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| Enjoy the facts here, but please don't copy this information and post it on your own web site without getting our permission first. It took many hours of research to compile. If you are doing a paper or project for school, we will be happy to give you permission to use this material if you contact us first. |
Bacon,
Roger (?-?)
Thirteenth century English author who coined the phrase "The hand is quicker than the eye". |
Bailey,
Mr. (?-?)
British magician who traveled the East Coast of the United States during the late 1700s and performed "without the use of pockets, bags or sleeves", quite a departure from the performance style of his day. |
Bailey,
Samuel W. (1875-1935) Founder of Bailey & Tripp, maker of magic apparatus. |
Baird,
Bill (1914-1978) One of the greatest billiard ball manipulators of all time. Real name was William Keckritz. Visit Bill Baird's grave (Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, Michigan). |
Baker,
Al (1874-1951) Legendary magician and magical inventor. Third Dean of the Society of American Magicians. |
| Baker,
Carroll (b. 1931) American actress who got her start as a magician's assistant in the early 1950's, before beginning an acting career that included her Oscar-nominated title role in Elia Kazan's controversial movie, Baby Doll. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 1725 Vine Street. |
Baker,
Roy British magician and author, known both as a mentalist and a comedy magician. |
Balabrega
(1857-1906)
(birthday August 20) Swedish born (real name John Miller) magician who had his own full evening show at an early age. Assisted by his father, the Swedish Wonder or the Boy Magician later he developed a show that featured a two-person mentalism act. He is probably most remembered for his demise on stage when he was killed by an exploding gas stage light. |
Balducci Italian performer, exhibitor (like Robert-Houdin) of automata. Early 1800s. |
Balducci,
Edmund Mariano (1906-1988) New York City magician for whom the popular Balducci Self-Levitation principle is named, and inventor of the Balducci Wallet. |
Baldwin,
David M.
American magician and magic historian. The David Baldwin collection is one of the finest private collections of important magic apparatus in the world. Also published The Great Raymond, a comprehensive work about the famous magic performer. See David Baldwin/The Great Raymond. |
Baldwin,
Samri S. (1848-1924) Billed himself as The White Mahatma; created the question-and-answer mentalism act |
Ballantine,
Carl (b.1917) (birthday
September 27) American born Meyer Kessler; hilarious comedy magician and actor (best known for his role on McHale's Navy). Though an accomplished magician, on stage he often poses as a totally inept and clumsy performer. He appeared on the 6/10/51 and 12/26/54 broadcasts of the TV program Toast of the Town, the early version of the Ed Sullivan Show. |
Balles,
George (?-?)
American late 19th century traveling magician who specialized in "magic with a message", also called "ministry magic" or "gospel magic". One of his posters reads "Magic With a Meaning. A Novel and Unique Entertainment. Consisting of a brilliant array of magical experiments and scientific problems. The many wonderful effects that are to be seen are used to illustrate different truths." He was assisted by his guinea pig, Buster. See one of his publicity pamphlets in entirety here. |
Bamberg,
David
(1904-1974)
(birthday February 19) Seventh generation magician. Son of Theo (Okito). Born in Great Britain, raised in the U.S. Gained much of his experience touring with the Raymond show, doing a Shadowgraphy act. Later toured with his own show, as Fu Manchu, with most of his work in South America. For more detailed information, see his biography on the Bazar de Magia site. |
Bamberg,
David Leendert (1786-1869) Third generation magician. Son of Eliaser. Holland-born. Began his career as assistant to his father, but later had great success on his own. Most known for his Egg Bag routine, with the climax being the production of a live chicken from the bag. |
Bamberg,
David Tobias (1843-1914) (birthday August 9) Fifth generation magician. Son of Tobias. Holland-born. Like his father and grandfather, became court magician to Holland's Royal Family. |
| Bamberg,
Eduard (1889-1951) (birthday
July 23) Holland-born son of David Tobias, started as assistant to his father, billed as "Nelusco". Worked his own show in the U.S. as "Ed Rickard". |
Bamberg,
Eliaser (1760-1833)
Second generation magician. Son of Jasper. Holland-born. His unfortunate loss of a leg during wartime turned into an advantage after he had his false leg specially fitted with secret compartments. |
