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{{short description|English comedy magician and former president of The Magic Circle}}
{{for|the Gabonese president|Ali Bongo Ondimba}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox actor {{Infobox person
| name = Ali Bongo | name = Ali Bongo
| image = Ali Bongo.jpg
| birthname = William Oliver Wallace | birth_name = William Oliver Wallace
| birthdate = {{birth date|1929|12|8|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|12|8|df=y}}
| birthplace = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
| deathdate = {{death date and age|2009|3|8|1929|12|8|df=y}}<ref name=death/> | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|3|8|1929|12|8|df=y}}<ref name=death/>
| deathplace = ], ], ]
| death_place = London, England
| occupation = Magician | occupation = Magician
}} }}
'''Ali Bongo''' (8 December 1929 &ndash; 8 March 2009) was a ] ] ], and president of ] who performed an act in which he was known as the "Shriek of Araby".<ref>]. '']''.(St. Martin's Press, 1992) ISBN 0-312-09771-9 page 237-238</ref> '''William Oliver Wallace''' (8 December 1929 – 8 March 2009), known by his stage name '''Ali Bongo''', was a British comedy ] and former president of ], who performed an act in which he was known as the "Shriek of Araby".<ref>]. '']'' (St. Martin's Press, 1992) {{ISBN|0-312-09771-9}} p. 237-238</ref>


==Early life==
Born as William Oliver Wallace in Bangalore, India,<ref></ref> where his father (also called William<ref></ref> ) was serving as a Sergeant Major with the 1st Battalion of the ], he spent his early years on a British station in ], ], going to Britain with his mother Lillian at the age of seven. Bongo was born as William Oliver Wallace in ], ],<ref name=guardian>{{cite web |last=Field |first=Matthew |title=Obituary: Ali Bongo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/12/ali-bongo-magician-obituary |website=] |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Magician to the stars Ali Bongo dies from a stroke, aged 79 |url=http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Magician-to-the-stars-Ali.5050744.jp |website=] |date=9 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> where his father (also called William)<ref name=independent1641900>{{cite web |last=Sibley |first=Brian |title=Ali Bongo: The magicians' elder statesman |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ali-bongo-the-magicians-elder-statesman-1641900.html |website=] |date=11 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015 |language=en-GB}}</ref> was serving as a sergeant major with the 1st Battalion of the ]. Young William spent his early years on a British station in ], ], before going to Britain with his mother Lillian at the age of seven.


After William Wallace senior had ended his army service, the family moved to ] in ] and young William won a scholarship to ], leaving at 16 to begin his career as an entertainer. His time in the ] was spent with the ]. He worked for Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Studio and was manager of the magic department on ] toy shop in London's ]. After William Wallace senior had ended his army service, the family moved to ] in ] and young William won a scholarship to ], leaving at the age of 16 to begin his career as an entertainer. His time in ] was spent with the ]. He worked for ]'s ] and was manager of the magic department at ] toy shop in London's ].


==Career==
He created his Shriek of Araby character with a cod oriental costume (robes, golden curly-toed slippers, horn-rimmed spectacles and a headgear that incorporated a fez and a turban) and took the name Ali Bongo from a character he had created for a youth club ] he had co-written and appeared in while in his teens. The original character had sung a song which began: "My name is Ali Bongo and I come from Pongo, pong-tiddley-pongo land." Among his later magic catch-phrases were "Uju Buju Suck Another Juju", "Aldy Bority Phostico Formio", "Hocus Pocus Fishbones Chokus". Wallace created his 'Shriek of Araby' character with an oriental costume (robes, golden curly-toed slippers, horn-rimmed spectacles and headgear that incorporated both fez and turban) and took the name ''Ali Bongo'' from a character he had created for a youth club ] that he had co-written and appeared in while in his teens. The original character had sung a song which began: "My name is Ali Bongo and I come from Pongo, pong-tiddley-pongo land."<ref name=guardian/> Among his later magic catchphrases were "Uju Buju Suck Another Juju", "Aldy Bority Phostico Formio", and "Hocus Pocus Fishbones Chokus".<ref name=independent1641900/>


⚫ He made his British ] debut on '']'' in 1965 on a bill topped by ].<ref name=independent1641900/> Ali Bongo wrote many books on magic, many containing tricks of his own. He also illustrated them in his instantly recognisable style. He acted as ] for many plays, opera, ballets and TV shows including '']'' and '']'' for Thames Television and '']'' for the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ali Bongo |url=http://www.economist.com/obituary/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13315660 |newspaper=] |date=19 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>
He made his British ] debut on '']'' in 1965 on a bill topped by ].


⚫ Ali Bongo was the presenter of ''Ali Bongo's Cartoon Carnival'', which featured himself and his assistant Oscar. It aired on UK TV BBC1 on Saturdays between 23 October and 18 December 1971, a total of nine episodes.<ref name=guardian/>
⚫ Ali Bongo wrote many books on magic, many containing tricks of his own. He also illustrated them in his instantly recognisable style. He acted as ] for many plays, opera, ballets and TV shows including '']'s Magic Box'', ''The David Nixon Magic Show'' for Thames Television and ''The ] Magic Show'' for the ].


