David Bamberg

David Tobias "Theodore" Bamberg (best known by his stage name Fu Manchu) (19 February 190419 August 1974) was a British-born itinerant magician who traveled with his full evening magic show from the early to mid part of the 20th century. In Bamberg's autobiography, Robert Parrish wrote in the introduction that no other great illusionist could match Bamberg's skill. The Fu Manchu show was known for its comedy, drama, and color.

Bamberg was the sixth and final member of the Bamberg Magical Dynasty, a Dutch family of conjurers whose magical lineage was passed from each of the first-born sons. During Okito's European tour, Poole became pregnant. She continued to assist him, hiding her pregnancy through her Chinese robe. While in Russia, Poole feared that she would give birth there. They cancelled their contracts in Russia and returned to England. On 19 February 1904, Poole gave birth to their first son. He was named David, Bamberg said that he never went through the fireman/cowboy/aviator phase that most children his age went through. He constructed a toy theatre and envisioned being the world's greatest magician doing his big illusion show.

South America

Bamberg wanted to tour with his own show, but his father tried to dissuade him from doing so, suggesting he continue with his shadow act and not invite the stress of the big show. He went on to tour worldwide with his own shadow act which he developed from what he learned from Bamberg. However, the talent ended there, as Contento was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer and died before his son grew old enough to learn it from him.

Bamberg later published an autobiography titled "Illusion Show: A Life in Magic," which Orson Welles called the "greatest autobiography in magic." Welles and Bamberg were great friends and compatriots, going so far as to debunk phoney magicians together, as Welles would describe on The Dick Cavett Show. Selected filmography The Spectre of the Bride (1943) The Headless Woman (1944) The Black Ace (1944) The Museum of Crime (1945) Murder in the Studios (1946) The Bewitched House (1949)