| Bamberg,
Emile (1883-1966) (birthday
November 11) Holland-born son of David Tobias, started as assistant to his father, later with his own show. |
Bamberg,
Jasper (1698-1780)
The original Bamberg. Holland-born. Like many of his contemporaries, he not only performed sleight-of-hand magic but occult magic as well. |
Bamberg, Theo (1875-1963)
(birthday July 15) Sixth generation magician. Son of David Tobias. Holland-born. Became famous as OKITO, performing a silent act as an Oriental magician. He developed a silent act to compensate for the fact that he was deaf. Also originated a number of magic effects including the Okito Coin Box. |
Bamberg,
Tobias (1812-1870) (birthday November 11) Fourth generation magician. Son of David Leendert. Holland-born. As was his father, he was court magician to Holland's Royal Family. His fluency in four languages made him very successful. |
| Bancroft,
Frederick
(1867-1897) (birthday November 3) American magician (real name Frederick Bronson), a flighty, impatient performer whose brief career was cut short when he died of typhoid fever. Started his career as "DeCastro, the Boy Magician" in 1879 in Chicago, but quickly got frustrated and abandoned magic for dentistry and real estate, where his quick impulses helped him make a small fortune. He subsequently became close friends with Alexander Herrmann, traveling with him for a short period. Herrmann's success inspired him to try magic again, this time with his own considerable financial backing. His equipment was impeccable, costing upwards of $30,000, and his posters were gorgeous. His act, while a close copy of Herrmann's in terms of routines, completely lacked the personality and showmanship that made Herrmann such a success. Bancroft took his show to Europe and India, where he had better luck. When Herrmann died in 1896, Bancroft hired Herrmann's agent, E.L. Bloom, in hopes of gaining success in America. This effort failed when Bancroft died after the first show date on his new tour. |
| Barley,
Milton
(?-?) English actor who played the part of Bosco for a time in the LeRoy-Talma-Bosco act. |
| Barton,
James (1858-1935) American magician on the Lyceum circuit, performing at times as "El Barto". Began as a young apprentice to Signor Blitz for several years, launching his own stage career in 1874. He did not reach real success, however, for many years; his best years were from 1920 until his retirement in 1934. |
Basch,
Ernst (1838-1908) German magician, son of Hirsch Basch and part of the Basch magical dynasty. Performed professionally from 1860 until 1887, when he opened a magic shop in Hannover, Germany, where he also made magical props. He was most known for performing the Magic Lantern and Pepper's Ghost effects. His son-in-law, Hermann Mellini, then inherited the magic business. |
Basch,
Friederich Joseph (1833-1877) German magician, son of Hirsch Basch and part of the Basch magical dynasty. |
Basch,
Heinrich (1841-1876) German magician, son of Hirsch Basch and part of the Basch magical dynasty. Toured with his phantasmagora show, and later built magical props behind the scenes. |
Basch,
Wilhelm (?-?) German magician, father of the Basch magical dynasty, and traveling magician. |
Basch,
Heinrich (1841-1876) German magician, son of Hirsch Basch and part of the Basch magical dynasty. Most successful of the Basch brothers as a performing magician; also the eldest. Started as an assistant to Hermann Mellini's father. |
Beale,
Ken (?-1979) Card magician and author, specializing in mathematical effects and deck stacking. |
Beaufort,
Douglas (1864-1939) British magician (real name Douglas Broad), prominent society entertainer and stage performer. In the 1890's he joined a British mission to Morocco as a magician (his task being to demonstrate the superiority of European magic over native magic), a function performed by Robert-Houdin for the French government twenty years prior. |
| Beaumont,
Count
(?-?) American magician on the vaudeville circuit in the early 1900s. From Pennsylvania. Was accused by Doc Nixon of renting magic equipment from him, then having the equipment duplicated, secretly shipping the real equipment to his wife for storage and returning the duplicates to Nixon. The incident was dropped when the real equipment was returned. |
| Becker
(?-?) American magician on the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits. |
Becker,
Larry American mentalist, author and advertising executive. |
Bee,
Percy (1905-1973) British magician and author noted for his controversial articles on magic presentation published in Abracadabra. |
