Arthur Carlton
Water Rat Number: 151 Profession: Comedy Magician and Card Manipulator Known as: “The Human Hairpin”
Arthur Carlton was one of the most distinctive comedy magicians of the early twentieth century. Performing simply as Carlton, he became celebrated throughout the music halls for his eccentric appearance, expert card manipulation and highly original comedy act.
Born in 1881, Carlton began his working life as a telegraph messenger before finding his way into entertainment. His early experiences included performing on the sands at Southend, and he gradually developed the stagecraft and comic personality that would carry him to success in theatres and music halls around the world. He later recalled many of these adventures in his 1920 autobiography, Twenty Years of Spoof and Bluff.
Tall and exceptionally thin, Carlton exaggerated his unusual appearance by wearing black tights and a specially styled wig that made his head seem even more elongated. Speaking in a high falsetto voice, he would ask audiences, “How would you like me for a hairpin?”, earning him the enduring nickname “The Human Hairpin.”
Behind the comic appearance was a highly accomplished magician. Carlton was particularly admired for his card manipulation and sleight of hand, and was also known as a juggler, hypnotist and versatile variety performer. At the height of his fame, he was among the best-paid comedy magicians of his generation and toured extensively on the international music-hall circuit.
Carlton was a proud member of the Grand Order of Water Rats and is recorded as Water Rat Number 151 on the Order’s Roll of Honour.
As music hall declined, Carlton’s career and fortunes sadly diminished. He died in 1942, aged 61, following a long illness, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery in London. His contribution to comedy magic continued to be recognised long after his death. In 1989, his daughter Marie established The Magic Circle’s Carlton Comedy Award, honouring performers who demonstrate outstanding comedy in magic.
Arthur Carlton is remembered as an inventive and unforgettable entertainer whose extraordinary appearance, comic voice and considerable magical ability made “The Human Hairpin” one of the most recognisable acts of the British music-hall era.
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