⚫ Bongo was featured in an episode of children's TV show '']'', appeared in the science fiction show '']'' in the serial "Revenge of Jedikiah", and had a slot in '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ali Bongo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4958574/Ali-Bongo.html |website=] |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> He also acted as the magical advisor on the TV show '']'' and the 1970s cult series '']''. In 1988 he made a brief appearance in the ] newspaper-based comedy show '']''. His well-known ability for devising tricks and illusions and solving magical problems inspired the TV writer ] to create a character who was a magician's assistant and amateur sleuth in the series '']''. Bongo was magical adviser to the series.<ref name=death>{{cite web |last=Newley |first=Patrick |title=Magic Circle president Ali Bongo dies |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2009/magic-circle-president-ali-bongo-dies/ |website=] |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=guardian/>
⚫ Ali Bongo was the presenter of the ''Ali Bongo’s Cartoon Carnival'', which featured himself and his assistant Oscar. It aired on UK TV BBC1 on Saturdays between 23 October and 18 December 1971, a total of nine episodes.


⚫ Bongo joined ] in 1960, and two years later was made a Member of The Inner Magic Circle. He won The Magic Circle Magician of the Year in 1972, the Carlton Comedy Award in 1983, and the ] Award in 1991. He served twice as vice-president of The Magic Circle before being elected president on 8 September 2008.<ref name=independent1641900/>
⚫ Bongo was featured in an episode of Children's TV show '']'', appeared in the science-fiction show '']'' in the serial "Revenge of Jedikiah" and had a slot in '']'' <ref></ref>. He also acted as the magical advisor on the TV show '']'' and the 70s cult series, '']''. His legendary ability for devising tricks and illusions and solving magical problems inspired the TV writer, ], to create a character who was a magician's assistant and amateur sleuth in the series '']''. Bongo was magical adviser to the series.


==Death==
⚫ Bongo joined ] in 1960 and, two years later was made a Member of The Inner Magic Circle. He won The Magic Circle Magician of the Year in 1972, the Carlton Comedy Award in 1983 and the ] Award in 1991. He served twice as vice-president of The Magic Circle before being elected president on 8 September 2008.
At the beginning of February 2009, Bongo collapsed while giving a lecture in Paris. He was taken to hospital and, whilst there, suffered a ]. He was subsequently returned to the United Kingdom and cared for in ], London, where he later died from complications arising from ] on 8 March.<ref name=death/><ref>{{cite web |last=Webb |first=Andrew |title=Ali Bongo Collapses In France – Updated |url=http://www.hcms.org.uk/index.php/news/1-latest-news/499-ali-bongo-collapses-in-france.html |url-status=dead |publisher=The Home Counties Magical Society |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311011623/http://www.hcms.org.uk/index.php/news/1-latest-news/499-ali-bongo-collapses-in-france.html |archive-date=11 March 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="telegraphKhan">{{cite web |last=Khan |first=Urmee |title=Ali Bongo, president of the Magic Circle, dies |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4958732/Ali-Bongo-president-of-the-Magic-Circle-dies.html |quote=He died of pneumonia. |website=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> Ali Bongo's ] and ] took place on 27 March 2009 at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead.<ref name="independent1641900" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Ali Bongos Final Audience |url=http://www.hcms.org.uk/index.php/news/94-broken-wands/525-ali-bongos-final-audience.html |url-status=dead |publisher=The Home Counties Magical Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006130041/http://www.hcms.org.uk/index.php/news/94-broken-wands/525-ali-bongos-final-audience.html |archive-date=6 October 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

At the beginning of February 2009, Bongo collapsed while giving a lecture in Paris. He was taken to hospital and, whilst there, suffered a ]. Bongo was subsequently returned to the United Kingdom and cared for in ], London, where he later died from complications arising from ] on March 8.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.hcms.org.uk/index.php/news/1-latest-news/499-ali-bongo-collapses-in-france.html|title = Ali Bongo Collapses In France - Updated |first = Andrew|last = Webb|publisher = The Home Counties Magical Society|date = 2009-02-11|accessdate = 2009-02-13}}</ref><ref name=death>http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/23719/magic-circle-president-ali-bongo-dies</ref>

Ali Bongo was cited in a song by the band ] in the mid 1980s, reflecting his status in UK popular culture at that time:

"My story seems so tragic,
Ali Bongo's good at contortionism.
He's much better
Than David Nixon ever was..."