Bellachini
(1828-1885) Poland-born Samuel Berlach, Court Entertainer for Germany's Emperor Wilhelm I, he was most noted for the production of eggs from the mouth of an assistant. |
Ben
Ali Bey (1839-1928) See Max Auzinger. |
Benjilini
American magician and magic historian. Has done much work in researching, locating and restoring the graves of magic notables, including Alexander Herrmann, Signor Blitz and Harry Houdini. |
Bennett,
Doug American magic inventor of effects like Criss Cross Cards and BewildeRing; author. |
| Benson,
Roy (1915-1978) American magician (real name E.F.E. McQuade) who started his career in nightclubs with an act that strongly borrowed from Fred Keating, both in routine and in delivery. Soon he developed his own smooth style, but his multifaceted talents led him to further branch out, first in movie special effects development (he made the monsters for a number of B-movies, including The Flesh Eaters) and then in special effects for stage (he was the magical consultant for the Broadway hit Carnival! in the early 1960s). He also became a special effects photographer, even taking the photos used in the Dark Shadows ViewMaster slides. He is the subject of Roy Benson By Starlight (2007) by Levent and Todd Karr. He appeared on the 8/8/54 broadcast of the TV program Toast of the Town, the early version of the Ed Sullivan Show. |
Berg,
Joe
(1903-1984)
Magic dealer (Chicago and Hollywood) and inventor of several popular effects, including the Ultra Mental Deck (Invisible Deck). |
| Berg,
Russell O.
(?-?) American magician on the Redpath Chautauqua circuit around 1910. Performed as half of the Razoux-Berg Company magic act with partner Paul H. Razoux. See one of his publicity pamphlets in entirety here. |
Bergeron,
Bev Comedy magician and author. Began his career with Willard the Wizard; also played Rebo the Clown on Mark Wilson's TV program, The Magic Land of Alacazam. Past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Visit his official website |
| Berggren,
J.R.
(?-?) Magician (card manipulator) who appeared on the 7/31/55 broadcast of the TV program Toast of the Town, the early version of the Ed Sullivan Show. |
Berglas,
David Well-known British magician and mentalist. Past President of the Magic Circle. Father of Marvin Berglas, magician and magic company president. |
Berkel,
Betty (?-?) Wife and stage partner of comedy magician Odips. |
Berland,
Sam (1907-1987) Magic dealer and inventor of popular effects and routines, especially using thimbles and dice. |
| Bernilo
(?-?) American magician on the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits. |
Bertram,
Charles (1853-1907)
British magician, born James Bassett. Favorite performer of King Edward VII. His famous phrase, "Isn't it wonderful?" also became the title of his autobiography. |
Bertram,
Ross (1912-1992) Canadian magician, born John Ross Bertram. Considered to be one of the world's finest close-up magicians using his own innovative techniques, particularly with coins. Was a pioneer in the field of trade show magic. See The Magic and Methods of Ross Bertram and Bertram on Sleight of Hand. |
Birch,
MacDonald (1902-late 1980s) Successful American stage magician. Started as a magician on the Lyceum circuit, where his manager, Henry Hudson Davis, also managed Herman Homar, S.S. Henry, Wallace, Marquis and Mel-Roy. His greatest years were during the 30's and 40's, when most other stage magicians were struggling. One of his most popular effects was Princess the Vanishing Pony. In 1924, Howard Thurston made preliminary plans to make Birch the successor to the Kellar-Thurston "magic mantle"; Thurston, however, never got around to retiring, and Birch made a successful career of his own. See one of his publicity pamphlets in entirety here. |
Bishop,
Washington Irving (1856-1889) (birthday March 4) American magician most famous for his feats of mindreading, muscle reading and demonstration of "psychic phenomena". He is best known for the bizarre manner in which he died, however. He was afflicted with a condition that would cause him to suddenly fall into a deep coma, though he would always recover. Unfortunately one of his spells felled him during a performance at New York's private Lambs Club; two doctors were present at time and mistakenly pronounced him dead. Their medical curiosity caused them to call for an immediate autopsy "before the brain cooled". Bishop's mother was furious that an autopsy was performed without family consent, thus, in effect, killing her son. She spent the rest of her life publicly accusing the doctors of murder, and spent literally every cent she had in legal battles to prove her point. She was unsuccessful. |
