Zati Sungur

Early Life and Education

Zati Sungur (10 March 1898 – 6 July 1984) was a Turkish illusionist, born in Bursa as Hasan Zati Sungur. His father was Remziye Hanım's son, the Master of the Sultan of Emir Sultan.

Sungur completed his primary school and high school education in Bursa Meteb-i Sultani. In 1914, he passed the exams for the Shuttle (Sea Astsubay School) and was among the successful students sent to train in the submarine fleet of Germany in 1916.

Career

During World War I, Sungur's training in Germany was interrupted when the connection between the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire was severed. He had to return to Turkey and worked as a crane operator in the Ortopedi workshops and later in the Humboldt Machinery Factory in Cologne.

After his return to Turkey, Sungur began to develop an interest in magic (sihirbazlık), which was often equated with fraud (hokkabazlık) and russianism (madrabazlık) in the young republic. He aimed to establish magic as a legitimate art form.

Illusionist Career

Sungur's repertoire included illusions such as "The Sawn Virgin in thin castes" and "The Flying Virgin." His trademark on stage were cylinders and monocles.

Personal Life

In the same period that he was working in Germany, Sungur got married to the daughter of the owner of a hostel.