The search for Australia's first recorded conjuring performance:
Sleight of Hand, Sydney Smith, and an American Conjurer
Sleight of Hand, Sydney Smith, and an American Conjurer
Who was the first recorded performer of theatrical magic in Australia? This is a question to which the answer may never be definitively found. We have a number of tantalising clues, some performers whose art may only qualify as being on the fringes of magic, and the likely reality that many unnamed performers existed but will never be documented. In an effort to be strictly accurate, some very early mentions of conjuring must be disqualified as "the first".
Thanks to the arrival of online newspaper databases, additional information has been located which places Monsieur Du Pree, The Wizard Of The South (1) as the earliest documented magician to perform in Australia, in 1836. He was followed by Powell Courtier.
Du Pree's career also appears to have lasted longer than that of Powell Courtier and, if his 1837 advertisement is to be believed, there may be an earlier history of performance in Britain.
Aside from the early references to William Fraser as a having been a conjurer before his deportation to Australia, there are some brief references to the magic arts, which may eventually bear some fruit from further research. It is quite astonishing, though, that magicians and related performers should spring up as early as a mere thirty years into the history of a new British colony, founded originally for the purpose of ridding Britain of troublesome criminals.
It is important to consider the state of Australian Theatre in 1837. Quite apart from frivolous entertainments such as conjuring, even drama was a suspect activity in the early life of the colony (barely fifty years old since British settlement in 1788). The establishment of dedicated theatres was a gradual and painful process, regularly forbidden and hindered by successive Governors of the colony; it was not until 1832 that Barnett Levey was granted a formal theatre licence, and October 1833 when Sydney's "Theatre Royal" opened. Performances at taverns and in back rooms of hotels were still the order of the day.
Robert Jordan's insightful and detailed book, "The Convict Theatres Of Early Australia 1788-1840" (2) gives us clues to several earlier performances of (depending on your attitude) magic or the allied arts. We will look at each of those, and give some reasons for discounting them as the first performing magician in Australia.
On June 10, 1804, the Sydney Gazette announced the arrival of a "galanty" (magic lantern or puppet show) for children, probably brought out by a convict on the ship Coromandel.
Of most interest, and deserving of further investigation, is the report (3) of a criminal prosecution on September 14, 1816. An innkeeper was charged with the use of a back room for "an Entertainment there of Slight of Hand upon Cards", at an entrance fee of one shilling per person. Unfortunately, only the publican was charged and the entertainer’s name is not mentioned. This is certainly the earliest known direct reference to the performance of magic; however unless the name of the back-room artist can be located, all we can conclude is that informal magic performances were taking place in venues which would never be recorded by the newspapers of the time. It should probably be noted that the likely cause of prosecution was that the innkeeper did not have permission to present a theatrical performance for money, rather than because there was any association of "slight of hand" to gambling or criminal activity.
Sydney Smith
A third reference mentioned by Jordan comes from the Monitor of August 25, 1826. As part of a number of amateur concerts arranged in that year, possibly in support of Barnett Levey's public and pushy efforts to establish a licensed theatre, an entertainment in the style of the English fairgrounds was set up:-
A desire to entertain and to dispel the dull monotony that fills with ennui the minds of the good Sydney folks ... an humble individual, but of great name, even Sydney Smith, announced, in due form, by printed circulars, his intention of entertaining his friends, 'by particular desire,' with a display of his 'extraordinary abilities.'[including a recitation titled "The Wonders of the World", imitations of London performers and comic songs] ... And last, though not least in this extraordinary catalogue of wonders, salamander-like properties of this actor of-all-work, were exhibited, passing a red hot iron over his tongue, with divers resistencies of fire, &c.
In a neat set speech, the salamander then thanked his auditors for their patronage, promised better sport next time - all of which candour and good-humour, was answered by a liberal donation of dollars, rupees and dumps. Mr. Kelly, of Pitt-street, accommodated the assemblage with the use of a capacious building, recently erected, which, for the sort of thing, was very passably fitted-up.
