Not asking for any secrets here, just some general input to satisfy an itch that has bothered me for years.

Number one, I really admire Orson Wells, both as an actor and a conjurer. His "presence" was tremendous.

When I saw the Copperfield illusion years ago, where Orson makes a video cameo in David's show, I was very impressed.

And I thought, O.K., either David was real good friends with Orson, or that's a ***** good impersonator on that screen! Voice, face, mannerisms were all perfect as far as I could see.

Problem was, that was a YOUNG orson. If it was really him, then it had to be taped LONG before Copperfield was performing.

That is the part that puzzles me badly.

I can't figure it. If David engaged Orson to tape this thing for his show, it had to be an older Orson.

But as I said, he looked so perfectly authentic that I can't bring myself to believe it was an impersonator.

Does anybody on this forum have the scoop on this?

Will the real Orson please stand up!

Orson appeared on one of David's first specials performing a mind reading routine with the prediction sealed in a block of ice. Later, David used a video clip on a show where he allegedly called Orson on the phone. This was actually a clipped filmed for something else years ago that David cleverly adapted for his own use, as I understand it.

Copperfield aquired that clip when he bought the Mulholland library. From what I was told, the "David" Orson is supposed to be talking to is David Bamberg.

If so, that shows some clever thinking on someones part to put together this thing and not let it have a "contrived" feel.

It all flowed very naturally, and I had no hint as to what was really going on.

Still, that is a YOUNG orson, so my question remains as to when it was taped (I would think somewhere in the 1950s) or whether it was as I said, an impersonator.



Steve, please refresh my memory as to who Bamberg was.

The name is so familiar, but I can't place it.

I am inclined to believe that he was historically a great magician, and I am thinking Chun Ling Soo (sp)

But then I tend to remember him as Bramburg with an R.

I am sure that I am most likely wrong and way off base here, but it's been a while since I've dealt into the history of magic, so bear with me if my memory is a tad rusty on these names.

And I hope I'm not sticking my foot in my mouth and making a total fool of myself.

Probably am. (Eeyore voice)

David Bamberg was Fu Manchu. He was the son of Okito.

It was the REAL Orson, not an impersonator. It was filmed many, many years ago.

Please stand up! Please stand up!


I just had ta' do it!!!!!

Well Steve, I suppose I got two Oriental guys mixed up in my mind.

Which one wasn't even really oriental?

Eeny meeeny miney moe......

Robert

You mean between Chung Ling Soo and Fu Manchu?
Both of 'em weren't.

That's correct - Chung Ling Soo was William Ellsworth Robinson. Fu Manchu was David Bamberg. Okito was Theo Bamberg. Now Ching Ling Foo really was Chinese.

Chung, not be confused with Ching, was the one that was killed doing the bullet catch.