On a winter's evening in October 1946 a young sixteen year old ex senior boy from Sutton Valence Grammar School, Maidstone, cycled to Rochester to join a group of magic men who had met to form a society of magicians. Already running a magic club at the school, the teenager William Wallace, who lived close by, had caught the bug and desired to learn more. He signed up with our infectious group as Ali Bongo, a name he had acquired by once playing a wizard character in the village pantomime. It stuck with him for the rest of his life. A life that at that time no one could have predicted would prove to be so distinguished and meritorious in the world of magic and entertainment.
Born in India of a serving Army parent, Ali performed tricks at the age of six and soon after moved to Kent. On leaving school he was employed in the county town by a retail printer and copier. His artistic talents served well and he was engaged in graphic art work which later led to trick illustrations, cartoons, brochure and display layouts. This went on to working and demonstrating behind the counter of various magic stores in London. A fitting apprenticeship up the magic ladder. He possessed a sometime quirky sense of humour which led to amusing situations such as at a club meeting when asking for an assistant...'I need a young lady assistant?' no response. 'Well, a slightly older lady?' no response. ' An elderly lady?' still no response. In mock exasperation and clever good taste...'All right, Any Old Lady will do!' Result. Guffaws of laughter. One of the first of his business cards, in my possession, reflected this. Printed on rough straw board of irregular shape, the details jumbled in mixed odd type faces and point sizes, proclaimed a competent 'majishun' available for bookings. On the reverse, to cleverly pre-empt the possessor's thoughts.......'If you think I am crazy wait until you see my act!'
All this
concealed a brilliant brain that could take a magic principle and craft it into
a superb trick. As his skills progressed he achieved early on that which many
of us struggle to acquire, to create his own perfect magical character. A character
that became famous the whole world over because he was wise enough to realise
that a fast exciting silent colourful act of great originality could overcome
all the difficult boundaries of language and give instant mystical entertainment
by visual communication. The wild crazy frantic magic of the 'Shriek of Araby'
thus indelibly recorded as one of the great acts in magical history. Here is
the paradox. Off stage a private person and in quieter moments , the casual
observer would be forgiven for assuming that Ali was an introvert. That was
his manner. Put a trick in his hand and ask him to perform, then out came the
hidden inner man with the gushing enthusiasm of the extrovert. It is impossible
to count the number of magicians who have personally been enriched by his company
and wise advice and the many more, in the future, who will benefit from his
writings, books and tricks. Asked if he could do a show the willing reply would
be .....'well I may be in Japan, Germany or Mexico.... no, that's all right!
What can I do that I haven't done before? Ah yes, a little thing I did for a
Nixon show. I hope it still works, it was a one off, only made of cardboard!'
I have 63 years of memories. I recall a beer festival gig at the Paddock Wood
Hop Farm years back. Ali, me and
comedian Jack Train (of ITMA fame) were booked to perform 'al fresco'. It was
a total fiasco. The sound system was appalling, the audience milled about doing
there own thing and we all, one by one, died a death! I with a vent doll, my
first and last attempt. Jack Train was blind drunk and received the bird, and
Ali couldn't be heard for the noise and the din. His forthright views stretched
outside magic and could sometimes upset but they were never malicious. Other
interests included classical music and his humour echoed his love of comedy
film cartoons, the sillier – in the sense of the ridiculous – the
better. Here his artistic bent recognised the craft skills required in production.
Production might have been his middle name for he was ever innovative creating
clever, novel, serious and comedic effects which will live on whenever they
too are performed. I suspect that at any magic dealers fair, one would try hard
not to find, at each stand, a Bongo trick, idea, book or bit of business. All
these alone will be positive visual memorials. Another, serves especially for
us. The club newsletter banner head you see above was designed from Ali's suggestion.
As behind
the scenes man as advisor, trick and illusion planner for the TV David Nixon
and Paul Daniels shows, he helped these two popular magicians to establish and
set magic firmly, for a wonderful era, with the watching audience. He would
have been the first to admit that his visual portrayal as 'Alistair' assisting
David, would not have gained a RADA accolade but his hidden cramped 'help -
under the table/desk/screen' worked wonderfully.
His advice was also sort for film, stage and other TV productions where he devised
effects and taught actors the required moves of magic, to act as magicians.
Fate decreed that he was only blessed to serve six months of a five year term as President of The Magic Circle. A position which gave him immense pride. On being voted in he, for the only time, was completely lost for words. At that time he was also nurturing the pleasure of recently discovering an extended portion of family. It was most fortuitous, that we the MMS, invited him to be guest of honour at our Dinner last October. It served a double purpose, as in the dignified office and as a founder and first Life member – or so we thought! He, being Ali, had other plans. Discarding protocol, he insisted he join the close-uppers entertaining at table. Further, he worked his wonders to the many non leaving guests, long after the official close of the function whilst waiting for his chauffeur to drive him home. Such was his novel reasoning that not being able to drive a car, he bought one and gifted it to his neighbour on the conditions that he became first priority for its use for all of his engagements.
Infrequent
visits to the club due to professional and worldwide ambassadorial fame, did
not diminish his cherished link and the proud regard he had for his first society.
We will miss that dry throaty, semi aside, chuckle which preceded a salient
quip that aptly summarised the immediate topic of conversation. We and the magic
world will ever miss an incredible personality and mourn his loss. I would like
to think that his spirit most probably made a brief stop-off into the mythical
land he once created, Pongolia to check all was Bongo-lo-ish before he joined
the Final Circle of Magicians. Our sincere condolences and sympathy go out to
all his relatives at this sad time.
Copyright Harry Reeve 2009
Further tributes to Ali can be seen at the dedicated site Pongolia