The Magic of Fred Kaps

In this week’s History of Magic, we focus the spotlight on Fred Kaps. Kaps was born Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers in Rotterdam, Holland on June 8th 1926. He was known colloquially as Bram Bongers. He collected coupons from oatmeal boxes to purchase a box of magic tricks when he was 9 years old. The local hairdresser Piet Verschagen was an amateur magician who often did magic for his clients and was noted for his vanishing matches trick, which Bram learnt from him. Young Bram would rush home after his haircuts to practice everything he was taught. Fred Kaps went on to win three FISM (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques ) Grand Prix’s, and he was the first magician ever to do so. FISM hosts the World Congress of Magic every four years since its inception in 1948. It is the world’s premier magicians’ conclave and top-level competition.
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