Charles Waller

(Benalla, Australia: 8th December 1879 - 30th May 1960)

Inspired at age 11 seeing George Heller show. Businessman in Melbourne. Highly creative amateur magician. Invented Harlequin Cigarette Holder (1923); Wonder Frame (by 1928); Hop, Skip and Jump (by 1928); Screen of Life (by 1936); Amazia (by 1936); and Mystery of the Telephone Booth (by 1936).

Wrote Up His Sleeve (1920, 86pp); For Magicians Only (1923, 145pp); Waller's Wonders (1926, 94pp); Magic from Below (1929, 160pp); Happy Magic (1932); and Magical Nights at the Theatre (1980, 256pp), a major history of 295 magicians who played Melbourne theaters from 1854 through 1947. Tricks in Magic Mirror, Magic Wand, Sphinx, Linking Ring, and Genii.