| Black
Carl
(?-?) American magician on the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits. |
Black
Herman American magician of the 1930's (real name Benjamin Herman Rucker) who combined magic with a strong separatist political message. Starting as an apprentice to a medicine show magician named Prince Herman, Black Herman learned the art of persuasion as well as the art of magic. After Prince Herman died in 1909, Black Herman carried the show on his own, gradually changing his focus from tonic selling to racial issues. His mission was to promote his view of Black power and separatism by attracting attention and support using stage magic, occult magic and superstition. He was best known for his "Buried Alive" trick where he would hypnotize women and then place them in the ground for six hours. Eventually he would perform the trick on himself and sell tickets for the public to view his "private graveyard" prior to his theater performance. The trick was so effective and Black Herman's mystical message was so strong that when he died onstage in 1934, The famous jazz musician Sun Ra (Herman Blount) was named after him. Black Herman was an ethnic nationalist, a contemporary of activists Marcus Garvey and Booker T. Washington. Garvey, Washington and Black Herman all offered talismans to ward off racism. Black Herman claimed that he was immortal and descended from Moses. He suggested that blacks could elude Klansmen and their descendants by escaping the limitations of mortality and simply outliving them. He published a book, ghosted by a man named Young, called Secrets of Magic, Mystery, and Legerdemain in 1925. Read more here. Visit Black Herman's grave. |
Blackledge,
John Elder (1891-?) American semi-pro magician who started as a very young pupil of stage magician Edward Maro (and was his only student). Performed in his prime numerous times for Franklin Roosevelt as a popular society magician. Also had a successful career as an architect. |
Blackman,
Al (?-?)
In the mid-1900's, his was the largest collection of magic magazines and references of the time. His collection was disbursed in the mid-1950s. |
Blackstone, Harry Sr. (1885-1965) Legendary American stage magician. Born Harry Boughton, he started as one half of a vaudeville comedy act with his brother, Pete Bouton. Along with his long stage career, he co-founded Blackstone's Magic Co. with Percy Abbott in the 1929. He is credited with creating classic routines for the Dancing Handkerchief, the Vanishing Bird Cage, the Buzz Saw, and of course, the Floating Light Bulb. Many feel that he was the best example of what a magician should be. His first professional job was at the Windsor Novelty Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota. Subsequently, he worked with Nicol as half of an act called Bouton and Kelso. Around 1906, he was billed as LeRoy Bouton. He once filled in a date for C. Porter Norton, appearing under Norton's name. (more to come) His son, Harry Blackstone Jr., became an equally famous stage magician. Visit Harry Blackstone Sr.'s grave (Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, Michigan). |
Blackstone,
Harry Jr. (1934-1997) Famous and successful contemporary American stage magician. As well as extensively touring with his version of his father's stage show, he was also an actor (with a number of roles to his credit, frequently as a magician character) and a producer (Broadway's Hair, TV's Smothers Brothers). His dramatic flair and powerful stage presence made him an unforgettable performer. Wife Gay and daughter Bellamie continue to perform. Visit Harry Blackstone Jr.'s grave (Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, Michigan). |
Blackton,
J. Stuart (1875-1941) British American magician who specialized in chalk talk (the Komical Kartoonist) and "lightening sketches" with vaudeville magician partners Albert E. Smith and Ronald Reader. They were the three founding partners in 1897 of Vitagraph Movie Company (see more here). As a cartoonist/reporter for the New York World, he interviewed Thomas Edison, who inspired him to go into the movie business. Blackton worked in all creative capacities, and is considered to be the Father of American animation. Sold Vitagraph to Warner Brothers in 1925, but lost his fortune in the stock market crash of 1929. Married actress Evangeline Wood, and died in a car accident in 1941. |
| Blaeser,
Andrew (?-?) American magician, half of the act of The Duval Brothers, along with Ade Duval, performing on the Lyceum circuit in the early 1920s. Retired in 1924 to lead a "regular" life. |
| Blaine,
