Imro Fox – “The Comic Conjurer” & "Deceptionist"

On May 21, 1862 in Bromberg, Germany, a man by the name of Isidore Fuchs was born. He came to America, and worked it is said as a chef in various eateries around New York and Washington D.C. Fuchs had an early interest in magic and he was known for his humorous personality. When he decided to make a go of being a professional magician, he adopted the name Imro Fox, and left a mark on the history of magic.

Imro Fox Throw-Out Card

Most of the articles I have read on Fox give him credit for being the first magician to do a comedy act. Fox was known as "The Comic Conjurer" and as a "Deceptionist". He was not a magician who flubbed his tricks, like Carl Ballantine. Fox would incorporate jokes and humor into his fast-paced act while treating the magic seriously. He would often enter the stage and pretend to stumble and exclaim, “Don’t Push!” The “Don’t Push!” tagline was a recurring comment that he would use to his advantage when he needed some misdirection for a particular effect. He would stumble, and say the line at the exact moment he needed to divert the audience’s attention. Some of the other phrases Fox would use were “Mahvelous! Everything I do is mahvelous.”, and “Watch the Professor”. His humor, combined with his thick German accent made him popular with audiences.

"The Crest Magician" for February 1908 and a signed postcard of Imro Fox in character as "Abanazer".

While not a headliner, Fox was very successful in Variety houses, both in America and in Europe. He was well respected and thought highly of by his peers in magic, and was written about long after his death, even to this day. One of his greatest claims to fame was when he joined forces with Servais Le Roy and Frederick Eugene Powell. Their combined show was called the “The Great Triple Alliance”, with Fox contributing the comedy magic, and offsetting the more serious magic of the other two. “Propelled Pasteboards” contributor and Frederick Eugene Powell expert Tom Ewing has written a great post on this site about Powell and his throw-out cards.

After returning to solo performing, while giving a performance in Utica, New York on March 3, 1910, Fox took ill in his hotel. He asked that a doctor be sent for. In the early morning hours of March 4, shortly before the doctor could arrive, Imro Fox, “The Comic Conjurer” passed away at the age of 47. One item I read said his death was due to “acute indigestion”. He is buried in Union County, New Jersey.