By Tom Ewing

Magical Treasures of Philadelphia by Tom Ewing n behalf of the vibrant magic community Hosting this national convention is also noth- in Philadelphia, welcome to the many ing new to the city as we have done so on Onational convention attendees to our city. four other occasions—1931, 1968, 1972, and We have a rich political history as the site of 1976. We can also boast five National S.A.M. the First and Second Continental Congresses Presidents and two Deans of the Society with during the American Revolution. It was here, close ties to the city. too, that the Declaration of Independence was drafted and adopted, and from 1790- In mid-1700s, Philadelphian Jacob Meyer be- 1800 we served as the nation’s capital. It was gan performing magic and eventually adopt- also the home of Benjamin Franklin, Betsy ed the stage name Philadelphus Philadelphia Ross, and other notables. and rose to fame here and abroad. He trav- eled extensively throughout Europe and per- We have a rich magic history stretching back formed before the Empress Catharine and Sultan to those early colonial days up to the present. Mustapha the Third at Constantinople. Also in the late 1700s, conjurors such as should be more on theaters and buildings or Hymen Saunders, Signor Falconi, and John people. Since people are far more interesting, Rannie performed at local taverns and public I went with human treasures. Of course, I had houses in the city. to throw in some buildings and theaters, too. It was also here that Von Kempelen’s chess- Magic Shops playing automaton, “The Turk,” spent its final and last days. From 1770, until its de- From the standpoint of magic establishments, struction by fire at the National Theater Boston had C. Milton Chase, New York had at Ninth and Chestnut streets in 1854, this Martinka’s, Chicago had Roterberg’s, Los clockwork automaton was exhibited world- Angeles had Thayer’s, and for more than 40 wide playing excellent chess against human years spanning the turn of the 20th century, opponents. Its many challengers included Philadelphians had the magic shop of Thom- Napoleon Bonaparte, Benjamin Franklin, and as W. Yost. the world’s top chess masters. The gentleman who purchased the Turk and brought it to Yost was born March Philadelphia was Edgar Allan Poe’s personal 15, 1832, in Philadel- physician. phia and opened for business in 1870, in Another famous automaton still in existence a store located at 35 and on display is the Draughtsman Writ- North Ninth Street, er, which resides at The Franklin Institute. where he occupied the Readers may be interested to know it served second floor. Less than as the model of the a year later, he moved automaton featured to 901 Filbert Street, in Martin Scorsese’s where he continued to 2011 film, “Hugo.” provide imported and It came to the In- custom-made magic to stitute in 1928 as a local enthusiasts and top professionals of the mass of ruined brass day. cogs and machinery. No one even knew Over the course of the shop’s existence, ma- who had created gicians like Signor Blitz, Wyman the Wizard, the figure or wheth- Robert Heller, Frikell, Anderson, and the en- er it was made to tire Herrmann family stopped and shopped represent a male or in Yost’s establishment. He was the first deal- female. Here is the er to make and distribute what was then the Institute’s description of what happened after entirely new Okito Coin Box. Okito (Theo- the Philadelphia treasure was painstakingly dore Bamberg) was traveling at the time with restored. the Thurston show doing shadowgraphs and, during his stop in Philadelphia, showed the “When the repairs were completed and the effect to Yost. He quickly obtained the rights driving motors were set in motion, the Au- and began selling them for fifty cents. In tomaton came to life. It lowered its head, 1914, Yost sold his shop to Clyde W. Powers positioned its pen, and began to produce of New York. A few years later, Powers sold elaborate sketches. Four drawings and three all of the stock of his shop and Yost’s at bar- poems later, in the border surrounding the gain basement prices. The remnants of Yost’s final poem, the Automaton clearly wrote, shop were acquired by Frank Ducrot, who by “Ecrit par L’Automate de Maillardet.” This that time had already purchased the Horn- translates to “Written by the Automaton of mann Magic Company. Yost passed away in Maillardet.” 