The "Salamander" act, showing the performer to be impervious to heat and flame, could be associated with the magic arts since it used a number of secret techniques. Individuals must decide for themselves whether to regard Sydney Smith’s performance of Salamandering as a performance of magic; however, for our purposes Smith does not qualify as a magician.
Jordan documents a touring performer, 'Thomas Arnott' who, in the latter part of the 1830s, 'was touring to townships as far apart as Kiama and Port Macquarie and as small as Freeman's Reach. At one stage his entertainment consisted of 'Illusions, dancing, Singing, Recitations on logic - Imitations of the Principal Actors in England, Ventriloquism, balancing with various feats of Salamandering termed Fantoccini." Arnott has finally been confirmed as being actually Thomas Amott a.k.a. Monsieur Du Pree.
A Big Black American Conjurer
Finally, both Robert Jordan and Richard Waterhouse (4) in "From Minstrel Show To Vaudeville" mention James "Toby" Ryan's book, "Reminiscences of Australia", Sydney 1894 (6), in which he mentions "a big black American conjurer" who, he said, performed at one of Australia's earliest organised horse-racing events, around Penrith NSW on January 1, 1824.
There are several reasons why this reference, though quite believable and tantalising, cannot be accepted as our first known performer. Toby Ryan, a well-known personality of the Nepean area, was writing a good fifty years after the event, and admits to having been just six years old at the time. Other commentators on his book have revealed errors and exaggerations in Ryan's book, which was written as an anecdotal recollection, and a valuable social history, not a book of strict fact.
There are several reasons why this reference, though quite believable and tantalising, cannot be accepted as our first known performer. Toby Ryan, a well-known personality of the Nepean area, was writing a good fifty years after the event, and admits to having been just six years old at the time. Other commentators on his book have revealed errors and exaggerations in Ryan's book, which was written as an anecdotal recollection, and a valuable social history, not a book of strict fact.
There appear to be no other sources for this story; it has been re-told in the newspapers several times, but without attribution and clearly derived from Ryan's book alone. The story is a good one, however, and so it is reproduced here. The key sentence presents some difficulties with the punctuation; it is not entirely clear whether "Lollie Pop Joe" was the conjurer, or a separate character. "There was also the usual Punch and Judy, and Lollie Pop Joe ; a big black American conjurer, and other attractions."
James Tobias Ryan, c. 1850
Sir John Jamison (the correct spelling) was an Australian physician, pastoralist, banker, politician, constitutional reformer and notable public figure in the Nepean (Western Sydney) region.
"The first horse race of any magnitude in Australia took place at Penrith on the first day of January, 1824. It was conducted under the auspices of Sir John Jamieson, of Regentville. The author was present on that occasion, being then only six years of age. The principal prize being a cup valued at £50, with £50 added ; a sweepstake of £5 to go to the second horse; 2 mile heats, one £20 prize, and one £10, all the donations of Sir John Jamieson.
Sir John himself competed for the head prize, thinking, no doubt, that he would win it himself, for he had made great preparations at Regentville in order to receive his military friends on so auspicious an occasion. The morning of the race was all that could be desired, and people flocked from all directions, the road from Richmond and Windsor being kept lively by a constant stream of people wending their way to the racecourse, some on horse-back, others in carts and bullock drays, women and children in great numbers, all intent upon enjoying themselves. It was very funny to see the women riding in men's saddles with children in front of them.
About 11 a.m. a large crowd had congregated on the spot where William Fulton's store now stands,and also opposite Jamieson's lane, waiting to see the Jamieson party pass by, headed by the three race horses led by their respective grooms; then came the great men of the day in military costume, including Sir John, Colonel Snodgrass, Sir Maurice O'Connell, Major England, and many more of distinction, wearing cocked hats, adorned with plumage, looking resplendent in the glowing sun. There were also present 200 Government servants, belonging to Sir John, who set up a hearty cheer, “Sir John for ever".
