Camden News: Robert Harbin | Magic | Plaque | Camden Square | Zig Zag Girl

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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 19 February 2009

Robert Harbin

Cutting-edge magic: Plaques unveiled to Zig Zag Girl inventor and a comic genius

MAGICIANS unveiled a plaque in honour of the “godfather of illusion” in Camden Town on Monday.
Robert Harbin, who lived at 1 Camden Square in 1928, is renowned among members of the Magic Circle for creating the world-famous Zig Zag Girl, where an assistant in a box is seemingly sawn into three parts.
Chris Woodward, a member of the Magic Circle, based in Euston, said: “He came to Camden from Johannesburg and his original name was Ned Williams. He developed a series of illusions, including the Zig Zag Girl and the Blades of Opah.”
Mr Harbin, who died in 1978, worked for Holborn toy store Gamages while living in Camden Square.
May Geasley, who lives in his former flat, said: “My dad Eugene was a magician and he used to do the Zig Zag Girl. I’m really amazed to find out Harbin lived here.”
The illusionist is credited with bringing origami – the Japanese art of paper-folding – to this country. Throughout the 1960s he had his own television show, Paper Magic, and gave Rolf Harris his first job in this country, illustrating a book on the subject. Mr Harris could not attend the event because of poor health. Steve Megumi, of the British Origami Association, said of Mr Harbin: “He was a real gentleman off stage as well.”

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