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. Kellar’s primary rival, In fact, several of his Alexander Herrmann. major illusions were It was situated down- designed and created here when Thurston town just a few blocks appeared at Willow Grove Park, an outdoor south of City Hall. It boating and entertainment venue on the was originally planned northwest side of the city. Underneath the to be a temporary the- Willowgraph Theater where he was appear- ater designed to attract ing, he established a workshop where he some of the ten million people visiting the worked on new illusions. 1876 Centennial celebration of our nation tak- ing place in the city that year. As his career and fame increased, Thurston was always on the lookout for new illusions; It was constructed for the Kiralfy brothers, a and to protect them from piracy, he acquired , the services of James C. Wo- bensmith, a patent attorney in the city. They became very close friends, and Wo- bensmith helped Thurston in his dealings with the U.S. Patent Office. Thurston even let his daughter Jane stay with the Wobensmiths when she was taken ill and How- ard had to go back on the road. Wobensmith was also an amateur magician and a found- ing member of Assembly #4, February 4, 1920. From that beginning, he rose through the ranks and at the 1931 convention in Phila- famous magicians to greet the representative delphia was elected National President of the from Dorrance. In later years Gibson operat- S.A.M. ed a branch of the Blackstone Magic Compa- ny in the downtown area. Walter Gibson Also very closely linked Frederick Eugene Powell to Thurston was Walter Philadelphia was Brown Gibson, noted home to Fredrick magician and author, Eugene Powell, who is best known as the who served as the creator of The Shadow second Dean of the character of pulp fiction Society of Amer- and radio fame. Gibson ican Magician’s was born in nearby Ger- from 1922 until his mantown, wrote under death in 1938. He the pen name Maxwell was been preceded Grant, and published in that honorary nearly 300 novel-length Shadow stories. role by Harry Kel- lar. In his early years he worked for the Phila- delphia North American and later The Evening Born in Chester, Ledger. In 1931, he was asked by publish- Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, in 1857, he ers Street & Smith to produce the first pulp was inspired to learn magic after witnessing magazine adventure of The Shadow, then a performance by Signor Blitz, the famous popular on radio. He went on to serve as a magician, ventriloquist and plate spinner. ghost writer for books on magic for Houdini, For fifty years Powell toured not only the Thurston, Blackstone and Dunninger. While United States, but South and Central Ameri- in Philadelphia, he also invented the famous ca, presenting a full-evening show consisting trick “Nickels to Dimes,” which Brema made of sleight-of-hand, parlor effects and full- and sold. Gibson worked very closely on scale illusions. His entertaining presentation Thurston’s biography, My Life in Magic. He opened with what is now nearly a cliché was successful in getting it serialized by La- — transforming his dress gloves into a live dies Home Journal and eventually served as dove. In Powell’s day, however, the change of the go-between with Thurston and Dorrance an inanimate object into a living creature was Publishing Company of Philadelphia for the startling. publication of that biography. His contemporary thinking and ability as an The contract signing for the book took place artiste led Servais Le Roy and Imro Fox to onstage in Philadelphia and was heralded join forces with Powell in a venture known as by Thurston stepping out of a giant book of “The Great Triple Alliance.” The three magi- , in the city, he has also portrayed Benjamin Franklin at celebrations, conventions, pri- vate engagements and at Independence Hall. Dressed in authentic period costumes and supported by his expansive knowledge of early colonial life, Hample transports his au- diences back to those days with tricks built around Franklin’s interests and inventions, including printing presses and experiments with kites and electricity.

Another treasure is Adele Friel Rhindress, Blackstone’s “Elusive Moth.” As magicians know, Harry Blackstone presented a full-eve- The Philadelphia Assembly No. 4 Charter ning production called the “Show of 1001 Wonders.” It lived cians toured the United States and Canada up to that billing as a with an evening’s entertainment that fea- stage-filling spectacle, tured the strengths of each of the performers. combining spectacular Fox’s humor complemented Le Roy’s bril- illusions, magnificent liant new illusions and Powell’s classic pol- costumes, gorgeous ished presentations. Bickering and jealousy girls, a corps of assis- soon developed within the Alliance, and it tants, humor, dancing, lasted less than two years. Powell continued and intimate conjuring to tour widely but was limited somewhat by into a magnificent stage his wife, who was very ill. He spent his last production. years living with the Petrie family in New Haven, CT. Blackstone toured North America ceaselessly and by 1947, after over four decades enter- Contemporary Treasures taining the public, was unquestionably one of America’s greatest and best-known ma- Our city has many current treasures in the gicians. It was in that year, at the age of 17, form of talented magicians, famous as- that Adele Friel was swept into Blackstone’s sistants, S.A.M. national presidents and a world of magic. vibrant Society of Young Magicians group. Particularly noteworthy is Mike Bonacci, a busy professional who has delighted audiences for over 40 years in and around Philadelphia. Besides being talented in all areas of mag- ic—close-up, strolling, stage, comedy and illusions—he has single-handedly coordinated Assembly 4’s National Magic Week activities for decades. It is one of the largest such efforts in the country and through his hard work and volunteer assembly members, thousands of sick, needy, or homeless children and adults have enjoyed some magic moments in their troubled lives.

