William “Billy” Dooley, born in Northampton, appeared in the thirties as comedy conjurer Billy Dooley. He made his British Ring Convention debut in 1933 at the third Convention in Northampton. Later he became Benson Dulay a professional comedy illusionist touring the UK variety theatres in the forties and fifties. He made many appearances in Hull . , Gordon Watts, former HMC member, ex-entertainment officer for Hull City Council and British Ring Shield winner, says that he was one of two locally recruited schoolboys who appeared in Benson Dulay’s comedy Head Chopper routine at The Tivoli Theatre. The act also featured a black school boy (who toured with the act) whose trousers fell down as he made his “escape” from the Chopper. Benson Dulay invented Multum in Parvo (the well known liquid and glasses trick) which Burtini (Birmingham based dealer and manufacturer) popularised in 1947 winning the 1948 FISM First Prize for Invention. Benson inscribed this picture – “To my friend Bert. Good Luck Pal. Benson Dulay”.

(Additional information from Whaley’s Who’s Who In Magic). Bert was the first President of HMC and he collected many photographs of Music Hall performers when they appeared in Hull.