David (b. 1973) birthday April 4 American magician, real name David Blaine White, who popularized the "in-your-face" performnce style known as Street Magic with his series of very successful television specials which featured his now famous Self Levitation effect as well as the Bitten Quarter and the Raven. |
Blake,
George (1893-1979) British magician, author and founder of the first British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. |
Blaney,
Walter (b.1928) American magician (Zaney Blaney) and inventor of the Blaney Ladder Levitation, made popular by David Copperfield, and the clever Miracle Levitation Hoop. His illusions can be seen here. This Texas magician is very active in the magic world. In 1998, Walter helped create the World Alliance of Magicians (now defunct), which battled magic exposure, and served as its first international president. Visit his official website |
Blitz
(?-1889)
Real name David Batents. One of the many imitators of Signor Blitz who blatantly performed under his name. This particular Blitz had a brief career that actually started after the real Blitz died in 1877, and ended in an insane asylum. The Boston Post printed his obituary in January of 1889, mistakenly reporting him as the real Signor Blitz, not even realizing that the real Blitz had died twelve years before. |
Blitz,
Frank (?-1910) American-born son of Signor Blitz. Most known for his success as an exhibitor of oddities (like P.T. Barnum). His most famous exhibit was Marie-Christine, the celebrated black conjoined twins. (The twins insisted on being referred to as one person). |
Blitz,
Harry (?-1915)
American-born son of Signor Blitz. Performed his own show as "Haba Haba". |
Blitz,
Signor (1810-1877) Extremely successful 19th century English-born but America-based magician. Using the stage name of Signor Blitz, his real name was Antoni van Zandt. At the height of his career, at least 13 other magicians were performing under the name "Blitz" in an effort to capitalize on his popularity. Multi-talented, Blitz was an accomplished ventriloquist, juggler and bird handler as well as an entertaining magician. His favorite effect was the Bullet Catching act, though he stopped performing the feat after a number of malicious audience-induced accidents. He also performed for several years in the 1870's with a magic act involving more than 500 canaries. Author of Fifty Years in the Magic Circle. His grave was recently "discovered" in New York by Benjilini, and has since been repaired and restored. |
Bloise
(?-?)
Italian magician and water spouter who could swallow a great quantity of water, then spit it out as wine. His act must have been convincing, as he was forced by the Church to reveal the secret or be imprisoned for life. |
Blumenfeld,
Otto (? -1906) German magician killed onstage performing the "bullet-catching" act. |
Bobo,
J.B. (1910-1996) (birthday February 11) Magician and author of the definitive book on coin magic, Modern Coin Magic. Bobo also wrote books about creating shows for children. In his professional career, he performed more than 14,000 school shows. |
Bongo,
Ali (b.1929) India-born British comedy magician who bills himself as the "Shriek of Araby". Author of several books on comedy magic, he is also an accomplished illustrator, drawing for a number of magic catalogs. |
| Boomskie Character assistant in the Alexander Herrmann show. Character was always played by an African-American assistant. One such assistant was M.H. Everett. |
Bordner,
Greg (b.1951)
Son of Recil Bordner, and present owner of Abbott's Magic. |
Bordner, Recil (1910-1981) American magician, co-founder of Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Co. in Colon, Michigan with Percy Abbott. Abbott's was formed in 1933after the Abbott-Blackstone partnership dissolved. Abbott's became known as a distributor and manufacturer of affordable magic equipment, and also for the Abbott's Get-Togethers, the annual magic conventions held each August in Colon. |
Bosco Comedy character created as part of the LeRoy-Talma-Bosco act. Originated by Imro Fox in the Triple Alliance act with Servais LeRoy and Frederick Eugene Powell, Bosco was played successively by eight different actors, including Leon Bosco (where the character's name originated), Mac Laube, Daly, Wilmot Hastings, Dr. James William Elliott, Milton Barley and Thomas Mullins, and Gene LeRoy. When Leon Bosco was playing the part, Servais LeRoy invested a lot of money in posters, hoping to use them over a period of time. When Bosco left the show, it was decided that the subsequent actors would be costumed and made up to resemble the original Bosco, to match the posters. Bosco's most popular effect was pulling the heads off of a duck and a rooster, and restoring them with the wrong head on each bird. |
