Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Thurston -- 100 Mysteries 100 -- December 11, 2024

Washington Evening Star, 08-December-1924

Magician Howard Thurston established himself as a successful vaudeville performer, then joined with Harry Kellar on his farewell tour. When Kellar retired in 1908, Thurston carried on as his successor. Thurston continued performing until he suffered a stroke in 1935.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Monday, August 29, 2022

Monday, March 28, 2022

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Kellar, Magician, Dies in California -- March 10, 2022

Wilmington Evening Journal, 11-March-1922

Master magician Harry Kellar died 100 years ago today, on 10-March-1922.

KELLAR, MAGICIAN,
DIES IN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES, March 11 -- Harry Kellar, world-famous magician, died at his home here yesterday after two years' ill health and a severe illness of several weeks. He was 73 years old.

Kellar was born in Erie, Pa., July 11, 1849, and in boyhood was apprenticed to a chemist of his native town. Later he sold papers in New York. An English clergyman named Harcourt adopted him, and took him to Canandaigua, N. Y., where the boy began studying for the ministry.

His first professional engagement was as the assistant to the "Fakir of Ava." an Illusionist.

Kellar was master of a dozen languages and had arithmetic and algebra at instant command. He invented several mysterious illusions which defied investigation, retired from the stage May 17, 1908, his last performance being in Ford's Opera House. In Baltimore. Md.


I would love to see his Self Decapitation. 

From the Facebook Group Vintage Advertising and Poster Art


Salt Lake Herald, 29-November-1898

Kellar performed the Self Decapitation along with the Hindoo Clock and "Kellar's masterpiece, The Blue Room," at the Salt Lake Theater on 29-November-1898.  He was accompanied by Mrs Kellar

Friday, January 21, 2022

Rex the Mental Wizard -- January 21, 2022

East Oregonian, 11-January-1922

Something about this ad for Rex the Mental Wizard reminds me of Nightmare Alley. We recently saw the original again and I hope to see the remake.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Servais Le Roy -- January 23, 2021

 

National Vaudeville Association Souvenir, 1925

Le Roy, Talma and Bosco were a popular team of magicians. Servais Le Roy was a Belgian magician. Talma (Mary Ford) was his wife and an expert coin manipulator. Bosco was the rotund comic relief. There were several Boscos over the years. John Bosco is the patron saint of magicians.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

James Randi, RIP -- October 28, 2020

 

listal.com

Magician, escape artist and investigator James Randi has died, unless he is pulling our legs. I loved his book Conjuring

listal.com

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

Details of the Apparatus -- April 29, 2019

From The Book of Magic: Being a Simple Description of Some Good Tricks and How to Do Them, with Patter by Archie Frederick Collins, 1916.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

The Magic Palanquin -- March 23, 2019

From The Book of Magic: Being a Simple Description of Some Good Tricks and How to Do Them, with Patter by Archie Frederick Collins, 1916.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Ricky Jay, RIP -- November 26, 2018


Magician and actor Ricky Jay has died.  I enjoyed Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Dante Europe's Greatest Magician -- October 23, 2018


Halloween is coming.

Harry Jansen was born in Denmark.  He moved to the United States, but toured the world with his act as Dante the Magician.  Howard Thurston gave him the name and had him operate a second unit.  Dante appeared with Laurel and Hardy in A Haunting We Will Go.

Friday, September 21, 2018

The Vanishing Whippet -- September 21, 2018

Magician Howard Thurston established himself as a successful vaudeville performer, then joined with Harry Kellar on his farewell tour. When Kellar retired in 1908, Thurston carried on as his successor. Thurston continued performing until he suffered a stroke in 1935.

The Whippet was a small car produced by Willys-Overland from 1926 to 1931.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Fine Magical Apparatus -- August 21, 2018

Magic, Ellis Stanyon, Ed.
Martinka and Company of New York City offered a catalogue of "Illusions, Tricks, Etc." for 12 stamps.