The party then made their way to a large tent erected in the grounds, where refreshments were provided. Sir John's men were of the roughest sort, and all carried sticks, made from the peach tree, up their coat sleaves. The native element, armed with saplings, procured from an adjacent paddock (Lemon Grove), the shoots that grow from the stump of the box tree, which bent like whale bone, and when brought down on any one's head proved a most formidable weapon Some of the names of those present are still well remembered in Penrith, such as Mick Lackey, John Crowley, the Hogan's, the Higgin's, the Hooligan's, and others.
There were two booths on the ground, where the public could adjourn for refreshments, besides the old “Depot " Inn, kept by Sergeant Bayless, afterwards called the King's Head, next to the Court House. There was also the usual Punch and Judy, and Lollie Pop Joe ; a big black American conjurer, and other attractions.
The first two races were short ones, and were soon disposed of, when a few free fights were indulged in ; but they were only the preliminaries of what was about to follow. Then came the big race, for which six horses were entered, namely, Lane’s “Cripple (known as “Hector”), Hanrahan’s “Friar,” Sir John’s “Bennelong,” Major England’s “Whip Cord,” Field's “Satalite,” and Lawson’s “Steel Trap.” The start was from the Peach Tree Bridge on the straight road to Armstrong's (now the water reserve) and through Penrith, running through the town, “Hector' came in first, “Friar" second,with "Bennelong" a close third, and continued so to the finish. Shouting was indulged in by the Jamieson party as the horses passed through the town.
For the second heat only three started, when Sir John had to be satisfied with the third place; but not so his men ; for the result was no sooner made known than out came the sticks, and a free fight commenced, and would have perhaps ended disastrously had not Sir John called on his men to desist. Whilst the prizes were being paid over and the health of Sir John drunk in bumpers, a horse and cart were got ready and a ten gallon keg of rum and a cask of beer were placed in the cart, with drinking utensils, so that the victorious party might quench their thirst on their return journey. When all was ready, about 30 men formed an escort to protect the owner of the cup as far as Agnes Banks, near Richmond, where Mr. Lane resided; but somehow a disturbance arose, and again a fight commenced, and this time in such real earnest that some were stretched out on the ground. At last a move was made onward. Fighting was continued for a mile or so on the road, the last stand being made near where the Lander's family now reside, and a drink or two indulged in ; afterwards the owner of the cup was allowed to proceed home, and the victorious party cheered as they proceeded."
So, with the ongoing challenge of locating further details of these early performers, we must look to the story of Monsieur Du Pree to find the first unquestioned documentation of a performance by a conjurer in Australia.
References
(1) Initial mention of Monsieur Du Pree came from "Index to the [Melbourne] Argus 1846-1854", Library Council of Victoria 1976; indexed under 'Theatre'. Held in the Dixson Library, State Library of N.S.W
[Figures in parentheses are page numbers]
DuPree, M. Magician - 2-6-48 (2); The Wizard of the South 21-7-48 (2), 25-7-48 (2), 1-8-48 (2&3), 1-9-48 (2); at Seymour 4-6-50 (2).
Note:-the State Library Victoria microfilm of the Argus does not include the edition of 21-7-48.
(2) See pages 180-1, "The Convict Theatres Of Early Australia 1788-1840" by Robert Jordan, pub. Currency House 2002. ISBN 0 9581213 0 3. www.currency.com.au
(3) Referenced by Jordan as SRNSW (State Records New South Wales) 7/2691, p.104. The record has been sighted by Janette Pelosi of State Records NSW.
(4) Richard Waterhouse, "From Minstrel Show To Vaudeville", pub. New South Wales University Press 1990. ISBN 0 86840 100 5. See page 27.
(5) Ryan's book, "Reminiscences of Australia" can be read online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hnlbfu&view=1up&seq=7&skin=2021
Title: Reminiscences of Australia : containing 70 years of his own knowledge and 35 years of his ancestors / by James Tobias Ryan. 1818-1899.
Publisher: Sydney : G. Robertson, [1894]
Ryan is a notable figure in the history of the Nepean region: https://penrithhistory.com/2018/01/04/toby-ryan-celebrating-his-200th-birthday/
Ryan is a notable figure in the history of the Nepean region: https://penrithhistory.com/2018/01/04/toby-ryan-celebrating-his-200th-birthday/