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:
The Fascinating Deceptionist Hamilton Kaye Promotional Flyer, c1950 - 1959
Promotional flyer for "the Fascinating Deceptionist" Hamilton Kaye, circa 1950s, with photograph.
The Great Ino Stationery Header, c1950-1970
Stationery for Irish magician the Great Ino, with photographs.
The Great Socar Mysteries of India Advertising Booklet, c1951 - 1952
Mysteries of India' booklet advertising the Indian Magician the Great Socar; colour illustrated cover, photographs, 20pp.
The Harold Taylor Show Promotional Leaflet, 1967
Promotional leaflet for 'The Harold Taylor Show,' 1967, photographs, 4pp and 2pp insert.
The International Brotherhood of Magicians Presidential Dinner Dance Programme, Saturday 20 May 2000
Sheffield, 4pp.
The Leeds Magic Circle 14th Annual Magical Convention Programme, 9 - 10 March 1968
Includes a Gala evening show, 8pp.
The Magic Spell Magic and History Show Programme, c1990 - 1999
Peter Petroff and his Theatre of Magic Present The Magic Spell, 4pp.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1930 - 1999
Promotional material for various magicians.
Variety on Parade, Stanley Royd Hospital Handbill, 26 December 1949
Handbill for Variety on Parade, at Stanley Royd Hospital, Wakefield. Reg. Crook, Baritone, Florence Price, Soprano, Peter Arnold, Impressionist, Len Farmer, Comedian, Cyril Hogg, Ventriloquist, Hamilton Kaye, Illusionist and Compere, Miss Ruby Deacon at the piano. Rides and Shows.
Various Material, c1950 - 1988
Letters, stationery, performance material and press material relating to magicians of the mid-twentieth century, particularly Hamilton Kaye.
Wilf Tyler's Guest Night of International Artistes Programme, Friday 4 November 1966
Mappin Hall, Sheffield. Features a selection of Sheffield magiciansm and includes photos, 4pp.