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This article is the draft of a future chapter in the biography of Chang I am writing. The information contained here is not definite. However, as it stands it is very informative. (Marko.)
CHANG toured Spain for a year from 1947 to mid 1948 and this tour was tremendously successful, Chang staying for three months in Madrid and the same amount of time in Barcelona, Spain's two main cities. He carried then two different shows and you can read the review of his No.1 show in "Un Viaje al Infierno". Arnold Furst in his Famous Magicians of the World reviews this show as given at the Granada Theater in the city of Santander, in the North of Spain on August 20, 1948. Chang was at the top of his career.
In a letter to Edward W. Dart, then publisher of the Conjuror's Magazine, Chang wrote:
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Oviedo, Spain Sept.6 1948
Dear Mr. Dart,
Your letter of May 10 just received yesturday, it was layingat the Panamanian Consulate in Madrid all this time, I am sorry, anyhow if not too late I am sending here a couple of pictures that have not being yet published.
My season in Spain ends oficialy today, after one solid year, then I lay off for one month while I make a quick trip by plane to Buenos Aires and New York to attend to some things and I retturn hre to play for one month at the Zarzuela Theatre for a farewell engagement. I played this very theatre last year for three solid months to packed houses, Madrid is I think the very best show town in the World, if they like you, bussines in the other parts of Spain has been extra good and I personally have had a wonderfull time, being entertained almost everywhere, especially by the Amatteur Magic Clubs. with regional feasts and especially Bulfighting, in which I have taken part personally in several ocasions, Sapin has wonderful roads so I have made the entire tour with a car, well I hope I shall see you some day soon, with best regards I am as ever sincerly yours.
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Teatro de la Zarzuela
Madrid Spain..
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However, after this successful tour of Spain, Chang went to Venezuela and Cuba and got the idea of doing his show under canvas and call it Chang's Magic Circus. This venture was a financial failure. In the year 1950 we find Chang in Mexico doing only so-so. He crossed the border into the US and performed for a week in the Teatro Alameda in San Antonio, Texas. While there he performed for the Fifth Annual TAOM Convention (1, 2, 3, and 4 of September). The following are excerpts from an article by Frank Werner that appeared in The Sphinx, Oct. 1950:
"Sunday night had been set for the Willard show, but at the last minute, the Wizard was forced to cancel. He is playing in south Louisiana in his tent theatre. Due to effects of one of the hurricanes, he was unable to go away and leave his tent and risk losing it. Chang, who was on hand to open the following day, graciously agreed to step in and do some small magic to help out with the Sunday night show, and he did a wonderful job of it....
"Then Chang came on and kept the crowd in high good humor for at least an hour and a half. Since he is always pictured in the serious Oriental style, many were surprised to learn that he injects a lot of business that gets real laughs from the spectators.
"The following day was the day for the big Chang program in the beautiful Alameda Theatre. As this is s Spanish language theatre, Chang presented the show (in both English and Spanish). As Chang's show has been reviewed by others and the stories published in magazines, we will make no attempt to review the show act for act. Chang has seventten complete scene changes in the two and a half hour show. We lost count of the times he changed his robes, but it seemed that after each effect was performed there was a change of robes, it being done smoothly and without delay. Chang is a master at handling spectator assistants, particularly children. He does nothing to humilliate, and his helpers enjoy coming up to help him. Another outstanding feature of the Chang program is the many costume changes of his assistants, both women and men. Truly a master showman."
Chang with magicians at the 5th TAOM Convention.
Top row, left to right: Judge Carter and Mrs. Alida Carter,
Mrs. Carrol Ritchey, Dr. Theodore Moore, Stanley Clark,
Arthur Leroy, Dr. Carroll Ritchey.
Bottom row: Hernandini, Tarbell, Chang, Joe Scott.
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Glowing as the magic magazine account is, things were bad for Chang in the business arena. On the 8th of September he wrote to magician Carl Rosini, who was a close friend and had helped him in his early days back around 1916. The letter follows:
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San Antonio, Sept 8
Dear Carl,
I am more than sorry I haven't being able to send you the rest I owe you. but things are running bad for me yet. I am still having to burrow from frinds. I came here to try this out. played at this theatre this week only but nothing after. so must go back to Mexico. there I was doing fair only. but the Union troubles are there just as bad or worst. as there is two Unions and they are fighting each other. anyhow I dont have any other alternative but go. it is a shame. as the show is well liked, the magicians of Texas had a convention here and they were more than pleased they thought it was terrific. but just dont have anyone to handle the situation. so that is that. give my regards to the wife. and will be writting soon. best wishes as ever friend.
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Teatro Alameda
San Antonio Texas
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The Chang show got a second wind after that. Returning to his happy hunting grounds he still had great successed in Central America, the West Coast of South America and Argentina (in 1952). However, as the 1950's marched on, it was an uphill battle for Chang. In 1953 he performed in Brooklyn, in 1954 he was in Brazil and later that year went to Spain where he had had that great one year tour six years ago. In Barcelona in 1955 the great Chang show failed, his big equipment was left in storage and Mighty Chang was forced to perform in Night Clubs and children's parties.
I'll continue this story in the next update.
Marko.
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