Charles Cameron (magician)

Charles was owner and Curator of the Edinburgh Wax Museum on the Royal Mile from 1976 to 1989. Here, he really came into his own, bringing in friends and family as supporting artistes. At night, the top floor of the museum was turned into Castle Dracula Theatre and Charles enjoyed some of the happiest days of his life. Working in the museum and entertaining visiting dignitaries and stars of stage and screen by day, Charles took on the mantle of "Count Dracula" – complete with his own coffin and cloak – by night. Performing mind-reading and mock ghostly seances, the theatre ran for almost three years in the mid 1980s.

The Wax Museum closed in 1989 and all the wax models were disposed of. The museum had been one of the highlights of the Edinburgh tourist trail.

Charles scripted and narrated his own weekly show, titled "Friday Frighteners" on Radio Forth. In addition, he prepared daily and weekly horoscopes for Radio Forth for several years and did a weekly hour-long phone in show on astrology. He scripted and narrated numerous programs on the supernatural for Radio Forth and the BBC. On Radio Forth he also had his own show "Beyond the Unknown". "Beyond the Unknown" lasted for four series. The first three series consisted of twenty-five programs and the fourth was a collection of ghost stories.

Charles appeared on Scottish television on numerous occasions and also on some French, German, Italian and American shows. He was a member of the Lothian Players, an amateur theatrical group, in which he took lead roles in various pantomimes and musical reviews. He had also been an extra in the films, 'Chariots of Fire', 'Lucia', 'Conquest of The South Pole[2]' and 'Looking After Jo Jo'.[3]

Charles was a member of many magical societies during his life.

• The Edinburgh Magic Circle (past President)
• International Brotherhood of Sorcerers
• The Esoteric Order of Pan (Arch Mage Ipsissimus)
• The Immortals
• Scottish Association of Magical Societies, ( Lecturer)
• Also retained for many years by the El Project
• The Magik Club (Patron)

Soon after the death of Charles W. Cameron, many of his friends discussed the possibility of having a plaque erected in the City of Edinburgh as a tribute to the Godfather of Bizarre Magic. It was hoped that the plaque would be erected on the building or in the entranceway of what had formerly been the Edinburgh Wax Museum, where Charles had been its curator during the daytime. During the evening he became 'Dracula' as he played the lead role in his own bizarre and spooky magic show. This show took place in a specially designed auditorium at the Wax Museum and it soon became famous as 'Castle Dracula'.

In 2002, it was decided that the actual site of the plaque should be in the entrance passage to the building, formerly the Wax Museum, which lies within a courtyard off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Old Town. This entranceway at 142 New Assembly Close is perfect as it can easily be seen by all who pass by on this very busy road.

Permission to erect a plaque had to meet with City Council approval and many months were spent in contacting all possible departments and officers within the Council. Finally, permissions were received on the understanding that the proposed plaque was to be of an equal size and quality and placed directly below one already on the site. That existing plaque only gave the history of the building prior to the Wax Museum taking over. That meant the plaque to Charles had to be a hefty piece of cast bronze measuring 15​³⁄₄" wide × 12" deep × 1/2" thick. Equally hefty was the price of this whole project as far more was involved in it than just the making and security fixing the plaque on site.

Many of Charles' friends and associates in magic, throughout the world, sent in donations to fund this project. Also, many of his local 'lay people' friends were only to happy to contribute too. Alex Wallace, partner of the late Charles and to whom donations were sent, was taken aback by the sheer kindness and generosity of people sending in money. This turned to amazement and emotional times when people who never met or had any contact with Charles generously came forward with donations. This shows just how much Cameron is regarded within the brotherhood of Bizarre Magic and mentalism.

Before its final fixing, a recess was made at the rear of the plaque so that a document containing all the names of the sponsors could be sealed behind it, a 'time capsule' with a difference.

In part of a dedication, Tony Andruzzi (Masklyn ye Mage) wrote in a gift copy of his "The Negromicon of Masklyn ye Mage (1977)" to Charles, "the one who started all this".

In a copy of Anthony Raven's "The Necromantic Grimoire of Augustus Rapp" gifted to Charles, Raven wrote: "To Charles Cameron-a kindred soul who travels the same paths and whose writings inspired this work".

The plaque was unveiled on 10 October 2003, at the launch of the Charles W. Cameron Memorial Gathering, which was held during the weekend of 10, 11 and 12 October in Edinburgh.[4]

• Curiosities of Old Edinburgh[5]
• Scottish Witches[6]
• Scottish Witches, Revised and Enlarged Edition
• Handbook of Horror
• Witches' Brew
• Macabre and Mental Mysteries[7]
• Devil's Diary
• Castle Dracula Mentalism
• Mind Your Magic

• Beyond The Unknown
• The Land of Make Believe (a children's story book)

• Pardon My Weird Friends (Autobiography)
• Don't Blink-It's Magic
• Castle Dracula