Bosco,
Bartolomeo (1793-1863) Successful European magician, most popular between 1830 and 1850. His most famous trick was the Cups and Balls. appearing to exchange the heads of two live chickens, a black one and a white one. Robert-Houdin gained some unfair publicity for himself when in 1838 he publicly criticized Bosco for "animal cruelty" after seeing him perform a trick in which he appeared to exchange the heads of two live chickens, a black one for a white one. Robert-Houdin knew full well that the trick was an illusion, and was not harmful to the animals in any way. Bosco died in poverty after subsidizing his son, Eugene Bosco, for a number of years. In 1903, Houdini discovered Bosco's dilapidated grave. He purchased title to the plot, and deeded it to the Society of American Magicians, starting a tradition of fraternal grave guardianship that continues today, especially through the efforts of Benjilini. Bosco was so well-known that no less than five other magicians performed under that name after his death, in an attempt to capitalize on his fame. |
Bosco, Eugene
(1815-1888) Son of Bartolomeo Bosco and a popular magician. Inventor of the Sand Frame. His career was cut short when he shot his right hand off in 1857. Like his father, he died in poverty. It is interesting to note that two other magicians using the "Bosco" name were victims of gun accidents. Invented the Sand Frame. |
| Bosco,
Italo (??) Son of Eugene Bosco, magic assistant to his father. |
| Bosco,
Leon (1793-1863) English music hall comedian who took over the comic character played by Imro Fox in the Triple Alliance act of LeRoy-Fox-Powell, when the act changed to LeRoy-Talma-Bosco. The character was then named Bosco, though several other magicians subsequently played the part. |
| Bosco,
Saint John (1823-1891) Catholic Patron Saint of Magicians. Blessed with tremendous natural and supernatural gifts, including a wonderful sense of humor, Giovanni Bosco overcame overwhelming obstacles to help deprived children find a better life. Juggler, magician and acrobat, he used all of these to attract attention to his message of tolerance, patience of love of God. According to legend, a prayer was the price of admission to his shows. Founded the Salesian Society. His best pupil, Dominic Savio, also became a saint. |
Boston,
George (1905-1975) Magician best known for his work as stage manager for Blackstone Sr, Carter, Thurston and Nicola. Inventor of the Boston Box (a variation of the Okito Coin Box). Taught magic to Tony Curtis for his role in the 1953 movie Houdini. |
Boughton,
Leroy (?-?) American magician who worked the Lyceum circuit in the late 1800's and early 1900's, mostly in the Midwest. |
Bouton,
Pete (1888-1968) Brother of Harry Blackstone Sr. The strong comedian in a two-person vaudeville act with his brother, he eventually focused on the behind-the-scenes details of the Blackstone show, and was an important part of its success. |
Bowyer, Tom (1902-1949) British-born Canadian magician who performed as Van Russell. Invented the Repeat Dollar Bills effect. |
Brandon
(unknown) Seventeenth century English magician who was known for the rather bizarre trick of making a sketch of a real dove that was perched on a rooftop; when he stabbed the drawing, the real bird fell to the ground, dead. Understandably, this effect was alarming to those spectators who believed in witchcraft. |
Braue,
Fred (?-1962) Magician and magic author. Invented the Braue Reversal, a method of reversing a card while cutting the deck. |
Brema,
Carl (1864-1942) (birthday February 2) German-born magic manufacturer (real name Karl Brehmer) whose Philadelphia company produced numerous precision-made brass apparatus, including the still-popular Nickels To Dimes effect, invented for Brema by Walter Gibson. Original Brema effects and Brema catalogs are very collectible today. |
Brenon,
John (?-?) Billed as the Irish Wizard, he toured the Eastern United States throughout the late 1700s, moving to the US permanently by 1790. His specialty was the Bullet Catch- performed while he was balanced on a wire. |
Brenon,
Mrs. John (?-?) Wife of the Irish Wizard. She was an expert manipulator, and is credited as being the first female magician to perform professionally in the United States (about 1787). |
Breslaw,
Philip (1726-1783) German-born British magician credited with developing the Two Person Mental Act. |
Brindamoor,
George (1870-1941) American escape artist. Popular vaudeville performer. |
Brodien,
