Paul Vandy - The Juggling Magician - Performing 1894-1950

[redmond]

I am searching for anyone who can provide me with any info/pics/posters etc of Paul Vandy (real name Charles Edward Maynard) who was a prolific performer from around 1894-1950.

I have found several references to his performances in the Stage and the Era, referred to as Vandy, Paul Vandy and the Great Vandy repeatedly. He was primarily a juggler and equilibilist but gained notoreity as a magician as well. He was the highest paid specialist act on record when he agreed to tour South Africa at the turn of the century and I have some references to performances branching from the music hall circuits of the UK to Europe, America and South Africa.

I know that when he started out he was represented by Tom Coleno of Nottingham (any info on this man would be fantastic). Apparently he was born in Nottingham but I have never been able to find a birth record.

Any assistance, information or pointers would be much appreciated.

All the best,

Dave Redmond (Vandy's 2nd great-grandson)

[redmond]

I should have also mentioned that Vandy was one of the owners of the Accrington Hippodrome prior to it burning down c. 1908; was the owner of the Valentines Agency; and had at least two businesses; the Magical Pastimes Co and Vandy's Magic Saloon, West Pier, Brighton.

All the best,

Dave

[Joe Pecore]

Did a quick search via AskAlexander and by reading the "English Notes" column within The Sphinx you can tracked some of his progress as a performer.

In August 1904, we see that he was appearing at "the Grand" as "a very smart Juggler" and had started "introducing a little conjuring in his act."

In April 1909, we find Vandy starring on the same bill as Annie Abbott at the Hippodrome Accrington.

And by May 1909, Vandy's act was declared "a clever sleight-of-hand and juggling show, fully merits the hearty applause bestowed upon him by the patrons of the Hippodrome, Huddersfield."

I also saw that Vandy's novelty act at the The Tivoli, Manchester on July 7, 1913 was fully described in The Magical World, New Series (July 1913) magazine in a full page spread which ended with "An excellent act and brilliant showmanship".

[Joe Pecore]

I'm not seeing any mention of his death.

I did find a reprint of a long poem published in " The Budget," official Organ of the British Ring I.B.M., for March 1934 called "MAGICAL MEMORIES":

Which includes the lines:
Walton, Lester, and De Land,
Penstone, and the Greeat Weiland.
Thus they comeand thus they go,
Morritt, Vandy, and Margo,
Chevalier Thorn, and Laurance Crane.
Each has gone the way he came!