1917 and was buried in Sellersville, Pennsyl- vania. In writing about Philadelphia’s “magical treasures,” I wondered whether the focus Another famous magic shop worth noting is the one owned descended from the first Masonic Hall that and operated by opened in 1810, burned in 1819, was rebuilt, the well known and, in 1841, housed Charles Wilson Peale’s magic crafts- Museum of Curiosities. The height of Kellar’s man Carl Brema theater from the pavement to the finials on (1864–1942). either side of the main tower was 112 feet, or From 1918 to 11 stories. The front was painted white and 1925, Brema’s blue with gold decorations. magic shop at 425 Market With the exception of the Academy of Music, Street in Phila- the theater had the largest seating capacity of delphia was the any similar place of amusement in the city. In inner sanctum the basement was the “Chamber of Horrors,” for magicians representing such things as a man falling into both famous and infamous. Houdini, Powell, the hands of cannibals and an Indian scalp- Thurston, Goldin, Gibson, Felix Herrmann, ing. It was on this stage that Kellar presented and many local magicians spent hours dis- his famous dark cabinet séance, growth of cussing magic in the shop. His finely craft- roses, levitation, and many of the signature ed close-up tricks, comprised primarily of effects for which he became famous. brass, are highly collectible. When Houdini A number took out his three-part magic, escapes, and of famous spirit exposés show, he turned to Brema to people construct the stage illusions. Other magic attended impresarios in the city included Jack Chanin, Kellar’s Mike Kanter, Walter Gibson, Lucille Saxon, perfor- (manager of Holden’s), Edward Massey, and mances, presently Bob Little of Hatboro Magic. including his old friend and Kellar’s Egyptian Hall mentor, The famous magician Harry Kellar is also The Fakir inextricably linked to the City of Brotherly of Ava. Love. During his early years traveling with John L. the Fakir of Ava, then with the Davenport Sullivan, Brothers, Kellar dreamed of opening his own then the permanent theater along the lines of Maske- World lyne and Cooke’s Egyptian Hall in London. Heavy He eventually accomplished this when he Weight opened his own “Egyptian Hall” in Phila- Boxing delphia on December 15, 1884. Establishing Champi- this theater helped on, tied position Kellar to Kellar up assume the mantle of one after- “America’s favorite noon. After stepping into the séance cabinet, magician.” Sullivan was stripped of his vest and coat and chucked from the cabinet. He said, “… The Philadelphia As if some fellow tucked me one in the jugular.” theater Kellar chose for his Egyptian Hall In the fall of 1885, after 264 performanc- was the old Mason- es, Kellar closed his Egyptian Hall. Sever- ic Hall at 713-721 al months later, the theater burned to the Chestnut Street. It ground. Kellar opened a second Egyptian had a long and illus- Hall in October 1891, in a theater known as trious history, having Concert Hall. It was there he premiered his Blue Room, theatrical which allowed family him to appear, who spe- disappear and cialized dissolve on in lavish stage. In sub- spectac- sequent years ulars. It Kellar returned originally to the city. Au- opened as diences in the Kiralfy’s City of Brother- Alhambra ly Love thrilled Palace, a name that was well deserved. Their to illusions like productions often included dozens and doz- “The Golden ens of dancing girls, exotic scenery, magnifi- Butterfly,” the cent costuming, and animals large and small “Levitation of including elephants. Princess Kar- nac,” and “The Phantom Bride,” but never It was this theater that Alexander Herrmann again would he settle in for a long run en- acquired and operated and in which he con- sconced in his own theater. The acclamation tinued to offer stock company productions, of Philadelphia audiences and the invaluable star attractions and continued lavish specta- experience he gained through steady and cles that even included gondolas floating on repeated performances of his favorite tricks Venetian canals. Herrmann performed his and illusions in his own theater positioned show in his own theater only one time for him to assume the title of “America’s Fa- an extended run in April, 1889. Eventually vorite Magician” upon the death of his rival Herrmann, like his predecessors, sold the Alexander Herrmann. In 1910, the Society of theater and returned to the road with the American Magicians unanimously named illusion show that made him and Adelaide Kellar as the first Dean of the organization, America’s favorite magicians. a role he filled until his death on March 10, 1922. With his passing, magicians and lay Howard Thurston people, many who recalled his early Philadel- Another famous ma- phia days, mourned the loss of a great man gician and former and outstanding magician. S.A.M. National Pres- ident who was closely Herrmann’s Broad Street Theater associated with the city was Howard Another theater oper- Thurston. On his ating in Philadelphia rise to the top of the during the late 1880s profession, Thurston was the one owned by appeared here often.

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