Marshall American magician who pioneered the use of TV mass-marketing of magic effects with his wildly successful promotion of Svengali decks as TV MAGIC CARDS beginning in the 1960's. He has also had a very long run as Wizzo the Clown (a comedy magician character) on the Bozo TV show from Chicago. |
Brooke,
Ken (1920-1983) British magician and magic dealer. He was best known for providing exclusive effects and routines by the top names in magic. |
Brooks,
Herbert (1873-1923) British stage magician and inventor of the Brooks Trunk, an escape illusion. |
Brooks,
Howard (1909-1984) American comedy magician and actor, he is best known as the inventor of the Brassiere Trick. |
Broome,
Joseph (?-?- 1700s) German magician who was the subject of the first known advertisement for a magic act in America. The ad appeared in the March, 1734 issue of the New York Weekly Journal, and promoted Broome's "Wonders of the World by Dexterity of Hand". |
Brown,
Evans (?-?) American magician, most popular in the 1920's, who worked the vaudeville and Chautauqua circuits. Inventor of a number of trick decks. According to his publicity materials, he was also an accomplished pianist, accordionist and harpist. |
Brush,
Charles "Baffles" (?-1949) American amateur magician and author, well known in European magic circles for his contributions to the magic publications. When stage performer Edwin Brush died in 1967, the European magic press mistakenly reported that it was "Baffles" who had passed away; apparently they were not familiar with the American Chautauqua magician. |
Brush,
Edwin (1874-1967) (birthday March 21) American magician whose greatest fame came on the Chautauqua and Lyceum circuits. He was the first magician to appear in a tented Chautauqua show. Later in life, he developed a magic lecture that incorporated a religious message, which was also very successful. His distinguishing characteristic was his trademark upside-down mustache; he actually cut and trained his moustache hair to grow straight up, defying the laws of gravity and creating a rather unique appearance. |
Buckingham,
Geoffrey British magician known for his classic manipulation act with billiard balls, coins and thimbles. FISM Grand Prix winner. |
Buchinger,
Matthew (1674-1740) German-born magician known as "The Little Man of Nuremberg". An accomplished magician who specialized in the Cups and Balls as well as a musician and artist, his accomplishments are most noteworthy because he was born without arms or legs. |
Buckley,
Arthur (1890-1953) Australian-born magician, mentalist and author renowned for his incredible (and difficult to imitate) skills with cards. Early on, billed himself as "Young Dante, King of Koins". Later performed his card magic as "Mysto". Worked as a successful mentalist with his wife, Helen. Invented the Muscle Pass. |
Burger,
Eugene (b. 1939) (birthday June 1) American magician and author, highly regarded for his closeup skills and his work in mentalism. |
Burgess,
Clinton (1880-1932) American vaudeville magician who also was the "ghostwriter" for several of Houdini's books. |
Burkhart,
Melvin (1907-2001) Legendary American sideshow magician. Originator of the Human Blockhead act, in which he drove a large nail up his nose to its head. Taught Peter Monticup, owner of MagicTricks.com, the paddle move. See tribute here. |
Burlingame,
H.J. (1852-1915) Magic dealer and author (real name Hardin Jasper Burlingame). He sold magic apparatus under his own name and as George L. Williams and Co. He also sold equipment to mediums and stage mindreaders through the Ralph E. Sylvestre & Co. In addition, he authored a very comprehensive bibliography of important magic books, Bibliotheca Magica. |
Burton,
Lance (b. 1960) Charismatic and popular American stage performer, he is exceptionally talented and polished. He has starred in several network TV specials and has portrayed magicians in a number of TV programs. He is currently headlining his own show in Las Vegas. |
Bux,
Kuda (1910-1981) (birthday February 17) Pakistani magician (real name Khuda Bakhsh) who achieved worldwide fame, especially in the U.S., with his "sightless vision" act. Known as "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes". Despite elaborate blindfolds made of bread dough, gauze, putty, and tape, he was able to perform amazing acts like the famous Blindfold Drive, steering a speeding car through a busy street. He was one of the most requested acts on the 50's TV program "You Asked For It". Ironically, he suffered from very poor eyesight in his later years- but was still able to perform "sightless vision" without difficulty! |
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