==See also==
*]
*'']'', BBC crime series with a major character inspired by Bongo


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* Ali Bongo, President * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211160851/http://www.themagiccircle.co.uk/about-the-club |date=11 December 2013}} Ali Bongo, President
* at Jonathan Creek on ] * at '']'' on the ]
* Jonathan Creek on ] * at ''Jonathan Creek'' on the BBC
* * in '']''
* * in '']''
* * in '']''
* * in '']''
* * in '']''

*
{{The Magic Circle - The Maskelyne Award |state=autocollapse}}
{{Academy of Magical Arts Lecturer of the Year}}
{{Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship}}
{{Academy of Magical Arts Creative Fellowship}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 21:36, 8 December 2024

English comedy magician and former president of The Magic Circle

Ali Bongo
BornWilliam Oliver Wallace
(1929-12-08)8 December 1929
Bangalore, British India
Died8 March 2009(2009-03-08) (aged 79)
London, England
OccupationMagician

William Oliver Wallace (8 December 1929 – 8 March 2009), known by his stage name Ali Bongo, was a British comedy magician and former president of The Magic Circle, who performed an act in which he was known as the "Shriek of Araby".

Early life

Bongo was born as William Oliver Wallace in Bangalore, British India, where his father (also called William) was serving as a sergeant major with the 1st Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Young William spent his early years on a British station in Trimulgherry, Secunderabad, before going to Britain with his mother Lillian at the age of seven.

After William Wallace senior had ended his army service, the family moved to Sutton Valence in Kent and young William won a scholarship to Sutton Valence School, leaving at the age of 16 to begin his career as an entertainer. His time in National Service was spent with the Royal Army Pay Corps. He worked for Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Studio and was manager of the magic department at Hamleys toy shop in London's Regent Street.

Career

Wallace created his 'Shriek of Araby' character with an oriental costume (robes, golden curly-toed slippers, horn-rimmed spectacles and headgear that incorporated both fez and turban) and took the name Ali Bongo from a character he had created for a youth club pantomime that he had co-written and appeared in while in his teens. The original character had sung a song which began: "My name is Ali Bongo and I come from Pongo, pong-tiddley-pongo land." Among his later magic catchphrases were "Uju Buju Suck Another Juju", "Aldy Bority Phostico Formio", and "Hocus Pocus Fishbones Chokus".

He made his British TV debut on The Good Old Days in 1965 on a bill topped by Tommy Trinder. Ali Bongo wrote many books on magic, many containing tricks of his own. He also illustrated them in his instantly recognisable style. He acted as magic consultant for many plays, opera, ballets and TV shows including David Nixon's Magic Box and The David Nixon Magic Show for Thames Television and The Paul Daniels Magic Show for the BBC.

Ali Bongo was the presenter of Ali Bongo's Cartoon Carnival, which featured himself and his assistant Oscar. It aired on UK TV BBC1 on Saturdays between 23 October and 18 December 1971, a total of nine episodes.

Bongo was featured in an episode of children's TV show Rainbow, appeared in the science fiction show The Tomorrow People in the serial "Revenge of Jedikiah", and had a slot in Zokko!. He also acted as the magical advisor on the TV show Doctor Who and the 1970s cult series Ace of Wands. In 1988 he made a brief appearance in the LWT newspaper-based comedy show Hot Metal. His well-known ability for devising tricks and illusions and solving magical problems inspired the TV writer David Renwick to create a character who was a magician's assistant and amateur sleuth in the series Jonathan Creek. Bongo was magical adviser to the series.

Bongo joined The Magic Circle in 1960, and two years later was made a Member of The Inner Magic Circle. He won The Magic Circle Magician of the Year in 1972, the Carlton Comedy Award in 1983, and the David Berglas Award in 1991. He served twice as vice-president of The Magic Circle before being elected president on 8 September 2008.

Death

At the beginning of February 2009, Bongo collapsed while giving a lecture in Paris. He was taken to hospital and, whilst there, suffered a stroke. He was subsequently returned to the United Kingdom and cared for in St Thomas's Hospital, London, where he later died from complications arising from pneumonia on 8 March. Ali Bongo's cremation and broken wand ceremony took place on 27 March 2009 at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead.

References

  1. ^ Newley, Patrick (8 March 2009). "Magic Circle president Ali Bongo dies". The Stage. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  2. Randi, James. Conjuring (St. Martin's Press, 1992) ISBN 0-312-09771-9 p. 237-238
  3. ^ Field, Matthew (12 March 2009). "Obituary: Ali Bongo". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  4. "Magician to the stars Ali Bongo dies from a stroke, aged 79". The Scotsman. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. ^ Sibley, Brian (11 March 2009). "Ali Bongo: The magicians' elder statesman". The Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  6. "Ali Bongo". The Economist. 19 March 2009. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  7. "Ali Bongo". The Daily Telegraph. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  8. Webb, Andrew (11 February 2009). "Ali Bongo Collapses In France – Updated". The Home Counties Magical Society. Archived from the original on 11 March 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  9. Khan, Urmee (8 March 2009). "Ali Bongo, president of the Magic Circle, dies". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2015. He died of pneumonia.
  10. "Ali Bongos Final Audience". The Home Counties Magical Society. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.

External links

The Magic Circle - The Maskelyne Award
Academy of Magical Arts Lecturer of the Year
Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship
Academy of Magical Arts Creative Fellowship
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