpose of giving NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENTS in his MAGICAL ART. These Wonderful Amusements have never been opened to the colonial public, but may be imagined to possess every feature calculated to entertain the spectator, when it is remembered that Mr. F. is a a Pupil of the celebrated "WIZARD OF THE NORTH," whose wonder performances have astonished the whole British Empire - her Majesty being a patron of these arts!!!

The Opening Night, and the nature of the Entertainment about to be given, will appear in a future advertisement; also the Prices of Admission, and other necessary arrangements.

The advertisment contain its fair share of bombast, and an attempt to hang off the coat-tails of the Wizard of the North in Britain (presumably J.H. Anderson). Three performances were given at the ‘Temple of Magic’, firstly on June 26, and the Maitland Mercury (June 30), noted that the Wizard at first exhibited some little nervousness, but became more assured as the performance proceeded. The ‘Bottle Trick’ was the trick of pouring different types of spirits from the bottle, after which the bottle was broken, revealing a live canary. Two rings were borrowed and transmitted to the inside of an orange, and a marked handkerchief vanished and was found back among the audience. A similar trick was performed with two shilling coins. A can of maize was magically transferred to another can, and some oranges of food transmuted into biscuits and a shin of beef. Ford concluded with “the gun trick”, catching the ball in the palm of his hand.

The second performance took place on June 30 with expanded seating but reduced prices, and passed off very satisfactorily, many of the tricks being greatly applauded. The third show was on July 3.

A series of Sydney advertisements, from July 15 until 21, were printed in both the Empire and Sydney Morning Herald papers.

Mr. Ford seems to have had trouble getting his bearings, as the Empire advertised him as the Wizard of the South, while the Herald had him as the Wizard of the North, both at the same time! Apparently he was no longer a pupil of The Wizard, but the wizard himself:-

Empire (Sydney) July 15, 1852

"MALCOM'S ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CIRCUS, York Street, OPEN EVERY EVENING.

The proprietor respectfully invites the public to visit this celebrated place of amusement. The interior of the circus being enlarged and shingled, renders it weathertight and comfortable. The dress circle is divided into separate boxes, with doors, and the side boxes are also divided. The extensive decorations are in active progress, as well as the STAGE. The Equestrian feats performed by the male and female artistes for grace and elegance cannot be surpassed.

WIZARD OF THE SOUTH - JOHN MALCOM has the honour to announce that he has entered into arrangements with Mr. Ford to exhibit his EXTRAORDINARY MAGICAL POWERS at his CIRCUS, YORK-STREET in a few days, of which due notice will appear.

That being said, there is no evidence that any performance by Mr. Ford ever took place, despite advertisements continuing until July 21.

On July 31, 1852, the Maitland Mercury reported that an unnamed ‘Wizard of the South’ had given a performance at the Hunter River Hotel in East Maitland, to a well filled room and great applause. We can only assume that this was W. D.  Ford, who is not heard from again, and we are left guessing as to who he was, and where he went.