James Wakefield
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James Wakefield (1875 - 22nd February 1955) was a semi-professional magician and ventriloquist who sometimes performed under the stage name of Professor James Carl.
He was a Derby town councillor and he specialised in cigar magic. During his career he appeared several times at Maskelyne’s Theatre and also before Royalty.
He served with the motor transport in France in the First World War and performed shows to the troops in the hospitals near the front lines. Later he did Christmas entertainment at the Derby Institute for the Deaf for fifty successive years.
He was also the godfather of David Theodore Bamberg (Fu Manchu).
He held Life Membership of The Magic Circle which he joined in 1908.
On Saturday 3rd August 2024, members of the Derby Magic Circle gathered at his former home in Chester Green, Derby, to celebrate the unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque.
