Kaye, Hamilton, 1921 - 2006
Dates
- Existence: 20 May 1921 - 25 December 2006
Biography
Born Ronald Kaye on 20 May 1921, he was known as Hamilton Kaye for magic shows and for his magic business. He also used other performing names such as Wizard Kaye, Ron Dalmo and briefly as Milton Kaye.
Ron Kaye was born in Sheffield, at Rock Street, Pitsmoor. His parents were both teachers and his father eventually became head teacher of Hillsborough School. His family moved to Crosspool in the early 1930s, where they bought a newly built semi-detached house for £550 and Ron became a pupil at the newly opened High Storrs School.
At the age of four Ron was taken to see a variety show at the Sheffield Hippodrome. He was startled when 'The Great Carmo' appeared in a flash and ran back up the aisle shouting 'I'm going home'. It was at this point that he fell in love with theatre, music hall and especially with magic. He began performing magic to family and friends, church socials and garden parties as well as other small audiences. He produced plays and organised New Year Dances at Ranmoor Church Hall. During the early years of the war he was a member of the 'Steel City Stars', a group of semi-professional entertainers that performed variety shows in many local venues including Sheffield City Hall.
Later in the war he served in the RAF and was posted to India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where he was a member of ground crew servicing flying boats and bombers. During this time he took part in and produced concert parties for fellow servicemen.
On his return home he worked first in the laboratories at Sheffield University, then for the Sheffield Corporation Water Department, later the Yorkshire Water Authority. He was introduced to his future wife Marion, a nursery nurse, by his cousin Molly. He and Marion were married in 1953 and with their two children the family moved to Dronfield in 1960 where Marion ran a nursery school for many years.
Ron had a lifelong passion for magic and increasingly built a reputation in the local area as a conjuror and children's entertainer. He was a voracious collector of magic and also ran a magic business supplying tricks and his specialty flash paper and string. He was able to concentrate even more on magic when he took early retirement from the Water Authority. In 1982/3 he served as President of the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Ron actively pursued his passion for magic until a few months before his death attending magic events. Ron passed away on Christmas Day 2006, age 85.
Found in 71 Collections and/or Records:
A Garden Party Programme, 5 July c1981 - 1998
To be opened by Tony Capstick. Features Wizard Kaye, 4pp.
Arthur Lee Presents Modern Magic Promotional Leaflet, c1940 - 1949
A magician and Punch and Judy performer. Contains colour illustrations, 4pp.
Billy Lawrence Business Card, c1950 - 1965
Business card for magician Billy Lawrence, late twentieth century.
Blackpool Tower Circus International Summer Season Programme, 1957
Charlie Cairoli, Clown, Excess Baggage, Performing dogs, Krone’s Arabian Horses, Polar Bears and Shetland Ponies, The Flying Marileesm Aerial Texans, The Five Cristianis, Acrobats, Frances Duncan, Aerialist, Nino Rubio, Balancing act, The Yokoi Troupe, Cycling act, The Golden Linders, Water Fantasy, The Bedini Troupe, Tumblers, The Aerial Chapmans, Revolving ladder thrills, 12pp.
Blackpool Tower Circus International Summer Season Programme, 1960
Charlie Cairoli, Clown, Benneweis’ Mixed group presented by Gerd Siemoneit, Animal act, The Myrons, Balancing act, Bob Gerry troupe, High Wire Walkers, Knie’s Elephants, chimpanzees and Arabian horses presented by Sacha Houcke, Dudi Smith and Rupert Bemmerl, The Five Amandis, Tumblers, The Balcombes, Fun on a ladder, The 3 Houcs, Jugglers, King Kong, Schaller Brothers, Clowns, Fattini, Clown acrobat, The Therons, Cycling stars, 12pp.
Cinderella at Montgomery Hall, Sheffield, Programme, 5 March 1949
The Harrison School of Stage Dancing, including Hamilton Kaye as Baron Carefree, 4pp.
Crosspool Pie Programme, 15 - 16 May c1950 - 1959
A Novel Entertainment of Mirth, Magic and Melody featuring Hamilton Kaye, in Ranmoor, Sheffield, 4pp.
Cyro, Clown Prince of Magic Promotional Card, c1950 - 1999
Promotional card for Cyro, "the Clown Prince of Magic." Black and white photograph.
Exercise Book Containing Handwritten Stories, c1950 - 1970
Exercise book containing hand-written stories, with green cover.
Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete Handbill, Saturday 9 July 1955
Handbill for Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete. Text reads, " Madame Rane, Clairvoyant, Hamilton Kaye, Magician, Rides and Shows." Printed by Coates & Wilkinson Limited, Green Lane, Sheffield. Blue print.
Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete Handbill, Saturday 9 July 1955
Handbill for Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete. Madame Rane, Clairvoyant, Hamilton Kaye, Magician, Rides and Shows. Printed by Coates & Wilkinson Limited, Green Lane, Sheffield. Blue print.
Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete Handbill, Saturday 7 July 1951
Handbill for Hallam Conservative and Liberal Association Annual Fete. Madame Rane, Clairvoyant, Hamilton Kaye, Magician, Rides and Shows. Printed by Coates & Wilkinson Limited, Green Lane, Sheffield. Blue and red print.
Hamilton Kaye and Susie Press Release, 1965
Press release for the appearance of Hamilton Kaye and Susie at Llandudno, 1965.
Hamilton Kaye, Britain's Ace Deceptionist Promotional Leaflet, c1950 - 1959
Promotional leaflet for magician Hamilton Kaye, "Britain's Ace Deceptionist;" 1950s, photographs, 4pp.
Hamilton Kaye Collection
Programmes, handbills, photographs and a digital copy of Hamilton Kaye's notebook which contained jokes and stories that he kept for using in his act.
Hamilton Kaye Stationery Header, c1950 - 1959
Stationery header for Hamilton Kaye, Sheffield magician, compere and entertainer; black and red print.
Handbills, 1947 - 1955
Handbills for various performances featuring Hamilton Kaye amongst others.
Harold Taylor Christmas Message, c1950 - 1969
Christmas message of Harold Taylor with photograph, circa 1950s - 1960s.
Harold Taylor Promotional Insert, 1969
Promotional insert for magician Harold Taylor, 1969, photographs, 4pp and 2pp insert.
Harry Stanley's Second Gag Bag, 1946
Book of gags and responses with hand-written annotations, 1946; 34pp.