Another outstanding longtime magi- cian is George Hample. Besides being National Officers at the time Assembly No. 4 was chartered. one of the busiest working magicians , For the next the March cover sto- three seasons, ry in M-U-M). They she trouped unselfishly give of with Black- their time and talent stone, playing to teach magic, dis- an integral cuss stage deportment role in his and presentation, show, both and help members onstage and improve their magic. backstage. Gustafson served as In fact, she National President of starred in an the S.A.M. in 1973/74 act created by and prior to that the editor of M-U-M where Blackstone he applied his considerable creative talents. in which she Locally, he has served as president of Assem- portrayed a giant moth pursued by jungle bly #4 and Ring 6. savages. Caught up in a net and lifted into the air, she was saved by Blackstone who The latest version of their annual “Amazing vanished her with a pistol shot. Her manu- World of Magic” illusion show utilized more script, Memoirs of an Elusive Moth, gives read- than five tons of props, including 14 illusions ers a rare and intimate first-person account drawn from their warehouse. He and Joanne of one of America’s greatest touring magic are currently presenting their version of Ade shows and shares details of life in the theater, Duval’s Rhapsody in Silk act, which hasn’t behind the scenes, and on the road. She has been performed since 1939. From an empty been awarded a Presidential Citation from the tube they produce hundreds and hundreds of S.A.M., the Linking Ring Award of Excellence silks ending with a 51-foot production of sev- in 2011, and 2012, and other honors. enteen 36-inch Rice silks sewn together.

Teller These talented entertainers first burst onto One of the most famous magic Philadel- the entertainment scene with a performance phians is Teller, the talented and silent part- of “Magic by Candlelight” on the Ed Sullivan ner of Penn Gillette. For more than 40 years Show in 1967. In 2000, Gustafson was induct- this actor, magician, writer and magic histo- ed into The S.A.M. Hall of Fame in Holly- ry enthusiast and his partner have amazed wood. In 2009, he and Joanne received the and entertained audiences with their offbeat Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mau- brand of entertainment. They began as The rine and Milbourne Christopher Foundation. Asparagus Valley Cultural Society and their Assembly #4’s highest honor is “The Gus- earliest long-term booking was at the city’s tafsons’ Award,” presented annually to the Walnut Street Theater. Space does not permit member who most embodies professional- us to list their continued success, but they ism, kindness, consideration for all magi- remain one of the most popular attractions cians, and in all cases being a gentleman or in Las Vegas, have enjoyed sold-out runs on gentlewoman. Broadway, hosted or starred in Emmy-win- ning TV specials, and have both been rec- Past Presidents ognized with stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Teller was named “Magician of the Philadelphia also boasts of five past nation- Year” (with Penn Jillette) by the Academy of al presidents (PNPs)—James Wobensmith, Magical Arts in 1996. Dick Gustafson, Mike Miller, Bradley Jacobs and Roy Snyder. We have covered Jim Wo- The Gustafsons bensmith, who served as president in 1931/32 One of our most delightful local treasures is and was both a talented magician and patent the husband and wife team of Dick and Jo- attorney to Howard Thurston. Likewise, the anne Gustafson, two of the most talented and talented Dick Gustafson, who served as presi- busy magical entertainers in the country (see dent in 1973/74 has also been featured. , Mike Miller hardest working PNPs (2009/10) is a is Bradley Jacobs. For living example 17 years he held the title of someone of convention chair for volunteering our Society’s national to help out an conventions. In that organization capacity he traveled and then rising the country scouting through the good locations, booking ranks to the hotels, signing theater presidency. It all contracts and handling started in 1996, the million other details when he agreed to assist Hank Moorehouse that made these events a success. He tried to and Bruce Chadwick stage manage the na- step down in 2002, but was persuaded to step tional convention shows. That went so well back up and did so through the combined that they hired him for other conventions; convention in 2008. and, when Hank stepped down, Mike assist- ed R.G. Smith for another 12 years. When He also began chairing the society’s Magic Smith stepped down, Miller got the job. His Endowment Fund in 2005, which annually rise to the presidency began with his three- provides scholarships to needy, aspiring and year stint as RVP for the Mid-Atlantic region. talented young magicians, and other awards The National Council reached out to him in as well. In 2008, he established the Bradley 2005 about running for Jacobs College Scholarship Award. Interest- second vice president ingly, the first one went to Philadelphia ma- and the rest is history. gician Harrison Lampert, who was enrolled His presidency focused in Temple University at that time. Brad is an on recognizing and cel- Honorary Member of the Society, a member ebrating current and of the Hall of Fame, was named “Magician longtime members. of the Year” by Parent Assembly #1 in New York City, and previously served as president At the time of his elec- of that Assembly in 1961. He travels constant- tion, PNP Roy Snyder ly, promoting magic and our society, encour- (1978/79), was the aging young people and promoting the art. youngest president of the S.A.M., being only Thus his title “Ambassador of Magic” is both 27 at the time. However, he had earned that fitting and well earned. position by rising through the local and na- tional ranks and pulling his weight helping And finally, we close with SYM club Y096, a our society. Like PNP Mike Miller, Snyder treasure that was founded in 1991 and which stage-managed many of the S.A.M. conven- has served as a proven training ground for tion shows. He was also an associate editor of young magicians throughout the Delaware M-U-M and contributed many articles as well Valley. The group was organized by Arlen as creating the classified advertising section. Solomon, Kyle Peron, John Domalewski, Early in his career he managed a struggling and Hank Strasser. Over the years, members magic troupe named The Asparagus Valley have performed for charitable organizations Cultural Society. This was the beginning of and at Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, Flyers one of the most successful magic partner- and 76er events. Current leaders include ships in magic…Penn & Teller. Snyder has Solomon and Eric Lampert with assistance spent his life in marketing and public rela- from Kurt Garwood and Larry and Marie tions (primarily in the live entertainment in- Woodson. Under the care of these adults, dustry), had a decades-long association with these young people will be the treasures of the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, and left tomorrow. a positive and indelible impact on the S.A.M. Editor’s Note: Tom Ewing is the S.A.M. National National President for 1970/71, one of our Historian.